THE COMPLETE FOODIE GUIDE TO VICTORIA, BC

This time last year, I had been living in Victoria, BC, for nearly six months. When I first arrived, I knew nothing about how this place was regarded as both the Afternoon Tea Capital and the Brunch Capital of Canada – but let me tell you, I sure picked it up quickly. If there’s one thing that y’all should know about me, it’s the fact that I am a SUCKER for good food, lovely people, and quality hot beverages – and that’s pretty much exactly what I dedicated my time in Canada to. And so I, your all-knowing foodie guide, am here to bless your feeds with the COMPLETE foodie guide to Victoria. You can thank me later (with afternoon tea?).

JOHN’S PLACE

Maybe I shouldn’t be starting this post on my favourite place in the whole city, but I really can’t help myself – and I could go on about how much I love John’s Place forever. Not only was the food gorgeous (I completely stuffed myself silly on pancakes, waffles, and chorizo) and the atmosphere buzzing, but the staff members were all so lovely. Debra was our server, and told us all about how she’d been here for a grand total of 34 years and loved it just as much today as she did then. She was super chatty and happy and instantly put a smile on everyone’s faces.

Elvis and James Blunt played in the background, and every single wall was thoroughly adorned with old photos and posters. After being recommended this place over and over again, and yet never finding the time to visit, I finally spent an afternoon here on my third month in the city. I fell in love instantly. After months of travel and not quite feeling at home, this was finally it. Never have I adored a place as much. Also, as a bonus – the food literally kept me fed until 9pm.

723 Pandora Ave, V8W 1N9

FISHHOOK

The sort of place you’ll find yourself venturing to when the weather outside is cold and wet and you want something comforting and delicious to pick you back up. Especially good for seafood lovers (I guess the clue’s in the name), Fishhook specialises in food full of protein, personality, and love. I came here once on a date with an English guy and we split a chowder – and whilst the date went up in flames, the gorgeous food really did take the edge off.

 805 Fort St, V8W 1H6

BE LOVE

Rated one of the best places in Victoria for vegan cake, it has a lot to live up to – and it sure does! The cake is so rich and sweet and gorgeous, we probably spent around half an hour just taking our time with two slices of cake. It’s the sort of place where you savour each bite, rather than just throwing it all down you. I visited here with a guy whose mother is a wonderful chef, owning little bits of cafes here and there, and even he agreed that it was the best cake he’d ever had.

1019 Blanshard St, V8W 2H4

TACOFINO

When you walk into Tacofino, you’ll instantly be greeted by a plethora of people milling about, catching up over some gorgeous food, sharing burritos and tacos and salads. It’s styled like an old-school indoor eatery, and is ideal for taking someone on a first date. What could be better than getting super messy, sitting so close to them that your elbows touch, and having to get near to their face to speak to them over the hustle and bustle? Perfect, I say.

787 Fort St, V8W 1G9

COLD COMFORT

Oh my goodness. Honestly, I feel as though even words could not do this place justice. I came here with someone who would later become a close friend, and we bought a ridiculous amount of their vegan ice-creams and huddled over them together sharing them. Some of their flavours are super ambitious – but they definitely work! Considering the fact that I have Crohn’s Disease, I really struggle to find foods that don’t make me ill, and yet with all the dairy-free options here I was pretty spoiled for choice. It’s a really neat place.

1115 N Park St #2, V8T 1C7

JONES BAR-B-QUE

A classic North American food place, it’s styled like every single roadside restaurant that’s ever been featured in a US movie. The ribs here are gorgeous (even for someone who is trying her best to be vegetarian…) and perfect for sharing with someone who has as much sauce around their mouth as you do. The atmosphere here is super live, and makes me feel as though someone with stirrups on their boots is going to jump upon a table at any time and do a two-step.

1725 Cook St, V8T 3P4

FERN CAFE AND BAKERY

Everything is vegan! They bake their cakes there, and I could have happily eaten every single bit of cooked goods they offered. Their coffees are strong, and the people are the loveliest – which are the two key things you need in a place, in my opinion. Not to be dramatic, but I think that this is the best off-the-beaten-track bakery in Victoria.

