The Foodie Experiences And Restaurants In Victoria Canada

With the highest ratio of restaurants to residents in the country, Victoria is considered to be Canada’s culinary hotspot. Nestled between the Pacific Ocean and green landscapes, this vibrant city is home to exquisite farm-to-table dining, fresh seafood, and multicultural cuisine; including the oldest Chinatown in Canada. From bustling markets and artisan eateries to fine-dining establishments, Victoria caters to every palate.

For those who brunch… House of Boateng Café

Located on Victoria’s Westshore, House of Boateng Café is renowned for its fusion of West African flavours with local fresh ingredients. The menu offers fresh, innovative dishes such as African-spiced shakshuka – perfectly poached eggs atop a bed of fresh green – or hearty and flavourful breakfast bowls. Chef Castro Boateng focuses masterful creations with a farm-to-table ethos, and hosts community-focused events, that emphasises his love of good food and even better company.

For seafood lovers… Marliena Café & Raw Bar

Marliena Café & Raw Bar offers a culinary haven for seafood enthusiasts, holding the title of the number one new restaurant in the country on Canada’s 100 Best List. Diners can take a seat at the raw bar, which features the freshest local oysters, clams and sashimi, paired with artisanal cocktails. The chic, coastal-inspired venue provides the perfect backdrop for a memorable dining experience with the flavours of the Pacific.

For a modern taste of Victoria’s Chinatown… Ugly Duckling Dining

In Downtown Victoria, travellers will find the award-winning Ugly Duckling offering both a tasting menu and set menu that changes monthly. Made using the finest local ingredients, these meticulously crafted menus marry inspiration taken from Vancouver Islands natural surroundings and the rich cultural heritage of North America’s oldest Chinatown with plates such as Savoury Shiitake Mushroom Custard and Fraser Valley Duck Breast.

For wine lovers… Blue Grouse Estate Winery

Visitors can wander through the picturesque winery of Blue Grouse Estate Winery in the nearby Cowichan Valley. The family-owned vineyard produces award-winning, sustainably crafted wines. Guests can sample these wines in the modern tasting room before exploring the grounds. The Winery’s varied programming offers something for everyone, whether a connoisseur or a casual sipper.

For gin lovers…Sheringham Distillery

Sheringham Distillery crafts award-winning spirits using locally sourced ingredients. Travellers can taste their Fresh Lemon Liqueur and Raincoast Gin, which secured three awards at the 2024 World Drinks Awards, or the Seaside Gin, recognised as the World’s Best Contemporary Gin in 2019.

and..

Victoria Distillers is where craftsmanship meets innovation in Victoria, BC. Their distillery produces premium spirits, including the renowned Empress 1908 Gin, known for its unique indigo hue and botanical blend. Visitors can enjoy a guided tour, learn about their sustainable practices, and sample award-winning creations in the stunning waterfront tasting room.

For those who can’t choose… Off The Eaten Track Tours

Since launching in 2012, Off The Eaten Track Tours has become the biggest food tour company in Victoria. Award-winning tours allow visitors to explore Victoria’s culture, history and most importantly, food. Led by local guides, travellers will meet with a number of the 40 local foodie businesses featured across the tour itineraries.

Off the Eaten Track Modern Chinatown Food and History Tour

Also check out… Flavour Trails

Travellers are taken on a gastronomic adventure through farm-to-table dining, farm-fresh markets, artisan producers, and local wineries through the Flavour Trails. The self-guided expeditions authentically celebrate the diversity and vibrancy of the region, offering travellers the opportunity to taste, sip and experience what Greater Victoria has to offer. This July, Flavour Trails launched a new Barns, Beaches & Beyond Flavour Trail, taking foodie adventurers through the areas of Langford, Metchosin, and Sooke.

A Local’s Guide to the Best Restaurant’s in Victoria, Canada

Local Insider Graziano Scaldaferri has picked out some of his favourite restaurants in Victoria to add to your growing list of recommendations! Also check out Destination Greater Victoria for more information.

