Beachside at The Eldorado, Kelowna, Okanagan Lake, British Columbia.
Kelowna and The Okanagan Valley
British Columbia’s fertile, sun-kissed Okanagan Valley stretches 125 miles north from the Washington border up past the city of Kelowna. The long valley is only about 12 miles wide and is characterized by oblong lakes surrounded by vineyards and orchards. Okanagan Lake is the region’s largest (and rumored home of Ogopogo, cousin to Loch Ness’s Nessie). Summers here are hot and winters are mild, making it ideal for vacationers and for the things they like to eat and drink.
These ideal growing conditions prompt a large proportion of people who live in the Okanagan to work in the consumable craft products industry, from wineries to orchards to the region’s restaurants and their suppliers. Vacationers reap the rewards.
Lakeside lounging at The Eldorado, Kelowna.
For example, about 80 percent of Canada’s cherries—dark red and full of flavor—are grown here. Okanagan fruit farms (and associated roadside stands) also provide a bounty of apples, apricots, berries, peaches, plums, and wine grapes. The Okanagan Valley has more than 200 wineries and it’s easy to visit their vineyards for tastings and to sample the terroir in local restaurants. The southern part of the Okanagan is best known for its reds while the northern parts, including Kelowna, tend to have the best whites. The grapes are able to retain their natural acidity thanks to the Okanagan’s hot, sunny days and cool nights.
Hotel Eldorado, part of the Eldorado Resort, in Kelowna.
Kelowna is sometimes called Kelowna-fornia, thanks to its vineyards, sunny clime and laidback beach vibes (in snow season, it turns into a ski and après vibe, with Kelowna’s mild winters bringing excellent powder to the mountains of nearby ski resorts Big White and Silver Star). The city’s population is just 150,000 (with the broader metro area bringing it to 230,000), though has an international airport. That, and easy driving up from the U.S., make it an ideal base for visitors to soak up the Canadian lake country atmosphere and enjoy the deliciousness of the region.
Both Modern and Classic: Lakeside Hotel Eldorado in the Okanagan’s Kelowna
The marina at Hotel Eldorado, Kelowna.
How can you have a Canadian lake vacation without staying right on the water? In Kelowna, you can easily do it right in town.
The seven-acre Eldorado Resort hugs the shore of Okanagan Lake, just south of Kelowna’s vibrant downtown. It has its own beach, a large marina, a boardwalk, several restaurant patios, plus balconied suites perfect for a lakeside vacation.
The resort has two separate hotels, the elegant Hotel Eldorado—which celebrates its 100th birthday in 2026—and the more modern and family-oriented Manteo, which joined The El in 2016.
Welcome to Hotel Eldorado.
This historic hotel has a little bit of old England and a splash of California, but is all very Canadian. Rather than seeming an eclectic hodgepodge, it weaves the best of everything into a friendly mosaic … also very Canadian.
The Spirit of The El
The origins of The Eldorado are British. The original hotel was founded in 1926 by British stage actress and aristocrat Irene May Blair, also known as Countess Bubna. A traveler and adventurer, the spirit she brought to The Eldorado lives on: garden parties, sipping cocktails over good conversation, elevated accommodations, and a clubhouse feeling of welcoming hospitality.
Dining along The Eldorado’s boardwalk.
The Eldorado continues to celebrate its English country inn roots. You’ll find Pimm’s Cup on the cocktail menu, afternoon tea with cucumber sandwiches and scones with clotted cream, abundant gardens and planters overflowing with summer flowers, wooden skulling boats hanging from ceilings, a portrait of Winston Churchill over the bar, and the Whisky Room (Churchill’s favorite spirit) complete with a Whisky Ambassador to guide you through Scotch whiskies.
A little bit of California is infused into The El too. The hot, sunny weather and waterside location encourage dipping in for a swim, getting out on a boat, and simply soaking up the sun. Vintage black-and-white photos of water skiers adorn the walls, looking right out of Malibu. Classic vehicles decorate the resort too, including a 1941 Series 62 deluxe Cadillac coupe, and, at the marina, a 1952 Chris Craft 34-foot sedan cruiser called The Spirit of the El.
