Where to Eat in Victoria, B.C.

Where to Eat in Victoria

We just got back from Victoria on Sunday and I’m still thinking about some of these dishes. One of the things we loved about our time in Victoria was how easy it was to walk around. We stayed at The Magnolia Hotel near the Inner Harbour and easily walked to a plethora of restaurants and coffee shops. We even thought the restaurants were too close at times because we wanted to walk off more of the delicious food. A few detours along the water and to the Parliament Building fixed us up, however…

Breakfast/Brunch in Victoria

We ate breakfast/brunch at Catalano, the hotel’s restaurant most of the mornings and were very pleasantly fed. They have a great continental breakfast with yogurt and fruit in little canning jars – a great serving idea. Once my guy arrived, we started enjoying their main dishes. They offer three versions of eggs benedict – a traditional, “the Benedetto” with avocado and bacon, as well as “the Catalano” with roasted red pepper and goat cheese. One more day and we would have tried all three! The Benedetto was quite delicious. And the waffle was scrumptious too!

Our one breakfast out was at PiCNiC Coffee. They offered sweet + savory bowls, burritos, and Empire donuts.

My coffee mission was strong on this trip (as it always is). Iced coffee was a bit hard to come by. I had much more luck with iced americanos, but I love them as well, so not to worry there! Our top three picks were Habit, pour., and Union Pacific Coffee – in that order. I loved the ambiance at pour., but the coffee was superb at Habit.

Dinner in Victoria

We enjoyed four dinners during our stay. The best meal (on my birthday no less) was at The Kitchen – part of the 10 Acres group that specializes in seasonal, farm-to-table food. They own a 10-acre, organic farm just north of the city and source everything else from like-minded purveyors. Their produce and fish dishes were divine – we cleaned the plates. Because all dishes are based on their produce, they can run out of dishes before the evening is over.

sThe sommelier at the restaurant was a lot of fun, humoring my mom’s and my minimal wine knowledge and indulging my curiosity. We sampled orange wine for the first time which had a unique flavor that’s rather unexplainable. I enjoyed it, however, so try it if you can. He also recommended a winery nearby that we took a daytrip to. Part of the 10 acres groups are the Bistro and the Commons. We didn’t get a chance to try either, but I can promise they’re amazing.

I received quite a few recommendations for Fish Hook, so we had to check it out. It’s Indian-inspired seafood dishes and it’s quite delicious. They’re known for tartines, but they have plenty of entree-sized portions. There’s limited seating, so go a bit early to get your name on the waitlist. We’ll be trying the mussels next time we’re in town!

We also had dinner at Vista 18 on the 18th floor of the Chateau Victoria hotel. You get an almost 360 view of the city that’s wonderful! Our last dinner was at Bard & Banker Pub. We were ready for salads at this point, but they’re traditional pub fare all looked mouth-watering. We also had a warm goat cheese appetizer that I hope to recreate soon!

Dessert in Victoria

And because life isn’t complete without dessert. We passed Chocolats Favoris multiple times each day and every time my mom wanted to try it. They dip soft-serve ice cream (four different flavors) in a chocolate dipping of your choice – 12 flavors. We tried salted caramel, crunchy hazelnut, and original milk. The layer of chocolate is thick, so your cone holds up while you enjoy your way through it. The rest of their locations are in Quebec.

We also enjoyed lemon ricotta beignets at Catalano with tea before turning in one night. They served the beignets with a cinnamon ice cream that was pure perfection and a gooseberry – my first ever!

Enough reading. Here are the photos…

The Haida Gwaii Halibut is their signature dish and there’s no question why. The halibut is perfectly buttery, the potatoes delicious, and the vegetables are the perfect accompaniment. This is the must-have dish!

Breakfast at  PiCNiC Coffee. The breakfast burrito and Empire donut (we tried butter pecan) were delicious!

Dinner at Fishhook was low key and yummy. The Biryani is on the left (coconut curried pilau + wild salmon) and the kofta (seafood meat balls) on the right. We added a green salad with harissa vinaigrette to get some veggies. The meal was very filling and tasty!

Coffee in Victoria

Our favorite coffee find in Victoria – Habit Coffee. They offer Bows & Arrows coffee which we love in our local coffee shops. And I have since found at that Bows & Arrows is based in Victoria, so we missed that amazing opportunity! Another reason (maybe the main reason – haha) to return!

The delicious bread offering and fun salad presentation at Vista 18. Reservations are recommended!

Ice Cream in Victoria

The chocolate-dipped, soft serve ice cream. I had the crunchy hazelnut made with dark chocolate. They also offered maple vanilla, dulce de leche, cookies and cream, and orange burst among many others.

Union Pacific Coffee was our last stop in Victoria before returning home. They’re on the outer edge of Chinatown and have a fun space. They also had a plethora of iced coffee drinks!

Other Victoria Food RECOMMENDATIONS

Olo Restaurant {farm to table}
Agrius/Fol Epi {Contemporary French Cuisine/Bakery}
Be Love {Vegan Cuisine}
Crust Bakery
Choux Choux Charcuterie
Little Jumbo {Contemporary Cuisine + Cocktails}
Jam Cafe {Breakfast}
Red Fish Blue Fish {Seaside Fish Eatery}
Il Terrazzo {Upscale Italian}
Veneto Lounge {Tapas + Cocktails}
Barb’s Fish + Chips
Paggliacci’s {Classic Italian}
Jusu Bar {Juice Bar}
Blue Fox Cafe {Breakfast}

Read my Travel Guide to 3 Days in Victoria