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$$$$ | Downtown |
French country cooking shines at this informal Chinatown bistro, and the historic room—once a schoolhouse for the Chinese community—evokes a timeless brasserie, from the patina-rich fir floors to the chalkboards above the slate bar listing the day's oyster, mussel, and steak options. Owner Sean Brennan, one of the city's better-known chefs, works with local farmers and fishermen to source the best seasonal, local, and organic ingredients. The menu changes daily but lists such contemporary spins on classic bistro fare as duck confit with house-made sausage, beef bourguignon, or spring salmon with beets, shallots, and pommes rissolées. Be prepared for lines as this petite spot does not take reservations—but it's worth the wait.
1715 Government St., Victoria, British Columbia, V8W 1Z4, Canada
Known For
- Seasonal menus
- French-country fare
- French wine and Belgian beers
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch, Reservations not accepted
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$$$$ | Downtown |
This intimate yet bustling Italian villa–style room has long been a Victoria favorite, mainly because of its Mediterranean-influenced atmosphere and cuisine, which is prepared primarily with locally raised ingredients. The menu changes almost daily, but you might find local halibut paired with an anchovy bacon vinaigrette, or even an apricot dessert soup. Most dishes come in full or half sizes, which are ideal for smaller appetites or for those who want to sample the menu more widely. Virtually everything, including the bread, most pastas, charcuterie, and desserts, is made in-house. The 400-label wine list has a top selection of BC choices.
944 Fort St., Victoria, British Columbia, V8V 3K2, Canada
Known For
- House-made charcuterie
- 400-label wine list
- Seasonal dishes
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch. Closed Sun.–Tues. and two weeks in Jan.
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$$$$ | Downtown |
Fresh-daily seafood and expansive harbor views make this airy James Bay hotel restaurant a popular lunch and dinner spot. Signature dishes include a crab cake starter, cedar plank salmon, and the variety contained in the steamer pot, but check the tempting daily specials on the blackboard as well. Desserts made in-house and a wine list highlighting British Columbia and Pacific Northwest labels round out the menu. Reservations for dinner are highly recommended. The lounge area and patio, serving until 11 pm nightly, has equally impressive views and a more casual menu.
146 Kingston St., Victoria, British Columbia, V8V 1V4, Canada
Known For
- Fresh seafood
- Harbor views
- Local wine list
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$$$$ | Brentwood Bay |
The dining room at The Butchart Gardens, in the Butchart family's former residence, serves traditional teas daily, year-round. Afternoon tea (C$50), with sandwiches and baked treats, is served noon to 4:30 pm from April through September. Gluten-free teas require 24-hour notice.
800 Benvenuto Ave., Victoria, British Columbia, V8M 1J8, Canada
Known For
- Garden location
- Romantic
- Historical setting
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$$$$ | Downtown |
Victoria's "big production line" and most elaborate afternoon tea (C$89) is served, as it has been since 1908, in the ornate lobby of the Fairmont Empress. The tea is the hotel's own blend, and the cakes, scones, and crustless sandwiches are prepared by some of Victoria's finest pastry chefs. As you face the bill, remember that tea here is more than a snack; it was, historically, a way to keep civilization alive in this farthest outpost of the empire. Seatings are daily from 11 am to 5:30 pm. Children under 12 pay half price.
721 Government St., Victoria, British Columbia, V8W 1W5, Canada
Known For
- Historical setting
- Service
- Pricey menu
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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$$$$ | Downtown |
A cute redbrick terrace edged with potted greenery, and warmed by fireplaces and overhead heaters, makes Il Terrazzo—tucked away off Waddington Alley near Market Square and not visible from the street—the locals' choice for romantic alfresco dining. Starters might include steamed mussels with sun-dried tomatoes and spicy banana peppers, while mains range from such traditional Northern Italian favorites as breaded scaloppini of pork tenderloin to a more local-leaning red snapper with blackberries. Thin-crust pizzas come piping hot from the restaurant's open-flame stone oven.
555 Johnson St., Victoria, British Columbia, V8W 1M2, Canada
Known For
- Romantic terrace
- Northern Italian dishes
- A local favorite
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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$$$$ | Oak Bay |
This circular room with art deco rosewood booths and a 180-degree view over the sailboats of Oak Bay Marina. Ocean Wise savvy, food is all about sustainably sourced seafood including wild salmon and Dungeness crab, all of which are teamed with local organic vegetables. Starters include spot prawn bisque or spiced calamari and fresh shucked oysters. A lunch menu of salads, burgers, and fish and an evening-only sushi bar also favor local ingredients. An attached marina-side coffee bar makes a handy stop for a seaside drive or cycle tour.
