Last updated on April 13th, 2024 at 10:26 pm

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This blog post contains a list of the best restaurants in Victoria BC in 2023.

I am lucky to enough to visit Victoria BC pretty frequently. It’s a charming city, with lots to see, do, and eat. After many years of visiting, I have tried lots of restaurants in different areas of Victoria, so I feel pretty qualified to give advice about where to eat. Here, I’ve compiled a list of the best Victoria BC Restaurants.

Table of contents:

1. Best restaurants with a view
2. Best restaurants in downtown Victoria BC
3. Best seafood restaurants
4. Best pubs
5. Best patios
6. Best happy hours

Best Restaurants With a View in Victoria

Victoria is a very scenic city, set on the coast of beautiful Vancouver Island. Many restaurants offer ocean views.

• Steamship Grill and Bar. You can’t beat the views from Steamship Grill and Bar. This one is right downtown, and offers stunning views of the Inner Harbour.

• Milestones Inner Harbour. I prefer trying local restaurants, but there is also a Milestones at the Inner Harbour, which offers lovely views of the Harbour from its patio.

• Beach House. Another restaurant with an amazing ocean view is Beach House in Cordova Bay. It’s a bit out of the way if you’re staying downtown, but if you’re able to make it there, I would highly recommend it!

• Snug Pub. Another restaurant with a great view is Snug Pub in Oak Bay. It is within the Oak Bay Beach Hotel, but is open to non-guests. It offers beautiful views of the ocean and delicious food.

Best Restaurants in Downtown Victoria

If you are visiting Victoria BC, chances are you are staying downtown. Luckily, there are tons of great restaurants you can walk to in the downtown core.

• Pagliaccis. My favourite restaurant in downtown VIctoria is Pagliaccis, a restaurant that is famous for its delicious pasta (though it serves other food as well). This place is a must-visit in Victoria, but make sure you get there early, because it gets busy!

• Tapa Bar. Another great restaurant in downtown Victoria BC is Tapa Bar. This restaurant offers delicious Spanish tapas, great drinks, and is set in the most beautiful space. The atmosphere at Tapa Bar is unmatched!

• Nubo. If you’re looking for sushi, the best option in downtown Victoria (in my opinion) is Nubo. They offer delicious Japanese Tapas!

• Il Terazzo. This Italian restaurant is another must-try in Victoria. It is set in a beautiful building with a lovely candle-lit ambience. Not to mention the food is delicious..

Finally, if you’re looking for brunch in downtown Victoria BC, I would recommend Blue Fox Cafe or Jam Cafe. Both will be very busy on weekend mornings! Either go on a weekday, or go early if you don’t want to wait.

Best Seafood Restaurants in Victoria

Victoria is known for its seafood. You must try some seafood if you visit!

• Finn’s. In my opinion, the best seafood restaurant in Victoria BC is Finn’s. This restaurant offers delicious seafood (as well lots of other options), and is also a contender for my Best Victoria BC Restaurants With a View list. It is right downtown on the harbour, with great views and a great location.

• Nautical Nellies. Another restaurant I love for seafood in Victoria BC is Nautical Nellies. It serves fresh seafood, as well as delicious steaks. It is also located downtown, in easy walking distance of many hotels.

• One of the many fish and chips shops. Finally, you can’t visit Victoria without trying fish and chips. This may not be a fine dining experience, but it is delicious, and an essential Victoria experience. I can’t pick a favourite, but my top two choices are Red Fish Blue Fish and Barb’s. Res Fish Blue Fish is located on the Inner Harbour, and Barb’s is located nearby in Fisherman’s Wharf.

Best Pubs in Victoria

Victoria has many great pubs that are worth visiting.

• Penny Farthing. In my opinion, the best pub in Victoria BC is definitely Penny Farthing, in Oak Bay. This one is a little bit out of the way if you are staying downtown, but is definitely worth a visit. It is in the most adorable building with a cozy fireplace, and serves delicious pub food (try the short rib melt!). Penny Farthing is located in Oak Bay Village, a cute area that is definitely worth wandering around after you eat.

• Beagle Pub. Another pub I love in Victoria BC is the Beagle. Located in Cook Street Village, this pub offers great food and a wide selection of beer. It also has a nice patio in the summer. It is not far out of downtown!

• Irish Times. A great pub in downtown Victoria BC is the Irish Times. A traditional Irish pub, this establishment offer delicious food, including brunch, and great drinks. The atmosphere is very fun, and there is often live music.

Best Patios in Victoria

Summertime is patio season in Victoria! There are quite a few great patios to choose from.

• The Local. The best patio in Victoria BC is at The Local, which describes itself as “Victoria’s Sunniest Patio.” This patio right across the street from the inner harbour, and always has lots of beautiful flowers baskets out. It is busy though! You may need to wait if you want a spot on the patio.

• CRAFT Beer Market. My personal favourite patio in Victoria is at CRAFT Beer Market. This patio is quite large and offers lovely harbour views. CRAFT also has a great selection of drinks and some tasty food.

• Rooftop Patio. A less busy/more spacious patio in Victoria is Rooftop Patio at the Stratchona Hotel. This patio offers some city views (the building is not that tall though, so you can’t see too far). This is a great spot to enjoy a drink, and maybe even play beach volleyball!

• Smuggler’s Cove. Another patio I personally love is Smuggler’s Cove pub in Cadboro Bay. This pub is in an adorable building and has a nice deck that makes for a lovely place to sit outside in the summer. And being outside of downtown, I have never seen it get too busy. The food is great too!

Previously mentioned places that also have nice patios: Steamship Grill and Bar, Inner Harbour Milestones, and Beagle Pub.

Best Happy Hours in Victoria

I am a happy hour lover, so I have definitely done my research. Here are (in my opinion) the best happy hours in Victoria BC:

• El Furniture Warehouse. My favourite happy hour in Victoria is at El Furniture Warehouse. Afternoon happy hour is from 2-5. I think this happy hour is one of the best in the city in terms of deals, with drinks starting at $4.95. They have some pretty tasty food as well!

• Belleville’s. Another great happy hour is at Belleville’s. Happy hour is from 3-6. This one is a little pricier in terms of happy hour pricing (wine and highballs starting at $7.25), but has a great selection. I would say Belleville’s is also a contender for my patio list!

• Darcy’s Pub. This pub in downtown Victoria also has a great happy hour from 2-5. The selection is a bit more limited, but beer starts at $5, and wine at $6.25. This pub also has a lovely (but small) patio. If you’re able to get a seat outside, I would highly recommend it!

Honourable mentions: I try to stick to local restaurants, but I can’t lie, I love Earl’s happy hour, as well as Cactus Club. Both located in downtown Victoria.

Previously mentioned locations that also have a nice happy hour: CRAFT Beer Market, Penny Farthing and Tapa Bar.

I hope this list of the best Victoria BC restaurants is helpful! Leave a comment below to let me know if I’ve missed any of your favourite spots, or if you have any questions.

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