1-1115 N Park St, V8T 1C7

BARD AND BANKER

Apparently the Bard and Banker is styled like an “old Scottish bar” which is the most hilarious thing I’ve ever heard – not once have I visited a bar in Scotland that comes equipped with large glass chandeliers and waitresses in outfits I wouldn’t even wear for a night on the town. The food is gorgeous though, and they do live entertainment – although I don’t think I could ever say this place reminds me of a bar in the UK.

1022 Government St, V8W 1X7

     

WEST COAST WAFFLES

The best place to go after a lovely meal out for a massive dessert. You can have everything lactose- and gluten-free, which is perfect as it means that people with broken stomachs like yours truly don’t need to cut out and miss out on anything. Never have I had such an elaborate waffle in my life – let me tell you, that sugar rush lasted for hours. 

1235 Broad St, V8W 2A4

THE MARBLE SLAB CREAMERY

Absolutely my favourite ice-cream parlour. You can add any toppings you want and it’ll still be gorgeous (I tried fruit loops and sprinkles, which should not taste good together, and yet really, really did). This is just one of those places that you need to visit at least once during your time in the city. 

1150 Douglas St, V8W 3M9

BENTO SUSHI

I honestly ate nothing but Bento Sushi for the first week that I moved in, and it definitely worked to substitute a nightly cooked meal! I often find that the main problem when moving to a new place is that you spend weeks trying to figure out the best places to catch a snack – which is why I’m so thankful that I found Bento Sushi immediately after my move. Also, moving to the land of cheese and gravy (namely in the form of poutine), I found myself unable to eat a lot of the food that I stumbled across in Victoria – but luckily, the sushi served here is entirely devoid of my Crohn’s triggers. Pretty ideal.

670 Fort St, V8W 3V2

BEAVERTAILS

A staple of Canada – you can’t really say that you’ve visited the country if you don’t try one of these! Whilst pretty simple in concept, these inherent pitta breads with sugar are beautiful and super sweet and nice. Is an afternoon shopping in Victoria really complete without purchasing matching BeaverTails?

602 Broughton St, V8W 1C7

FRANKIE’S MODERN DINER

The best place for double dates! If you’ve ever wanted to re-create your Riverdale fantasies, then this is the place. Not only is it super cheap, but the food is beautiful – thick milkshakes and old-American style decor. The whole place is super pretty, and it’s just a pretty neat diner to spend a couple of hours.

910 Government St #38, V8W 1X3

BUTCHART GARDENS

Being British, I subconsciously found myself scouring out deeply British snacks such as scones – the best of which, I tasted at Butchart Gardens. I wrote about the gardens themselves in my first ever post about Victoria, and let me tell you, it quickly became one of my favourite places. I can’t wait until I go back to the city and visit it during the changes of summer (perhaps next year, when the Coronavirus is less of a threat?)

800 Benvenuto Avenue, V8M 1J8

ABKHAZI GARDENS

I cannot get over how wonderful my trip to Abkazi Gardens was. Not too many people know about this place, which is surprising as the food is delicious, the staff are the loveliest people ever, and the gardens are beautiful. I took a friend with me to sample their Chocolate Lovers’ Tea for Valentine’s Day, and let me tell you, it sure was an experience to remember. We walked in and were sat at a table with stunning mismatched china, and were told all about the glorious history of the place. Basically, these gorgeous gardens were built many years ago by a prince and princess, in order to turn their love for each other and the area into something physical. The princess, Peggy, died in 1994 – seven years after Nicholas – and a little sign over their scattered ashes instructs onlookers to celebrate her reunion with her beloved husband with a glass of champagne. It is a really beautiful backstory, and by the time we were told all about it, our afternoon tea had arrived.