Vintage vehicles, Hotel Eldorado.
Dine at The Eldorado for the Okanagan’s Best
Dining on the boardwalk, Hotel Eldorado.
How can you have a culinary vacation without a hotel that knows how to best capitalize on the region’s wines, fruits and other deliciousness? The Eldorado’s chefs and knowledgeable servers will ensure you sample the best of the Okanagan.
The Lakeside Dining Room is the resort’s top restaurant. Its menu lists some of the local suppliers that chefs partner with, such as the Okanagan Pasta Company, Mycrogreens and Tanto Latte Cheese. The Lakeside Dining Room plays tribute to classics, from a tiger prawn cocktail to a perfectly grilled New York striploin with sauce Béarnaise. Or, choose more contemporary dishes such as mussels in Thai green curry or grilled cauliflower steak. The wine list has more than 150 different labels and features many Okanagan wines including from Quails’ Gate’s Winery, nearby on the other side of the skinny lake.
Summertime sunset lakeside at Hotel Eldorado.
More casual dining is in the Lounge on the Eldorado side of the resort and on the Manteo side at Maestro’s Mediterranean Restaurant & Terrace. At the former, you’ll find a little bit of California in the smash burger, the fish tacos and the Green Goddess salad. At Maestro’s, most dishes are inspired by the warmth of France, Spain and Italy. Here, the all-day menu has items such as ahi tuna Niçoise and paella risotto with British Columbia mussels. Local wines, beers and ciders compete with creative cocktails like the watermelon smash fizz and lavender lemon drop.
The resort’s restaurants, including the Lounge, take full advantage of their lakeside location and offer views through massive windows out past the boardwalk to the lake. In summer, you can dine indoors, outside on the large patios, and in sheltered indoor-outdoor areas too. Greenery is everywhere, including wine barrels full of flowers and even a lime tree.
Staying at The Eldorado
Hotel Eldorado is the smaller and more luxe side of the resort. The 53 guestrooms on this side are in the Heritage Building and the historic Arms Wing with mountain or water views. Each room is different, with bright white bedroom furniture, soothing cork floors and thoughtful amenities.
Bathtub with a view of Okanagan Lake, Hotel Eldorado.
Here for a special occasion? Splash out in one of the elegant luxury lakeview suites. The king bedroom features a jetted tub that overlooks the lake (and the bathroom’s shower has wall jets in addition to the handheld and rain showers). Tyneham’s Joy toiletries revivify with their lavender-sage-mandarin-chamomile essential oils. The living room also has a fireplace and the kitchenette is equipped not only with a Nespresso maker and microwave but even a mini-dishwasher.
View out to Okanagan Lake from one of the villas on the Manteo side of The Eldorado.
Stays on the Manteo side of the resort are in the pink-hued main building which curves around the boardwalk or in townhouse-style villas. The main building’s rooms and suites have a unified look with dark wood furniture, bright white linens and gray carpeting. The multi-level villas, some beachfront and some garden-side, have two or three bedrooms, a full kitchen, gas fireplace and barbeque, even your own garage.
Regardless of which side you choose, the facilities at both hotels are available to all resort guests. There are spots throughout the grounds to pull up a chair and enjoy the incredible flower gardens, lake breeze and the views. Also tempting are two indoor and two outdoor pools, indoor and outdoor hot tubs, a mini splash park for kids, pickleball and tennis courts, the fitness center, the soon-to-expand spa, and, of course, the beach. Included in the resort fee are weekend yoga and Pilates classes, Friday night wine and canapés receptions, afternoon treats in the lobby, and branded water bottles to fill at hotel water stations. You could also borrow a bike to check out the surrounding neighbourhood or, from the marina, go kayaking, paddleboarding, tubing, waterskiing, wake surfing and more.
Hotel Eldorado’s indoor pool.
Though it will be hard to tear yourself away from the El, do get out to explore Kelowna too.
