Dining in Nanaimo? Here's your 2 Day Itinerary

You might not know this, but Nanaimo’s food scene happens to be one of the most underrated on the Island… at least in our un-biased opinion… 

From hole-in-the-wall local spots to local gems you’ve heard us rave about before, there’s an option here for you, whatever your dining preferences are. Spicy? Got you covered. Fresh seafood? We hear you, and we have several options. Something unique to Nanaimo? Honey, you know it.

This is your 2-day itinerary to dining around Nanaimo, neighbourhood by neighbourhood. We hope you brought your appetite and a sense of adventure!

Day 1

Morning - Downtown

Probably the highest concentration of cafes in the region, Nanaimo’s downtown is where your journey begins! We are talking Commercial Street, Victoria Crescent, the Waterfront Walkway, Front Street, you get it.

This is where slow mornings somehow turn into three-hour coffee crawls and “just one pastry” becomes a full-on brunch situation. Waterfront views, cozy corners, fresh baking drifting out onto the sidewalks… downtown Nanaimo really knows how to romanticize your caffeine addiction.

Whether you’re after a flaky croissant, a loaded breakfast sandwich, or a coffee strong enough to emotionally support your itinerary, you’re in the right place. Lace up your walking shoes. You’ll want to wander for this one.

Here are a few popular spots to start your day:

• Javawocky Coffee House | 90 Front St #8
• Mon Petit Choux | 120 Commercial St
• The Vault Cafe | 499 Wallace St
• Brix & Mortar | 234 Commercial St
• Milk Jam Donuts |165 Commercial St A
• Ironworks Cafe & Creperie | 200 Commercial St
• Red’s Bakery | 101 Commercial St
• Gabriel’s Cafe | 39 Commercial St
• Serious Coffee | #60 Commercial St #300
• Tea on the Quay | 90 Front St #3

Afternoon - Old City Quarter & Central Nanaimo

Next up, mosey up the street to the Old City Quarter. Think Cobblestone charm, heritage buildings, and food that absolutely pulls its weight. 

This neighbourhood has a way of making you accidentally spend your whole afternoon here. One minute you’re grabbing lunch, the next you’re wandering in and out of local shops with an espresso in hand pretending you totally didn’t already eat dessert.

The Old City Quarter leans a little cozy, a little eclectic, and very food-forward. Pasta? Yep. Global flavours? Absolutely. Hidden gems locals will defend with their lives? Oh, 100%.

• La Stella Trattoria  | 321 Wesley St #1
• Asteras | 347 Wesley St
• Bistro Taiyo | 321 Wesley St
• Masala Culture | 428 Fitzwilliam St
• Mambo Gourmet Pizza | 238 C Franklyn St
• Milton Street Public House | 247 Milton St
• Real Food | 321 Wesley St #3
• The Occidental (Oxy) Pub | 432 Fitzwilliam St

Looking to journey a little further up the way? Central Nanaimo has some of the best local favourites. These are the kind of places locals recommend without hesitation and gatekeep just a little (fair enough). Small menus, big flavour, and a loyal following for a reason.

No flashy gimmicks. No overcomplicated menus. Just seriously good food and the type of spots that somehow become part of people’s weekly routine after one visit. Honestly? Respect.

• Carbone Pizzeria | 215 Terminal Ave N
• Jalapeños Mexican Food | 450-B Wakesiah Ave
• K Chicken | 458 Wakesiah Ave
• Columbia Bakery | 2151 Bowen Rd
• The Wellington Pub | 3956 Victoria Ave
• Off the Hook - Surf, Turf, Smokery |1588 Boundary Crescent
• SIP Neighbourhood Pub | 601 Bruce Ave Unit 106
• The Bee’s Knees Cafe & Catering | 525 Third St #104
• The Plate | 1406 Jingle Pot Rd #19
• Chick to Sea | 150 Terminal Ave N
• Haru BBQ | 5291 Rutherford Rd
• Baby Salsa Mexican | 550 Fifth St #205
• Nellie’s European Deli | 2980 Island Hwy N #500

Dinner - Food Trucks

From tacos and smash burgers to global flavours and sweet treats, these kitchens-on-wheels are doing the most in the best way. You’ll find them popping up along the waterfront, at parks, events, and anywhere people are hungry (so… everywhere).

There’s just something about grabbing takeout and eating it oceanside that feels aggressively like summer, even when it’s not. Nanaimo’s food truck scene is big, local-loved, and honestly a little dangerous if you’re indecisive.

