Nelson punches way above its weight class when it comes to restaurant choices. The culinary scene here is thriving, with each major worldwide cuisine being well represented. This is a town where only the best restaurants can survive the competition, so if a restaurant has been here for 5 years or more, chances are it’s great.
Eat Where the Locals Do
That’s our rule of thumb whenever we travel, and we’re here to point you towards the Nelson restaurants we visit most often (and where we take guests when we want to blow them away). We’d consider all of these iconic, and each restaurant here is very distinct – either in its decor or in its culinary offerings.
Let us know your favourites in the comments, and make sure you check out our companion piece on the best places in Nelson to get a drink!
Cantina Del Centro
Now a classic in the Nelson restaurant scene, Cantina burst onto the scene with incredible margaritas and flavour packed tacos – both of which remain their signature today!
This is a restaurant where quality always comes first, and it really comes through with every meal, whether you’re getting their highly popular nachos or the handheld tacos that made them famous. They make their own incredible hot sauces and salsas, and they’re amazing every time.
Broken Hill
If you love Cantina, you’ll be happy to hear that Broken Hill falls under the same ownership umbrella, and shares its caliber as one of Nelson’s most highly regarded restaurants. Instead of Cantina’s tacos and margaritas, Broken Hill does BBQ and whiskey cocktails, with shareable sampler platters, some of the best fried chicken you’ll ever have, and their own line of mouthwatering BBQ sauces.
With sides like their tasty hedon fries (cooked in brisket fat), mac & cheese, and tater tots, Broken Hill keeps us coming back for more.
The Library (at The Hume Hotel)
We love every establishment in the Hume Hotel, but The Library is really a one-of-a-kind establishment. Draped ceilings, a cozy fireplace, a recreation of the original saloon bar, and the kind of woodwork you just don’t see anymore, stepping into The Library will have you nostalgic for a bygone age.
You can just picture the lounge filled with top hats and three piece suits as early Nelsonites treated themselves to a cocktail, and while the dress code is no longer so upscale, it still maintains its top shelf pedigree as one of the finest wining and dining institutions in town (or anywhere, for that matter!).
Marzano
The new kid on the block, as far as this list goes, Marzano has become a local favourite for those who love a good Neapolitan style pizza with a glass of red wine and a healthy scoop of fresh made gelato.
If that doesn’t speak to you, they also have incredible handmade pastas, risottos, entrees, and brunch offerings. It’s authentic Italian cuisine done the old fashioned way – with traditional methods and an elegant touch. You really do need to try the gelato – it’s one of our favourite desserts in town!
The Outer Clove
Just off Baker Street, The Outer Clove has been serving up Eastern European comfort food since the mid-90’s. It’s one of the unique pieces that makes Nelson so diverse and interesting. After all, how often do you find a restaurant serving Hungarian goulash, Slovakian Halusky, Balkan style wraps, and German schnitzel, especially in the 90’s?
That’s not the only focus though, they have incredible burgers (which can, and SHOULD be upgraded to come on a Hungarian fried-bread known as Langos), made-from-scratch soups, and a spin on poutine that’s made with a creamy wine and garlic butter gravy that’s to die for.
Main Street Diner
The best burger in town? Many would say so (and we’ll make a list for that soon enough).
Main Street is famous for many things at this point: for kickstarting a Baker Street patio trend, for their authentic Greek food (especially their limited time weekend offerings), and yes, for serving up consistent, satisfying meals time and time again that makes this such an irreplaceable institution.
This is the place to come for fries. It’s the place to come for fish and chips. It’s the place to come for caesar salad, and yes – it’s the place to come for burgers, which are juicy, tender, and come in every imaginable composition!
Those are our picks for the restaurants to try first when you’re visiting Nelson for the first time! Each brings something different to Nelson, and sets the bar high for excellence. Once dinner is done, why not try one of Nelson’s best desserts, or grab an incredible drink – the fun’s just getting started!
