Dining
It all begins with an idea.
Nanoose Area
Rusted Rake Brew Pub (all ages) - Located within walking distance, The Rusted Rake serves incredibly tasty food in their laid back indoor and outdoor dining areas. If it’s a sunny day, we suggest siting out back! Our favourites are the Raincoast bowl, the chicken & pickles, the burnt ends and the chicken tenters (kids meal)
Nanoose Bay Cafe (restaurant) - Hovering above the Schooner Cove Marina, the floor to ceiling windows are worth the visit alone! Make sure to reserve a table against the windows or on the patio!
Nanoose Bay Cafe (coffee shop) - Open daily 8:00am - 1:00pm, serving baked goods, breakfast sandwiches and delicious beverages! Sit on the covered patio to take in the views while you sip your cup-of-joe!
Rocking Horse Pub (all ages) - Enjoy traditional English fare in either the cozy interior space or outside, nestled in the gardens.
Pacific Moon Rising - Located in the Pacific Shores Resort, enjoy the stunning views of the ocean and manicured lawns while you enjoy their flavourful, delicious food. If you’re a seafood fan, try the Howling Prawns! Yum!
Nanaimo
Nori Sushi - Located in North Nanaimo, Nori sushi offers the most flavourful and saucy Japanese dishes, from sizzling short ribs to torched sushi. They also offer take-out!
Longwood Brew Pub - If you’re after a delicious classic burger or steak, this is the place! They’re located in North Nanaimo and have a restaurant (all ages) upstairs, with the pub (19+) downstairs.
Eve Olive - One of our all-time favourite restaurants, it’s hard to believe it’s vegetarian! They serve everything from Tom Yum Soup, to coconut curry dishes, to the most delicious oyster-mushroom ‘calamari’ you’ll ever try! …and don’t skip desert, it’s very tasty too! (While you’re there, check out the store next-door, Island-ish, stocked with local, island made goods)!
Dinghy Dock Pub - If you’re looking for a fun dining adventure, here it is! Departing from downtown Nanaimo, a little passenger boat will take you for a 10 min trip over to one of North Americas only floating pubs (all ages). After finishing your meal, make sure to walk around Protection Island to see how the locals live and to check out the beaches. Please note, the boat charges cash (schedule/dock location is posted online)
Buzz Coffee House - Don’t be fooled by the name, this ‘coffee house’ offers some of the tastiest breakfasts and lunches around! The refreshingly bright and vibrant interior is welcoming, but the real treat is the personal and warm service you’ll receive from the team in this family-run business.
Crow and Gate (Cedar, south Nanaimo) - On a sunny day, this is where you’ll want to be. Perched at a picnic table, nestled in an English country garden, surrounded by flowers, plants and the birds. During the cooler months, this traditional English tutor house - turned English pub is cozy, charming and warm. You’ll want to get there early on a nice day, to avoid the long waits (ages 19+).
Mahle House (Cedar, south Nanaimo) - Truly a local treasure, this heritage house - turned restaurant is a foodies dream. Every dish is crafted with care and has incredible flavour. Our favourites are the grilled Caesar salad and the calamari Dijonnaise! Yum! If you’re feeling adventurous, every Wednesday they have ‘Adventure Dining’, where the chef chooses your food (five courses, $70pp) and everyone at the table receives different items, so you can try each others. It’s a fun & tasty time! *Reservations are recommended.
Milton Street Public House (all ages) - One of the best places to dine if you’re a foodie who appreciates locally sourced, fresh, homemade food. Their fresh handmade pasta is unreal and they make the tastiest Kale Caesar Salad and Calamari around!
Parksville
Salt Pizzeria - Seriously tasty thin-crust take away pizza! But don’t wait too long to place order, they run out of dough almost every night - so call early.
Cuckoo in Coombs - The most beautiful Italian restaurant, with luxurious inside dining rooms as well as ample outdoor seating in the gardens. Their pastas, pizzas and salads are saucy and packed full of flavour. Buon appetito!
Pacific Prime - Walk right off the Parksville beach boardwalk, into Pacific Prime! If the weather allows for you to sit outside, then it’s your lucky day! The steak and burgers are tasty!
Black Goose - The perfect place to soak up the sunshine, while enjoying a drink and some English pub fare. The beautiful tutor style house-turned English pub has a cozy atmosphere, but outside in their large lawn, at a picnic table is where you’ll want to me. They welcome kids and pets too! The stilton dip and fish & chips are our go-to’s.
Rod and Gun - The space is divided into two sides, one side is the pub/bar with a fun weekend party scene, while the other side is more like a family diner. The food here is packed full of flavour and the proportions are large! We visit on Mondays, when the beef dip is on special…we have yet to find a restaurant who makes it better than they do. On a sunny day, be sure to snag a table on the deck, where you’ll feel like you’re in a little overgrown English garden (often, with live music).
Qualicum
Q Burger - We bet you’ve never had a burger like this! The burgers are delicious, but the way they construct them is the interesting this about this place. Picture a cheese omelette (without egg), with all of your favourite burger toppings mixed in, folded onto your burger patty and bun! It’s a delicious gooey mess!
Qualicum Beach Cafe - Tasty food and a classy, warm atmosphere across the street from the beach - what more could you ask for! We like to order appetizers to share - the beef carpaccio is a favourite! They also serve delicious seafood and pastas. During the warmer months, sit outside on their huge deck and enjoy the live music!
Hiking
It all begins with an idea.
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.
Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.
Adventure
It all begins with an idea.
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.
Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.
Shopping
It all begins with an idea.
Locally Owned Boutiques
Lantzville (north on Nanaimo) Superior Farms - Home-wears, gift shop, nursery and petting farm
Arbutus Meadows (North Nanoose) - Homewears, gift hop, soaps, coffee and petting farm
Island-ish (Noth Nanaimo) - Locally sourced gifts, clothing, bath products and jewelry
Arch and Arrow (DownTown Nanaimo) - Women’s clothing and house wears
Groceries, Specialty foods and Deli’s, Alcohol and Pharmacy
Crow and Gate (Cedar, south Nanaimo) -
Mahle House (Cedar, south Nanaimo) -
Parksville
Qualicum
Q Burger -