Three tiers were filled with the most mouth-watering food – my favourites include the blini with smoked salmon, crème fraîche and caviar, Dungeness crab profiterole, beef and stilton petit croissant, arugula and goat cheese quiche, chocolate cherry scones, dark chocolate pavé, and the velvet Madelaine. The quality of the food really rivals the standards at the Fairmont, especially as it is available for a more affordable price, and much better surroundings. When we visited it was snowing, and the large glass windows offered the most beautiful Christmas-card-esque views of the snow-covered gardens. I wanted to get a few photographs in the place and as the rest of the guests had just filtered out, my travel partner and I had it all to ourselves. The staff was super helpful in setting out a table to photograph at, and stood with beaming great smiles, offering comments about how good it looked. Never have I met such wonderful and accommodating staff. Before we left, we had some more tea – with my travel partner choosing the “Philosopher’s Brew” – lemongrass, citrus peel, rosehips, and lavender blossoms – and myself going for “Chocolate Panda” – peppermint, rooibos, chamomile, anise, cocoa powder, chocolate & vanilla essence, steeped in steamed milk. It truly was one of the best experiences of the year. 

1964 Fairfield Rd, V8S 1H4

FIRESIDE GRILL

Easily the best place to go for both business meetings and long-awaited reunions with family members. The Fireside Grill is a large and welcoming place full of the nicest staff members ever, the most filling dinner food you can get, and gorgeous wooden-beamed ceilings. Massive chandeliers keep the place lit, and the price is real good for the sheer amount of flavour and substance that you get. 

4509 W Saanich Rd, V8Z 3G1

MURCHIE’S

I have no idea as to where to even begin talking about this place, I loved it so much. For those of you who aren’t aware, I’m a massive fan of tea – I drink about 12 cups a day, give or take. I spend weekends at tea festivals, holidays visiting temples to celebrate tea ceremonies, and business days spending my breaks attending talks on tea. So yeah, I guess you could say that I’m pretty into tea. Murchie’s is the nicest place to go for a hot beverage and cake in the city, as their selection of teas are gorgeous, and their cakes complement them perfectly. The shop itself is super pretty, and has a little gift store where you can buy some of your own tins to take home. Everything about this place is perfect for fanatics like yours truly.

1110 Government Street, V8W 1Y2

CRUST BAKERY

You know when you have a really good bit of bread, that crunches when you press it and flakes off into your month when you bite into it? Every single baked good from Crust Bakery lives up to these quality-assured standards, and everything is warm and tasty and divine. It’s located on Fort Street, which is pretty convenient for exploring the rest of the city, slice of bread in hand.

730 Fort St, V8W 1H2

THE DUTCH BAKERY

The bakery is run by the nicest people ever, offering a gorgeous little taste of the Netherlands. My favourite product here is by far the stroopwafels, which I was told are best eaten after being placed over a steaming cup of tea until the caramel middle is gooey. As a heads up – don’t leave it on there for a full hour whilst you forget that you have said hot beverage, as you will return to find that it has turned into a pool of sugar and goo that has bled all over your table. There’s no need to thank me.

718 Fort St, V8W 1H2

ROGER’S CHOCOLATES

Established in 1885, my second favourite thing about this place is that it’s haunted. We took a ghost tour around the city one evening and were informed that not only is it the oldest shop in the city, but it’s also home to the ghosts of Charles and Leah Rogers, who are rumoured to still wander the shop floor. My favourite thing about this place, however, has to be their mouth-wateringly good chocolates – which the Royal Family also likes to indulge in.

913 Government Street, V8W 1X5

LA TAQUERIA

Literally the best place to go on a first date, the food at La Taqueria is gorgeous and messy, and a flawless way to break the ice. Sit opposite each other as customers stream around you, being forced to move so close that you’re touching elbows. It’s pretty ideal.

766 Fort St, V8W 1H2

MILANO COFFEE

My favourite place to stop at before or after a whale watching tour, it’s warm and welcoming and smells of freshly-brewed coffee. They sell the most divine baked goods to go with the drinks, and it’s generally just a great place to hang out in the city. Dare I say the best coffee on the island?

