15 Best Restaurants in Victoria, BC, Loved by Locals

ByJanice and George Updated on
Best restaurants in Victoria, BC

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Wondering where to eat in Victoria?

We’ve lived here for ten years now, and we’re thrilled the city has blossomed into quite a foodie paradise.

One of the pleasures of living in Victoria is treating ourselves to a fine dinner out – especially when it means skipping kitchen duty!

We love the variety of restos. You can slurp fresh local oysters on summer seaside patios, twirl chopsticks at sophisticated sushi bars and indulge in hearty Italian fare at cozy trattorias. Take-out and delivery options are top-notch too.

Hungry? Here’s the inside scoop on our favorite Victoria restaurants.

Best restaurants in Victoria, BC (quick picks)

Just want a quick answer? These three are at the top of our list!

  • Wind Cries Mary – Lively vibe, secret courtyard and creative sharing plates (including ridiculously good fried chicken). (See #1)
  • Bistrot L’Stage – A neighborhood gem in Fernwood that flies under the tourist radar, with great wine and French-inspired bistro fare. (See #2)
  • Café Brio – A longtime local favorite that’s consistently excellent, with a pretty little summer patio. (See #4)

Want to taste your way around Victoria?

This guided food-and-history walking tour is a fun way to sample several local downtown spots in one go, with a little Victoria history thrown in too.

Great restos for a night out

No surprise – but most of the better restaurants (date night and higher-end ones) are found downtown, within easy walking distance of many of the city’s top hotels.

Restaurant cost guide

Here’s roughly what the following restaurants cost for dinner for 2 people in Canadian dollars.* (This includes 2 alcoholic drinks each.)

Taxes (12%) and tips are extra.

  • $ = Under $100
  • $$ = $100 to $150
  • $$$ = Over $150

*Note: If you’re coming from the U.S., lucky you! When you convert to U.S. pricing, you’ll pay about 1/3 less in U.S. dollars than us Canadians.

1) Wind Cries Mary

Dark brick-lined interior of Wind Cries Mary restaurant
It’s cozy inside Wind Cries Mary

This restaurant has quickly charmed its way into becoming one of our new favorite restaurants for dinner in Victoria.

Tucked down several steps in an historic building, you’ll find a warren of softly-lit rooms mixing exposed brick with vintage-style wallpaper. The funky look continues at the table, with mismatched plates – the kind of flowered china your grandmother might have loved.

The vibe is lively (indeed, some diners find it downright noisy inside). But we have a solution for that…

Best seats

White umbrellas on the outside patio at Wind Cries Mary, Victoria
No, we don’t sit out here on the street-side patio

We always sit outside – not at the tables out front on Bastion Square, but in their “secret” courtyard. Walk all the way through the different rooms and you step into a walled courtyard, with leafy trees strung with mini-lights at night.

There are plenty of heaters, while big umbrellas stay permanently open to help trap the warmth. Add the blankets supplied, and you can comfortably eat out here on many evenings throughout the year.

What’s to eat?

Us at Wind Cries Mary
Plate of seared ling cod accompanied by a bottle of white wine
Good food and a cozy “hidden” courtyard – Wind Cries Mary has us hooked!

Expect creative West Coast food built around local and seasonal ingredients, with a menu that changes often.

Everything is geared toward sharing and dishes come out as they’re ready. (But we’ve found a salad will usually arrive before, say, a hot meat dish.)

For a table of four, we usually order six dishes.

We almost always go for a fresh burrata salad, plus one of the pastas – perhaps pillowy gnocchi with whatever ingredients the kitchen is playing with.

Not every dish has been a winner. On our most recent visit, the ling cod with oyster mushrooms, broccolini and pea sauce was too salty and overcooked for our liking.

But there’s one dish we always order – the fried chicken.

Now, don’t think ordinary bucket-of-chicken fried chicken. These are big, juicy boneless chunks with a wonderfully crunchy crust, served piping hot and dressed with honey butter.

