6 Best Restaurants in Vancouver Island, British Columbia

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.

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.
9-5000 Genoa Bay Rd., Duncan, British Columbia, V9L 5Y8, Canada
250-746–7621
Known For
  • off the beaten path
  • charming location
  • west-coast fry bread and Genoa Bay's famous calamari
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: No lunch Tues. and Wed. during winter

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.
1682 Peninsula Rd., Ucluelet, British Columbia, V0R 3A0, Canada
250-726–2200
Known For
  • Ukee fried chicken
  • most popular brunch in town
  • in the old Matterson House
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: No dinner

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Pluvio Restaurant and Rooms

$$$$

Former Wickaninnish Inn executive chef Warren Barr and his partner Lily Verney-Downey opened tiny Pluvio to up the culinary scene in Tofino's humble neighboring town. Thoughtfully prepared dishes are made from scratch with local, wild ingredients often foraged by Barr himself. Two dinner options are on offer: a three-course dinner menu for $91 per person or chef's tasting menu for $168 including wine ($111 without).  The property includes the 30-seat dining room with living art wall and also a four-room boutique hotel in the backyard next to the kitchen garden.

1714 Peninsula Rd., Ucluelet, British Columbia, V0R 3A0, Canada
250-726–7001
Known For
  • high-end dining in a casual setting
  • locavore approach
  • chef forages for ingredients himself
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: Closed Jan.–mid-Feb. No lunch

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.