21 Best Restaurants in Vancouver Island, British Columbia

The Pointe

$$$$ Fodor's choice

With 180-degree views of the crashing surf, the Pointe is the top-notch Tofino dining experience. It's renowned for its refined west coast cuisine, which is superbly presented and excellently paired with options from the award-winning wine list—an impressive 11,000-bottle wine cellar is the latest jewel in this grande dame's crown. Ingredients from the water—including oysters, shrimp, salmon, and a variety of other seafood—and the land (whatever's in season, such as wild mushrooms and fresh herbs) are used in innovative but not too outlandish dishes. The service is meticulous. Insider tip: in winter months go for brunch instead of dinner to take in the breathtaking views of the Pacific from the floor-to-ceiling windows of the octagonal-shaped dining room. For something more casual, stop at the Inn's Driftwood Café for high-end snacks and small-plate dinners right on the beach.

Bridgemans Bistro

$$$

This bright bistro sits over the water at the Mill Bay Marina and is a lovely spot for lunch or dinner, with breathtaking views from every table through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Part of the Bridgmans Family of Restaurants (other outposts are on Pender Island and in Port Renfrew), the vibe here is west-coast casual. Enjoy local fare straight from the boat or off the farm as you watch kayakers and paddleboarders glide by. If you're lucky, you may even see a whale.

Farmhouse Eatery at Merridale

Neighboring farms supply much of the fare at this bistro, tucked down a country lane at Merridale Ciderworks. The bistro, part of the gambrel-roofed cider house, showcases local art on whitewashed walls within, and orchard and forest views from the wide, covered veranda. You can match house-made ciders to the casual comfort food featuring local ingredients and bread freshly baked in the brick oven onsite. Locals flock here for live music on the covered patio.

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Genoa Bay Café

$$$

A winding drive along the water past towering trees brings you to this waterfront eatery. Tucked on the dock at picturesque Genoa Bay, the small bistro offers a Pacific Northwest–inspired menu showcasing the bounty of Vancouver Island. Lunch is served on weekends on the scenic deck overlooking the bay.

Heartwood Kitchen Food Outfitter

Located in a historic yellow house, Heartwood serves hearty west coast fare and crowd-pleasing dishes, like chef Ian Riddick's UFC (Ukee fried chicken), buttermilk fried Humboldt squid with pickled bull kelp, and "hipster-style" eggs Benedict. Cooking classes are also offered. Don't miss the cheesy baked oysters.

Max and Moritz Spicy Island Food Truck

This food truck at the Sturdies Bay Ferry Terminal offers a unique combination of German and Indonesian takeout and all-day breakfast.

Pizzeria Prima Strada

The newest outpost of this popular Victoria neighborhood pizzeria offers fire-roasted pizza, house-made gelato, and local craft beers and wine.

Rock Salt Restaurant & Café

$$$

You can watch the ferry coming across the harbor from the sea-view windows of this Fulford Harbour eatery. Wholesome goodies run the gamut from slow-baked ribs to seafood curries to much-loved yam quesadillas. The made-from-scratch breakfasts are worth getting up early for, and the take-out counter offers provisions for your onward journey.

Saturna Lighthouse Pub

This is a great place to grab a bite while waiting for the ferry at Lyall Harbour. Menus are seasonal and offer local, organic ingredients, such as island-grown lamb burger and organic free-range chicken wings. Local craft beer, from Lighthouse Brewery in Victoria, is on tap. If you're not racing to catch the ferry, stay to take in the spectacular sunset from one of two oceanside patios.

Shelter

$$$

This big, bustling spot on the edge of town draws both locals and visitors for burgers, chowder, and fish-and-chips for lunch, and dinners of shucked oysters, pan-seared salmon, and grilled rib eyes. Chef Matty Kane's handmade fettuccini with freshly caught mussels and side-striped prawns has been on the menu from the start and is his personal fave. Choose from the upbeat pub vibe in the lofty wood-beamed first-floor lounge, or opt for a more serene dining experience, with sea views, in the upper-floor restaurant. The restaurant's newer laid-back sister property, Shed, is just down the road in the center of town.

