Kelowna: Walking Food Tour with 7 Tastings and 4 Drinks

Kelowna’s best introduction may begin with a fork, not a winery shuttle. This three-hour walking tour threads through the Cultural District, waterfront, gardens, public art, and local eateries, giving you a taste of the city while Andrew, the six-foot-six owner and guide, fills in the backstory.

I like the small groups of no more than 10, which make it easier to hear the stories and ask questions. I also like the clear local connection: Andrew grew up in the Okanagan and worked at his grandparents’ orchard in Lake Country, so the food stops come with a genuine sense of place.

The main thing to consider is the amount of food. Seven tastings and four drink visits can add up to a full meal, and some people may want a little more time between stops. You’ll walk about 5,500 to 6,500 steps, so comfortable shoes and a healthy appetite matter.

Key points at a glance

• Seven tastings and four drink visits: Expect a generous mix of food and drinks, with adult beverages, non-alcoholic choices, and options for children.
• Andrew leads the walk: His Okanagan roots and personal ties with local businesses add context you will not get from a standard city walk.
• The route mixes food with scenery: You’ll pass the waterfront, Stuart Park, Kasugai Gardens, public art, sculptures, and the Cultural District.
• A rooftop view is included: The tour visits Kelowna’s only rooftop patio, with 360-degree views of the city.
• It begins and ends at Laurel Packinghouse: You can leave your vehicle in the same area rather than arrange transport back downtown.
• Come ready to eat: The servings are substantial enough that you may not need dinner afterward.

Starting at Laurel Packinghouse in downtown Kelowna

Meet Andrew 10 minutes before departure at the historic Laurel Packinghouse, 1304 Ellis Street. Look for the red brick building and the company sandwich board at the front entrance. If you see apple boxes and a children’s play area, you are behind the building and need to walk around to the front.

Andrew should be easy to spot. He is six-foot-six, with red hair and a beard, and wears a company-logo golf shirt with a grey backpack. That detail may sound minor, but it removes the usual first-day worry of wondering if you are waiting in the right place.

The starting point works well. Laurel Packinghouse places you close to the Cultural District, the waterfront, and several of the food stops. Since the tour returns here, you do not need to plan a taxi, rideshare, or long walk back to a distant hotel or parking area.

The group limit is 10 people. That is small enough for a conversational walk, especially at busy food businesses where a large group can feel awkward. English is the tour language.

Stuart Park and the first look at the waterfront

The walk begins with a short stop at Stuart Park before moving toward the Kelowna Yacht Club and the lake. These first stops help set the city’s layout, with downtown, public gathering spaces, and the waterfront all close together.

The route includes about 12 minutes of sightseeing near the Kelowna Yacht Club. This is not a long guided museum visit. Instead, it gives Andrew room to explain the area and connect the modern city to its past.

At Waterfront Park, the tour pauses for a food tasting. The lakeside setting is one of the pleasures of this experience. You are not simply moving from restaurant to restaurant on back streets. You get open views, a boardwalk, and a chance to see why the waterfront is such a central part of Kelowna life.

The walking pace appears relaxed rather than rushed. You will cover a good portion of downtown, but the stops are short enough to keep the afternoon moving. If you prefer a tour with long periods of sitting, this is not that kind of outing.

Art, gardens, and the Cultural District

The Innovation Centre receives about 20 minutes, making it one of the longer non-food stops. Andrew uses the city walk to point out local art, sculptures, public spaces, and changes taking place in downtown Kelowna.

Kasugai Gardens follows with a 10-minute photo stop. The gardens offer a quieter contrast to the waterfront and streets. They also show how much variety fits into a compact downtown route: within a few blocks, you move from lake views and public art to a more sheltered garden setting.

The itinerary also includes photo stops at Dolphins Kelowna and The Bear. These landmarks add visual interest and give you small pauses between tastings. They are not full attractions with lengthy admission visits, so keep your expectations in the right place. Their value is in the route, the photographs, and Andrew’s local explanations.

One of the best reasons to take the tour early in your stay is that it helps you get oriented. Several people have found places they later returned to on their own, and Andrew provides a list of the businesses visited along with additional suggestions for the area. That turns the tour into more than a one-time meal. It gives you a practical downtown food map.

BNA Brewing and the appeal of local stops

BNA Brewing Co. is one of the larger food stops, with about 20 minutes set aside for tasting. The business is described as having a family atmosphere and a bowling alley, which gives the visit a more casual feel than a formal tasting room.

The tour is not built around a single kind of cuisine. Its strength is the spread. Depending on the day’s arrangements, you may encounter bakery items, tea, Mexican food, Italian food, Chinese-inspired dishes, pizza, tacos, cake, hot chocolate, or brewery fare. The exact food lineup can vary, so do not book expecting a fixed menu of named dishes.

That variety is useful in a city visit. You can compare several independent businesses instead of spending three hours at one restaurant. You also meet the people behind the food, and Andrew’s established relationships help the stops feel connected to the local community.

A practical note: the food is not merely a token bite at each place. Portions have been described as generous, and some people finish too full for dinner. If you are visiting with children or someone with a smaller appetite, plan on sharing where possible or pacing yourself.