It’s so popular the team behind Wind Cries Mary built another restaurant around it – Birdman, serving chicken, oysters and Southern-inspired food. And we hear everyone is flocking there! (Sorry, we couldn’t resist.)

Bottom line

Come to Wind Cries Mary for the inventive sharing plates and the fried chicken.

And be sure to reserve a courtyard table! (If we ate inside, where it’s noisier and one room is a bit claustrophobic with a low ceiling), we might not be quite so hot on this place.

Another bonus for night owls: Wind Cries Mary is open until 1:00 am (unusually late for Victoria!), seven nights a week.

2) Bistrot L’Stage

People sit on leather stools around the bar at Bistrot L'Stage in Victoria
Cozy, casual and very neighborhood-y! Pull up a leather stool at the bar at Stage

Housed in a heritage building in Fernwood, Bistrot L’Stage (also known as Stage Wine Bar) is a bit of a hidden gem restaurant in Victoria.

It’s a cozy neighborhood spot (about a 10-minute drive or Uber ride from downtown) with exposed brick, wooden floors and leather bar stools – very European-bistro in feel.

And comfortable… On weekends, we see solo diners perched at the bar with a book, enjoying a glass of wine and a light meal.

A wine bar at heart

Ice bucket with bottle of wine against a backdrop display of empty wine bottles lining a window
No, we didn’t drink all these! The bottles lining the window are part of Stage’s wine display

Wine is a big part of the resto, and the wine list is extensive, with bottles from all over the world.

But there’s no menu for wines by the glass.

Instead, your server will let you know what bottles are open that evening. There are usually quite a few reds and whites to choose from, and the staff really know their wine. They’ll tell you about each one – and pour you a taste before you decide.

What’s to eat?

Halibut with fava beans and capers in a brown butter sauce
Halibut with fava beans and capers in a brown butter sauce

The menu is really small – and always changing.

A few things are pretty much constants, though. There are always cured meat and cheese selections, and the big puffy hunk of warm bread with butter is a hit.

We usually share three dishes, which we find is ample for a satisfying-but-not-stuffed-feeling dinner.

We start with a flavorful salad – perhaps thick slices of sweet heirloom tomatoes with freshly toasted croutons, or radicchio with pickled grapes and a pear vinaigrette.

For a main, we go for the sablefish or halibut if it’s on the menu.

On our last visit, we had the chicken piccata – a huge pan-fried chicken cutlet almost the size of the dinner plate, served piping hot and wonderfully juicy inside. Add an order of chunky fries with truffle mayo, and our tastebuds were very happy.

Bottom line

Bistrot L’Stage is the sort of neighborhood wine bar we love having in Victoria.

There’s sidewalk seating in summer. But even though we normally prefer sitting outside in warmer weather, we prefer sitting inside here – it’s a bit more sophisticated. Still, this is more of a local place, so you don’t have to gussy up for dinner.

3) Brasserie L’Ecole

Diners sit in busy French brasserie with wood floors restaurant
Warm lighting, deep red walls and a lively buzz

Brasserie L’Ecole is a long-standing local favorite that’s been re-invented a few times.

The restaurant serves classic French-style food in a brasserie setting. We’re talking wood floors, wood tables, brick-red walls and candlelight, all contributing to a cozy bistro vibe.

What’s to eat?

White fish with vegetables on a plate
Beautifully plated fish gets the French touch at Brasserie L’Ecole

The dinner menu changes frequently, with dishes sourced from locally available products.

True to their French roots, you can expect to find French onion soup, frogs’ legs in a lemon caper butter and chicken liver mousse.

Steak frites? Absolutely – perhaps with a dollop of Roquefort butter on the steak.

During our visit, I (Janice) tried the duck confit, which I found a little too salty for my taste. However, George was delighted with his choice of dish (pork belly).

Bottom line

Brasserie L’Ecole was taken over by Café Brio (covered in #4 below) – which is a good thing!

