Best restaurants in Victoria for date night

These restaurants were voted as best for a first date by our readers

Author

Team Tasting Victoria
January 27, 2025

Wind Cries Mary. Website

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!

Inspired by Northern Italian cuisine with a Pacific Northwest twist, Il Terrazzo Ristorante has served Victoria for three decades in Waddington Alley. This lively, unique dining experience offers a diverse, well-rounded menu and extensive wine program. It’s truly got something for everyone, as evidenced by its win for best first date spot in our reader’s choice poll for the second time in a row.

Our Pick: Filetto di manzo

Address: 555 Johnson St.

With its perfect view of the Inner Harbour, Boom + Batten’s elevated casual dining offers guests an experience inspired by the Pacific Northwest surroundings. With stunning architecture and detailed décor, the restaurant and its bar is the perfect spot for date night. Enjoy a stroll  around the Songhees Walkway before or after dinner, grab a cocktail, and good food, and have a great time.

Our Pick: Thai curry mussels 

Address: 2 Paul Kane Pl.

Nestled in Victoria’s Bastion Square, a downtown Victoria staple, at Wind Cries Mary you can find a cozy ambiance with dimmed lighting, a beautiful courtyard patio, and excellent service, making it a great spot for a romantic date. The restaurant’s dynamic menu is ever-changing with a focus on nose-to-tail butchery, including a chef’s tasting menu, seafood, beef striploin, vegetables, and pastas. The agreeable lighting, a beautiful courtyard patio, and excellent service make it a great spot to dine.

Our Pick: Chef’s tasting menu

Address: 45 Bastion Square

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, from the ambiance to the authentic cuisine, to the service. Although it didn’t make the top three in the best date night restaurant category, it did take a top spot in best fine dining.

Our Pick: Lasagne alla bolognese

Address: 106 Superior St.

Cafe Brio is a downtown Victoria classic: a rustic Italian restaurant with a menu driven primarily by local produce and seasonal goods, 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 with chef Sam Harris and bar manager Vincent Vanderheide.

The space is cozy with rustic décor, featuring warm wood tones, soft lighting, and an open kitchen that invites guests to witness the culinary action. It has an intimate dining room as well as a charming patio that’s perfect for a romantic dinner.

Our Pick: Gnocchi carbonara

Address: 944 Fort St. 

Toptable Group's newest restaurant Marilena was nominated and although it didn’t make the top three in this category, it did in Best Seafood, Best Fine Dining, and Best New Restaurant. Marilena is the elevated dining experience that Victoria has been anticipating for years. The menu is crafted of West Coast cuisine with local and globally sourced seafood paired with high-quality sustainable ingredients that adhere to the highest standards. Aside from the food, the service is excellent, they have an expansive wine list, and the experience in general at the restaurant makes it a perfect spot for date night or any special celebration. 

Our Pick: Miso glazed sablefish

Address: 1525 Douglas St.

If you’d like to see the winners for the 17 other categories in the Tasting Victoria Best Restaurant Awards, check out the list here.