Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion.
Victoria has a tremendous number and variety of restaurants for such a small city; this fact, and the glorious pantry that is Vancouver Island—think local fish, seafood, cheese, and organic fruits and veggies—keeps prices down (at least compared to Vancouver) and standards up. As an island, there's a self-sufficiency vibe, and the collaborative foodie ethos between chefs, producers and suppliers is palpable. Restaurants in the region are generally casual. Smoking is banned in all public places, including restaurant patios, in Greater Victoria and on the Southern Gulf Islands. Victorians tend to dine early—restaurants get busy at 6 and many kitchens close by 9. Pubs, lounges, and the few open-late places mentioned here are your best options for an after-hours nosh.
Wild salmon, locally made cheeses, Pacific oysters, organic vegetables, local microbrews, and wines from the island's farm-gate wineries (really small wineries are allowed to sell their wines "at the farm gate") are tastes to watch for. Vegetarians and vegans are well catered to in this health-conscious town, and seafood choices go well beyond traditional fish-and-chips. You may notice an "Ocean Wise" symbol on a growing number of menus: this indicates that the restaurant is committed to serving only sustainably harvested fish and seafood.
Some of the city's best casual (and sometimes not-so-casual) fare is served in pubs—particularly in brewpubs; most have an all-ages restaurant as well as an adults-only bar area.
Afternoon tea is a Victoria tradition, as is good coffee—despite the Starbucks invasion, there are plenty of fun and funky local caffeine purveyors around town.
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.
The chef is a baker-turned-butcher, so the resulting menu is laden with freshly baked breads like caraway sourdough, house-cranked sausages, and deliciously seasoned tender cuts that all exude the island's "eat local" lore. Selections change weekly. Most dishes are smaller, tapas-style options like oysters, beef tartare, pork belly, and octopus stew, alongside a duo of lamb and sesame-crusted albacore tuna, as well as the "Can't Decide" multi-plate chef's adventure for your taste buds (C$79). Simple veggies take on new grace, as in roasted carrots with ginger yogurt, walnuts, and raisins. The setting is a cozy, laid-back oasis in the heart of tourist-central. Choose to sit at the bar, an intimate corner table, or in the summer, a table in the inner outdoor-courtyard. A gourmet munchies menu runs 11 pm to 1 am making it an ideal post-concert hangout.
