8 Restaurants In Lethbridge That Locals Love For Food & Vibes!
Lethbridge is known for its stunning natural beauty and being a gateway to the nearby Rocky Mountains. But few people know of its other secret….
Lethbridge was once a central hub for agriculture and livestock production in western Canada which turned some of the region into thriving farmlands that still supply the city’s food scene to this day.
Its diverse culinary scene still reflects this heritage. So prepare to have your senses awakened because this charming Alberta city is home to some of the best restaurants in the province.
From cozy bistros serving up locally-sourced cuisine to trendy cafes with Instagram-worthy plates, visitors to Lethbridge will never be left wanting!
So, let’s fork-ing go and discover the cream of the crop, the crème de la crème, of the best restaurants in Lethbridge!
Here’s our eight favorite restaurants in the city, and why they’re worth visiting. Bon appetit!
The Best Restaurants In Lethbridge: Food Worth Waiting For!
1. Bourbon & Butter
Fine dining has never been more casual, with seasonal global dishes bringing something refreshing to the plate each visit. You can’t go wrong with a trip to this upscale, rustic neighborhood eatery.
Bourbon & Butter is the new kid on the block, having only hit the scene in late 2021. They’ve got quite a reputation to beat, having taken over the spot where one of Lethbridge’s old favourites, Plum, had initially held the title.
Fortunately, and unfortunately, it was time for a change, and with the closing of Plum after the pandemic, Bourbon & Butter swept in to save the day.
This swanky take on global fare is an easy-to-love establishment that exudes luxury and VIP finesse.
Quaint, with a floor-to-ceiling shopfront, the venue is reminiscent of a small-town eatery, further set in by rustic furnishings. But somewhere in the dim, romantic light sits a trendy and modern feature wall, and the chic farmhouse-style restaurant becomes incandescently fitting of its refined dining repertoire.
But if we set aside the looks and analyze the menu, we’ll see where the influence of Lethbridge’s rich agricultural history shines through.
The meals are something you’d expect from a Michelin restaurant, but use local ingredients – farm grown or wild, to create unbelievably refined dishes that will blow the mind and palate.
Starters inclusive of culinary delights like Bone Marrow, charred Octopus, mains featuring Alberta Lamb Shank and Rainbow Trout, and a Creme Brulee for dessert, we can easily see why Bourbon & Butter quickly rose to fame as one of the best restaurants in Lethbridge.
Not to mention their inclusive beverage menu, which is a myriad of cocktails, wines, local ales, and ciders, you’ll regret not finding this eatery sooner!
Call us biased, but an underdog always garners our favour, and if you don’t believe us, check them out for yourself!
- Opening Hours: 5 pm to 11 pm Wed & Thurs; 5 pm to 12 pm Fri & Sat; Closed Sun – Tues
- Location: 330 6 Street South, Lethbridge
2. Chef Stella
Traditional and simple, Chef Stella offers a diner experience that’ll knock your expectations out of the park.
There’s something about the minimalistic, classic feel of a place like Chef Stella that really makes us reminisce on better times.
Don’t get us wrong, the fancy, frivolous fine-dining facilities out there really have something beautiful to offer, but nothing can quite beat a good ol’ traditional diner sometimes, and that’s just what Chef Stella is.
This little neighborhood eatery preserves the welcoming atmosphere of a family-run diner. From the checkerboard table covers to the black and white floors, it’s old and kitsch the way we like! The light, airy atmosphere is thanks to the bright shopfront that entertains guests with a panoramic view of the street.
Once you’ve settled into your table and find a moment to peruse the menu, you’ll find comfort in its familiarity. They’re known for their breakfast and lunch. In fact, some go so far as to say they’re one of the best restaurants in Lethbridge to stop by for your morning fix.
With the mouthwatering assortment of scrambles, hashes, and breakfast bowls, we tend to agree with the locals. Breakfast at Chef Stella is an experience not to be missed.
But don’t worry! If you’re a late riser, you’ll still have time to taste something tantalizing. When lunch hits, the menu changes tune. Sandwiches, soups, subs, and burgers, are all great choices!
And for the movers and shakers who don’t have time to sit down and eat, you can pick something up from Chef Stella’s market section, where homemade goodness is made to-go.
- Opening Hours: 8 am to 4 pm Tues – Fri; 8 am to 2 pm Sat; Closed Sun & Mon
- Location: 525 4 Ave S, Lethbridge
3. Hickory Street
Southern Texas BBQ in a Southern Alberta city, it doesn’t get much better than a sticky sweet meal from the town’s most beloved food-truck turned restaurant.
Hickory Street started out as a small, traveling food truck that would sneak their way into Lethbridge for special occasions.
However, demand was high, and locals and tourists couldn’t get enough of their food. So the genius minds at the Hickory Street headquarters decided to throw caution to the wind and eventually settled for a permanent Lethbridge location to bring everyone’s wildest BBQ dreams to life.
Their pursuit for something more has quickly earned them a spot as one of the most popular restaurants in Lethbridge, and it’s easy to see why. The tender, slow-cooked meats, slathered in sticky, sweet sauces and rubbed down with homemade spice mixes, are nothing to be laughed at.
