Editor’s Note: This adventure dining post was originally written in 2022, but has been updated with new additions in June 2025.
Whistler is known for adventure, so it makes sense that its dining scene is seasoned with a touch of it too. Thinking outside of the restaurant table, we’ve looked into adventure dining experiences you can have with a distinctive, Whistler twist.
From seared salmon at 6,000 feet to long table dinners on a golf course, here are some of Whistler’s adventure dining experiences that put the thrill into meal time.
Salmon Bake at 6,000 Feet
Power your way up Blackcomb Mountain in an ATV or 4×4 (you don’t do the driving in the Jeeps) on one of Canadian Wilderness Adventures’ signature Whistler tours.
Once at the top, enjoy a locally-sourced, chef-prepared meal featuring maple-glazed, wild BC Salmon and a spectacular sunset with live music.
BBQ in the Backcountry
ATV or side-by-side to a lakeside cabin in Whistler’s backcountry for a delicious BBQ. Build up your appetite as you weave through stunning mountain terrain to get to your off-the-beaten-path cabin.
Go for a dip in the lake, or a quick paddle and then tuck into a gourmet, BBQ chicken dinner.
Mountain Top Summer Feast
The Mountain Top Summer Feast is a banquet-style, all-you-can-eat BBQ buffet at the top of Whistler Mountain, and is the perfect way to top off a day of sightseeing and hiking on Whistler Blackcomb.
The combined banquet and sightseeing ticket offers the best value and is a great chance to check out the Raven’s Eye Lookout and, aptly named, Cloudraker Skybridge, before you chow down. You might even be able to sneak a short hike in before you dine!
Make sure you leave time (before or after) for a lofty beverage or two at the Umbrella Bar, which has panoramic views of the surrounding Coast Mountains. No need for a designated driver, at the end of the evening, the Whistler Village Gondola will deliver you safely back down to your Village accommodation.
Two of our adventurous Whistler.com team went up the mountains for a feast last year, and this is what they have to say…
“The views are incredible. It’s just so breathtakingly beautiful to sit on the patio and dine surrounded by snow-capped mountains. ” – Leah.
“It would definitely make a unique date night, but it’s also good for families as the ride in the gondola to and from dinner is a lot of fun. Kids under six are free with a paying adult, there’s a kids-only buffet and some fun lawn-style games like Jenga they can play with too.” – Jesica.
Audain Artist Dinner Series
Step into an evening where fine art meets fine dining. In the summer, the Audain Art Museum welcomes art-lovers to an exclusive, after-hours tour followed by dinner, hosted by a local restaurant or caterer, which crafts a menu that complements one of the exhibits.
The dinner is sometimes hosted outside, which is the case for their Art of Wellness Long Table on June 20, part of the Nourish Whistler Wellness Series. But they also host them inside the museum in the funky entrance area.
This summer, the two dinners (July 18 and August 29, 2025) are set against the backdrop of Gathered Leaves: Discoveries from the Drawings Vault – a rare exhibition of masterworks from the National Gallery of Canada. You’re treated to rarely seen drawings by Degas, Klimt, Munch, Chagall, Picasso, Kandinsky, and more. Spanning five centuries, these intimate works – ranging from mythological sketches to modern abstractions – offer a profound glimpse into the creative process of some of history’s most influential artists.
After your exclusive tour, you get to dine with the masters with a seasonal, three-course meal by Vancouver’s Edge Catering. Spaces are limited for the dinner series, and tickets can be bought online.
Whistler Tasting Tours
With so many options, you could pass the menu and let someone else decide! Join a local guide on a Whistler Tasting Tour for a multi-course meal where each course is provided by a different restaurant.
Indulge in Whistler’s fine dining options on a Finer Things Dinner Tasting Tour, which includes four courses across some award-winning restaurants. You’ll also visit an impressive 15,000-bottle wine cellar where you’ll learn how to sabre champagne.
New for this year is a way to explore Whistler’s culinary scene by bike. Whistler Tasting Tours’ new E-Bike Food Tour takes you on a leisurely cruise along a flat loop, enjoying the views as you pass through different neighbourhoods, sampling the diverse offerings of Whistler’s food scene.
Whistler Distillery Tour
If gin is your thing, check out the Montis Distillery tour with Whistler Valley Tours, which includes a guided tour of the facility as well as tastings of all their products paired with local charcuterie from Picnic Whistler.
Read more about this experience in our blog, Whistler Distillery Tour & Tasting Experience.
Food Trucks at the Lakes
Lake days just got even better with the Park Eats program, featuring a range of rotating food trucks offering pizza, gelato, weiners, sandwiches and more.
These food trucks will keep you fuelled up for a day of fun in the sun and can be found in Whistler’s lake parks from late May until early September. Note that the trucks wrap up for the day at 5 PM, so this is an early-dinner option!
Whistler Picnics
Whistler has no shortage of picturesque lookouts and secluded lakeside spots, so why not find your own picture-perfect location? Picnic Whistler offers a range of lovingly prepared charcuterie boards and boxes with vegetarian, vegan and brunch options available. If you’re in Whistler in July and August, check out the Whistler Summer Concert Series – the perfect picnic occasion.
If you like to earn your treats, check out our blog on picnic spots with altitude, which gives you some ideas for on-mountain picnic spots that are worth the hike (check the weather and which trails are open before you go).
And if you’re planning a special occasion, an option is to take your picnic to the skies, with a helicopter ride to a secluded alpine lake. Talk to the Whistler.com team about a “special occasion flight”, where you bring the bubbles and food, and they “longline” a table to a stunning locale.
Alfresco Longtable Dinners with Araxi & Wild Blue
Set in stunning locations with incredible mountain views, the long table dinners by two of Whistler’s most lauded restaurants are hot tickets every summer. Araxi’s multi-course, family-style meal takes place at North Arm Farm in Pemberton, a twenty-minute drive north of Whistler, while Wild Blue’s are hosted on the lush greens of the Whistler Golf Course.
With sunny weather and so many options to choose from, there’s no better time to book an adventure dining experience that takes you beyond the restaurant table. Bon appétit!
If you’re thinking of a winter trip, take a look at Winter Adventure Dining in Whistler.
Spring savings are calling! There’s so much to see and do in spring, you’ll want plenty of time for fun in the sun. Extend your stay and book midweek for increased savings, with 3 nights starting from $135 CAD per night. Coming during Nourish? Book 3+ nights between May 29 and June 30, 2025, to receive a free $100 or $200 Wellness Activity Voucher, valid for use on wellness activities or Nourish Whistler Wellness Series tickets.
For summer, book ahead and save up to 25% on lodging. Plus, you'll receive a free $100 CAD Activity Voucher on stays of 3 or more nights ($200 for 5 nights). You can also win a summer trip to Whistler with the Escape the Ordinary contest!
Insider Tip: Sign up for Whistler Rewards to access additional savings and exclusive perks.
