Brasserie L’école
Award winning French cuisine. Voted best restaurant in the city - with good reason - and always voted one of the three best on the island. The place is intimate, the food delicious and the presentation is as you would expect from a restaurant of this calibre.
1715 Government Street. (map) 250-475-6260
Cactus Club
This place is pretty swanky, maybe a bit yuppie-ish for some, but its combination of classy-modern decor, great (and expensive) food, and the absolute most far-out bathrooms in the city (with LCD TV screens in the guys'), is good enough for me. Though I did run into some people I knew from high school.
- Dorian
1125 Douglas (map) 250-361-3233
Molé
This place has a stylish, trendy, lively atmosphere, and is mostly packed with groups of friends on Sundays mornings taking in a chilled brunch. It also has a menu for healthy lunch, with fresh vegetables and fruits, with a bit of a French touch. Half their menu is raw food and half is not, and did you know that their chef fed the Canadian 2008 Olympic team in Beijing??
554 Pandora Avenue (map) 250-385-6653
Fusion Sushi and Tapas
This trendy restaurant is only two blocks away from Ocean Island Backpacker’s Inn. With its comfy couches, inexpensive beers and yummy assorted martinis, it's the place to go if you feel like dressing up and getting social. Apparently the hosts and hostesses are really hot. Be warned though... hitting on the staff is regarded by Victoria locals as being in very bad taste.
759 Yates Street (map)
Vista 18
This swanky place offers a panoramic view of Victoria from its location on the 18th floor of the hotel, with full breakfast, lunch and dinner menus. They also have good live Jazz performances every weekend. A bit pricey, but fun as an occasional treat.
740 Burdett Avenue, on the 18th floor of the Chateau Victoria Hotel (map)
Free Parking (get a pass from the hotel Front Desk) www.vista18.com
The Wild Saffron
This place is a 4 diamond-rated restaurant, known locally as a dining experience and miraculously, affordable. The presentation is fantastic, there are wine choices to match each menu item. They redo the menu seasonally (different 3-course dinner options are featured weekly over the summer) and they take care to have vegetarian, and often vegan, options. The most accessible fine dining in Victoria.
506 Pandora Avenue, right next to Swan's Brewpub in Swan's Hotel. (map) 250-361-3310
