Could not be happier that the Arbutus Lounge exists (and the distillery) in our town. This place…read morerivals the best quality cocktails I've had in major cities, and when you factor in the INCREDIBLY low price, it truly can't be beat. From the classic martini to the weird and wonderful Where the Wild Things Are, and everything in between, the drink list is unique and exciting with something for everyone. The mixologists are amazing, and they even have board games and snacks available. They also do a happy hour, but I can never get there in time so can't speak to it. By far the best kept secret in Nanaimo!

Just discovered this place! Awesome craft cocktails from a serious mixologist. Never even knew this…read moreplace was here, as it's kinda hiding out of sight on a bit of an industrial park road. Nice cozy eclectic atmosphere with herbs and flowers drying all around. The cocktail menu is lengthy and def has something for everyone. Each drink has a chart letting you know sweet, herbal, boozy, etc. Not very busy on a Friday night, I imagine people haven't discovered it just like we didn't! Check it out!

Love the place very friendly and good serves the owner is a a hoot a great person I recommend it…read morehighly give it a try and tell her Leo says Hi

Had SO much fun!! Delicious cocktails, clean comfortable space, and the staff are the best. Thanks…read moreto Jason for taking care of us on our night out in Nanaimo! We had the best time! Love forever! ^_^

My parents and I were in Parksville for a few days and we went to Horang for dinner. It is busy so…read moremake sure you make a reservation like I did. I have been there for lunch and there are great lunch specials. Many different choices on their menu. Our waitress, Seraphine, was so helpful with describing and helping us narrow down our choices. She was attentive the entire time. I mentioned that we were catching the ferry and she ensured that we would be on time! The Japchae appy was huge and flavourful. Our favourite was the fried chicken Kim bop. The crab and tuna bowl was like a poke bowl. Everyone was friendly and tables were spaced out so you cannot hear others. Lots of parking in front of the restaurant. Also, they have a market next door that you can buy some of their items to make at home. We will definitely be returning!

The food are very good. We ordered several things to share, including Creamy Rose Tteokbokki,…read moreTruffle Japchae Noodle, Flaming So Galbi, Yangyum Glaze fried chicken as well as the Soy Garlic friend chicken. Some of the food is to the sweeter side, like the galbi and the yangyum chicken. But tteokbokki and japchae's flavour is on point. And highly recommend their makgeolli flight if you are rice wine lover.

Omg!! First time ever being there. Service was great and our…read morewaiter answered all our questions about the menu, Food was phenomenal!! No wonder there is always a wait time to get on. I highly recommend this restaurant.

We have had many great Sunday Brunches. Staff are wonderful and so are the drinks and foodread more

Discovering another gem in downtown Nanaimo Modern café is nestled in a heritage site built in…read more1910. They bring a fresh twist to classic comfort food using locally sourced ingredients. We stopped by for brunch and indulged in the Modern Acai Berry Bowl ($16) and the Modern Breakfast ($18). Whether you're in the mood for brunch, lunch, or dinner, this all-day dining lounge has something for everyone. Don't miss out on this unique spot! The Modern Cafe 221 Commercial St, Nanaimo, BC V9R 5GB 11:30-9pm (open till 10 on weekends) Food Parking 4.5/5 Service 4/5 Ambiance 5/5

I was visiting Nanaimo for the first time and had brunch here with a large group, it wasn't super…read morebusy and I appreciated the service. I thought it was a decent brunch place however felt that the dish was a bit heavy -- big portion though. The duck while there was a decent amount in the hash, didn't have anything special to it and tasted like a regular pulled meat. I did like the addition of pineapple as that was something I hadn't seen before and the potatoes were pretty good! Overall, for the price point ($26), it's definitely not a go-to for me if I lived in the area however it's a nice spot to visit if you're on the island for a getaway.

We lived this little pub on the ocean. First time sat in the restaurant, second time on the outside…read morepatio. Service could be better but the seafood risotto I had was delicious. Would go back!

We've stayed in the neighbourhood a number of times in downtown Nanaimo and have read about this…read moreplace a few times. Finally took the plunge, and really wish we hadn't, and certainly will not again. Our server was quick to seat us, took good care of us, gave us some insight into the menu items, and generally speaking was great. The view from the top floor part of the Lighthouse is great. Overlooking the marina and sea plane dock in downtown Nanaimo, there is plenty to see, and plenty to watch, it should be a licence to print money. Sadly to food was atrocious, in both taste and the visual. Looking at it as it was as delivered, we should have left right then. The salad that I chose with my beef dip was terrible. The mixed greens part had black ends, and black slime on it. I tried picking through it, and finally gave up and didn't touch it. The dip for the sandwich was thick, very dark and had what looked like the part that sticks to the pot while it's reducing. The meat colour looked a little off as well. K had the wings and clam chowder. The wings looked like they had been sitting for quite a few hours in a bowl on the counter prior to tossing them on the plate. The cut veggies had also been out for a while, she had to cut each end off the celery. The soup was hot, but had no flavour. I could go on, but you get the idea, don't go to this restaurant for food. Have a beer enjoy the view and eat elsewhere. The photos attached say a lot!

We decided to stay in Squamish after a day in Whistler. Looked around online for some dinner ideas…read moreand settled on the Salted Vine. Our AirBnB hosts listed it as the only 5-star restaurant in town so we made a last minute reservation, which they graciously accommodated. What a great choice! First impressions don't convey 5-star, but once we settled in, the cozy and casual ambience was perfect. They have an extensive cocktail and wine list and we dove into the cocktail section. Really smart and interesting selection - would've loved to try more than two. We had a featured appetizer - an heirloom tomato salad with goats cheese and gazpacho dressing. Fresh, well presented and delicious. We also ordered the bread with lemon butter and olive oil. The multigrain bread was fantastic! For mains, I had the kobe beef and my partner had the meatballs with a side of roasted carrots. The beef melted in my mouth and the chimichurri sauce was possibly the best I've had. The meatballs and carrots had a decidedly north african flavour profile and were beautiful and balanced. Their menu is fantastic - if we lived nearby we would return to try almost everything. So glad we didn't stay to eat dinner in way-too-touristy Whistler or we would've missed out on this gem.

Delicious food, but the service was so slow! We had to wait almost 2 hours for our meal. We were…read moreso hungry that we couldn't even focus on conversation and enjoy the meal. The restaurant was less than half full at the time, so it wasn't that they were overly busy. Very disappointing.

First of all, the table we wanted and pointed out when we made the reservation in person was not…read moreavailable when we showed up on the reserved date and time. Secondly, the menu was quite a disappointment as it has been cut back significantly. My favourite option was the quesadilla. It WAS the best I've ever had anywhere. I have food restrictions and this was not only suitable but delicious. We've been going to the Cactus Club since it opened in 2008. Wherever it was located, we followed. We are very disappointed that this is no longer a favourite for dining. Thank you, Marilyn Crouse smcrouse@telus.net

Great food/great service!!! As always!!…read moreOne of their best plates is butternut squash ravioli with prawns!!! Don't forget to ask for extra lemon sauce!!!