11 Sweet Summer Treats in Victoria

11. Red Barn Markets

Not just sandwiches. Did you know that Red Barn Market has an ice cream bar? 

In their Latoria location in Colwood, an ice cream bar is nestled among the shelves of locally sourced goods. This bar features eight mouth-watering flavours of locally made Island Farms ice cream. Choose your cone (kids cones available!) and favourite flavour then go hit up the beach!

Not screaming for ice cream? Fear not – they have plenty of locally baked goods, such as cookies that pair along perfectly with that humongous Red Barn sandwich. All diets are accommodated here, with gluten free Nanaimo bars, pumpkin scones, vegan peanut butter crunch cookies all available. 
 

Event Alert! Sweet Street at Westshore Town Centre

June 24th – 11:30am to 3:30pm

Indulge in a sweet escape of all things delish at Sweet Street! Watch as the parking lot behind Westshore Mall, right by the Cineplex transforms into the sweetest street party you’ll ever see. 

From cotton candy and ice cream to cookies, cupcakes, international delicacies and more, there will be something for everyone on Sweet Street. Bring the family and your sweet tooth, play games, win prizes, and don’t miss the chance to snap a selfie at the sweetest backdrop while you’re there.
 

1. White Heather Tea Room

Tucked away in quaint Oak Bay Village is a gem of a tearoom called White Heather. While their sit-down afternoon tea is the feature they’re most known for, they have just launched a delicious “Dainty Sweets Picnic Teabox” that is perfect for grabbing, going, and enjoying (may we suggest by the sweeping coastal views of Willow Beach)?

Their picnic teabox includes their famous Japanese spongecake with a strawberry chiffon, chocolate raspberry mousse, seasonal raspberry and rosehip macarons, mini opera cakes with pistachio cream filling, and caramel poundcakes with decadent cream cheese. These desserts also rotate frequently – which is great, because we can’t get enough!

2. The Root Cellar Village Green Grocer at McKenzie Corner

We’re starting off with a hidden gem, tucked away inside a well-known gem. The Coffee Project at the flagship Root Cellar in Saanich serves delicious soft serve made with local Island Farms dairy! Enjoy flavours of decadent chocolate, classic vanilla, or the iconic swirl of the two. 

Whether you’ve run out of Green Sauce for the second time this week, or you just need a mid-day pick me up – you don’t need an excuse to run down to the Root Cellar and indulge a little (or a lot!). 

3. La Roux Patisserie

You can’t ‘macaron’ choice at La Roux Patisserie. With a fine roster of macarons, viennoiseries, and other immaculate little French desserts, La Roux’s treats have the power to brighten anyone’s day. 

They also have gorgeous cakes to boot – many of them dressed in their signature macarons! 

4. Aura Waterfront Restaurant + Patio

Is it almost too pretty to eat? It must be from Aura. Their dessert menu is available from 4:00 – 10:00pm and features pavlova, roll cakes, ice cream, and more, curated by their skilled chef team. 

Our top recommendations are mille feuille (miso butterscotch, orelys ganache puff pastry) and the mousse cake (strawberry confit, opalys mousse, sichuan almond sponge). Both will have your taste buds screaming with joy. 

Aura has also launched a monthly summer flight program where they curate a flight of 3 different cocktails each month. For June, their theme is mojitos – and on the roster is a Spicy Pineapple, a Blackberry Lavender, and a Classic Mojito for you to sample. They’d pair beautifully with your summer dessert & good company, don’t you think? 

Request a patio seat, snap a picture, and dig in!

Tip: Can’t get enough of Aura? While not dessert, they also just launched a new lunch menu!
 

5. Martha’s Delectables

For some of the most eye-catching shortbread in town, look no further than Martha’s Delectables. Specializing in sugar cookies and sweet Scottish shortbreads, owner Martha is a cookie magician whipping up each and every cookie by hand, with love. 

They also make refreshingly unique ice cream flavours, such as rose and prosecco. 