Shirley Delicious

Heading to the beach? Fuel up with a breakfast burrito, a chai latte, or an organic chocolate brownie at this welcoming café 18 km (11 miles) west of Sooke. Virtually everything, from the quiche and corn fritters to the organic bread and wholesome treats (many gluten-free and vegan) are made from scratch at this cute little A-frame in the woods. The great food and effusively friendly owners make this a favorite stop for locals, surfers, and road-trippers alike.

Sobo

The name, short for "sophisticated bohemian," sums up the style here: a classically trained chef serving casual fare influenced by international street food. The offbeat concept started in a purple truck before finding a permanent home in this light-filled café and bistro. The truck's long gone, but the food is still eclectic. The killer fish tacos are legendary as is the smoked-fish chowder. There's a great kids' menu and a bakery counter for take-out treats. Pick up a signed copy of chef Lisa Ahier's award-winning cookbook while you're there.

Sturdies Bay Bakery and Cafe

Stop into this cheerful local favorite near the ferry terminal for freshly made pastries and sandwiches. The bread is highly praised, and you can often find roasted organic chicken or other cooked food for taking lunch to the beach.

Sunny Mayne Bakery Café

Join the locals for homemade soups, sandwiches, and baked treats at this tiny Miner’s Bay spot; it’s open for breakfast and lunch daily.

Tacofino

Heading to the beach? Follow the surfers to this orange catering truck at Outside Break, a cluster of driftwood- and cedar-sided shops just south of town. Dubbed “slow food fast,” the quick, cheap, and wholesome eats here include burritos, gringas (flour tortillas stuffed with meat or beans), and Baja-style fish tacos. Everything, including the salsa, is made from scratch. This is the original; there are now outposts in Vancouver and Victoria. Open until 6 pm.

The Common Loaf Bake Shop

This red-turreted village-center building has been a bakery and local hangout since the late 1970s. Everything from the panini and muffins to the breakfast pizza is made fresh in-house. Grab a latte and a Tofino Bar—a popular chocolate treat with a west coast spin—and climb the winding stairs to the turret room for distant harbor views. Payment is strictly cash-only.

The Masthead Restaurant

$$$$

You know a chef cares about local food when his menu lists how far each ingredient has traveled to reach your plate. At this historic seaside roadhouse in Cowichan Bay, the mussels and clams come from within 5 miles of the restaurant, and the poached Dungeness crab is from the bay outside the door. Many other ingredients—bison, wild salmon, duck breast—are sourced from within 200 miles. The 1863 wood-paneled room offers sea views throughout, but waterside deck tables are favored by the loyal clientele. The long wine list has a good selection of Cowichan Valley labels. There is live jazz on Saturday nights.

The Stand

$ | North Pender Island

You can refuel before catching the ferry at the Stand, a rustic take-out shack at the Otter Bay ferry terminal. The burgers—whether beef, salmon, halibut, or veggie—are enormous, messy, and delicious.

The Tree House Café

$$$

Gulf Island charm flourishes at this Ganges outdoor café, where handmade wooden booths are gathered under a spreading plum tree so you can sit and hear live music playing every summer night. Visitors and locals flock here for big wholesome breakfasts (think French toast with real maple syrup) and made-from-scratch burgers, wraps, and quesadillas. It's all yummy, but favorites include the lamb burger, the Thai green curry, and the butternut squash stew. On summer evenings, grab a table early as this is the place to be.

True Grain Bakery

This popular old-world bakery is known for its organic handcrafted baked goods and breads. Everything is baked from scratch on site using BC farmed and milled organic flour. The ancient and heritage grains are freshly milled on natural stone.

Wildside Grill

Just steps away from the popular Tacofino truck is another take-out shack, Wildside Grill, where a commercial fisherman and a chef have joined forces to keep Tofitians and visitors supplied with straight-from-the-dock, panko-crusted fish-and-chips, plus juicy fish and beef burgers. Gather a beach picnic, or enjoy a meal under the shade of Wildside's driftwood gazebo. Advance orders are taken by phone. Open until 9 pm.

Vancouver Island

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