Nanaimo has some the sweetest of food treasures, and Medina's shop is one of them. Be sure to stop…read morein for a cupcake or six. A wee shop, with a wonderful caring woman at it's helm, you'll find a perfect compliment to your day in a cupcake, a parfait, or other sweet treat. Fair Trade coffee, brewed or espresso drinks, make a great accompaniment to all the chocolate. Her Black Forrest is my favourite, it's a rich chocolate with cherry and whipped cream on top, no heavy icing, just a moist delicate cake finished with just the right amount of sweetness. With a rotating display of cupcakes, your best selection is before mid-day. Be sure to try the Nanaimo bar cupcake, a unique spin on an old classic. From Red Velvet to vanilla, seasonal creations like egg nog or pumpkin, she also offers gluten-free and vegan cupcakes. She's proud to be a locally owned business and takes the time to chat with her customers about things beyond "Chocolate or Vanilla?". Do the same, you'll be glad you did

Sometimes super yummy cupcakes, however lately I've been trying to go and they are always closed…read moreeven when the business hours say they are open. Also they are always sold out even early in the day! They should be making more? I also had some recently that tasted super stale and not worth the drive and the money they cost. I think they need to upgrade the staff.

Looking for snacks and decided it was pastry time. A cozy little bakery in the heart of Qualicum…read more We got the country style sausage rolls, the Cornish pasties and a couple of steak and mushroom pies. My mom and my wife both make the best pastry in the world (yes they both do) but these treats were crispy, flakey, light and oh so delicious. Ample fillings and top notch pastry combined to provide very satisfying snacks. Fantastic selection of muffins, breads, buns and baked goods with a warm, inviting staff that has an obvious love of their trade. Thanks for feeding us on our adventure.

Nice bakery for all the normal bread, pastries and cakes. They also have a little lunch spot where…read moreyou can have a piece of fried chicken with your pastry, or pack it up for dinner. Friendly people too!

Cute ice cream shop. I love how inviting and inclusive this place is. Workers were friendly and…read moreoffered samples when were couldn't decide. We ended up getting the vegan chocolate with their homemade waffle cones and a doggie cup. The doggie cup came with a doggy biscuit on top which our dog just gobbled up. My only suggestion is to have a couple more dairy free options. 3 is quite minimal. Even if they're not vegan, I would have loved to try their burnt honey flavor in a dairy free option. I still give this stop 5/5 for their inclusiveness, friendliness, and great tasting ice cream. Very warm and cozy for an ice cream shop.

Service Quality I…read moream very picky when it comes to my ice cream, and his ice cream and macaroon were outstanding. I would definitely come back and also highly recommend this place.

Hidden Gem Alert! If you're in Nanaimo, you need to check out this cozy little bakery & cafe that's…read moreas cute as it is delicious! Bodhi's Artisan Bakery It is Locally owned and full of charm. They have a variety of Handcrafted pastries that melt in your mouth, Freshly baked bread you'll want to take home, and Coffee that feels like a warm hug. Whether you're craving a quick treat or looking for a spot to relax, this place is a total vibe! We got the cinnamon bun, strawberry and blueberry cheese danish, and almond croissant. Everything was truly delicious but the blueberry cheese danish stole the show. It was the best cheese danish I've ever had! Heads up, they only accept cash and debit. They also have limited seating available and tend to sell out fast. We went at 9:30am on a Saturday and of their items were gone and by the time we left at ~10:30 they were almost halfway sold out. Food 5/5 Ambiance 5/5 (very cozy and homey/local) Parking 4.5/5 Service 5/5

Excellent bread, rolls, danish, scones, etc. Multiple types of bread all from quality flour. You…read morewill not be disappointed!

We bought a few things from this little bakery and unfortunately, most of the items were a bit…read moredisappointing either because they weren't what we expected or were sweeter than we liked. We got the Key Lime Tart which was too heavy on the cream cheese with not enough citrus flavour making it taste more like a cheesecake than a tart. The almond apple tart had a lot of frangipane and a good tart crust but the apple part was missing. The carrot cake slice didnt have enough tang in the cream cheese frosting and the flavours of the cake fell flat. Their other baked goods were a bit better with the berry muffin being not too oily or sweet but a bit dry, the texture of the jalapeño and cheddar scone was fluffy and light but I could hardly taste any cheese. The veggie puff was the favourite being flavourful and light. We also grabbed a bag of their white chocolate chip macadamia nut cookies (gf) and molasses cookies because they were day olds and half off and these were some of the better treats we tried from here. Overall, we had high expectations and were unfortunately let down by the treats at Sandy's.

If you're walking through Lower Gibsons, you have to stop by Sandy's Bake Shoppe. It's a staple --…read moreeverything's homemade, always fresh, and totally hits the spot. We grabbed the feta spinach croissant and a gooey cinnamon bun. It was the best treat to share as we explored the village.

Fantastic bagels! My veggie bagel sandwich was delicious. My husband had the cinnamon roll and…read morehe said "it was the best" he'd had in years. The owner really cares about her customers AND her food and how it's presented. Kudos!!!! And yum!!!

We made a great little discovery in Nanaimo before catching the ferry!…read more We came across Misty Pines Cafe & Bakery in Nanaimo's Old City Quarter, and it was the perfect spot to wrap up our trip. We grabbed coffee and a few of their handcrafted pastries before heading to the ferry. We especially loved the lemon meringue monkey bread. The treat was soft, fluffy, and sweet without being too sweet. There's limited seating both inside and outside, but for us, that's part of the charm. Grab a coffee, pick up something freshly baked, and slow down for a few minutes. If you're visiting Nanaimo, we recommend adding this spot to your list before catching the ferry. It's a simple, cozy, and tasty way to finish your Vancouver Island trip.

Needs a little bit of loving for a small, and I do mean small, local business…read more It operates in a compact space inside the Nanoose Bay Community Centre at the side of the building. Enter and there is space for 3 people max. Indicate what you want and he'll bring it out for you. Credit cards taken. Seems like everything is made from scratch. See my pics. Super friendly owner. He used to live in Vancouver in the Kits neighbourhood. He gave me a free pack of butter tarts because I was a first time visitor. $15 value. If there was one critique I'd give, the meat pies are slightly under seasoned. A little salt and you're good to go. The quality is definitely there, no question. Pies are frozen, so take out only. Major CC's accepted.

Pies are always yummy and a great deal.... We buy them often a few at a time. We are so lucky to…read morehave these guys in our community.

A must-stop spot for anyone visiting Nanaimo! You can't go to Nanaimo without trying a classic…read moreNanaimo bar, and Red's Bakery is the perfect place to grab this iconic treat. We also picked up the banana cheesecake, and it was packed with banana flavour. It was definitely a great choice for banana lovers. Everything is ready to go and nicely packed, making it super convenient for a quick dessert stop. Service was fast and friendly. The bakery has a few tables inside, but if they are full, you can enjoy your treats outside or head across the street to the Vancouver Island Regional Library, where there are benches that make a nice little dessert break spot. A simple, convenient, and delicious stop to experience a true Nanaimo classic!

The best Nanaimo Bar we ever had. It was delicious and to die for!…read moreMy sister bought some extra take back home (Toronoto). They are still delish after couple of days.