Editorial picks, not sponsored

Where to eat on Vancouver Island

13 places chosen for being distinct rather than for being everything: dockside fish, farm-to-table rooms in the Cowichan Valley, Tofino kitchens and a few serious Victoria dining rooms. Filter by where you are staying and what the evening is for.

1 of 13 restaurants

Floating patio restaurant

$$$$

Penny's Palapa

A Mexican restaurant on a float in Nanaimo's boat basin, all patio and umbrellas, open in the warm months. The most enjoyable lunch on the Nanaimo waterfront, a short walk from the whale-watching offices.

Nanaimo

Mexican

Waterfront
Casual
Family