Happy Wednesday, all! I hope you’re having a great week, and that you enjoyed last week’s Edmonton travel guide (if you missed that post, click here to check it out.) Well, it just so happens that, in between exploring the city’s incredible art, architecture, gardens, parks and museums, I was able to check out some fabulous restaurants as well. This was my first trip to Edmonton, and this foodie is happy to report she did not leave the city disappointed – nor hungry! Alberta’s capital is brimming with amazing eateries, from fine steakhouses to kitschy cocktail bars, glam brunch spots to decadent patisseries. Today, I’m rounding up my favourite places to eat in Edmonton – I hope they inspire you to check out this culinary gem of a city for yourself! Wherever you choose to dine, I’m sure you’ll be just as impressed as I was.
My Favourite Restaurants & Bars In Edmonton
Arbour – This restaurant is located on Whyte Avenue (i.e. 82 Ave): a hub for trendy restaurants, shops, art and entertainment. Arbour is a relatively new addition to Edmonton (it opened in July 2023) but has already drawn considerable acclaim for its chef-driven menu, global influences, and emphasis on shareable small plates. I’m someone who likes to try a little of everything, so a small plates menu is right up my alley! I ordered two dishes: the fried chicken and kabocha squash. The chicken is fried in a Thai curry batter, drizzled with Thai basil aioli and garnished with fried lime leaves. It was delicious: perfectly crispy and decidedly indulgent, but not too greasy or heavy. The squash was recommended by my server – she told me it’s a staff favourite – and after one bite, I could see why. It’s slow-roasted in brown butter, topped with pomegranate glaze and Egyptian dukkah (a traditional seasoning made from toasted nuts, herbs and spices) and served with a creamy toum (Lebanese garlic sauce) on the side. It was an incredible combination of flavours and honestly, I’m still dreaming about it! The two dishes were the perfect amount of food for one, but I’d recommend going here with a group so you can try a little of everything.
Braven – For someone who used to claim she wasn’t much of a steak girl, I sure have changed my tune in the last few months! After having the privilege of dining at a few very nice steakhouses recently, I’ve discovered a newfound appreciation for a sizzling steak grilled to perfection. Located in the JW Marriott ICE District, Braven specializes in prime, dry-aged steaks served with all the fixins. With a rich red and green colour palette accented by pops of copper and bronze, the interior feels luxe, yet wholly and unapologetically Albertan (case in point: check out the faux taxidermy wall!) Our group shared a delicious ribeye accompanied by several yummy sides – my favourites were the grilled broccolini and the beef-fat-roasted carrots (I never thought carrots could taste so decadent!) To start, we enjoyed the crispy bravas brussels sprouts, wagyu carpaccio, shrimp cocktail and Caesar salad. We ended the meal on a sweet note with an excellent crème brûlée. While you’re waiting for your table at Braven, you can enjoy a cocktail at the hotel’s sleek Lobby Bar.
Brew+Bloom – If you’re looking for an Instagrammable brunch spot, look no further than this pretty-in-pink café. Billed as “Edmonton’s first floral restaurant,” entering this girly and glam space is like stepping into a real-life version of Barbie’s dreamhouse. The restaurant has two separate spaces: the “Flower Tree” room (where I sat) is decorated to the nines with graphic floor tiles, blush pink velvet chairs and over-the-top floral installations on the walls and ceiling. The second space, “The Flower House”, is draped in hundreds of hand-strung flower garlands. Both spaces are stunning, and the restaurant’s Instagrammability continues with its menu. From cotton candy-topped waffles to avocado toast garnished with edible gold flakes, every dish was designed with #phoneeatsfirst in mind. I leaned into the Barbie theme and ordered in all pink: I started with a rose chai latte, made with beet root powder, rose syrup, and garnished with dried rose petals. For my main, I chose one of their most popular dishes, the chicken fettucine alfredo, which is served on bright pink pasta and topped with edible flowers – it was almost too pretty to eat!
Dolly’s Cocktails – Leave it to me to find a Dolly Parton themed cocktail bar in Edmonton! Dolly’s may look unassuming from the outside, but one step through their front door, and you’re instantly transported to a neon pink Barbie dreamland. From the hot pink banquettes and fringed lampshades to the flower garlands and disco balls adorning the ceiling, every inch of the space is delightfully girly, whimsical and over-the-top… just my style! I ordered the Strawberry Sweetheart: a combination of pisco, gin, vanilla liqueur, strawberry, lemon and egg white. It was almost too pretty to drink! If you’re hungry, check out Dolly’s fun and innovative food menu, which features classic bar bites with a Peruvian twist.