Aura

Restaurant, Contemporary, Canadian

Sitting right by the ocean along the Inner Harbour, restaurant Aura is the top choice in Victoria to enjoy a dinner with a view. The menu showcases such tantalising options as small plates of deep fried sushi or calamari, wild salmon with summer vegetable succotash, and slow-roasted lamb loin with horseradish fondue. Switch it up and come here for a lingering brunch, or perhaps a lovely glass of wine before calling it a night; the sea will always be there to please your eyes while the restaurant’s food and drinks cater to your palate.

Butchart Gardens

Botanical Garden, Park

The Butchart Gardens is a series of must-visit, spellbinding gardens displaying manicured lawns and many, many wonderful flowers. The establishment offers visitors three different dining options: the Dining Room, a fine-dining restaurant; the Blue Poppy Restaurant, best suited for families; and the informal Coffee Shop. Unsurprisingly, each is richly decorated with the Butchart Gardens’ splendid flowers, and the exquisite dishes are served in beautiful presentations to match. Every Saturday Night, visitors also have the option to enjoy a ‘gourmet picnic’ on the charming lawn outside the Dining Room while watching the regular firework show.

Café Brio

Cafe, Restaurant, Italian, Seafood, North American

Café Brio has been delivering sumptuous continental fare to Victoria’s discerning palates since 1997, and continues to be regarded as one of the city’s finest restaurants 17 years after its opening. Driven by national pride, owners Greg Hayes and Silvia Marcolini favour Canadian produce: fresh seafood comes in regularly from the Pacific Ocean, and the beef is sourced from the region of Alberta. Similarly, the restaurant’s award-winning list of around 300 wines is dominated by bottles hailing from North America‘s West Coast. Must-try dishes at Café Brio include the seared scallops accompanied by a salad of orzo pasta, and the rabbit fricasse.

Ithaka

Restaurant, Greek, Mediterranean, Canadian, Fusion

The first thing to know about Ithaka is that it’s so popular that booking is essential. Named after the home island of mythological hero Ulysses, Ithaka cooks up traditional, authentic, scrumptious Greek food. Start with an appetizer of dolmades (grape leaves stuffed with ground beef, rice, herbs and spices) or spanakopita (spinach, feta cheese and herbs wrapped in filo pastry). Continue with the prawns santorini or the finger-licking pork souvlaki (medallions of charbroiled tenderloin pork), and finish it off with the classic baklava dessert, a sinful pastry of walnuts and almonds soaked in honey syrup. If you’re lucky enough, you’ll even get to see the members of the family who run the restaurant perform in a traditional Greek dance, as they often do.

Stage

Bar, Charcuterie, Wine Bar, Tapas, Canadian

A dinner at Stage goes to show that size really doesn’t matter, at least food-wise. Here, diners are offered an array of plates in small portions — mains included — but delivering outstanding flavours. The ingredients are carefully selected for their freshness and taste, and some of Stage’s best selling points are made from scratch in-house, including the breads, the gnocchi and the house-cured charcuterie. The wine list by sommelier Marlisa Hollands features excellent local and international bottles, and was scrupulously put together to pair the amazing fare that comes out of the kitchen. Favouring quality over quantity, Stage is a recommended choice for all gourmands in Victoria.

The Palms Restaurant & Lounge

Restaurant, Steakhouse, Italian, Tapas

Part of upscale Hotel Rialto, The Palms Restaurant & Lounge boasts a beautifully designed venue characterised by extensive wood panelling and all-white ceilings. Choose between classic favourites and exotically named craft cocktails such as Rio Rhubarb and the Cheribell. This is a popular date spot and the menu includes a wide selection of vegan bites.

About the author

Cassam Looch

Editorial Manager

Cassam Looch has been working within travel for more than a decade. An expert on film locations and set jetting destinations, Cassam is also a keen advocate of the many unique things to do in his home city of London. With more than 50 countries visited (so far), Cassam also has a great take on the rest of the world.