Must-see restaurants in Victoria

  • Jam Cafe

    Victoria

    No need to conduct an opinion poll: the perennial lines in the street outside Jam suggest that this is the best breakfast spot in Victoria. The reasons?…

  • Il Terrazzo

    Victoria

    Authentic Italian flavors melded with a laid-back Victoria spirit make a devastatingly good combo. If you don’t believe us, come to Il Terrazzo, a…

  • Brasserie L'École

    Victoria

    Bonsoir! You may have just arrived at the best restaurant in Victoria, a small but wonderfully elegant bistro discreetly furnished in la mode français,…

  • Crust Bakery

    Victoria

    There are several bakeries on this stretch of Fort St, but the Crust jumps out at you first. Maybe it's the deliciousness of the aromas, or the delicate…

  • Red Fish Blue Fish

    Victoria

    On the waterfront boardwalk at the foot of Broughton St, this freight-container takeout shack serves fresh-made, finger-licking sustainable seafood…

  • La Taqueria

    Victoria

    A huge, aquamarine-painted satellite of Vancouver's popular and authentic Mexican joint, this ultra-friendly spot specializes in offering a wide array of…

  • Fishhook

    Victoria

    Don't miss the smoky, coconutty chowder at this tiny Indian- and French-influenced seafood restaurant, but make sure you add a tartine open-faced sandwich…

  • Ruby

    Victoria

    The Hotel Zed's upmarket diner lures locals (arrive off-peak to avoid the crush) with its breakfast tacos and eggs Benedict platters (recommended: the …

  • Pink Bicycle

    Victoria

    A long way from the greasy patties of yore, the Pink Bicycle (named for the machine that has pride of place in the window) deals in gourmet burgers served…

  • Pluto's

    Victoria

    A garage-rehabilitation project with a galactic theme, Pluto's is the only remaining Phillips 66 'bat-wing'-style gas station left in Canada, although the…

  • Pagliacci’s

    Victoria

    A local legend that's often packed elbow-to-elbow on busy evenings, this New York–style Italian restaurant serves great pasta dishes, often with a West…

  • Murchie's Tea & Coffee

    Victoria

    Despite being conceived by an expat Scotsman in New Westminster in 1894, BC’s quintessential tea merchant has become a Victoria staple with the company…

  • Olo

    Victoria

    Olo is Victoria's quintessential farm-to-table restaurant and it ploughs a deep furrow. The 'locally grown' mantra is taken seriously here with small…

  • Legislative Dining Room

    Victoria

    One of Victoria's best-kept dining secrets, the Parliament Buildings have their own subsidized, old-school restaurant where both MLAs and the public can…

  • John's Place

    Victoria

    This friendly, diner-style hangout is lined with memorabilia (complete with obligatory jukebox), while its enormous menu is a cut above standard diner…

  • Foo Asian Street Food

    Victoria

    Like a food truck that grew roots in a car park, this local-fave shack focuses on quickly rendered dishes inspired by Asian hawker stalls. Grab a perch…

  • Venus Sophia

    Victoria

    A delightful cream-walled tearoom combining traditional tea service (including a very reasonable $14 cream tea) with beautifully presented vegetarian…

  • Union Pacific Coffee Co.

    Victoria

    In the fight for best Victoria coffee bar, Union Pacific lays a valid claim from its perch in a handsome heritage building in Chinatown. It also serves…

  • Barb’s Fish & Chips

    Victoria

    With its British antecedents and proximity to the sea, Victoria knows how to fry up fine fish-and-chips and this Fisherman's Wharf institution, in…

  • Discovery Coffee

    Victoria

    Go here for a perfect marriage of coffee and doughnuts. The small Victoria chain (six branches) roasts its own beans and bakes its own doughnuts daily…

  • Pendray Tea House

    Victoria

    A decorous little tearoom in one of Victoria’s oldest houses in front of the Huntingdon Manor hotel where you can get the full monty – ‘high tea’ – with…

  • ReBar

    Victoria

    A beloved local fave with a monochrome-painted exterior (and riotously colorful tablecloths inside), this is the best place in town for vegetarians and…

  • Lotus Pond Vegetarian Restaurant

    Victoria

    This no-frills downtown spot was satisfying local vegetarians long before meat-free diets became fashionable. Superior to most Chinese eateries and with a…

  • Mint

    Victoria

    This loungey hangout is especially popular with bar staff winding down after their late-night shifts. But they don't just come to bitch about their non…

  • Picnic

    Victoria

    Downtown's funkiest little cafe is easy to miss, but it's worth the hunt. There's a Canadiana feel to the interior, hence the artwork moose head, but…

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