Best Victoria Waterfront Restaurants with Epic Ocean Views!

Victoria is a scenic city with a handful of restaurants with epic ocean views. These restaurants offer a great experience as guests get to eat great food while experiencing the city’s charm. Here are some of the best Victoria restaurants with a view.

Best Victoria Restaurants with a View

Boom + Batten

Boom + Batten is a Pacific coast-inspired restaurant and one of the most popular harbor view restaurants in Victoria. This restaurant treats guests to fine dining and harbour front views from every seat. The floor-to-ceiling windows also give guests a clear view of Mount Baker and the Straits of Juan de Fuca. 

In addition, Boom + Batten restaurant is known for its enticing menu filled with local seafood options, including poached halibut and pan-seared salmon. You can also enjoy the happy hour selection by chef Matt Cusana every day between 2 to 5 pm and 9 pm-close. 

Location: 2 Paul Kane Place, Victoria, BC V9A 7J8

Hours: Mondays to Fridays – 11 am – 10 pm.

Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays – 10 am to 10 pm. 

Website: http://boomandbatten.com/

Steamship Bar & Grille

Delight in the harbor views and West coast-inspired dishes when you visit Steamship Bar & Grille. Located in Victoria’s Inner Harbour, Steamship Bar & Grille is everything you’d expect from a waterfront restaurant. The location, the views, the price, and the great food and drinks make it a perfect place to enjoy a meal while taking in the stunning views of the Harbour. 

The menu focuses on West coast inspired dishes and locally sourced ingredients like West Coast Chowder, Tacos, Coconut Shrimp, and so on. You can also enjoy a drink from the excellent selection of local beer, wine tap, and handcrafted cocktails on the heated winter patio.

Location: 470 Belleville St., Victoria

Hours: Mondays to Thursday: 11 am–10 pm, 

Fridays: 11 am–10:30

Saturdays: 10 am– 10:30 pm

Sundays: 10 am – 9:30 pm

Website: https://steamshipgrill.com/

Canoe Brew Pub

This busy brewpub offers homemade beers and bar food you can enjoy on a large patio overlooking ferries. As one of the best Waterfront restaurants in Victoria, Canoe Brewpub offers excellent outdoor views, scenic patios, and a vibrant atmosphere. 

Canoe Brew Pub has a great-looking interior, with rustic brick walls, hardwood floors, and well-lit ceilings. You will find various food options on the menu, including steamed mussels, salmon with shrimp risotto, and harissa chicken salad. 

Canoe Brew Pub holds live music featuring local and international bands every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 9 pm-close. 

Location: 450 Swift St, Victoria, BC V8W 1S3, Canada

Hours: Daily, 11:30 am–11:00 pm 

Website: https://www.canoebrewpub.com/

The Beach House Restaurant

The Beach House Restaurant is where to come for panoramic beachside views and excellent dishes. You will get stunning views of the scenic oceans, Cordova Bay Beach, and the beautiful cityscape. 

When it comes to food at the Beach House Restaurant, you are in for a big treat. You will find handcrafted cocktails, craft beer, and contemporary dishes like seafood chowder, steaks, salad, pizzas, and burgers on the menu. 

The restaurant’s patio is a great place to hang out when it’s warm, and we recommend you make a reservation because it gets a little bit busy here. 

Location: 5109 Cordova Bay Road, Victoria

Hours: Wednesday to Sunday – 11 a.m. to 7 p.m

Website: https://www.beachhousevictoria.com/

Q at the Empress

Located at Fairmont Empress Hotel, Q at the Empress is one of the best waterfront restaurants in Victoria to explore the stunning natural beauty of Vancouver Island. Q at the Empress also has a great interior with its low-hanging chandeliers, ornate ceilings, and impressive artwork. 

The cuisine at Q at the Empress is quite good, with options featuring locally sourced seafood, traditionally raised meats, and casual foods. There is also a great selection of wines from the region and around the globe. We recommend you make dinner reservations before coming to this picturesque Victoria restaurant. The Empress hotel also serves afternoon high tea.

Location: 721 Government St, Victoria, BC V8W 1W5, Canada

Hours: Breakfast: 7:00 am to 11:00 am daily

Dinner: 5:30 pm to 9 pm daily

Website: https://www.qattheempress.com/

Glo Restaurant and Lounge

Glo Restaurant and Lounge is one of the finest Victoria waterfront restaurants. This restaurant features 180-degree views of the Selkirk Waterway, and no matter where you sit, you will enjoy the stunning views of Vancouver, BC. 

Glo Restaurant and Lounge’s heated patio ensures you’re comfortable outside, and the floor-to-ceiling windows help you get a beautiful view of the waterway. The menu focuses a lot on organic and local ingredients with options like seafood, pizzas, and casual meals of burgers and sandwiches. 

Location: 104, 2940 Jutland Rd., Victoria

Hours: Monday to Thursday and Sunday: 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.        