The Moth Café – This may sound strange coming from a former vegetarian, but I’m not normally the biggest fan of meatless meals. I just always feel like there’s something missing! But trust me: the dishes at this plant-based café are so hearty and nourishing, you won’t even miss the meat. (No rabbit food here!) I ordered the purple yam risotto: brown rice slow-cooked in purple yam coconut sauce, garnished with caramelized shiitake mushrooms, steamed broccoli, fried brussels, beets, sprouts and purple cabbage. I’m a big believer that you eat with your eyes first, and I also believe that “eating the rainbow” is one of the healthiest ways to eat: the more colours, the better! Well, this dish is so colourful that it’s practically a work of art, and so delicious that it feels more like a decadent indulgence than a healthy lunch. A win-win! My colleague ordered the Pad Thai, which he said was very good, and we both enjoyed a “Queen Mimosa”. The Moth’s plant-based theme is echoed in its decor, which features earthy tones, a beautiful butterfly mural, and tons of greenery hanging from the ceiling.
My Favourite Cafés & Dessert Shops In Edmonton
The Art Of Cake – Cake is certainly an art form, and this bakery has mastered it! The Art Of Cake has two separate spaces: a sumptuous Victorian-inspired lounge for walk-in customers, and a shabby chic French-style salon for their high tea service, which requires advance reservations. I walked in just as they were setting up for a high tea service, and everything was so cute! You can also pick up a slice of cake to go, or order one of their fancy custom cakes online. I treated myself to a slice of their decadent raspberry cheesecake, which I enjoyed in the Victorian lounge. From the antique velvet furnishings to the vintage portraits on the walls to the green bankers lamp on each table, they’ve really gone all-out with the theme… I approve!
Chocorrant Patisserie & Café – If you read this blog regularly, you probably know that I have a bit of an obsession with croissants. That’s why every time I find myself in a new city, I make it my mission to find the best croissants around. Luckily, Chocorrant made it easy for me… here, you’ll find several of Edmonton’s best croissants all under one roof! Forget your standard butter, chocolate and almond croissants: the innovative flavours at Chocorrant range from strawberry almond to blackberry cheesecake to chocolate chip toffee. Choosing a flavour was very difficult, but I eventually settled on the ube coconut and was not disappointed! The pastry was light and flaky with tons of buttery layers, and the ube filling was so rich and flavourful – not to mention, a delightfully vibrant shade of purple. Perhaps it’s a good thing I don’t live in Edmonton, because I can promise you I’d be here every single weekend getting my croissant fix! Chocorrant also sells a variety of pretty petits fours – check out that scrumptious-looking earl grey opera cake!
Drizzle Ice Cream – This soft-serve ice cream parlour makes some of Edmonton’s most Instagrammable frozen creations! They’re famous for their Belgian chocolate dips (available in 12 different flavours), unique toppings, and over-the-top milkshakes and sundaes. I treated myself to their Creme De La Creme sundae: vanilla ice cream topped with crushed Oreos, white chocolate chunks, edible cookie dough and white chocolate drizzle. Every sundae from Drizzle is served with waffle cone ‘chips’ and a mountain of whipped cream. The sundae was delicious – and unexpectedly nostalgic for me! When I was a kid, my dad used to make a classic icebox cake consisting of Mr. Christie’s chocolate wafers (now sadly discontinued) sandwiched together with layers of whipped cream. Well, this sundae tasted just like that! It brought me right back to my childhood, and I savoured every bite.
Rhubarb Café & Cocktails – This coffee shop-slash-cocktail bar is located in Edmonton’s quaint Manchester Square, a retail development inspired by the architecture of Old Town Amsterdam. (Check out my last post to read more about Manchester Square!) Rhubarb is known for their creative flight offerings, which let diners sample a variety of their most popular menu items. Now, I’m always a fan of anything served in flight form – whether that’s beer, wine or coffee – but Rhubarb takes it to the next level! I ordered a toast flight (yes, you read that right) which features four half-slices of toast with a delicious array of toppings: pumpkin, banana chai, blueberry feta, and “Not A PB&J” (sunflower butter and rhubarb chia jam.) The savoury pumpkin (topped with feta, pumpkin seeds and tahini sauce) was my definite favourite, but the “Not A PB&J” came in a close second – the rhubarb jam is to die for! Rhubarb has recently introduced a new scone flight (four scones for $15) and you can also order espresso, lemonade and sangria in flight form.
As you can see, Edmonton is quite the foodie paradise! I had a blast eating my way through the city, but even still, there are so many spots I didn’t have the time (nor stomach capacity) to check out. (After all, one can only eat so much!) Hopefully I’ll be able to return to YEG sometime soon, and continue my taste tour of the city. If you have any restaurant or café recommendations for my next visit, please drop them in the comments or send me an email – I’d love to hear from you.
Until next time, thanks for reading and have a great rest of your week!