Before, they didn’t take reservations. You’d ring the buzzer, then wait outside until they were ready to seat you.

Now you can reserve. Whew! We’re eager to return. (And I’m hoping the duck confit will be less salty when I try it next.)

4) Café Brio

Cafe Brio salad
Cafe Brio
From duck to morels, Café Brio serves up yummy dishes in its cozy Italian-inspired setting

As they’re a few blocks away from downtown, Café Brio is not on the usual tourist trail. But they’re always busy with locals (and visitors who’ve done their research).

In summer, they have a handful of tables set up on their vine-adorned courtyard patio – snag one if you can. You’ll feel a little like you’re in Tuscany.

What’s to eat?

They describe their menu as Italian-inspired. But they’re not an Italian restaurant in the traditional sense. The dishes are more international, with a Pacific Northwest touch.

We always start with a salad.

It doesn’t matter if you pick the beet salad with gorgonzola and candied walnuts or the wild green-and-herb salad with hazelnuts and goat cheese. Their salads are always fresh (no limp brown edges on the leaves) and lightly dressed.

We love that they offer half portions of every entrée. (That means George and I don’t have to share!)

And then, I always choose the duck for an entrée. Sometimes they have duck confit on the menu. Lately, it’s been duck with beets in a plum jus.

George might go for the Saltspring Island mussels.

Salt Spring Island mussels at Cafe Brio
Fancy a steaming pot of mussels and crispy fries?

Bottom line

Café Brio has been a fave in Victoria for more than 25 years, and they’re still going strong!

Reserve well in advance. (If we were to call on a Wednesday in summer, we’d have a hard time getting a weekend reservation.)

5) Courtney Room

Fresh-shucked oysters at The Courtney Room, Victoria, Canada
Seafood is always on the menu here

Looking for the perfect place for a special occasion? The Courtney Room is a top pick.

This award-winning fine dining restaurant offers a fresh take on modern Pacific Northwest cuisine. They showcase local ingredients, complemented by a superb wine list.

What’s to eat?

Almost too pretty to eat – seafood bites at the Courtney Room

Maybe splurge on the chef’s seasonal tasting menu?

It might include oysters with rose hip and caviar or a foie gras parfait to start, followed by your choice of ling cod with a butternut squash velouté or local duck breast.

That’s usually a bit too rich for us, so we go à la carte. You’ll find a tempting selection of dishes ranging from seared scallops to roasted lamb and beef tenderloin in a Bordelaise sauce, all prepared just so.

The restaurant is open for breakfast and brunch too.

The Food Network declared Victoria the “Brunch Capital of Canada” (no disagreement here!) – and the Courtney Room is a great place for a high-end brunch.

Bottom line

The Courtney Room is pricey. But you’ll be treated to an excellent meal, along with outstanding service.

Our favorite Italian restaurants in Victoria

Mama mia! We love everything about Italy – especially its food.

Thankfully, we have some great Italian restaurants in the city that can satisfy our Italian food cravings.

6) Il Terrazzo

Table and chairs covered with furs at Il Terrazzo restaurant, Victoria
Ivy and plants line entrance to Il Terrazzo restaurant
Dark interior of brick-walled Il Terrazzo restaurant
Il Terrazzo is all brick walls, cozy fireplaces and romantic courtyard charm (and good food!)

Somewhat of an institution, Il Terrazzo has been part of Victoria’s dining scene for more than 34 years.

We especially like their courtyard-style setting. It’s not an open-air courtyard in the usual sense, but enclosed with brick walls, fireplaces and lots of plants and greenery – it’s quite romantic.

Mind you, on weekends and summer evenings, when the place is rocking, the noise level isn’t exactly conducive to a quiet dinner out.

A change of hands

We admit we were a tad worried when we learned Il Terrazzo changed owners in April, 2026. But so far, the new owners appear intent on keeping the much-loved formula intact.

What’s to eat?

