One of the highlights of travelling by train across Canada is not only the scenery but also the exceptional onboard dining experience. Each journey offers a unique taste of Canadian hospitality and regional flavour, prepared fresh and served with care as the landscape unfolds outside your window. Whether savouring multi-course meals aboard the luxurious Rocky Mountaineer, enjoying classic rail dining on VIA Rail’s The Canadian, relaxing over regional specialties on The Ocean, or enjoying light, convenient service along The Corridor, guests can look forward to thoughtful menus and warm service that enhance the journey from start to finish.
Rocky Mountaineer
The Most Scenic Table in Canada
A train journey through the Canadian Rockies is a visual highlight of any Canadian vacation, and with Rocky Mountaineer, it becomes a true culinary experience. Guests travelling in GoldLeaf or SilverLeaf Service enjoy freshly prepared breakfasts and lunches, inspired by the regions along the route. Every dish is designed to showcase local ingredients and reflect the journey through the mountains, forests, and valleys. With Rocky Mountaineer, the combination of scenery and cuisine creates an experience that is both memorable and truly Canadian.
GoldLeaf Service represents Rocky Mountaineer’s highest tier, providing an exceptional level of comfort and refinement. Guests travel in a bi-level glass-dome coach with expansive upper-level seating and a dedicated lower-level dining room where meals are served in a refined, restaurant-style setting.
Each multi-course, à la carte dish is freshly prepared onboard by a skilled culinary team, highlighting local and regional ingredients that capture the essence of the Canadian Rockies. Menu selections change with the route and season, and due to limited dining space, guests dine in two alternating seatings each day.
SilverLeaf Service provides a relaxed yet refined way to enjoy the beauty of the Canadian Rockies. Guests travel in a single-level glass-dome coach with oversized windows, where freshly prepared, regionally inspired meals are served directly at their seats, allowing uninterrupted views throughout the journey. While the atmosphere is casual, the cuisine remains beautifully presented and thoughtfully crafted, with selections that change by route and season.
Attentive hosts circulate through the coach offering complimentary snacks, wine, beer, spirits, and non-alcoholic beverages, while sharing stories about the history, culture, and wildlife along the route for a deeper connection to the landscape.
VIA Rail Canada
Gourmet Dining with a View in Motion
A train journey across Canada is already a remarkable way to experience the country. With VIA Rail it also presents an opportunity to enjoy classic onboard dining. Meals are freshly prepared and served in the dining car or at your seat, depending on the route, with menus designed to showcase regional ingredients and flavours. VIA Rail combines comfort, convenience, and great food, making every stretch of the trip a memorable part of the travel experience.
The Canadian
Toronto ⟷ Vancouver
On the legendary trans-Canada route, meals are included and tailored around your boarding and arrival times.
- Breakfast: 6:30 – 9:00 AM
- Lunch: 11:00 A.M. – 2:00 PM
- Dinner: 5:00 – 9:00 PM
Before boarding, you’ll select your preferred dining time. Prestige Class guests enjoy priority when selecting their meal times. Meals are freshly prepared onboard, ranging from hearty breakfasts to multi-course dinners featuring Canadian ingredients.
- Coffee, tea, juice, and snacks, such as muffins, are available throughout the day in the Skyline Car.
- Alcohol and soft drinks are available at an extra cost for regular Sleeper Plus Passengers, and included for Prestige Class guests.
Westbound
- Boarding in Toronto: Mimosa lunch at 11:00 AM
- Boarding in Jasper: Mimosa brunch served 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM
- Final breakfast is served before arriving in Vancouver.
Eastbound
- Boarding in Vancouver: Bon Voyage reception at departure.
- Boarding in Jasper: Lunch is only included for Prestige guests; otherwise, you’ll join the next scheduled meal.
- Breakfast and brunch are served before arriving in Toronto.
The Corridor
Québec City ⟷ Montréal/Ottawa/Toronto
For shorter journeys in Ontario and Québec, we book all of our guests in VIA Rail’s Business Class. With multiple departures each day, meal times fluctuate depending on the time of departure and arrival.
One meal is included, based on your departure time. Both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are complimentary. Meal items will vary depending on the route and the time of day, but there are always several options to choose from.
The Ocean
Montréal/Québec City ⟷ Halifax
Meal selections vary, and the cuisine compliments the changing landscapes along the route, making every meal an integral part of the travel experience.
Similar to VIA Rail’s other routes, the dining experience on The Ocean varies depending on your departure location and direction of travel. Meal offerings and timing are designed to match the journey, ensuring that each guest enjoys fresh, regionally inspired options while travelling between Montréal/Québec City and Halifax.
Eastbound
- Boarding in Quebec City: Breakfast and lunch are included.
- Boarding in Montreal: Dinner, breakfast, and lunch are included.
Westbound
- Boarding in Halifax to Quebec City: Lunch and dinner included.
- Boarding in Halifax to Montreal: Lunch, dinner, and breakfast included.
Fresh & Local Ingredients
Across all service levels on both trains, menus are designed to showcase the finest local and seasonal ingredients, creating a true taste of the regions passed through. From generous breakfasts to artfully plated entrées, every dish reflects the beauty and character of the surrounding landscapes. While Rocky Mountaineer journeys conclude by evening and do not include dinner service, guests can expect attentive care at all times. In the rare event of a delay, such as waiting for freight traffic, additional snacks or light meals are served to ensure comfort throughout the journey.
Special Diets & Requests
Both Rocky Mountaineer and VIA Rail are well prepared to accommodate a wide range of dietary needs, including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and allergy-related requirements. Guests are encouraged to share these details in advance and remind onboard staff so that appropriate preparations can be made.