817 Government Street, V8W 1W8

BLUE FOX CAFE

One of the highest-rated brunch places in the city – and for good reason. They sell everything you could ever want for a late lunch, making it perfect for dates, hangovers, and seeing your parents for the first time in months. The food is gorgeous, and will absolutely keep you fed for days. The staff are super lovely, too.

919 Fort St, V8V 3K3

THE CHURCHILL

If you like beer, then go no further than the Churchill. I’m not a large beer fan, and yet even I found myself trying all sorts of their drinks, eventually settling on some of the sweeter ones and falling for those entirely. The staff were great at advising us of what to order based on our preferences, and dare I say, they made beer taste good. 

1140 Government St, V8W 1Y2

ROAST MEAT + SANDWICH SHOP

It really says it all in the name. Regarded as Sandwich Heaven, you’re sure to find a lunch that you love. I tried one of their beef and salad bowls, and despite not knowing anything about the place prior to visiting, fell in love with everything about it. I highly recommend it for a very filling snack stop. 

1701 Douglas St, V8W 0C1

LA ROUX PATISSERIE

Quite literally the sweetest shop around. From their rich chocolate cakes to their meringue macarons, everything is super delicious and moorish. I first visited the place on a food tour, but found myself coming back every week to sample yet another one of their macaron flavours. They have every single flavour you could ever want, and more – and their shop is a super cute place to sit back and chill for an hour or two.

519 Fisgard St, V8W 1R3

LA TANA BAKERY

Home of the beautiful Italian bread that made me miss Italy. One of the coolest things about this place is that the owner started the whole business by riding his bike across the city, selling his breads directly from the bike basket. Each day he makes the baked goods fresh (apart from cookies because they have a much longer shelf life) and anything that’s left over he gives to the homeless. He’s a super cool guy.

3 Fan Tan Alley #101, V8W 1W3

JUST MATCHA TEA SHOP

Not to be dramatic, but this place literally changed my life. I visited the shop so, so many times, and each time I was reminded why I liked it so much. Their specialty is matcha lattes, which are made with the bright green matcha powder famous for making people feel good by removing toxins and reducing inflammation. The lattes are absolutely gorgeous and inspired me to make my own – which, frankly, tasted nowhere near as good as theirs, resulting in me coming back here all the time. They also sell these gorgeous matcha mini-chocolates, which are perfect for when you’re sitting here studying with friends and you want a little something sweet to snack on. They have dairy-free options for the hot beverages, and their products are suitable for the Keto Diet – meaning that it’s pretty much perfect to make everyone on earth feel better. The owners are also some of the nicest people ever, and are always more than happy to give you advice on making your own matcha, or show you in detail how they make theirs. A pretty incredible place, if I’m honest. 

2021 Oak Bay Ave, V8R 1E2;
544 Pandora Avenue, V8W 1N6

SHANZEE’S BISCUIT CAFE

When I first heard the words ‘biscuit cafe’ I assumed that Shanzee’s would be a small shop where only a handful of biscuit lovers would gather. As it turned out, I was incredibly wrong. You walk into the store and it’s this wide open place, filled to the brim with people keen to try their dishes. I tried several of their sweet and savoury biscuits, and let me tell you, I’ve never had a biscuit like them – and I’m British, so I should know. The atmosphere is buzzing, and it’s just a nice place to chill back and really focus on giving your sweet tooth some love. They serve so many things, but the biscuits are definitely the best.

529 Pandora Avenue, V8W 1N5

SÜLT PIEROGI BAR

I’ll say it – I didn’t know what pierogi was until I visited this pierogi bar (and I came here with a Ukrainian, who for some reason had never told me about his favourite national dish). The place is super chill and laid-back, and their decor is super pretty and rustic (and they have some pretty sick paintings on the walls). I quickly fell in love with the concept of pierogis, and proceeded to consume approximately a million at this bar. My favourite here is their pierogi with bacon – it really is something to die for.

609 Yates St, V8W 1K9

EARL’S KITCHEN AND BAR

The perfect place to spend happy hour (helloooo margaritas!), Earl’s is one of the most suave bars in town. Not only do they sell gorgeous alcohol for equally as gorgeous prices, but they also serve some pretty sweet cheesy nachos with meat and tomato bits. Honestly, it’s like an upside down lasagna, but with more potato chips and – dare I say it – flavour.