Are you more of a savoury person than sweet? First of all, we commend you for reading this blog. Second, Martha’s Delectables has your back – they are piloting their new savoury shortbread, made with dill and herbs!
 

Tip: If you’re staying at the Inn at Laurel Point, check out their Key to the City program! Each stay grants you a key that will unlock the sweetest deals in town, including the lovely Martha’s bakery. Flash them your room key and receive 1 craft ice cream, with a second 50% off!

6. Dutch Bakery & Diner

Family owned and operated since 1956, Dutch Bakery & Diner specializes in – you guessed it – Dutch baked goods. Visit their bakery for sweets that incorporate lots of colourful fruit, marzipan, and love into pastries that taste just like grandma’s. 

Tip: Inn at Laurel Point’s Key to the City program strikes again! With each stay, you get a special hotel key card that gets you sweet deals all over town. Showing them your room key will unlock 20% off your Dutch Bakery purchase!
 

7. Interactivity Board Game Café 

Fancy a healthy competition while sipping on a sweet summer milkshake? Interactivity Board Game Café has your back. To pair along with their extensive board game collection, they have a roster of inventive milkshake flavours that are all the talk of the town. 

Indulge in classic flavours such as strawberry or vanilla, or roll the die on their unique Pumpkin Pie, Pina Colada, or Lavender options (to name a few!). 

Tip: For the 19+ players, you have the option of making your milkshake “wobbly”. We personally improve at board games this way, and adopt it into our strategy. 
 

8. Virtuous Pie

You will hardly believe this ice cream is completely plant-based! Virtuous Pie specializes in making hand-crafted, scratch-made vegan pizza and ice cream that is just packed with flavour. 

Pictured below is their new Double Chocolate Brownie Skillet, which is also 100% gluten free. It’s deliciously devourable!
 

9. BeaverTails

A quintessentially Canadian treat, a BeaverTail is flattened and fried whole-wheat dough, made soft on the inside and crispy on the outside. They are then topped with choice toppings such as cinnamon sugar, chocolate hazelnut spread or Reese’s Pieces, and served piping hot. Victoria’s location is on Government and Broughton, and can’t be missed!

BeaverTails are heavily inspired by Bannock, a type of round, flatbread adopted as a favourite food amongst Indigenous peoples of Canada. You must give a BeaverTail a go if you haven’t had one – our personal favourite is the cinnamon sugar and lemon! 
 

10. Bon Macaron Patisserie

It sure feels like summer when you have one of Bon Macaron’s colourful treats in hand! With one-of-a-kind, rotating flavours and the love of their staff put into each macaron, every bite is a delight.

Bon Macaron is launching monthly tasting events this summer, including savoury macarons. You read that right! They will highlight a 7 course tasting event paired with drinks for a fresh, seasonally inspired, unique tasting experience. The next tasting will be on July 28th. For more info, head here!
 

11. Red Barn Markets

Not just sandwiches. Did you know that Red Barn Market has an ice cream bar? 

In their Latoria location in Colwood, an ice cream bar is nestled among the shelves of locally sourced goods. This bar features eight mouth-watering flavours of locally made Island Farms ice cream. Choose your cone (kids cones available!) and favourite flavour then go hit up the beach!

Not screaming for ice cream? Fear not – they have plenty of locally baked goods, such as cookies that pair along perfectly with that humongous Red Barn sandwich. All diets are accommodated here, with gluten free Nanaimo bars, pumpkin scones, vegan peanut butter crunch cookies all available. 
 

Event Alert! Sweet Street at Westshore Town Centre

June 24th – 11:30am to 3:30pm

Indulge in a sweet escape of all things delish at Sweet Street! Watch as the parking lot behind Westshore Mall, right by the Cineplex transforms into the sweetest street party you’ll ever see. 

From cotton candy and ice cream to cookies, cupcakes, international delicacies and more, there will be something for everyone on Sweet Street. Bring the family and your sweet tooth, play games, win prizes, and don’t miss the chance to snap a selfie at the sweetest backdrop while you’re there.