Best Eats in Victoria, BC: 15 Restaurants Loved by Locals

Wondering where to eat in Victoria?

We’ve been living here for eight years now, and we’re thrilled to share that the city has become quite a foodie paradise.

One of our favorite things to do in Victoria is to treat ourselves to a fine dinner – especially as it means skipping the kitchen duties!

Best restaurants in Victoria, BC, for upscale dining

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

1) Ferris’ Upstairs Seafood & Oyster Bar

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

Now, don’t confuse Ferris’ Upstairs Seafood & Oyster Bar with their downstairs sibling, Ferris’ Oyster Bar (which is more about pub vibes and salmon burgers).

Upstairs, the atmosphere, while cozy, is more refined. Think aged brick walls and wood floors under high ceilings, with tea candles adding a warm glow. The menu is also more upscale.

What’s on the menu?

It’s a small menu, using seasonal ingredients. It features mainly fresh seafood. But you’ll always find one or two meat dishes plus a vegetarian option.

We typically start with the trio of baked oysters – one with chorizo cream sauce, one Rockefeller style and one in a cilantro lemon sauce. They’re usually big plump Fanny Bay oysters (harvested locally), served piping hot and packed with flavor.

For something shareable and starchy, the chorizo puffs with rosemary honey are a hit.

As for the mains, they change with the seasons but always impress.

Last time, I (Janice) enjoyed a beautifully prepared black cod with rice cakes and charred broccolini. George, in a very veggie mood, chose the roasted cauliflower salad with prosciutto. Both were spot on.

Portions are just right for a satisfying meal, without being overwhelming.

If you come at happy hour, you can get fresh-shucked oysters for a song.

2) Brasserie L’Ecole

Brasserie L’Ecole is somewhat of a hidden gem and a long-standing local favorite.

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 vibe.

What’s on the menu?

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

Bottom line

The one pain is that they don’t take reservations. You ring the outside buzzer and someone comes out to acknowledge you. Then you wait outside until they’re ready to seat you.

So when visiting Brasserie L’Ecole, timing is key.

3) Café Brio

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 on the menu?

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.

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 on the menu

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.

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.

5) Il Terrazzo

Somewhat of an institution, Il Terrazzo has been part of Victoria’s dining scene for more than 30 years.

We especially like their courtyard setting, with lots of plants and greenery – which adds a touch of romance.

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

What’s on the menu?

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 pan-roasted sockeye salmon with prawns, served on a bed of linguine Alfredo.

6) Pagliacci’s

Another popular Italian restaurant in downtown Victoria, Pagliacci’s is more casual than Il Terrazzo (#5 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 on the menu?

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?

Places to go for Asian food

7) Nohra Thai Kitchen

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.

What’s on the menu?

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.

8) Nubo Japanese Tapas

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 – has earned them the “Best East Asian” award in YAM’s 2023 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 on the menu?

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.

Best Victoria restaurants for take-out or delivery

Maybe you’re staying in one of Victoria’s lovely Airbnbs or Vrbos?

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.

9) Sizzling Tandoor

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

They’ve been voted the city’s “Best Indian Restaurant” in the Victoria News “Best of Victoria” awards for 12 years now, from 2012 to 2023.

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

10) 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.

13) Pizzeria Prima Strada

Pizzeria Prima Strada has won several pizza awards over the years from various newspapers and magazines in Victoria.

They’re known for their thin crust pizza, baked in a wood-fired oven.

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Photo credits: Restaurant pics are courtesy of these Victoria restaurants

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