Sunny Breakfast at Sunny’s—A Modern Diner
An ideal stop is Sunny’s—A Modern Diner. Named for the owners’ much-loved golden retriever, Sunny’s is a block from Kelowna’s downtown beach and marina. Sunny’s sun-filled sidewalk and street patios have views of the water (and of the Ogopogo statue in the park). Large black and white portraits of Sunny’s friendly, furry face decorate the walls inside and the diner’s eclectic decor is meant to evoke what you’d imagine bounces around inside a golden retriever’s head. With a 25-cent donation (or more) to the SPCA encouraged, you can even spin a record from the restaurant’s vinyl collection to accompany your meal.
Sunny’s, A Modern Diner, in downtown Kelowna.
Sunny’s may initially seem “just” a casual diner, but it goes far beyond. Co-owners Audrey Surrao and Rod Butters have led some of British Columbia’s best exemplars of hospitality in other BC vacation hotspots, including the Wickaninnish Inn in Tofino and the former Chateau Whistler and Four Seasons Vancouver. Their unique approach is apparent.
Chef de cuisine and manager Robyn Sigurdson sums up what you can expect at Sunny’s with “I like to make breakfast dreams come true.” Her kitchen serves up breakfast (and a few lunchier items) all day. Food Network Canada featured the diner and its unique Chicks on a Raft and Chicken Meets Waffle dishes. Your knowledgeable server will help you choose from all of Sunny’s dreamy options.
French toast from Sunny’s, A Modern Diner.
More Sun at Sun-soaked Quails’ Gate
For an afternoon or evening excursion, head over to Quails’ Gate Estate Winery (especially if you missed ordering their Riesling or Merlot at The El’s Lakeside Dining Room).
Quails’ Gate Winery on Okanagan Lake, West Kelowna, British Columbia.
Quails’ Gate is across the lake from The Eldorado, in West Kelowna, and about a 20-minute drive. This family-owned winery focuses on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, though also has rarer varietals such as Maréchal Foch (back in 1990, the winery created one of the first robust reds in the region, thanks to mature Maréchal Foch vines first planted in the 1960s).
Sit down for a tasting or book a walking tour of the vineyard for sips at scenic stops on the estate. The estate’s Old Vines Restaurant, one of the province’s first winery restaurants, is headed by chef Roger Sleiman who was recently inducted into the British Columbia Restaurant Hall of Fame. His menu focuses on Okanagan ingredients like 63 Acres ribeye, line-caught fish and produce from Wise Earth Farm all paired, of course, with Quails’ Gate’s wines. Or, for a more casual spot at the winery, The Market offers wood-fired pizzas, cheese and charcuterie, desserts, and wines by the glass. Pick up Quails’ Gate’s bottles plus items like their limited edition vineyard honey, fermented cherries and quince paste.
Getting To and Around the Okanagan
Discover Kelowna and Okanagan Lake
Kelowna, nestled in British Columbia’s stunning Okanagan Valley, is a perfect destination for a relaxing vacation. Surrounded by scenic landscapes, vineyards, and the warm waters of Okanagan Lake, it’s an ideal spot for nature lovers and wine enthusiasts.
Traveling to Kelowna is easy. Fly into Kelowna International Airport with connections through major Canadian cities or seasonal direct flights from U.S. cities like Phoenix, Los Angeles, or Las Vegas. Driving? Enjoy breathtaking routes from Vancouver (5 hours), Calgary (7 hours), Seattle (6 hours), or Spokane (5 hours). Along the way, stop at charming wineries or fruit stands for a true Okanagan experience.
For those driving from the U.S., take time to explore Osoyoos, a delightful wine town. Savor a meal at Maverick Estate Winery, a local favorite for its exceptional cuisine and wines.
Parking in Kelowna can be tricky. Pay attention to street signs, as parking meters or signs may be far from your spot, sometimes across the street. Double-check to avoid a parking ticket.
Book your vacation today with MWR LIFE and experience the beauty of Kelowna and Okanagan Lake. Visit MWR LIFE to plan your unforgettable getaway!