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What is happening in Victoria's food scene this week?

Restaurant patios to check out this season, CrabFest is back next month, Mosi Bakery opened a new location in Fairfield, Refire opened a new location in Langford, and more!

Tasting Victoria·May 22, 2025·8 min read
Tasting Victoria
Newsletter №096

Good morning foodies,

The weather may not be as warm as we’d like it to be by now, but we are ready for outdoor dining regardless of the clouds. Today, we’re sharing a list of restaurant patios for you to check out this season.

We are also bringing you all the details on CrabFest, which is happening in June, and more events to check out this spring. 

Now let’s get to it. 

Do you enjoy outdoor dining?

  • Love it!
  • Yes, as long as the space is heated
  • Not my thing
  • It depends…

😍 5 spots to try right now

☕ Wairua Café: A new coffee shop in North Park offering a selection of specialty coffees and teas, along with a menu of light bites in a relaxed setting. 

🍰 Oso Café Dessert: Home to decadent gourmet cookies, donuts, pastries, and petit gâteau at the Bay Centre and Mayfair Shopping Centre. 

🥙 Gyrosa Greek: View Royal’s go-to for modern Greek street food: stuffed gyros, crispy fries, and house-made tzatziki made fresh to order. Now open in Royal Oak too. 

🫖 Adrienne’s Tea Garden: A charming garden café at Mattick’s Farm offering traditional high tea, brunch, and baked treats in a relaxed setting.

🍪 Deer and Dough Bakery: A downtown café known for its delicious and flaky pastries, cookies, cakes, and wholesome breakfast and lunch options—all made with a focus on local, sustainable ingredients.

Know a great place we should add here? Reply back and let us know!

FEATURED

10 restaurant patios to check out this spring and summer

Sea Cider. Instagram

Looking for the perfect spot to sip a cocktail, share a meal, and enjoy the sunshine? We asked our readers to vote for their favourite restaurant patios in Victoria. From oceanfront views to hidden garden escapes, we’ve rounded up 10 of the best patios in the city to check out this spring and summer. These are the spots locals love and a few hidden gems you might not know yet.

Check them out.

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FEATURED

BC CrabFest returns this summer with a new downtown Victoria location

CrabFest. Provided

Victoria’s favourite seafood celebration is back next month: bigger, better, and now downtown. Think Dungeness crab boils, coastal tunes, hands-on kids' activities, and stories from the sea. Whether you're going for the buttery crab buckets, the live music, or the seaside vibes, this all-day fest is one to mark on your summer calendar.

Learn more. 

🗞️ News

Mosi Bakery has opened a new concept at 1548 Fairfield: Mosi Florentine, featuring most of Mosi’s goodies and coffee from Drumroasters. 

Refire Kitchen opened a new location in Langford last week at 748 Goldstream Ave. 

Don Don Restaurant, formerly known as Kissako Sushi, has closed its doors after 10 years in business. 

VIU students make the world's largest Nanaimo bar. [CHEK]

10 restaurants to check out in the Saanich Peninsula. 

6 Victoria restaurants make the top 100 in Canada for outdoor dining list by OpenTable.

This summer, visitors are invited to indulge in afternoon tea or dinner in The Dining Room Restaurant at The Butchart Gardens, surrounded by stunning scenery.*

*Sponsored Listing

Have a restaurant, business, or event to promote?

Get in touch with our team for small business-friendly advertising plans.

🗓️ Events

Awakening Chinatown: Celebrate Asian Heritage Month with performances, food vendors, and cultural exhibits in Victoria’s historic Chinatown this Sunday from 12-5:30pm. 

Goldstream Farmers Market: A vibrant community hub in Langford, held every Saturday from 10am to 2pm. Visitors can explore a diverse array of vendors offering local fruits and vegetables, fresh-baked breads and goodies, unique crafts, and textile creations. The market also features live music, creating a lively and welcoming atmosphere for all ages. 

Ichigo Strawberry Moon Market: A vibrant Japanese-inspired food and arts market happening May 31 at Fernwood Community Centre. Featuring 25+ food vendors like Kikan, Oota-ya, Hide and Seek, and Whisk & Yolk, plus 75+ artists, traditional matcha ceremonies, Japanese sweets, and strawberry-themed creations. 

Island Restaurant Collective Tasting Event: A relaxed backyard tasting event at Averill Creek on June 8. Enjoy a welcome glass of wine and sample creative bites from top Island chefs representing Pluvio, Wild Mountain, Fox and Monocle, Uchida, and De L'Île.

A Summer in Italy at Gigi’s: Join Shrawan Khanna from Cheeky Chalice Co. on June 19 at Gigi’s Italian Foods for a night of sampling wine and tasting Italian-inspired canapés by chef Vincent Capitano of Island Chef.

Are you hosting a food event? Let us know

 💸 Deals

• $4 off tacos at Darcy’s Pub Downtown on Tuesdays.

• $8.99 poutine and $11.99 cauliflower bites at My Chosen Cafe during happy hour. Mon.-Fri. 2-5pm and 7-8pm.

• $12 mini fish and chips and $12 mac and cheese at Saxe Point Pub during daily happy hour, 3-5:30pm.

• $15 burger and Whistle Buoy draft at Friends of Dorothy on Wednesdays. All day.

• Half priced cocktails and food options starting at $3.50 at Earls Victoria during daily happy hour, 3-6pm and late night (Sun.-Thurs. 9pm-close, Fri.-Sat. 10pm-close)

🧑‍💻 Jobs

  • Server at Kinton Ramen

  • Chef and kitchen assistant at Spoon and Spade

  • Barista at Level Ground Coffee

  • Junior server at the Fairmont Empress

📸 Post of the week

brays.vic on Instagram
@brays.vic
View on Instagram →

A dish too good to be just a weekend special. Now on Bray’s menu: roasted bone marrow topped with crab, served with warm baguette and Meyer lemon. It’s rich and unforgettable.

That’s it!

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About this story

A newsletter archive page about Wairua Cafe, Victoria food-scene updates, restaurant news, and local openings. Use it alongside the related Victoria guides below for current restaurant, cafe, market, and neighbourhood context.

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Food Scene
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Victoria
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tasting victoria
Est. 2019Vancouver Island
Don't waste a meal.

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A local guide to eating and drinking in Victoria. Helping readers discover their next best eat since 2019.

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