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The 10 best Valentine's Day dinners in Victoria
It's never a bad idea to reserve a spot well in advance
Eva Rasciauskas
January 17, 2024
Though it may not seem like it, Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. It’s time to hunker down, do some research and book a romantic dinner for you and your loved one (or best friend, or mother, whatever!) as soon as possible. Get ahead of the game and make a reservation well in advance to avoid scrambling at the very last minute!
Pick your favourite, and get ready for a gorgeous, candlelit and stress-free night. Here are some of Victoria’s best restaurants for Valentine’s Day!
Located in a historic 19th century building, Finn’s Seafood Chops Cocktails offers a warm, classic atmosphere that suits any occasion—especially one that calls for a celebration. The menu is a seafood lover’s dream, with appetizers like panko fried oysters and rockfish croquettes, making way for even more luscious entrées like live dungeness crab.
Address: 1208 Wharf St, Victoria
Decked out with brick fireplaces and candlelight, II Terrazzo is a gorgeous Italian restaurant serving Northern Italian fare with a Pacific Northwest twist. Pizza and pasta come in classic varieties such as margherita and carbonara as well as creative flavour bombs like the cannelloni e capesante—roasted butternut squash and asiago cheese cannelloni with seared Hokkaido scallops, coconut curry and cilantro pesto.
Address: 555 Johnson St, Victoria
If you’re looking for a romantic meal in the French countryside, Brasserie L’École is the best place to find it in downtown Victoria. This cozy bar and eatery offers new items on their menu every week depending on freshness and availability, some notable mentions including stuffed medjool dates with roquefort cheese and smoked almonds to start and trout with whipped Macedonian feta to finish.
Address: 1715 Government St, Victoria
Spanish tapas are the heart of Bodega’s menu, allowing guests to order handfuls of small plates that each carry their own unique flavour profiles from a selection of hot and cold dishes. The scallop and cod ceviche, roasted winter squash, patatas bravas and manilla clams would be the perfect place to start for us. What about you?
Address: 1210 Broad St, Victoria
This seafood-forward restaurant run by Chef Peter Kim aims to serve simple, delicious food that will leave a lasting impression. Leaning on his Korean heritage, an entrée like scallops with ginger mousse and kaiso seaweed is definitely to remember. Be sure to check out their winter terrace, in which guests can currently gather around bubbling pots of fondue in an enchanting winter wonderland complete with twinkling lights.
Address: 463 Belleville St., Victoria
The spacious dining hall at Il Covo Trattoria—complete with high ceilings, imposing chandeliers, plants and an old brick fireplace—brings a cozy and authentic atmosphere to this traditional Italian restaurant. Highly recommended are their polpette in agrodolce, misto mare, and stinco d’agnello—slow braised lamb shank with polenta and toasted almonds.
Address: 106 Superior St, Victoria
If you’re looking for a restaurant with a view, look no further than Vista 18 Restaurant + Lounge. Celebrated as Victoria’s only elevated restaurant, it sits on the 18th floor of the hotel with views of the inner harbour, Juan de Fuca Strait and Olympic Mountains. The food here does not shy in comparison—crispy green curry rabbit, butter poached prawns and grilled vegetable mille feuille all look fabulous.
Address: 740 Burdett Ave, Victoria
This relaxed eatery with beautiful views of the inner harbour offers a stunning list of fresh and local seafood options like West Coast Humboldt squid, lobster and red Argentinian prawn pappardelle and a local catch of the day—your choice of fennel chili charred tuna or seared salmon. A more casual atmosphere, but a stunning showcase of all the goods Vancouver Island has to offer.
Address: 146 Kingston St, Victoria
Opening in Victoria just last year, Ugly Duckling has since developed a reputation as one of the Island’s most innovative dining experiences. Their menu changes with “the seasons, the farmers and the whims of the culinary team” to present stunning creations like sweet and sour foie gras, dan dan noodles with fermented cabbage and a black sesame terrine for dessert.
Address: 543 Fisgard St, Victoria
This farm-to-table bistro sources all of their ingredients from their own 10 Acres farm in Northern Saanich, including their own livestock, honey, orchard and organic plant varieties. Some staples include lamb ragu pasta, gruyère gratin fries and chicken florentine with larger platters that are perfect for serving larger groups.
Address: 611 Courtney St, Victoria