1199 Government St, V8W 3M9

BIN 4 LOUNGE

Bin 4 is all about amazing burgers. There’s nothing that will baptise you in Victorian life more than tasting quite literally the best burgers you will ever have. The prices here are pretty good for the amount of food you get, and it’s all so filling that you’ll be left with the top buttons of your jeans undone. Perfect for double dates and impromptu meetings with your new in-laws.

180-911 Yates Street, V8V 4X3

MACCHIATO CAFFE + PANINOTECA

Such a laid-back, chill place – it’s ideal for kicking back with a book, or having a conversational business meeting. It’s located in one of the prettiest neighbourhoods in Victoria, a couple blocks down from the ocean, and is overall just a nice place to spend a few hours.

1002 Broad Street, V8W 1Z9

 

OPA! OF GREECE

Because what could be better in Canada than Greek food? Located in the middle of the Bay Centre shopping mall, it’s a great place to hang out with friends and do some shopping. The servers are all super friendly, and the food is so flavoursome and cheap that it’s perfect for a filling student lunch. They have several locations, but this one is my favourite.

1150 Douglas St #435, V8W 3M9

BON MACARON PATISSERIE

Honestly, stepping into Bon Macaron makes you feel as though you’ve wandered right into Willy Wonka’s Factory. All around you are macarons made of flavours you never would have thought could be rendered into such a tiny snack – from bacon to lavender, curry to yuzu, white truffle and sea salt to pear and praline. The owner is the loveliest guy ever, and really took his time to explain all of his creations to us, along with the best way to consume them. One box lasted me about three days, where at the end of each evening I would take out a couple of macarons and really take my time to experience each flavour, letting the combination hit me slowly. It’s a new kind of luxury, and I loved every second.

1012 Broad Street, V8W 2A1

A TASTE OF VICTORIA FOOD TOURS

“All you need is a little courage and capital” is how our guide explained to us how he had started his business from scratch. He was a super cool dude, who had started the whole business himself and brought it up to the success that it is today. He seemed to know everything about the city, and had the sort of charisma that really made the tour fun. A Taste of Victoria quickly became my favourite food tour in the city, solely because it features everything I love – good food, a chatty and laid-back guide, and the opportunity to see the real side of the city. The people we met at the cafes and restaurants were all very friendly and loved talking about their businesses, and were more than happy to share their own stories about Victoria and its relationship with food. After the tour, our guide emailed me a copy of the places we had visited, so that I would recall their names and be able to visit them again later – which I did, several times. This food tour is one that you absolutely cannot afford to miss during your trip to the city – I can promise you that it will quickly become one of your highlights.

OFF THE EATEN TRACK

Never have I been on a food tour so thoroughly devoted to, well, food. All the history that we learnt about the area was directly correlated to a certain dish. I tried my first ever sip of kombucha at a place called 2% Jazz Coffee, and then tried my first ever breakfast pizza pie at Victoria Pie Co. The rest of the tour took us to Vij’s Sutra (gorgeous buttered chicken which is cooked raw in the sauce), later visiting some sweeter stores such as Tout de Sweet (where you must try their caramels!). It was a real fun experience, and the guide was super friendly and upbeat. After the tour, one of the ladies offered to drive me to the shopping centre – resulting in one of the most interesting encounters of my life (she was from Malaysia and boy, did she have some stories to tell!). Definitely a fun way to spend a day.

And so, after reading officially the longest food post on Victoria, I hope that you’ve learnt a thing or two. This is only a small number of the places that I visited in the city (I told you I’d been busy!), as I want to recommend only the best.

Have you guys ever checked out the food culture in Victoria, or feel inspired to after reading this post? Let me know in the comments below!

*Allie Mackin suggested that I turn this post into a PDF – and it was such a great idea that I just had to! To get your own downloadable PDF, click HERE!

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