Victoria isn’t just British Columbia’s charming capital—it’s also a foodie’s paradise. With the highest number of restaurants per capita in Canada, you’ll find incredible eats tucked around every corner. From cozy brunch cafés to high-end dining experiences, Victoria’s culinary scene reflects the city’s diverse population, love of fresh ingredients, and endless appetite for good food.
There are a number of factors that contribute to Victoria’s high density of diverse eateries, cafés, and fine dining restaurants. But it’s the diverse population that brings international influence and flavours from all over the world. The people here love food. The abundance of government employees and well-paid workers help fill the restaurants, and Victoria’s mild weather beckons students, seniors and families alike onto patios and terraces for a meal.
Ready to eat? Here are 21 of Victoria’s best spots for dinner, lunch, and brunch—no particular order, just pure deliciousness.
Dinner/Lunch Restaurants
Pagliacci’s
Pagliacci’s is a timeless restaurant in Victoria, located in the pedestrian-only stretch of Broad Street next to the bustling tourist zone of Government Street. The interior is cozy and kitschy with live music happening most evenings. The food is centred around classic Italian staples like pasta, excellent bread and yummy desserts. Having been around since 1979, this place is no secret, and they don’t take reservations, so be prepared to wait in a smallish line most nights.
Location: 1011 Broad St
Website: https://www.pagliaccis.ca/
Brasserie L’Ecole
Brasserie L’Ecole is romantic French restaurant on the northern side of town, right outside Victoria’s Chinatown. The cuisine features seasonal, local ingredients cooked in the classic French-country style. Watch for classics like steak frites, short ribs, gnocchi, mussels and endive salad. Open for dinner only Tuesday through Saturday, reservations are recommended for any night.
Location: 1715 Government St
Website: https://www.lecole.ca/
Bodega
Bodega is an intimate tapas style restaurant in Victoria’s historic Trounce Alley. The small interior spills out onto a spacious covered and heated terrace which is great for people-watching. Bodega is the place for Spanish-style tapas in the city. The meat and cheese is top notch, plus they’ve also got an amazing list of sherry, vermouth, and Spanish wine for sipping on.
Location: 1210 Broad St
Website: https://bodegabar.ca/
Pho Vy
Pho Vy is a Victoria favourite for Vietnamese cuisine with a modern twist, located at Fort and Blanshard in a cluster of great eateries. Pho Vy keeps it simple with a welcoming atmosphere and vibrant flavours of Vietnam, with standouts like vermicelli bowls, springs rolls, and Bun Bo Hue. Pho Vy is open daily from 11am to 8:30pm.
Location: 772 Fort St
Website: https://phovyrestaurant.shop/
Café Brio
Café Brio is a charming little restaurant located up Fort and away from the hustle and bustle. The food is Italian-leaning and unpretentious but incredibly high quality. Open Tuesday through Saturday for dinner only, Brio is known for top-tier pasta, meat and seafood, house-cured meats, and homemade desserts. If you can, try to snag one of the few seats on the cozy covered terrace at the front.
Location: 944 Fort St
Website: https://cafebrio.com/
TORO
The topic of best sushi in Victoria is a hot debate, but you can’t go wrong at TORO. This Japanese sushi bar is an elevated dining experience with a dizzying number of options for sushi rolls, sashimi, nigiri, oshizushi, noodles, and A5 wagyu. It’s also one of the best spots in town for premium Japanese sake, beer and whiskey.
Location: 708 View St
Website: https://www.torobarbar.ca/
Il Terrazzo
Il Terrazzo is a classic Victoria restaurant that’s been a favourite for more than 30 years. The setting is unparalleled, with brick fireplaces, candlelit ambiance and a winding terrace. They specialize in Northern Italian cuisine with a Pacific Northwest twist, with some of the best pasta in the city. Open 7 nights a week, reservations are recommended at this very popular date night spot.
Location: 555 Johnson St
Website: https://www.ilterrazzo.com/
Ramen Arashi
Ramen Arashi is a Japanese restaurant franchise with some of the best ramen in the city. With another location in Langford (plus Kelowna and multiple spots in Alberta), Ramen Arashi was created in 2017 to bring authentic Japanese ramen to a Canadian audience. The Victoria location is open Wednesday through Sunday, and is found just out of town towards Mayfair.
Location: 2950 Douglas St #222
Website: https://ramenarashi.ca/
Marilena Café & Raw Bar
Marilena Café & Raw Bar is a relatively new fixture in Victoria that has quickly risen to the top of many ‘Best Restaurants’ lists. The menu features global and local seafood paired with sustainable ingredients, prepared in a fine-dining style. Nigiri, sashimi and sushi rolls are the highlight at this Japanese raw bar.