You can order all the usual traditional dishes – Caprese salad, Caesar salad, spaghetti carbonara, thin-crust pizza, Osso Buco and so on.

But you’ll also find some interesting Pacific Northwest twists on their Italian dishes, like fresh local halibut with a blackberry-and-green-peppercorn reduction, served on a bed of spaghetti and goat cheese.

Bottom line

If upscale Italian cuisine is calling out to you, you can’t go wrong with Il Terrazzo. The service is always exemplary.

Reservations are essential – this classic restaurant is another one that’s heavily booked.

7) Pagliacci’s

Diners inside cozy restaurant with live music
Dinner with a side of live music at Pagliacci’s

Another popular Italian restaurant in downtown Victoria, Pagliacci’s is more casual than Il Terrazzo (#6 above). Pagliacci’s is known for their big servings of pasta and reasonable prices.

They also serve other dishes than pasta – crab cakes, veal chops, buttermilk fried chicken and so on. But pasta is their specialty.

We usually share a pasta (if we can agree!) – as the portions are just too big for us to finish a full entrée each. You can also order half servings if you each want a different pasta.

Wash it all down with a glass of BC wine or a local brew (or two).

What’s to eat?

Linguine and scallops at Pagliacci's
Mmm! Pasta with scallops

For seafood pasta, we suggest the garlicky linguine with scallops, prosciutto and spinach in a white-wine-and-lemon sauce. It’s totally yum!

Prefer pasta with meat? Go for the “Bicycle Thief” – that’s what it’s called! In simple speak, it’s linguine with Italian sausage, mushrooms, fresh tomatoes, green onions and asiago cheese.

You’ll also get a basket of complimentary focaccia bread (refillable, if you want).

Their baked New York cheesecake is also legendary. We definitely recommend it – but as it’s so rich and creamy, maybe share it?

Bottom line

Pagliacci’s doesn’t take reservations, but you usually don’t have to wait too long.

They’re perennially popular and usually win a Tripadvisor “Traveler’s Choice” award each year.

The place is cheap(ish), cheerful and always packed. The food is tummy-filling – you won’t leave hungry. And they have live music most nights!

8) Pizzeria Prima Strada

Spinach, chicken, crema and artichoke pizza
Potato and salami pizza
People eating pizza and drinking Aperol Spritz outside on the sidewalk at Pizzeria Prima Strada
Wood-fired pizza and a casual sidewalk table – now that’s our kind of pizza night!

So you’re craving pizza. And a glass of wine to go with it – of course!

But you don’t want takeout on the couch. You want somewhere cute, with a little atmosphere, where pizza night actually feels like going out.

Say hello to Pizzeria Prima Strada!

A fixture on Victoria’s pizza scene for 18 years, Prima Strada has picked up plenty of local awards along the way.

You’ll find it in Cook Street Village, one of our favorite neighborhoods in Victoria.

What’s to eat?

Piza, pizza, pizza!

The pizzeria is known for their thin-crust Neapolitan-style pizza, blistered and bubbling from a wood-fired oven.

The dough is made fresh daily with just “flour, water, salt, natural starter (yeast) and love.” The toppings are fresh too.

Are you a mushroom person? Then the “Funghi Supremo” pizza (with rosemary garlic oil and portobello, button and oyster mushrooms) is a no-brainer if it’s on the menu.  

And they’re not afraid to get a little playful. Come summer, you might even spot a pizza topped with blueberries.

As for us, we always order the mixed-green salad with honey-balsamic vinaigrette and shaved Parmigiano as well. Because apparently a few greens cancel out all those pizza carbs. Right?

Bottom line

Make like a local and snag a sidewalk table in summer. Or cozy up inside among the dark red walls inside Pizzeria Prima Strada.

Add pizza, wine (maybe an Aperol Spritz to start!) and good company. Really, what more does pizza night need?

