Dine Around and Stay in Town 2022

Do you hear that, in the distance? That’s the sound of cutlery clashing, dishes clanging, and hungry foodies clicking away, deeply absorbed in menu research. It’s that time of the year again – Dine Around and Stay in Town Victoria is back!

The city’s best-known culinary festival, Dine Around and Stay in Town Victoria involves the collaboration of several restaurants and hotels in town. Our restauranteurs offer prix-fixe, multiple-course experiences ranging from $20 to $60.  Local hotels also participate by offering discounted deals on room bookings. From January 20th to February 6th, 2022, over 50 restaurants and 12 hotels around the city will feature their limited-time menus and deals in anticipation for your arrival!

Now more than ever, Victoria’s restaurants and businesses are appreciating your continued support. And now more than ever, you may be needing your comfort-food fix! Without further adieu, here is our list of eateries to check out during this year’s Dine Around.

Bottoms Up

We’ll start off by highlighting some of our favourite local pubs and bars. Irish Times Pub and Sticky Wicket Pub & Restaurant are two classic go-to spots, well-known by locals. Six Mile Pub & Eatery – located in the west-end of Victoria – is the oldest pub in British Columbia, and features a locally sourced, gluten-free focused menu. Sherwood Café & Bar serves comforting beverages day and night, featuring a tasty espresso bar. J.R. Slims is the newest pub from our list, offering a genuine, authentic atmosphere to order comfort-food, watch the game, and grab a drink. 

Go Local

Victorians love our locally sourced, island-grown ingredients!  We’ll nod to the 10 Acres group (10 Acres at the Pier, 10 Acres Commons, and 10 Acres Bistro), where farm-to-table is not just a buzzword – seasonal produce, meat, and eggs are derived from their farm on the Saanich Peninsula. Agrius focuses on sourcing their organic ingredients from farmers, foragers, and local island producers. The Bard & Banker is a popular choice when looking for a downtown pub – their ingredients are locally-sourced whenever possible. The award-winning Little Jumbo Restaurant & Bar holds a farm-to-table and boat-to-table philosophy. Niche Grocerant is the newest specialty food retailer on the block with a fully-licensed restaurant, storefront, and a full-service bistro. Lastly, Blighty’s Bistro is a fine-dining farm-to-table restaurant located in the heart of Oak Bay.

Love at First Bite

Perhaps you are scoping Dine Around as an opportunity to show your better-half how much you care. Some of our sure-to-impress picks for date-night are Ferris’ Oyster Bar & Grill (seafood), Vis-à-Vis (French cuisine), Wind Cries Mary (West Coast cuisine), and Zambri’s (Italian). For two unforgettable fine-dining options, look no further than taking your special someone to The Courtney Room or Blue Crab Seafood House. If you’re searching for something a little further out, The Arbutus Room up in beautiful Brentwood Bay area offers casually elegant dining options and live music every Friday and Saturday evening. Meanwhile, Bar 500 pairs your $30 three-course Italian dinner with wine offerings for a very reasonable addition of $20. 

A Feast for your Eyes

On the hunt for a meal with a view? Look no further than Finn’s Harbour Front & Oyster Bar for unparalleled views of the Inner Harbour. Steamship Grill + Bar looks out from the historic Steamship Terminal building, also offering fantastic harbour views. Watch boats and seaplanes come and go from your table at Aura Waterfront Restaurant & Patio.  On the other side of the Victoria Harbour, LURE Restaurant & Bar looks out at the Parliament buildings, their lights often reflected in the water. The modern Boom + Batten is surrounded by the ocean, making it possible to watch otters or sea-kayakers passing by. Some special nods go to Glo Restaurant + Lounge for their views of the Selkirk Waterway and The Beach House looking out over Cordova Bay Beach and the ocean.  Lastly, Vista 18 is an 18th-floor rooftop restaurant famed for its views of the Olympic Mountains framing the city.

A Family that Eats Together…

With an influx of young families moving to Greater Victoria, the city has a plethora of selections that are sure to appease children and adults alike.  The Keg Restaurants at Saanich and at the Harbour offer $50 and $60 prix-fixe menus and some of the best surf-and-turf in town. Fire + Water Restaurant offers a three-course menu for $50 in a cozy avenue for family celebrations. Milestones Victoria and Langford, Moxies, and Lot 1 Pasta Bar each offer $40 menus to showcase their tasty dishes. Meanwhile, Brown’s Crafthouse Vic West, Brown’s Socialhouse, Cactus Club Café, Frankie’s Modern Diner and The Old Spaghetti Factory Victoria each offer a very modest $30 menu that will leave the whole family satisfied.  Part of the Ferris restaurant group, Ferris’ Downstairs Grill & Garden Patio features all the flavour of their Upstairs counterpart, with a more casual and family-friendly dining style.

Amuse-Bouche

Play with your food! Board with Friends Café offers a $20 menu and the chance to play your favourite boardgames for an additional fee. Our friends at L’Apero Wine & Cheese Bistro are providing a raclette event (think: a melted Swiss cheese-wheel), and Perro Negro is offering a $30 Spanish tapas experience.  The Mint specializes in Himalayan cuisine and is known for their lively atmosphere involving DJ’s and comedy shows. The Pacific Restaurant features a $50 three-course fondue indulgence – cheese fondue to start, then a sake soy broth fondue, and chocolate fondue as a final sweet note. Finding an opportunity in Victoria’s brunch obsession, Spinnakers Gastro Brewpub offers a $20 three-course breakfast menu until 12pm, with suggested craft beer pairings. And last, but certainly not least, The Pendray Teahouse offers a spectacular $50 deal on an afternoon tea experience. Dig in, foodies!