Cafe Brio/Website
Victoria is home to a thriving food scene, and its Italian restaurants are no exception. Whether you're craving handmade pasta, wood-fired pizza, or a decadent tiramisu, the city has a variety of Italian restaurants that capture the essence of Italy’s culinary traditions.
We’ve curated a list of must-visit Italian spots in Victoria, perfect for a romantic date night, a family dinner, or simply indulging in your love of authentic Italian cuisine.
A family-owned and operated restaurant, Il Terrazzo has served Victoria for three decades in Waddington Alley. This lively, vibrant, and unique dining experience offers a diverse, well-rounded menu and extensive wine program. The menu includes classics like insalata caprese, zuppa di pomodoro, traditional thin crust pizza made in an open flame oven, and entrees like cannelloni, spaghetti carbonara, frutti di mare, osso buco, venison loin, and more. For dessert guests can choose from a classic tiramisu, crème brûlée, gelato, sorbetto, and more. It’s truly got something for everyone, and it has been a Victoria favourite for years.
Address: 555 Johnson St.
A rustic Italian restaurant with a menu driven primarily by local produce and seasonal goods, Cafe Brio is considered to be one of the Island’s best dining experiences. Everything is made in-house from scratch, from the table bread to the cured meats that accompany an antipasto board. After 27 years of service, the restaurant is under new ownership and in excellent hands: chef Sam Harris and bar manager Vincent Vanderheide.
The menu, made up of various pastas, grilled meats, seafood dishes and a heart-stopping array of cured meat options (let’s not even speak of dessert), constantly changes depending on what’s in season. Frequent visitors may find that their favourite dishes are no longer available upon each visit as seasonal availability changes, making each dinner fresh and exciting.
As for wine, the restaurant offers nearly 300 selections from across the globe with a strong emphasis on British Columbia. The drink list, just as with the food menu, is constantly rotating and evolving.
Address: 944 Fort St.
Zambri's describes its offerings as “Italian soul food.” This is certainly an apt characterization of the decadent dishes, which range from crispy pork shoulder to orecchiette with sausage and broccoli puree. The restaurant has been serving Victoria for 25 years. Since opening the restaurant in 1999, chef Peter Zambri has created menus inspired by his Italian heritage, using seasonal and local ingredients. Now, with executive chef Julia McInnis, the restaurant has stepped up with their lunch, dinner and dessert menus including local favourites such as the house made focaccia, burrata salad, gnocchi, lasagna, and much more. Come in, sit back, relax and enjoy a classic cocktail with your food like a Cynar Spritz or a Sicilian espresso martini.
Address: 820 Yates St.
Located in historic James Bay steps from the Inner Harbour in a 112-year-old heritage building, Il Covo Trattoria opened in June 2014. A beautiful family-run Italian restaurant where you get a truly authentic Italian experience as soon as you arrive at the restaurant, from the ambiance, to the authentic cuisine, to the service. The restaurant’s dining room is reminiscent of the stone and plaster tavernas you can find scattered across the Mediterranean basin. The style matches perfectly with a menu featuring cannelloni de mare stuffed with crab, lobster and ricotta, pork tenderloin wrapped in prosciutto with brandy sauce, and a plethora of other gourmet dishes.
Address: 106 Superior St.
Pagliacci's has been a staple fixture of Victoria’s food scene since it first opened its doors in 1979 by the Siegel brothers. It is one of those iconic timeless places in Victoria that is bathed in history, life, and laughter. Every item on the menu is made on the spot, and the extensive choices and variety are sure to please everyone’s unique palate. Its selection of pasta dishes is fantastic, from fettuccine featuring crab lemon cream sauce and baby shrimp to butternut squash ravioli in a beet puree—there is an option for any pasta lover. Options from the grill are no less amazing, with veal chops being a particular highlight.
Address: 1011 Broad St.
As the name suggests, each pizza is cooked in a 900-degree wood-fired oven, imported straight from Naples, Italy. Both traditional Neapolitan thin-crust pizza and more modern New York-style pies are available but stick with the former to enjoy a true taste of Italy. The atmosphere is casual, cozy, and lively, and the friendly service makes it a great spot for families, groups of friends, and pizza lovers. The restaurant also has a gluten-free menu and accommodates dietary restrictions.
There are dozens of topping combinations to choose from, including vegan and vegetarian options. Definitely don’t pass on the Funghi, which combines cremini mushrooms, garlic, thyme, parmigiano, a squeeze of fresh lemon, and a drizzle of olive oil. Meat lovers should check out the Genovese, named by CTV News as the best thin crust pizza on Vancouver Island. It features house fennel sausage, pepperoni, hot calabrese salami, crispy prosciutto bacon, and pickled red onions.
They have a location in Langford and a location in Sidney and the menu varies at each one.
Address:
2401 Millstream Rd.
2360 Beacon Ave.
If you are looking to prepare Italian food at home, Gigi’s Italian & Specialty Foods and Italian Food imports are great options to find a curated selection of Italian and specialty meats, cheeses, grocery items, pastas, olive oils, balsamic vinegars, and more. They both carry a selection of freshly made paninis and at Gigi’s you can pre-order a charcuterie box to take home.