Great places to eat in Victoria for Asian food

9) Nohra Thai Kitchen

Nohra Thai soup
A taste of Thailand at Nohra – noodles, coconut curry and (because this is Victoria!) a little patio wine

Ahhh Thailand… So many exotic places to visit in Thailand!

And the food! Curries sweetened with coconut milk. Chicken with cashew nuts (George’s favorite). Delicately flavored soups.

Thankfully, we can go to Nohra Thai Kitchen here in Victoria.

What’s to eat?

The “Crying Tiger” tender beef salad with fresh mint, cilantro and house-made lime dressing is a fan fave. So are the Thai crab cakes.

The green and red curries are always our go-to dishes for main courses. And George can never resist the Pad Thai.

We must expand our horizons though.

They also have some really interesting chef specials. The yellow Massamam lamb curry dish, with sweet pineapple and cashew nuts, has caught my eye. So has the crispy lemon chicken with rice or roti.

Bottom line

Nohra Thai Kitchen is a more upscale version of your usual Thai restaurant.

And unlike most Thai eateries, which usually don’t offer more than forgettable house wine by the glass, you’ll find a carefully curated selection of BC wines that pair nicely with the various dishes.

10) Nubo Japanese Tapas

Japanese fusion food at Nubo, Victoria
A Japanese feast at Nubo – sushi, tempura and more

Nubo Japanese Tapas is one of our favorite places for dinner in Victoria when we feel like Japanese food. They go beyond sushi to serving a range of inventive Japanese fusion tapas.

This creativity – along with the outstanding food – earned them a runner-up“ award for “Best East Asian” food in YAM’s 2025 Best Restaurant Awards. (YAM is Victoria’s lifestyle magazine.)

The ambience is more intimate and inviting than your usual sushi joint too. The all-black décor creates a moody backdrop for the candle-lit tables.

What’s to eat?

I always start with a glass of rosé (elegantly served in a champagne flute) from Unsworth Vineyards, located nearby on Vancouver Island.

George usually chooses a sake from their extensive sake menu.

As for the food, the calamari tempura with a spicy black bean sauce and jalapeno is a must-try. Equally tasty are their dynamite rolls, succulent pork belly and battered deep-fried prawns with their house chili mayo.

Bottom line

For high-quality Japanese fusion cuisine, Nubo Japanese Tapas is a wonderful dining experience.

  • Downtown: 765 Fort Street (temporarily closed while Nubo moves to this new location)
  • Menu
  • Cost: $

Best Victoria restaurants for take-out and delivery

Best restaurants in Victoria, BC for takeout and delivery
Sometimes, you just want takeout – sushi, Thai, pizza… Yes, please!

You’re hungry and your condo-hotel or home has a kitchen. But you don’t want to cook and you don’t feel like going out.

No worries. There are many excellent restaurants that deliver in Victoria and/or offer convenient take-out.

Great! You can stay in, relax and eat while watching a cool travel show on Netflix!

Below you’ll find our tried-and-tested favorite take-out and delivery restos. For delivery, some have their own drivers. Or you can check restaurant delivery services like DoorDash and Skip-the-Dishes.

11) Sizzling Tandoor

We love Indian food (from samosas to start), with plenty of naan for mopping up the sauces!

Fancy Indian food? Then spice up your dinner hour with curries from Sizzling Tandoor!

Open since 2010 (downtown Johnson Street location), they feature authentic family recipes and all-natural ingredients, with no additives or preservatives.

Our fave dishes are their chicken cashew korma (deliciously creamy with a hint of sweetness!) and the lamb Roghan Josh. And don’t forget their buttery chewy naan!

We’re simply addicted to Sizzling Tandoor’s Indian food!

The lowdown

12) Fernwood Pizza Company

Pizza at Fernwood Pizza, Victoria
Pizza night! A loaded pie from Fernwood Pizza Company.

If you’ve got pizza on your mind, don’t think Domino’s – not that we have anything against Domino’s… But there are better (in our view) pizza places.

