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!
These were our readers' picks for a first date, published ahead of Valentine's Day 2025.
Il Terrazzo has served Northern Italian food with Pacific Northwest influences in Waddington Alley for three decades. It has an extensive wine list and won our readers' first-date category for the second year 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.
Wind Cries Mary is in Bastion Square, with dim lighting and a courtyard patio. Its changing menu focuses on nose-to-tail butchery, with a chef's tasting menu, seafood, beef striploin, vegetables and pasta.
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.