There are always a few hanging out at Maffeo Sutton Park, so start your adventure there. Here’s who to keep your eye out for:

• AJ’s Drinks N Dogs
• Antioch Foods
• Brazilian Delicacies
• Canada Crepe and More Food Truck
• Dasamosa Punjabio Kitchen
• Dinks Hot Dogs
• Donairnutz
• Hojo’s Eats
• Mizu Real Fruit Ice Cream
• One Cool Cookie
• Pepper Pot
• Sip and Sliders
• Snap Dawg’s
• Tacomania
• Tahn Tahn’s Smoothies
• The Funky Lemon Shack
• The Spud Barn
• Thrill O Grill
• Unleashed Hot Dogs

Day 2

Morning - South Nanaimo

From Harewood to Cedar, you’ll find hearty dinners, unique spots doing their own thing, and bakeries that are well worth the detour. Add in a few classic pubs and local favourites, and you’ve got a lineup that leans a little more low-key, but absolutely delivers.

South Nanaimo does not care about trends. It simply continues being delicious without needing to shout about it.

This part of town is all about comfort food, community staples, and bakeries that will absolutely tempt you into ordering “something for later” that somehow disappears in the car. No judgement.

This morning, you’ll be exploring two of South Nanaimo’s cafes and bakeries!

• Hearthstone Artisan Bakery | 50 Tenth St #115A
• Coco Cafe | #4A - 1840 Cedar Rd

Afternoon - North Nanaimo or Stay in the South End

If you’re sticking around South Nanaimo, expect cozy pubs, tucked-away dining spots, and a slower pace that pairs suspiciously well with a long lunch and absolutely nowhere to be.

• The Bold Knight | 1140 Trans-Canada Hwy
• Mahle House | 2104 Hemer Rd
• Crow & Gate Pub | 2313 Yellow Point Rd
• Wheatsheaf Pub | 1866 Cedar Rd
• Paradise Indian Cuisine | 50 Tenth St

Or, head up to Nanaimo’s North End, packed with spots that locals know and quietly keep going back to. No big fuss, just really good food and drinks. From casual go-tos to places worth planning your route around, there’s a lot happening up here if you know where to look.

Think sushi nights that turn into weekly traditions, neighbourhood pubs filled with regulars, and comfort food worth crossing town for. North Nanaimo may play it cool, but the food scene up here? Very much not messing around.

• Nori Sushi | 6750 N Island Hwy
• Horang | 6367 Hammond Bay Rd
• Simonholt | 6582 Applecross Rd
• Blackbear Pub | 6201 Doumont Rd
• Camas | 7143 Caillet Rd
• Delicado’s (North) | #508, 6581 Aulds Rd #200
• Milanos | 6551 Aulds Rd #300
• Pizzeria La Stella | #508, 6581 Aulds Rd #504
• Smokin’ Georges BBQ | 4131 Mostar Rd #5
• Umai Sushi | 4575 Uplands Dr
• Berakah | 5281 Rutherford Rd #102
• Gaya Sushi | 6908 Island Hwy N #11
• Sushi Ryu | 6595 Applecross Rd

Dinner - On the Water

What better way to wrap up your Nanaimo visit than on the water?

Along the Harbourfront Walkway, you’ll find restaurants serving up great food with even better views. And when we say on the water, we mean it. Patios perched at the edge, tables with front-row seats to the harbour… it’s not just dinner, it’s part of the experience.

Sunset hitting the harbour, seaplanes coming in overhead, a drink in hand, and fresh seafood on the table? Yeah. Nanaimo knows how to end a trip properly.

Take your time with this one. Order dessert. Stay for one more drink. Miss the urge to rush back home entirely.

• Penny’s Palapa | 10 Wharf St
• Lighthouse Bistro | 50 Anchor Way
• Trollers Fish & Chips | 10 Wharf St
• Dinghy Dock Pub | 8 Pirates Ln

And there you have it. Two days, countless good meals, and probably at least one moment where you seriously considered extending your trip just to try “one more spot.” Honestly? We get it.

From tucked-away neighbourhood gems and waterfront patios to bakeries worth detouring for and food trucks that somehow smell amazing from three blocks away, Nanaimo’s food scene knows how to keep things interesting.

The best part? You’ve barely scratched the surface.

So loosen the waistband, save this itinerary for later, and come hungry. Nanaimo’s ready to feed you well.