Food for sailors in Victoria, BC
Victoria has great food options and we are happy to share our favourites with you.
- Each title links to their website.
Coffee ☕️
Spinnakers – located a short walk away from VIM (Melges 24 Worlds Race venue). Spinnakers offers everything delicious including morning coffee and muffins to-go! And you can also pick up a 6pack for after racing.
Cafe Fantastico – Creates one of Victoria’s best lattes. They also offer ready made sandwiches and bakery items. Cafe Fantastico has a couple of locations around town, Dockside Green is conveniently located to VIM and has good parking.
Starbucks is wonderfully predictable and located everywhere! Hillside Starbucks is close to Royal Vic and best of all it’s managed by Min’s lovely bow girl Christine! We love the pink rose tea latte.
Fernwood Coffee Company. Great coffee, baked goods and ready made sandwiches. The Parsonage Cafe is a cultural staple in the Fernwood neighbourhood, located at 1301 Gladstone Ave.
Min recommends the coffee cream soda, available at many grocery stores. I know it sounds odd, but it’s really delicious and easy to take Racing.
Discovery Coffee is serious about great coffee and they make fresh donuts daily at the James Bay location (available at all locations). Discovery Coffee has 4 convenient locations around town.
- Original location, 664 Discovery st.
- Oak Bay, 1964 Oak Bay Ave.
- Downtown, 1001 Blanshard st.
- James Bay, 281 Menzies st.
Juice & Smoothies
Jusu – Fresh juice and smoothies made with local and organic ingredients, also available in some grocery stores. Jusu also offers great hipster bowls! Located downtown in Chinatown and other locations.
Booster Juice – Located close to VIM, fast takeout smoothies.
Breakfast 🍳
Victoria loves breakfast, here are some of our favourite spots:
Jam Cafe – Open 9–3pm, no reservations but worth the wait! Located downtown beside Chinatown.
Willies Bakery – Located at the base of Johnson St close to the new bridge! All day breakfast and lunch, $9 early bird specials.
Belove – This is a great place if you are looking for a plant based menu and vegan options. Also amazing cakes! Located downtown on Blanchard st. beside Discovery Coffee.
Spoons Diner – Everything you expect from a good breakfast diner. Located just outside of the downtown core, lots of parking.
The Village – Located close to RVYC and just up the road from the lovely Willows Beach in Oak Bay. Local ingredients, healthy and creative menu, great Cesar’s!
Sunnyside Cafe – coffee and all day breakfast & lunch, takeout call ahead. Located on the high street in Esquimalt.
Johns Place – This classic diner gets a mention because it has been around forever, and this is where every sailor eats breakfast before Swiftsure Yacht Race :) located Downtown.
Shine Cafe – Local ingredients and great bennies. Two locations including downtown on Blanshard st.
Take out lunch 🥙
Red Barn Market – Grocery store known for great sandwiches! Lots of locations including Esquimalt and James Bay.
Crust Bakery, see info listed under Bakeries.
Quick & cheep
La Belle Patate – Montreal poutine and smoked meat sandwiches. Located in Esquimalt on Esquimalt rd.
Tacofino – It all began in the back of a surf shop parking lot in Tofino. Located downtown on Fort st between Douglas and Blanshard st.
La Taqueria – Authentic Mexican tacos and burritos. Located across from Tacofino, on Fort st between Douglas and Blanshard.
Fish Hook – Casual seafood and the best chowder in town! Located on Fort st just past Blanshard st. On the starboard side of the street.
Saltchuck Pie – Savoury pie and hand pies, sweet options too. The crust is amazing as combinations such as steak and blue cheese you can’t go wrong. Located close to VIM just over the Bay st. bridge. only open until 6pm Mon- Friday, Sat until 4pm
Bin 4 Burger Lounge – Quite possibly the best burger in town. Half price burgers (with drink) after 9pm, open until 11pm. Located on upper Yates st. Beside London Drugs.
Green Cuisine – Cheep and cheerful vegetarian food. Open 7 days a week until 8pm. Located in the lower level of Market Square off lower Johnson st.
Ali Baba Pizza – I am sure some people would debate this.. best pizza in town. Lots of locations including downtown, and offers delivery. Open until midnight and 1am on weekends.
Sushi 🍣
Most sailors love sushi, and we have some great options in Victoria.
The Marina Restaurant – Lovely location overlooking the Oak Bay Marina. The main restaurant is comfortable elegant and foood is great, but I really love the sushi bar and they offer Ocean wise seafood.
Ebizo – The best tuna tataki in Victoria! Located in the heart of downtown on Broughton st. just off Government.
Evening social
Q Bar at the Empress Hotel – The place to see and be seen in Victoria 👑 Must try the Empress Gin.
Little Jumbo – A sexy speak easy. Open late, located down a long hallway… Downtown Victoria on lower Fort st. just off Wharf st.
Clive’s Classic Lounge – Located downtown in the Chateau Victoria Hotel.
Pubs and craft beer
Spinnakers brew pub – Let nobody thirst is their motto, and no wonder because they brew great beer! This is the closest pub to VIM, so close you can see the docks from their patio.
Drake – Craft beer from the Pacific Northwest, casual atmosphere. Located downtown a stones throw from the new bridge on Pandora st. at Wharf.
Canoe Brew Pub – Great patio located overlooking the upper harbour waterway, just across the new bridge.
Irish Times and Bard and Banker are everything you would expect in a popular Irish pub. Both are located downtown on Government St.
The Snug at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel – Lovely views of the water and Mt Baker.
The Guild – Great selection of local beer and interesting pub food, they serve bacon in a glass.
Restaurants we love
Ferris Oyster Bar – Everyone has a soft spot for Ferris, the food is always delicious and as the name suggests they serve oysters! Great secret patio. Located downtown close to the new bridge on Yates st.
Pagliacci’s – Victoria wouldn’t be the same without Pagliacci’s, seriously! Italian inspired comfort food, everything is delicious. The focaccia bread served with home made soup is the best 👊
ReBar – This is a Victoria institution for modern vegetarian food using local ingredients. Fresh juice, brunch and lunch. Located in the heart of downtown, Bastion Square.
Tapa Bar. – Spanish inspired tapas, located downtown off Government in Trounce Alley. Open until midnight. Must try the balsamic carrots.
Baan Thai – Located on Blanshard st close to Fort st.
Willows Galley – The best fish and chips in Victoria. I especially love the halibut burger. Located in Estevan Village close to RVYC.
If your looking for Victoria’s finest..
Zambri’s
Bakery food
Crust – The best croissants and s’mores, and tarts and well, everything is great! Also sandwiches and s’mores.. and lemon tarts. Located on Fort st. between Douglas and Blanshard on the port side.
Fol Epi – Organic bread made in a wood fired oven, traditional pastries and sandwiches.
Something for kids
Crumsby’s Cupcake Cafe – Located in Estevan Village (Oak Bay) and just down the street is lovely Willows Beach!
Do you have a favourite food stop you would like to recommend? Message me and I would be thrilled to include it.
-Tara
Melges 24 Worlds 2018