1327 Beach Dr., Victoria, British Columbia, V8S 2N4, Canada
Known For
- Marina view
- Sustainable seafood
- Evening sushi bar
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues.
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$$$$ | Downtown |
Candlelight dances beneath a carved mahogany ceiling at the Fairmont Empress hotel's flagship restaurant, where one of the two gracious rooms has expansive harbor views. The classically influenced Pacific Northwest menu changes seasonally but might feature such appetizers as Angus beef tartare or caramelized scallops and pork. Mains, featuring sustainably sourced meat and seafood, might include roasted Haida Gwaii halibut or butter-poached venison tenderloin. Simply grilled proteins with a choice of sides and sauces are also an option. The service is discreet and attentive and there are more than 800 labels on the wine list. If the weather is fine, the summer-only Veranda serves lunch, cocktails, and early-evening snacks, as well as the best sunset views over the harbor.
721 Government St., Victoria, British Columbia, V8W 1W5, Canada
Known For
- Finesse in food and service
- 800-label wine list
- Adjoining Q lounge
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$$$$ | Brentwood Bay |
Locally sourced, west coast cuisine is paired with wines from neighboring vineyards at this lovely ocean-view restaurant in the Brentwood Bay Resort. Start with beet and asparagus salad, then opt for halibut with a touch of ginger or one of the beef, lamb, poultry, and vegetarian dishes. The resort's well-known sushi bar is a destination unto itself offering Dynamite Rolls (tempura prawn based) and a Westcoast Roll (tuna and salmon with avocado) among others. Liquid desserts, as in a Mocha Expresso Martini, are hot favorites among traditional choices of pies, mousses, and sorbets. A big fireplace, two-story-high windows, and a wonderful array of Canadian art warm the interior; outside, a heated patio takes in views of Saanich Inlet. A more casual marina-view pub offers burgers, pizzas, and craft beers at lunch and dinner.
849 Verdier Ave., Victoria, British Columbia, V8M 1C5, Canada
Known For
- Sushi and fresh seafood
- Heated ocean-view patio
- Canadian art collection
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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$$$$ | Downtown |
For a Pacific Rim twist on the tea tradition, try this window-lined restaurant in the Hotel Grand Pacific (C$58). You can choose from an assortment of Asian-style teas, like the cherry haiku or dragon tears (green tea with jasmine), while you nibble on Dungeness crab cakes, tuna tataki, scones with clotted cream, and lemon meringue tarts. Tea is served from 2 to 4:30 daily. Reservations must be made 24 hours in advance.
463 Belleville St., Victoria, British Columbia, V8V 1X3, Canada
Known For
- Fusion difference
- Calm ambience
- Creative menu items
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential
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$$$$ | Oak Bay |
If you think that Oak Bay is all British tweeds and shepherd's pies, pull up a stool at the long, polished-wood bar in this thoroughly modern storefront bistro. The imaginative small-plates menu emphasizes fresh, local ingredients and regional purveyors in a long menu of charcuterie selections as well as updated comfort foods like braised short rib and onion tortiere, Parmesan frites, mouthwatering soups such as Dungeness crab bisque, and salads. The beers are mostly locally crafted and the wines—from BC and farther afield—come in 1-, 5-, or 8-ounce pours, making it easy to pair different wines with the various tapas. You might top off your meal with a small something-sweet: macarons or a selection of bite-size chocolate treats.
2228 Oak Bay Ave., Victoria, British Columbia, V8R 1G5, Canada
Known For
- Local ingredients
- BC craft beer
- Wine pairings
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$$$$ | Oak Bay |
Everything, including the jam, is homemade with exceptional creativity for the Scottish-style teas served in the White Heather Tea Room, a lovely place with big windows. Go for the gusto with its Signature Muckle (C$60). Teas are served from 10 am to 3 pm, Thursday through Sunday. Gluten-free selections are available as are take-out boxed teas.
1885 Oak Bay Ave., Victoria, British Columbia, V8R 1C6, Canada
Known For
- Village atmosphere
- Quiet
- Good service
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.–Wed.
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$$$$ | Downtown |
This lively trattoria, in a glam space with floor-to-ceiling windows and eclectic chandeliers, has a setting to match the top-notch Italian food and service. The kitchen uses local and organic ingredients to turn out contemporary versions of traditional dishes. During the always-busy lunch service, choose from pizzas, pastas, and hot sandwiches, or in the evening, opt for tagliatelle with Gorgonzola cream, leeks, and candied walnuts, or roasted leg of lamb with salsa verde and artichoke hearts. The mostly Italian wine list includes lesser-known labels, with many available by the glass.
820 Yates St., Victoria, British Columbia, V8W 1L8, Canada
Known For
- Top-notch pasta
- Extensive Italian wine list
- Great service
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon.
