Victoria's Best Restaurants
Dashwood Manor Seaside Heritage B&B's
List of Victoria, BC's Recommended Restaurants
Come and Rave! Victoria is renowned for the exciting and superb dining experiences offered to locals and visitors alike. Whether your tastes are gourmet and eclectic, free ranging ethnic, or downright edgy and trend setting, Victoria's restauranteurs will have your eyes spinning. As bed and breakfast hosts, we know our restaurants well, and we love to help you find the perfect experience. Enjoy our brief list of some of our favourites!
The first section on this list covers the Victoria area restaurants we feel offer the very best food for a very special occasion. The second section is made up from restaurants we recommend highly and use most frequently. Reservations are highly recommended for any of these restaurants.
Cafe Brio is a trendy, lively Med-style place with fabulous food. Mediterranean food served with panache. A busy place.jpg)
loved by locals. Personal and friendly service in a very pleasant atmosphere. A nice place for a relaxing and special meal. 944 Fort St. 383-0009
Marina Restaurant a quiet and scenic location at the water’s edge in one of Victoria’s most charming neighbourhoods, Oak Bay. Great seafood. Sushi bar.
Brasserie L’Ecole A classic French Bistro in Chinatown. Chef Sean G. Brennan uses regional, seasonal ingredients with a French country-style influence. Casual dining, with impeccable, but not stuffy service in a cozy space. 1715 Government Street 250 475 6260
Blue Crab Bar & Grill Great seafood restaurant located in the Coast Harbourside Hotel along the Inner Harbour. Classy with spectacular harbour views. Declared by Frommers to be Victoria’s best seafood restaurant. http://www.bluecrab.ca 146 Kingston Street. 480-1999.
Pescatore’s Seafood Grill A second terrific seafood restaurant. 614 Humboldt Street. 385-4512. Located adjacent to the Empress Hotel in the downtown core by the Inner Harbour. Dynamic atmosphere.
Zambri’s Exudes casual charm. From the delicious smells coming from the open kitchen to the presence of a Sommelier, the owners create a unique Italian ambience. The daily changing menu features seasonal, local items with specialties such as house made salumi and sausages, marinated octopus and braised organic pork shoulder with sage brown butter. 110-911 Yates Street between the Market on Yates food store and London Drugs. Hours: Tues-Sat Lunch 11:30-3:00 Dinner 5:00-9:00 250-360-1171
Paprika’s Bistro A ten minute drive to Oak Bay but worth it! Located near Willows Beach in the tiny Estevan Village. A great atmosphere in a cosy contemporary room with a collection of works by local artists. Head chef George Szasz and his wife Linda pay homage to their Hungarian roots and three generations of family recipes with their classic bistro fare. As members of the Slow Food movement, George and Linda feel strongly about supporting Victoria’s community of local growers and artisans in sustainable, organic practices. Having fresh produce delivered daily from local farms and Paprika's own garden makes their food stand out. All of menu items are made in house using traditional methods, from their fresh daily bread to their home made ice cream. Winner of best first time entry in BC Wine Awards in 2006. 2524 Estevan Avenue, 250-592-7424
Carden Street Café is rustic, unique and exceptional. This is an odd-looking and inconspicuous building on the outside, but impeccably clean and eclectically interesting on the inside. They have the very best food available in Victoria (in our opinion) and their prices are quite reasonable. Reserve ahead – this is one very popular spot. Beware, however, as this restaurant is a 35 minute drive from Victoria, located in the country just past Butchart Gardens. A drive, but worth it! 1164 Stelly's Cross Rd., 544-1475
Camille's Restaurant is located in the heart of 'old town' in the revitalized Bastion Square. This restaurant is a unique combination of fine dining with a comfortable, casual atmosphere. The menu is diverse, with many specials including vegetarian food, fresh seafood, and wild game. Candlelight, soft blues and jazz and a talented staff supply the atmosphere. For those who love wine, the wine list is extensive . 45 Bastion Square, 381-3433