Tea, bread, and the later tastings

Chaibaba provides a tea stop of about 15 minutes. This adds a calm change of pace after the earlier walking and savory food. Specialty tea is also a good reminder that Kelowna’s food scene is not limited to wine and brewery visits.

Sprout Bread is another 15-minute tasting stop. Bread can sound simple on paper, but it often gives a food tour one of its most direct connections to local craft. The stop has been especially well received, and it is one of the places some people have returned to after the tour.

The route also includes a rooftop patio with 360-degree views of Kelowna. It is described as the city’s only rooftop patio, making it a useful viewpoint as well as a drink stop. The open view helps you understand the downtown area you have been walking through.

The four drink visits are designed to accommodate different preferences. Adult beverages, non-alcoholic drinks, and children’s choices are included in the planning. If you do not drink alcohol, you can still take part in the food and drink portions without treating the tour as a bar crawl.

The experience ends back at Laurel Packinghouse after roughly three hours. The return to the starting point keeps the logistics simple, especially if you parked nearby.

What Andrew adds to the experience

Food tours depend heavily on the guide, and Andrew is central to this one. He started the business four years ago and grew up in the Okanagan, including time working at his grandparents’ orchard in Lake Country.

That background matters because he can connect restaurant visits with local agriculture, city development, and the people who operate the businesses. His approach is personal rather than scripted. You get stories about Kelowna, the Cultural District, the food industry, and future plans for the area.

Andrew also sends a list of the places visited and further recommendations for Kelowna. I consider that a useful extra, especially if you take the tour near the start of your trip. You can use the list to plan another meal, return to a favorite stop, or find a café you would have missed.

The tone seems social and informal. Andrew has been described as funny, personable, flexible, and easy to talk with. That suits a food walk, where a guide who can keep conversation moving is as important as one who can name dates and buildings.

Price, pacing, and what the $89 covers

The price is $89 per person. For three hours, seven food and drink tastings, four drink visits, a guide, and water, that is a fair value if you would otherwise buy several small meals and drinks around downtown.

The value is not just the amount of food. You are also paying for a planned route, local introductions, city context, and the chance to visit small businesses without having to research them in advance. The included tastings can replace a substantial lunch, and several people find they do not want a full dinner afterward.

Still, the price will not suit everyone. If you prefer choosing your own restaurant, eating one large meal, or walking without a guide, you may get better value by exploring independently. You also pay for the social and local knowledge side of the experience, not only the food.

Pacing is the one real concern. The route covers 5,500 to 6,500 steps, and the tastings are plentiful. One person wanted more time between restaurants to digest. I would schedule this tour when you can keep the rest of the day easy, rather than before a formal dinner reservation.

The tour runs rain or shine. Umbrellas are provided if it rains, but you should still dress for the forecast and wear shoes you can walk in comfortably.

Who should book this Kelowna food walk

I would recommend it most strongly to first-time visitors who want a quick feel for downtown. It works particularly well near the beginning of a Kelowna stay, since Andrew’s suggestions can shape the rest of your meals and sightseeing.

It also suits people who like local businesses, generous portions, public art, city stories, and a relaxed social setting. Couples, families, small friend groups, and solo visitors can all fit into the small-group format. The adult, non-alcoholic, and children’s drink options make it more flexible than a tour built only around beer or wine.

Food-focused visitors should appreciate the mix of cuisines and the chance to return to favorite spots later. The tour is also useful for repeat visitors, since the route includes smaller businesses and less obvious places that you may not have found on your own.

The main limitation is mobility. The activity information describes the tour as wheelchair accessible, but it also lists people with mobility impairments as unsuitable. Because the route involves several thousand steps, outdoor walking, and multiple stops, contact the operator before booking if you have mobility concerns. Do not assume the accessibility label means the walk will be easy.

Is this tour worth booking?

Book it if you want a full introduction to Kelowna through food, views, and local stories, and you are comfortable walking several thousand steps. The strongest reasons are Andrew’s Okanagan connection, the small group, the independent food stops, and the useful list of places to revisit.

Skip it if you want a quiet sit-down meal, a winery-focused outing, or complete control over what and when you eat. For most visitors, though, $89 is reasonable for the amount of food and drink included, especially when the tour helps you find places you might otherwise miss.

My practical advice is simple: take it early in your visit, arrive hungry, wear comfortable shoes, and leave your dinner plans flexible.

FAQ

Where does the Kelowna food tour begin?

The tour begins at Laurel Packinghouse, the red brick building at 1304 Ellis Street in Kelowna, British Columbia. Look for the company sandwich board at the front entrance.

How early should I arrive?

Arrive 10 minutes before the activity begins.

How long does the tour last?

The walking food tour lasts three hours.

How much walking is involved?

The tour covers about 5,500 to 6,500 steps. Comfortable shoes are recommended.

Does the tour include food and drinks?

Yes. The experience includes seven food and drink tastings, four drink visits, and water. Adult beverages, non-alcoholic choices, and children’s options are catered for.

What language is the tour offered in?

The live tour is offered in English.

How many people are in the group?

The tour is limited to 10 participants.

Does the tour return to the starting point?

Yes. The tour ends back at Laurel Packinghouse, where it began.