Obviously, the menu is built for those with a carnivorous appetite, both in dietary preferences and portion sizes.
Smokey, slow-cooked briskets, sticky ribs, and an Armadillo Egg that’ll live rent-free in your mind forever, Hickory Street is built to give you both an unforgettable dining experience and meat sweats (so come prepared).
While we loved their humble food truck beginning, we think Hickory Street deserved more. And their brick-and-mortar venue was the perfect way to mix Southern Texan cuisine, with South Albertan hospitality.
The owners wanted a principle similar to the quick efficiency of the food truck, with the option of sitting in a restaurant setting. So, while they may negate the usual wait staff for a counter-serve concept, they’re no less worth the visit.
So next time you’re in Lethbridge and have a hankering for a tender and juicy pulled pork sandwich, you know where to head!
- Opening Hours: 11 am to 8 pm Tues-Thurs; 11 am to 9 pm Fri & Sat
- Location: 317 4 Street South, Lethbridge,
4. Sonder Coffee Bar
A quintessential coffee house that’ll have you looking itching for a taste of their coffee and waffles every morning, this urban and trendy neighborhood cafe is a must-visit for early risers and coffee lovers.
Now we will reserve our right to be shamefully biased, but we can’t resist a swanky coffee house in any way, shape, or form, especially if it can give us our much-needed morning fix. And in Lethbridge, there’s no better spot to get your coffee than Sonder Coffee Bar.
A Red Engine Coffee Roasters branch, Sonder Coffee Bar is suitably situated in Lethbridge’s industrial district. It’s every Insta-influencer’s dream, with a modern, trendy interior and aesthetics that’ll have you standing out amongst the tidal wave of Starbucks cups and logos.
It’s a quaint but urban hipster joint, where it’s not surprising to see individuals tucked in corner booths working feverishly on their laptops. We can’t blame them. We’d prefer this over our office any day.
Obviously, it goes without saying that you’re heading to Sonder for a delectable cappuccino or six to wake up those senses for the day ahead, but Sonder is more than just a place to get a steaming cuppa joe. It’s a place that feeds you too.
Granted, their food varieties aren’t huge, and your options are between gourmet waffles, bagels, and the selection of baked goods at the counter, but honestly speaking, we haven’t seen a bad review yet.
With locally sourced coffee beans, a selection of teas that’d make the King blush, and healthy comfort all-day foods, we can totally understand the hype behind Sonder Coffee Bar. And this isn’t our totally reasonable caffeine dependency talking!
- Opening Hours: 8 am to 4 pm Daily
- Location: 1119 3 Ave S, Lethbridge
5. Italian Table
Refined Italian delicacies served in a laid-back yet swanky eatery as part of the Sandman Signature Hotel. Enjoy a fresh pasta, or a simple glass of wine in a spacious setting with a gorgeous outdoor patio.
Nobody can resist the tantalizing aromas spilling through the doorway of a neighborhood Italian joint. But Lethbridge takes it a step further with the Italian Table, a refined take on your usual Italian eatery which has done away with the cute and cozy chequered table cloths, in favor of something with a bit more umph.
Situated in the Sandman Signature, this escape to Tuscan shores is yet another example of why visitors to Lethbridge should dive into the culinary scene. The gorgeous and expansive layout offers ample seating for hotel guests and members of the public to escape to a dreamy pasta-filled wonderland.
They’ve tossed aside the usual kitschy looks that Italian kitchens are known for, giving their restaurant a modern overhaul.
Rustic and classy, you’ll be enamored by the stunning furnishings, vibrant patterns, and the large, winsome mural on the wall. Outside, a covered patio offers the perfect excuse to dine a la carte all year round.
Once the gracious and welcoming staff seat you at your table, take a moment to appreciate your surroundings before indulging in a lengthy read of mouth-watering dishes.
Flatbread appears to be the closest you’ll get to a pizza here. Instead the menu is a rivetting selection of authentic dishes that forgo the Westernized plates we’re so accustomed to.
Options like the Four Cheese ravioli, Filet with Burro Bianco Truffle Sauce, and Chicken Parm Panini are par for the course here and as delectable as they sound.
End the evening with a glass of imported vino, and your choice of their sweetly satisfying desserts, and you’ll understand why Italian food has been a global craze that will never die down.
- Opening Hours: 11:30 am to 9 pm Mon – Thurs; 11:30 am to 10 pm Fri & Sat; 11 am to 9 pm Sun
- Location: 320 Scenic Dr S, Lethbridge
6. Miro Bistro
Global eating has never been easier to accomplish than a trip to the local Miro Bistro, where the mantra is keeping it simple.
Miro Bistro is the epitome of cozy Lethbridge restaurants. They’ve been around since the early 2000s and have weathered the storm of a global pandemic to continue into their second decade, offering delectable dining to Lethbridge locals and visitors.
