Didn't expect much from the food here as the servers seem hot and annoyed... BUT…read moreOrdered tomato soup which was absolutely fantastic tasty spicy beautiful served with great baquette. Ordered salad Nicole's - another rave! Lovingly chopped potatoes,cucumber,boiled egg,tuna, with a lovely lemon dressing. Best food ate all weekend in Nanaimo.

arriving at mon petit choux around 2:30 pm, i noticed a handwritten note on the front door: the…read morekitchen was closed for the day, but drinks and pastries were still available. exactly what i wanted anyway. stepping inside, the comforting scent of freshly baked bread wrapped around me like a warm hug. the interior immediately draws you in, robin's egg blue banquettes curve around small marble tables, paired with dark wood chairs and deep red flooring. charcoal walls trimmed with subtle gold details give the space a slightly vintage, old world charm feel, softened by leafy plants and framed artwork. it's cozy without being fussy, elegant without ever feeling stiff. the barista greeted me with a genuinely warm smile, answering my questions with patience and ease. there was no rush, no performative cheer, just the kind of friendly, attentive presence that makes you feel comfortable settling in. it's a small thing, but it set the tone for the entire visit. by mid afternoon, the pastry case was understandably a little sparse, with the almond croissants already gone. i grabbed the last chocolate croissant and ordered a matcha latte with oat milk. after paying, the barista offered to warm the croissant and bring it over to my table, a thoughtful, relaxed touch that matched the gentle pace of the room. when my order arrived, the matcha latte carried a subtle, unexpected peachy note, light and refreshing, though not quite to my taste. the chocolate croissant, lightly warmed, had a slight crunch exterior that gave way to soft layers, and a rich dark chocolate filling. it wasn't ultra flaky, nor chewy, but it was baked in house with care. as i prepared to leave, i was offered a baguette or focaccia to take home, another generous gesture that left a lasting impression. even though the latte wasn't a personal favourite, mon petit choux is a genuinely welcoming, quietly charming spot i'm already looking forward to returning to, especially for brunch. it's the kind of café where you linger a little longer than planned, where the space itself encourages you to slow down, and where the city outside feels momentarily hushed.

As this cafe seems to pop up on any tourist searches in Nanaimo, we decided to try it out as we…read morewere in the vicinity. When we arrived at about 3 pm, on a Friday, the place was packed. Only one open table and a couple of spaces at the counter. The line was short and we were able to order quickly. We ordered a soy latte, a chai tea latte with oat milk and a Nanaimo bar. When our drinks were made a second table opened up and we grabbed it as it actually had chairs! Our drinks were excellent and the Nanaimo bar was just as we expected it to be. Very tasty. Parking may be a problem here as there aren't a lot of spaces. I think all parking is on the street. The whole cafe experience made me think of the 60's in San Francisco (not that I experienced that!) Everyone there seemed quite laid back and enjoying a good experience. They do have live music on many evenings. Definitely worth a visit if you are in Nanaimo.

A cute cafe during a day trip to Nanaimo! The vibes are immaculate and felt so cozy. There was even…read morea live piano player and singer who started up in the afternoon. For brunch, I got eggs Benny with tomato and bacon. The texture of the eggs were pretty good! A little overcooked though. The side of potato wedges were really good for me. The London fog was delicious and had the perfect amount of sweetness! I'd come back :)

Red's is the best cheesecake period. I take everyone that visits from out of town here and have…read morenever been disappointed. Plus the owners are absolute gems of human beings. always a great selection of cheesecakes, too

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!

An exceptional gem in the usually hard pressed for cuisine city of Nanaimo. Every dish is perfect…read more How good can eggs Benedict get? Pretty damn good. I cannot recommend this place enough. Their small selection of baked goods are also exceptional. I had their tourtiere special and it was fantastic. Amazing attention to detail, from the perfectly seasoned filling, the crisp flaky pastry and the perfectly poached egg, along with a side of stewed tomatoes and local peppers, it just projects this restaurant's intense love of food

From the owner: We offer a delicious menu of brunch items like: Eggs Benedict with various toppings and home made…read moreEnglish muffins as an option, vegan and gluten free options, baked French toast, home made quiche, house made fresh soups, sunrise sandwich with Spanish frittata, healthy quinoa and grain bowl with roasted fruit, fresh baked in house scones with in all the fixings and much more. We also have a full coffee and special tea service. We serve English High Tea on Saturday and Sunday afternoons (starting April 22, 2023) with savory finger sandwiches, fresh baked goodies all served with a flair and a smile. Located in downtown Nanaimo in the historic Old Quarter. Reservations are HIGHLY recommended as we do have limited seating available.

Will absolutely never return. The poor server was working the whole restaurant by himself. Left a…read moregood tip because he was very friendly but service was SO SLOW. I sent my breakfast back because the eggs were burnt. I had to wait 10 minutes to do that because the server was way too busy to do a quality check. After sending it back and asking for eggs that weren't burnt, I received (after another 10 minute wait), these eggs, which were clearly burnt, again. I just shut my mouth and ate because I could see the poor guy was doing his absolute best. So that's over 50 bucks and well over an hour of my life I'll never get back. Please don't go there for a good breakfast experience. I was in hospitality for 36 years before hanging up my apron (although I still own a catering company) and the experience at The Pantry is one I won't do again.

Bad service, dirty dishes, crappy coffee and to top it off bad breakfast. This was my last time…read morethere!

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 stayed at Coast Bastion Hotel and after walking all day, it was nice to have a place to eat…read morewithout leaving the hotel. Yes, they were pricey but the food was delicious. We ordered crab cakes and top sirloin . Service was awesome.

Second time in this hotel restaurant inside of a week. Both nights had large crowds attending a…read moretheatre event around the corner. Not surprisingly they were very busy. That said, we were there for both "slammed" situations, and endured little, to no, service. Our server last night had no answers to our menu questions and spent entirely too much time leaving us to ask someone else. Specials, fish of the day, etc should be a part of the offering that is well known and sold by the wait staff. We find hotel chain restaurants to be sub-par in general, but this Coast hotel disappointed twice inside of a week. The space is nicely appointed, but we found the folks that followed us in were looking to watch the hockey playoffs at 8 PM. Should be prime dinner/date night out. Overall, so average, which you are not looking for out of a Coast hotel situated a few hundred meters from the ocean.