Matisse Restaurant Warm brick, yellow walls and classic French cuisine make this a popular Downtown restaurant, where patrons head for chef Philippe Renaudat's duck palette and shellfish-packed bouillabaisse in saffron and Pernod broth, followed by a crème brûlée. Splurge and indulge in the nine-course fixed price menu accompanied by choices from a cellar full of good French and California wines. 512 Yates Street 480-0883
Il Terrazzo Very successful Italian style cuisine restaurant in a 'restored' older building. Lots of brick, open ceilings and old wooden beams – quite dramatic. Although this is not one of the more expensive establishments in town, people go here for the dining experience rather than a quick meal. Owned by the same group who have Pescatore's. 555 Johnson by Wharf St. 361-0028
Beagle Pub Located in the Cook Street Village. The Beagle is a neighbourhood sports bar, so the noise level can be fairly high at times, but the food is excellent. Reservations accepted but not usually necessary. 301 Cook Street. 382-3301
Moss Street Café 143 Moss Street, by the corner of May Street. 995-5516. Opens at 9:15 Tuesday to Friday and 10:00 on Saturday. Dine in or take out. Excellent food and very reasonable. A pleasant 10 minute walk from Dashwood.
Barb's Fish and Chips Right on the docks at Fisherman's Wharf. Great food and a neat location. Go down and wander around the fishing boats and houseboats. You can take a water taxi there from the Inner Harbour - a great trip and fun to be out on the water!
Pagliacchi's Trendy, bustling, crowded and fun. A people-watching station Owner Howie Siegel is an entertainer at heart and in truth ... radio, tv, owns a theatre locally, etc. Decent food for a lunch or dinner, even better because of the atmosphere. Broad St. by Fort 386-1662
Irish Times Pub Found on Government Street in the heart of downtown, at the entrance to Bastion Square.
Spinnaker's Brewpub A waterview of downtown Victoria’s Inner Harbour gives this a special atmosphere. Very good food, from burgers to pizza, from tapas to fresh, local seafood. 308 Catherine Street, 386-2739
Elegant, Traditional Restaurants
Sooke Harbour House is located in Sooke, a coastal town 45 minutes from here. The food and atmosphere are famous around the world. Their wine list is reported to be one of the most extensive in Canada. This is likely the most expensive of the four, but also the most interesting. The drive is definitely worth it. 642 3421
Lure Seafood Restaurant and Bar in the Ocean Pointe Hotel is elegant, on the formal side with leisurely, unrushed service and in a lovely location on the edge of the water in downtown Victoria.
Empress Hotel A variety of restaurants here, from the formal and elegant to the famous afternoon tea. The Bengal Lounge is one of our favourite places to go for a casual but elegant respite from a harried day touring town or for their famous curry buffet. Located on the Inner Harbour 384 8111
Hotel Grand Pacific is located adjacent to the Empress Hotel and beside the BC Legislative Buildings. A Canada Select 5 Star property with the most romantic and intimate dining in Victoria. The Mark has seating for 28 only, making it cozy and intimate with its luxuriously elegant surroundings. Pacific Restaurant also has a great menu. Fabulous service, well-presented and perfectly prepared food. http://www.hotelgrandpacific.com/index.html .
Dunsmuir Lodge is high on a hill overlooking the north end of the Saanich Peninsula and the Gulf Islands. This is a white linen and silver atmosphere with tremendous service and a leisurely atmosphere. Great food, excellent value and very nice views. 250-656-3166
The Aerie Resort is in a class of its own. Sitting high on a mountain top approximately 40 minutes driving time from Dashwood Manor, this luxury resort has a Mediterranean look and feel. Come for the magical views; have enthralling memories of the food.One Cook Street, Victoria, B.C. V8V 3W6
Tel: 1 (250) 385-5517 * Toll Free: 1-800-667-5517 * frontdesk@dashwoodmanor.com