Location: 1525 Douglas St
Website: https://marilenacafe.com/
Ugly Duckling
Ugly Duckling is an Asian-inspired restaurant that focuses on nose-to-tail cooking with local ingredients. Located in Chinatown, the setting is modern and trendy with an abundance of wood and exposed brick. There’s always a new tasting menu in rotation, so you’ll have to see for yourself what’s cooking on any given night Wednesday through Sunday.
Location: 543 Fisgard St
Website: https://www.uglyducklingrestaurant.ca/
Ferris’ Seafood & Oyster Bar
Ferris’ is somewhat of a culinary institution in Victoria, with an upstairs seafood and oyster bar, a grill and garden patio, and Perro Negro – a tapas and wine bar. Around since 1991, the upstairs seafood and oyster bar is most famous with an upscale menu of fresh seafood from BC waters and premium steaks from Alberta. The wine list is also top-notch.
Location: 536 Yates St
Website: https://www.ferrisoysterbar.com/
Dosa Paragon
No list of restaurants in Victoria would be complete without Indian food. And while the best is well-debated, Dosa Paragon has been cranking out top-quality vegetarian food since 2019. Their Wharf Street location extends past vegetarian options, with plenty more curries, seafood and other meat dishes.
Location: 735 Yates St
Website: https://dosaparagon.ca/
JiangYun Noodle House
Over the past few years, JiangYun Noodle House has been a top pick or winner for several different awards. It’s one of the best places in town for Chinese-style noodles. Their location on Fort Street is in one of the busier areas of town between Blanshard and Quadra, making it very easy to get to and enjoy some hot noodles.
Location: 830 Fort St
Website: https://jiangyunnoodlehouse.com/
Be Love
For more than a decade now, Be Love has held the crown of Victoria’s best vegan restaurant. The menu changes with the seasons and features farm-to-table ingredients and superfood cocktails – all made from scratch. Vegetables, fruits and whole grains are the star players here. Visit them 7 days a week, and try for a spot on the little patio.
Location: 1019 Blanshard St
Website: https://www.beloverestaurant.ca/
Bao
Bao is a cozy little Asian fusion restaurant located just outside the gates of Victoria’s historic Chinatown. The highlights of the menu are the various Taiwanese steam buns known as Bao. This spot is also an underrated gem for ramen in broth and bibimbap on sushi rice. Visit them Monday through Saturday and note there are no reservations available.
Location: 626 Fisgard St
Website: http://baovictoria.ca/
Tacofino
Tacofino is a beloved taco and burrito restaurant that got started in the surfing mecca and vacation hotspot of Tofino on Vancouver Island’s west coast. For years now, they’ve held the title of Victoria’s best burrito. The restaurant is laid-back and simple, with many opting for takeaway to enjoy their burritos at nearby parks or beaches.
Location: 760 Pandora
Website: https://www.tacofino.com/location/victoria-taco-bar
Breakfast/Brunch Restaurants
Fuego Old Town Eatery
Established in 2015, Fuego Old Town Eatery is a rustic, Mexican-inspired brunch favourite. Located in the trendy area of Lower-Johnson, Fuego serves Mexican breakfast, pancakes and eggs benedict until 2 pm. They’ve even got a lunch menu and a dedicated gluten-free list of options. Open every day but Tuesday.
Location: 1435 Store St
Website: https://www.fuegooldtowneatery.com/
John’s Place
For over 40 years now, John’s Place has been a breakfast staple in Victoria. John’s Place features Canadian comfort fare that includes house-made breads and yummy eggs benedict in a relaxed, homey setting. Open 7 days a week, reservations are available on weekdays only.
Location: 723 Pandora Ave
Website: https://johnsplace.ca/
Blue Fox Café
Blue Fox Café is hands-down one of Victoria’s favourite brunch spots, which is evident by the lineup out the door on most days (especially the weekend). This vibrant café is known for it’s brunch classic and innovative spins on Canadian comfort food. Closed on Wednesdays, Blue Fox is open for brunch all day.
Location: 919 Fort St
Website: https://thebluefoxcafe.com/
Spoons Diner
For that timeless diner vibe, there’s none better than Spoons Diner. Located just north of downtown, Spoons is well-worth leaving town for. This busy joint offers build-your-own eggs benedict, excellent hash, creative pancakes, and even a selection of lunch items. You can visit Spoons any day of the week from 7am-4pm.
Location: 2915 Douglas St
Website: https://www.spoonsdiner.com/
Shanzee’s Old Town
Located along Pandora near the Johnson Street Bridge, Shanzee’s Old Town Biscuit Café serves a home-style brunch without the long lines. The star of the show is their homemade biscuits, which are highlighted in traditional breakfasts like biscuits and gravy and eggs benedict. Open daily from 8am-2pm.
Location: 529 Pandora Ave
Website: https://www.shanzeesbiscuitcafe.com/
