Where to eat, drink and play at Big White and SilverStar this winter
The Okanagan’s two big mountains sit just up the road from Kelowna and Vernon, and the skiing is only half the trip. This guide covers the other half: where to warm up for lunch, the best après-ski, dinner worth booking, and what to do when the lifts stop.
Every place here is listed and badge-checked on Okanagan Roam. Hours change through the season, so check before you go.
Big White
Big White is the Okanagan’s big mountain, with 2,834 acres of patrolled terrain and a village built for staying put once you arrive.
Après-ski
- Fat Marmot (Inn at Big White): ramen and Korean chicken, with a fire-table patio made for sunset après. Ramen isn’t served patio-side.
- Moose Lounge (Happy Valley Day Lodge): a revitalized lounge bringing back the longtime après traditions regulars missed.
- Snowshoe Sam's: the mountain’s liveliest night out, with pool tables, sports TVs and a Monday pool night that’s become village tradition.
- Black Diamond Bar & Grill: an alpine-lodge room with a beer list deep enough for a serious craft crowd.
Lunch on the mountain
- VISTA at Black Forest Day Lodge: ski-in, ski-out, with a mountain view and outdoor seating. Season pass holders get 10% off.
- Fourth Ace Bar & Smokehouse: a hidden gem off the main strip. Ski in from Perfection run and share a platter like The Meat Sweats.
- SPUDS at The Ridge Day Lodge: a lineup of six poutines and a relaxed, open eating area.
- Moonlight Bistro: a cabin-style stop at the base of Gem Lake chair for a warm drink between runs.
Dinner worth booking
- Sopra: Sam's Italian Kitchen (4.7★): cozy, upscale Italian above Snowshoe Sam’s. Try the eggplant parmigiana or chicken scallopini.
- Kettle Valley Steakhouse (4.6★): an award-winning steakhouse at the top of Happy Valley Day Lodge, back after a five-year break, with tenderloin, bison and an Okanagan wine list.
- 6° Bistro: an intimate tasting menu by an outdoor fireplace, with vegetarian options. Made for a celebration.
- Cabin Kitchen + Bar at Whitefoot Lodge: the family pick, with a real kids menu, trivia nights and a braised-beef mac and cheese.
Coffee and treats
- Toasty: oversized donuts reviewers say stay soft for days.
- Clocktower Coffee Co.: ski-in, ski-out coffee from 7 am in the Village Centre Mall. Arrive early on busy mornings.
Off the slopes
- Happy Valley skating rink: billed as Canada’s highest outdoor rink, lit for night skating.
- Tube Park: five groomed lanes in Happy Valley. No skill or gear needed.
- Twinkling Trail: a lit evening walk through the forest, a hit with kids.
- Candle Creek Kennels: dog-sled tours with a team of Alaskan huskies.
- Horse-drawn sleigh rides: from outside Happy Valley Day Lodge, December 14, 2026 to March 30, 2027.
- Nordic and wilderness trails: 25 km for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Leashed dogs are welcome on the wilderness trails.
SilverStar
SilverStar, above Vernon, is a whole winter village: 3,304 acres and 133 runs, plus one of Canada’s biggest daily-groomed cross-country networks right next door.
Après-ski
- Long John's Pub (4.5★): a longtime favourite with what regulars call the best burger and onion rings on the hill. Get the gravy fries.
- The Bulldog Grand Cafe: a split patio, four gas fireplaces and TVs, the village’s warm-up stop.
- La Plata: tapas and cocktails made with homemade spruce syrup, plus a prickly pear mocktail reviewers rave about.
- Black Pine: upscale-casual après with live bingo nights and room for a table of 12.
Lunch on the mountain
- Paradise Camp: the backside lodge on the Putnam Creek side, known for its soups and wild-meat mountain stew, with views to the Monashees.
- Pizza Gratta (4.5★): sourdough pizza by the slice, with plenty of vegetarian and vegan options.
- Bugaboos Bakery Cafe: the village’s only bakery-café, with a view locals call magical, vegan soy mochas and a vegan banana lava cake.
Dinner
- d'argento: premium-casual Italian with wine-paired dinners. The squid ink pasta is the splurge.
- The Red Antler: a crowd-pleaser with something for everyone, from a quinoa avocado power bowl to a brownie regulars recommend.
Off the slopes
- Brewer’s Pond: 2.5 acres of natural ice for skating, with a fire and music at the edge.
- Tube Town: a proper tube park beside Brewer’s Pond. Warm up after with mulled wine at Tube Town Café & Bar.
- Ravenwood Snowshoe Dinner Tours: a guided snowshoe through the forest at dusk to the Ravenwood Cabin, where dinner is waiting.
- Cross-country and snowshoeing: 55 km of trails from the village, linking with Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre for 105 km in all, plus 16 km of snowshoe trails.
- Fat biking: 15 km of packed trail, with bike rentals in the village.
Plan your ski trip
- Let Build My Trip do it. Type something like “A ski weekend at Big White with good food and après” into Build My Trip and get a day-by-day plan from these places.
- Book dinner early on weekends and holidays, especially Sopra, Kettle Valley Steakhouse and 6° Bistro.
- Check hours before you go. Mountain restaurants often change hours through the season.
- Browse everything: all Big White spots and all SilverStar spots.