32 Best Restaurants in Vancouver Island, British Columbia

This small restaurant in the woods has garnered all sorts of accolades since it first opened in 2014. Here chef Jesse McCleery, who spent a winter in the kitchen at Noma in Copenhagen, focuses on locally sourced food and unusual ingredients presented in the most imaginative ways. This takes farm- and ocean-to-table to a whole new level. The nightly format is now a seven-course prix-fixe tasting menu (advise staff of any allergies at time of booking) and reservations can book up months in advance. Enjoy the sunset through the trees from the deck of the rustic house—if it gets chilly, use one of the cozy blankets to wrap up. In the backyard, chef Melanie Witt has set up the low key Charmer Pizza which is open Thursday to Sunday evenings.

An institution in downtown Tofino (it's been operating since 1949), the Schooner's main-floor dining room is comfortable and casually upscale. The seafood dishes change frequently, but ask for the signature halibut filet stuffed with Brie, crab, and shrimp in an apple-peppercorn brandy sauce—it's been their signature dish for more than 35 years. The steaming bowl of island clams, mussels, salmon, halibut, and red snapper is another winner. The Schooner also dishes up weekend brunch and hearty lunchtime sandwiches, burgers, and pastas. An oyster bar and summer patio are pluses. From October to May, the whole operation moves upstairs to a more intimate room with exceptional views of Meares Island.

Named for the year Tofino's first post office opened, this spot can be found at the Tofino Resort + Marina, where chef Paul Moran, winner of Top Chef Canada 2019, is working his magic. The avid forager uses locally sourced ingredients on his signature sourdough crust to create artisanal pizzas in an impressive 1000-degree wood-fired Mugnaini oven. Resort guests can take part in the "cook your catch" program, where fish or shellfish caught that morning is specially prepared that evening by the kitchen's team.

Fresh local ingredients and made-from-scratch fare keep regulars and visitors well fed at this family-run spot on Ganges' waterfront boardwalk. Here chef Shawn Walton takes it up a notch with, for example, duck confit with pear-and-Gorgonzola ravioli, or beef tenderloin with port demi-glace. The art-filled interior is welcoming, and on warm evenings the marina-view patio is positively romantic.

This family-owned and -operated coffee roastery and café, just off the Trans-Canada Highway, is popular with locals. Their coffee is also served in many cafés around Vancouver Island.

Neighboring farms supply much of the fare at this bistro, tucked down a country lane at Merridale Ciderworks. The bistro, part of the gambrel-roofed cider house, showcases local art on whitewashed walls within, and orchard and forest views from the wide, covered veranda. You can match house-made ciders to the casual comfort food featuring local ingredients and bread freshly baked in the brick oven onsite. Locals flock here for live music on the covered patio.

The newest outpost of this popular Victoria neighborhood pizzeria offers fire-roasted pizza, house-made gelato, and local craft beers and wine.

Former Wickaninnish Inn executive chef Warren Barr and his partner Lily Verney-Downey opened tiny Pluvio to up the culinary scene in Tofino's humble neighboring town. Thoughtfully prepared dishes are made from scratch with local, wild ingredients often foraged by Barr himself. Two dinner options are on offer: a three-course dinner menu for $91 per person or chef's tasting menu for $168 including wine ($111 without).  The property includes the 30-seat dining room with living art wall and also a four-room boutique hotel in the backyard next to the kitchen garden.

The Ganges location of this popular local organic coffee, which is sold all around Vancouver Island and Vancouver, is the flagship café and roastery where it all began in 1996. Stop by for an organic brew and tasty treat. A bag of their fair trade coffee also makes a thoughtful gift to bring home.

One of the new kids in town, this Korean eatery offers modern comfort food with amazing views. Located right at the marina, the restaurant sits on an island accessed by a causeway in the middle of Ucluelet Harbor (Seom means island in Korean). The menu features the freshest ingredients sourced by local producers.

The name, short for "sophisticated bohemian," sums up the style here: a classically trained chef serving casual fare influenced by international street food. The offbeat concept started in a purple truck before finding a permanent home in this light-filled café and bistro. The truck's long gone, but the food is still eclectic. The killer fish tacos are legendary as is the smoked-fish chowder. There's a great kids' menu and a bakery counter for take-out treats. Pick up a signed copy of chef Lisa Ahier's award-winning cookbook while you're there.

Heading to the beach? Follow the surfers to this orange catering truck at Outside Break, a cluster of driftwood- and cedar-sided shops just south of town. Dubbed “slow food fast,” the quick, cheap, and wholesome eats here include burritos, gringas (flour tortillas stuffed with meat or beans), and Baja-style fish tacos. Everything, including the salsa, is made from scratch. This is the original; there are now outposts in Vancouver and Victoria. Open until 6 pm.

You know a chef cares about local food when his menu lists how far each ingredient has traveled to reach your plate. At this historic seaside roadhouse in Cowichan Bay, the mussels and clams come from within 5 miles of the restaurant, and the poached Dungeness crab is from the bay outside the door. Many other ingredients—bison, wild salmon, duck breast—are sourced from within 200 miles. The 1863 wood-paneled room offers sea views throughout, but waterside deck tables are favored by the loyal clientele. The long wine list has a good selection of Cowichan Valley labels. There is live jazz on Saturday nights.