They started as a passion project of Miro Kyjac, a Czechoslovakian native who’s spent decades perfecting the art form of simplicity in food. So when we heard of this bistro, we couldn’t help but adore the minimalistic qualities. It’s as easy as that. Good food doesn’t need to be complex.
Their menu is a concise and well-balanced selection of globally inspired fare.
The sumptuous starters of Goat’s Cheese Lasagne and Fried squid through to the Oven Roasted Rack of Lamb and Chateaubriand à la Miro are all made from the delectable local ingredients provided by Lethbridge’s fertile farmlands. The dish may be exotic, but the ingredients are homegrown!
Always be sure to check with the helpful waitstaff about Miro’s favorites for the season, they’re notable for a reason, and you wouldn’t want to miss the opportunity to tuck into a Pheasant Ravioli if it’s on the menu.
Like their food, their venue stays true to the same mantra. They’re casual, laidback, and welcoming in a cozy brick-faced building on 5 Street. Detailed pictures add a pop of culture to the otherwise minimalistic stylings, and the small venue feels oddly spacious thanks to their well-planned layout.
Miro Bistro deserves the title of one of the best restaurants in Lethbridge, but we’re just the whistleblowers and would highly encourage you to try it for yourself.
- Opening Hours: 5 pm to 9 pm Wed – Sat; Sun – Tues
- Location: 212 5 St S, Lethbridge
7. Mediterranean Mazza Bar
Take a chance on this hole-in-the-wall and fall in love with their Mediterranean menu and friendly hospitality.
We’ve never been the type to shy away from a good hole-in-the-wall, and that’s precisely what Mediterranean Mazza is.
From the street, it doesn’t look like much. In fact, we wouldn’t be surprised if unknowing passersbys just saunter down the road to something that looks more aesthetic. But we promise you, it’s a mistake they’ll never know they’ve made.
We are quick to jump at the opportunity to try anything exotic. So while Mediterranian cuisine is something we’re familiar with, the idea of Kafta and Falafels already has us salivating.
When you walk in, you’ll be greeted by a counter-service area with a whopping and somewhat overwhelming menu of delicacies overhead. But unless you’re on the go go go, take the time to find a table off to the side and enjoy the friendly and hospitable sit-down service.
We hope you’ve bought your appetite. As we’ve said, the menu is rather extensive, so there’s plenty of great choices to guzzle down!
From tapas-style small plates, which can be arranged in a platter of your choosing, to Beef Donairs and Chicken Schwarmas, Mediterranean Mazza is a culinary exploration of golden coastlines and fertile farmlands you never knew you needed.
Their casual and laidback vibes are reminiscent of our favorite type of neighborhood eatery, and the tables of locals really bring it home that Mediterranean Mazza is an eatery for the ages.
We don’t care that they don’t have the frills and fanciness of modern cafes and restaurants, all they need to do is continue to prepare pristine cuisine, and they’ll always have us in their corner.
- Opening Hours: 11 am to 8 pm Mon – Fri; 11 am to 7 pm Sat; Closed Sun
- Location: 721 4 Ave S, Lethbridge
8. Bread Milk and Honey
A fun, vibrant local cafe specializing in good food, great coffee and even better vibes.
Bread Milk and Honey has all the makings for becoming your new favorite breakfast nook. A quintessential trendy cafe in one of Lethbridge’s busiest culinary districts, they’re not something to be missed!
This trendy urban-industrial eatery is such a bright and airy change of pace, offering a vibrant space for youngsters or business types to enjoy a sip of coffee in a vibey atmosphere.
They’re known for shaking the boat. Unlike their competitors, they offer more than a hot beverage and incredible food. Occasionally, they host live events with music, special menus, and a boatload of untapped fun!
Their social media often offers the latest updates, so if you’ve planned a trip to Lethbridge and the dates coincide, don’t hesitate to go!
Other than that, the food and drinks are enough to keep the crowds coming back for more. They’ve taken cafe food to a higher level, offering tempting treats to anyone who walks through the doors.
They work on a counter-serve basis, with an extensive menu overhead displaying the latest and greatest selection from the kitchen. Their All Day Breakfast Sandwich is a hit with the crowd and nestles among other daily delicacies like wraps and salads.
But for those of you with a sweet tooth, let us give you a word of advice, just head straight to the counter and pick from the assortment of cookies, tarts, pies, and pastries that’ll have you on a buzz for the rest of the day.
Bread Milk and Honey is more than just a cafe, they’re a part of life, and we’d personally spend the better half of our existence just chowing down and enjoying the casual vibes of this Insta-worthy establishment.
- Opening Hours: 7 am to 4 pm Mon – Wed; 7 am to 5 pm Thurs – Sat; Closed Sun
- Location: 427 5 St S, Lethbridge
The Best Restaurants In Lethbridge: Our Final Thoughts
Now that you have our favourite recommendations of the best restaurants in Lethbridge, it’s time to loosen your belt and chow down!
Whether you’re a foodie or just looking for a great meal, Lethbridge has got you covered.
So beef up your appetite, and get ready to try them all, if you’ve got the stomach for it. It’s a feast for the senses you don’t want to miss out on!