Friday and Saturday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. 

Website: https://glovictoria.com/

Milestones

Overlooking the water, Milestones offers a great view of the Victoria waterfront, and we recommend you sit by the window to get the best views. Milestones also boast great interior decor with low-hanging chandeliers, hardwood floors, and windows overlooking pristine views. 

Besides the view, Milestones offer delicious Canadian and International cuisines made from in-house ingredients. Some of the most popular meals at this scenic restaurant include Calamari, Mushroom soup, Spinach & Artichoke dip, Steaks, and Salmon. We recommend you also try out the Milestones’ signature drink, the Bellini (a cocktail made with Prosecco and peach puree). 

Location: 812 Wharf St, Victoria, BC V8W 1T3, Canada

Hours: 11 am to 10 pm daily

Website: http://www.milestonesrestaurants.com/

Spinnakers Brew Pub

Founded in 1984, Spinnakers is Canada’s first and oldest brewpub. It’s also one of the best places to enjoy a beer in Victoria. Spinnakers Brew Pub perches above the Songhees Walkway, and from here, you can get beautiful waterfront views. 

There are a lot of options when it comes to drinks and beers; Spinnakers offer cider, spirits, and craft beer recipes that date back 30 years. You can enjoy yourself by taking some craft beer while delighting in the farm-fresh menu that focuses on local ingredients. You can also come in for breakfast with options like French toast, frittatas, and benedicts served between 9 am to 12 pm. 

Location: 308 Catherine St., Victoria

Hours: Monday to Sunday – 9 am to 11 pm

Website: https://www.spinnakers.com/

Vista 18

Located on top of the Chateau Victoria Hotel, Vista 18 is by far one of the best ocean-view restaurants in Victoria. This restaurant showcases the surreal beauty of Vancouver Island, including the ocean, mountains, and city views. No matter where you sit in the restaurant, expect to get a good view of the ocean from Victoria’s only rooftop restaurant. 

The food is also as fabulous as the fantastic views. They have a menu segregated into sections like Earth (vegetarian), Ocean (seafood), Air (chicken), and Land (beef, lamb). The menu also features contemporary Canadian dishes and West coast inspired dishes. We recommend getting their signature dish; the root vegetable crisps served with black garlic tzatziki. For lighter bites, you can pick something from the tapas-style menu at the wine bar. 

If you happen to go there on a Friday or Saturday, you will enjoy your meal while being serenaded by the live jazz music. 

Location: 740 Burdett Ave Victoria, BC V8W 1B2

Hours: Everyday 6:30 am – Midnight

Website: http://www.vista18.com/

Barbs Fish and Chips

Founded in 1984, Barbs Fish and Chips serves old-school seafood bites over picnic tables. While here, you will enjoy the seaside views and activities, including the fishermen at work, seals playing in the harbor, and sea plane traffic. Barb’s seafood and its location make it one of the best waterfront restaurants in Victoria. You can enjoy all sorts of seafood and fast food here, including shrimp, salmon, burgers, and, of course, the signature fish and chips. 

Location: 1 Dallas Rd, Victoria, BC V8V 0B2, Canada

Hours: 11 am – 8 pm daily

Website: https://barbsfishandchips.com/

Where to Stay in Victoria

LUXURY: Delta by Marriott Victoria Ocean Pointe or Fairmont Empress or Sheraton Victoria

MIDRANGE: Accent Inn or Best Western Inner Harbour or Hotel Zed

BUDGET: Island Travel Inn or Ocean Island Backpackers

More Resources for Visiting Victoria Canada

Want to know what the top things to do in British Columbia or Top Vancouver things to do. Both of those posts should keep you busy with activities.

More Seasonal posts: Things to do in Victoria in October, Things to do in Victoria in November.

If your plans for Vancouver Island include Tofino or Ucluelet, check out these posts on AirBNBs in Tofino and AirBNBs in Ucluelet.

How to Get to Victoria from Vancouver

Victoria lies on Vancouver Island and can be accessed by air or by ferry. There are flights from YVR Vancouver Airport to YJJ Victoria Airport and also Harbour Seaplanes that fly from Downtown Vancouver to Downtown Victoria. Helicopter service also exists with Helijet.

Ferry is the other option to get to Victoria from Vancouver. Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal is about 30 mins from downtown Vancouver and has several ferries per day (every hour at peak season). If you have a car you can drive on the ferry, you can take a bus from Vancouver that will continue into Victoria, or you can walk on and take public transit into the city.

Ferry reservations are currently reccommened for vehicles. Otherwise, waits of up to a few hours are common.

Renting a Car in British Columbia

Rental Cars are very popular in British Columbia. There is just so much to see and there is not a train or bus network outside of Metro Vancouver or Victoria. If you plan on leaving Vancouver and want to see even the local ski hills, I suggest a rental car. You can get a rental car before you arrive.