highkicktravel

Time to look back at our favorites from 2025.
25 dishes and 25 beverages, plus restaurants, bars and lodging options we thought were particularly noteworthy. It was a Canada-heavy year in travel, with major trips to British Columbia and Newfoundland, so about 80% of the lists come from north of the border.

Best Food (Ordered chronologically)
1. Volaille (poultry) with Macaroni Gratineé – Derrière : Paris, France
2. Halloumi – Rudi : Victoria, BC
3. Fried Chicken – Part and Parcel : Victoria, BC
4. Cauliflower Bites – Six Mile Pub : Victoria, BC
5. Farmhouse Grilled Cheese – Barnside Brewing : Delta, BC
6. Wild Scallop Crudo – Bar Oso : Whistler, BC
7. Hako Sushi Roll – Sachi Sushi : Whistler, BC
8. Cookies and Cream Cinnamon Roll – Chic Pea Hut : Whistler, BC
9. Bánh Cuốn (Steamed Rice Sheets) – Ahn and Chi : Vancouver, BC
10. Duck Pancake – Fable Diner : Vancouver, BC
11. Cod Croquette – Reta’s at Hop Scotch Dinner Club : Halifax, NS
12. Black Cod – Bar Kismet : Halifax, NS
13. Cured Char – Portage : St. John’s, NL
14. Tiger Eye Ice Cream – Quidi Vidi Sweet Spot : St. John’s, NL
15. Cinnamon Toast Crunch Donut – Newfoundland Donut Co. : St. John’s, NL
16. Lobster Roll – Petty Harbour Public House : Petty Harbour, NL
17. Seafood Chowder – Dildo Brewing : Dildo, NL
18. Scallop Toutons – Ragged Rocks Gastropub : Bonavista, NL
19: Seared Duck Breast – The Boreal Diner : Bonavista, NL
20. Figgy Duff – The Norseman : L’Anse aux Meadows, NL
21. Seared Newfoundland Cod – Black Spruce Restaurant : Norris Point, NL
22. Chochoyotes de Yuca  – Oro by Nixta : Minneapolis, MN
23. Crepe Cake – Spoon and Stable : Minneapolis, MN
24. Artichoke & Portabella Mushroom Lasagne – Café Roka : Bisbee, AZ
25. Seafood Enchiladas – La Unica : Willcox, AZ

Best Overall Meal:
Bar Kismet : Halifax, NS

Other Exceptional Dining:
Part and Parcel Tasting Menu : Victoria, BC
Portage : St. John’s, NL
Black Spruce Restaurant : Norris Point, NL
Café Roka : Bisbee, AZ

Best Drinks (Ordered chronologically)
1. Tres Hands – Le Mary Celeste : Paris, France
2. Diversion Hazy IPA – Category 12 Brewing : Saanichton, BC
3. O Canada Latte – Butchart Gardens Coffee Shop : Brentwood Bay, BC
4. Au Jardin Sour – Ile Sauvage Brewing : Victoria, BC
5. Caesar – The Ruby : Victoria, BC
6. Stiff Jab Pale Ale – Sooke Oceanside Brewing : Sooke, BC
7. Oso Sour – Bar Oso : Whistler, BC
8. Off The Grid Gewürztraminer Orange Wine – Flute & Fromage : Whistler, BC
9. What’s Wrong With That Cat – Bar Su Su (Closed) : Vancouver, BC
10. Blacklight Black Altbier – Brassneck : Vancouver, BC
11. Cash Only – Reta’s at Hop Scotch Dinner Club : Halifax, NS
12. Nitro Cold Brew Float – Dairy Bar : Halifax, NS
13. Diablo – Good Robot Brewing : Halifax, NS
14. Wild Bologna Hazy IPA – Boomstick Brewing : Corner Brook, NL
15. Thirst Trap Pale Ale – Bannerman Brewing : St. John’s NL
16. Smash Daddy Ale – Landwash Brewing : Mount Pearl, NL
17. Confucius in Cancun – Papillon Cocktail Bar : St. John’s, NL
18. Iceberg Lager – Quidi Vidi Brewing : St. John’s, NL
19. Flight of the Dragon – Port Rexton Brewing : Port Rexton, NL
20. Bakeapple Mojito – Ragged Rocks Gastropub : Bonavista, NL
21. Stop Gherkin Me Around Dil Pickle Sour – Tumbled Rock Brewing : Baraboo, WI
22. Negroni El Jefe – Oro by Nixta : Minneapolis, MN
23. Custom Cocktails – Public Domain : Minneapolis, MN
24. Copper City Ale – Old Bisbee Brewing : Bisbee, AZ
25. Aglianico Red – Golden Rule Vineyards : Willcox, AZ

Best Bar:
The Narrows Public House : Halifax, NS

Other outstanding bars:
Public Domain : Minneapolis, MN
Le Mary Celeste : Paris, France
Papillon Cocktail Bar : St. John’s, NL

Best Lodging:
1. Rhumb Line Vineyard & Lavender Farm – Willcox, AZ

Other outstanding stays:
2. Quirpon Lighthouse Inn – Quirpon Island, NL
3. Hew & Draw Hotel – Corner Brook, NL
4. Adam’s Loft Airbnb – Vancouver, BC
5. The Perch on Mill Hill Airbnb – Victoria, BC