The Fernwood Pizza Company uses all fresh and natural ingredients. And their pizzas are delish!

Can’t decide what to choose? The most popular is the artichoke pizza, with artichoke (of course), fresh tomato, olives, Macedonian feta cheese, onion, spinach and roasted garlic.

Gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan options are offered.

Don’t wait until the last minute to order. When we called one Friday night at 7:00 pm, the place had sold out and couldn’t make any more pizza!

The lowdown

13) Sookjai Thai Restaurant

A friendly popular little restaurant, Sookjai Thai Restaurant serves great Tom Yum Gai (sweet-and-sour) soup, along with a wide variety of other Thai dishes.

Some people also swear they have the best Pad Thai.

The lowdown

14) Varsha Indian Kitchen

Not ready for the full Indian meal deal? Varsha Indian Kitchen is a great place for Indo-Canadian fusion food.

Masala fries, yam fries, tandoori chicken wraps and Bollywood burgers are offered, along with more traditional curries like shrimp coconut curry and butter chicken.

The lowdown

15) Sen Zushi

Get everything from ginger beef and teriyaki chicken to various sushi rolls at Sen Zushi. The fish is always very fresh, and the ingredients are high quality at this authentic Japanese restaurant.

Back in 2009, Japanese Emperor Akihito and his wife even dined at the restaurant!

The lowdown

That’s a wrap for Victoria’s best restaurants

Are you drooling yet? Hopefully we’ve helped you in your search for good food in Victoria, BC.

If we missed any of your favorite eateries, please let us know in the Comments section below.

See more of our travel guides on Victoria

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Best restaurants in Victoria, BC

Our top travel tips and resources

→ General trip planning: TripAdvisor is a helpful starting point, with loads of user reviews on hotels, restaurants and things to do.

→ Hotels: Booking.com is our go-to for scoring a “wow” hotel – or at least a decent one – often at lower rates than the hotel’s own website. (We especially like Booking.com’s flexible cancellation policy!) You can also find excellent discounted rates on Expedia, especially for hotels in the U.S. and Mexico.

→ Vacation homes, condos and rentals: We prefer and use Vrbo (Vacation Rentals by Owner).

→ Flights: For the best flights, we search on Google Flights first. Expedia and Kayak are then perfect for snagging the cheapest tickets. (They’re often non-refundable, though, so for more flexibility, we book directly with the airline, even if it costs more.)

→ Airport lounge access: We love (and have) Priority Pass for comfy lounge seats, free snacks and drinks, complimentary WiFi and sometimes even showers and spa services!

→ Tours: For the best local food, walking and other guided tours, plus skip-the-line tickets to attractions, check out Viator (a TripAdvisor company) and GetYourGuide.

→ Car rental: Renting a car can be a great way to explore off the beaten path. Discover Cars searches car rental companies for the lowest rates.

→ Travel insurance: SafetyWing is designed for frequent travelers, long-term adventurers and digital nomads. It covers medical expenses, lost checked luggage, trip interruption and more. We also have and recommend Medjet for global air medical transportation.

→ Travel gear: See our travel shop to find the best luggage, accessories and other travel gear. (We suggest these comfy travel sandals for city walking, the beach and kicking about.)

→ Need more help planning your trip? Check out our travel tips and resources guide for airline booking tips, ways to save money, how to find cool hotels and other useful trip planning info.

If you make a booking or purchase through our site, we may earn a small commission (at no cost to you). Thanks!

Photo credits: 4, 6 to 9 © Janice and George Mucalov, SandInMySuitcase | Other restaurant pics are courtesy of the respective Victoria eateries

About the authors

We’re Janice and George Mucalov, award-winning travel journalists who’ve explored all seven continents – always with room for one more adventure (and one more glass of wine). Here on our luxury travel blog, Sand In My Suitcase, we share destination guides, luxury hotel reviews, cultural discoveries, cruise know-how and insider travel tips. Curious? Read about us.

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