A Timeless, Romantic Experience: The Veranda at the Empress Hotel is truly one of the most magical spots in Victoria, perfect for a romantic date or a special occasion! The Empress's rich history adds a layer of elegance and charm that makes every visit feel like stepping back in time. Set against the stunning backdrop of the iconic harbour, this location offers a dining experience like no other.
The food and drinks here are nothing short of exceptional. From the perfectly crafted cocktails to the exquisite dishes, every bite bursts with flavour, and you can truly feel the care that goes into each plate. Whether indulging in fresh, locally sourced seafood or sipping a crisp glass of wine, the Veranda impresses.
What really sets The Veranda apart is the atmosphere. The beautiful outdoor seating area offers sweeping views of the water paired with the elegance of the Empress's architecture. It's the perfect spot to enjoy a leisurely meal, soaking in the ambiance of Victoria’s history and beauty. The soft lighting and charming decor create an intimate, romantic vibe, making it an ideal date night destination.
Whether you're a local or visiting Victoria for the first time, The Veranda is an experience to be noticed. It is timeless, romantic, and utterly beautiful.
Highly recommended! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Timothy Morrow
The price will come across as a lot per person but let me be clear we drank and ate beyond a normal amount. It was just such an amazing view and atmosphere. The live music and fire table just took it over the top. We will be back without a doubt. We just may control our impulse more haha.
Parking: Parking was easy, but finding where to go after parking was not, thank goodness we had some locals leading us.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Taylor Chamberlain
The food and beverage team at the Empress is outstanding! Ty helped me with a reservation and Marco served us. Both were amazing and made our experience incredible! We had the best cocktails and delicious food for an unforgettable sunset on the Veranda for our last night on our Canada vacation. Highly recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Rovz Canon
We stopped by the Veranda for coffee and sweets before heading to the Ferry back to our hometown. Because of superb service and kindness of server Isabella, the manager and staff, this impromptu afternoon coffee became a memorable experience exemplifying Fairmont Empress’ dedication to customer service. Great finale for our Victoria Island vacation.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Niels Weise
I will start with the cosmo drink a friends wife had that was returned three times to be corrected. I just had a snack but it was supposed to be k chips, whatever that is. Turns out to be ketchup. Anyway is was K chips and dip. The dip was plain sour cream with chives on top. Not sure but i think it was $17. They were awful. We ordered a charcuterie and cheese plate for $45 that had stale prosciutto and capicola ham that had had a birthday in the refrigerator. I could go on, except that what i really took offense to was that this was the offering at one of the prize CPR hotels in Canada. The food was an insult to the venue.
Parking: Across the street and down the stairs
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Marinated Olives
stephen cini
This was the best burger I've ever had, the pizza was amazing and service unmatched. Sitting outside was senic and temperate. 10/10 would recommend and if we lived closer this would be a common spot for us!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Maamster M
What a wonderful experience having dinner here. Sitting outside, the view we had was amazing, sun shining on the water, boats scurrying about the harbour. The food……AMAZING!!! If you like steak, the steak au poivre is your choice. Melt in your mouth good. The 5 layer chocolate cake with Chantilly cream and mandarin coulis is to die for. Our server Calvin was fantastic. He was very personable, attentive and very intuitive in figuring out what we needed. We will be back and will be recommending The Veranda to our family and friends.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amie Tymofichuk
Best view and service in Victoria! The food was incredible, and so were the cocktails. We will be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Lisa Tindall
I don’t know where to start. Worst meal is living memory. It was inedible. The crudités were limp and the carrots and parsnips weren’t peeled and everything just seemed thrown on the plate and some cream cheese stuff plopped unceremoniously in the middle. The burger was ok but again no care put into presentation and what was the marshmallow like stuff that was brûléed in the side?!? Nothing fresh or green or a slice of tomato to cheer it up. Then the crispy cod came and it was a burger as well to our surprise but maybe we got the wrong order as the waiter said that was happening a lot today. The fish was a sponge of oil topped with a Kraft cheese slice and this is a nearly $30 entree? Are you kidding me. The fries were equally oil sodden and pale. They were served with a flip of something that tasted and looked like just mayonnaise. Everything looked in poor quality and poorly made and presented. Ok, so this is your patio for the food undiscerning? You have so little respect for your customers? The manager to his credit cancelled our bill. The wait staff seemed overwhelmed and poorly trained and I suspect not supported by good management. Its a mess! What a surprise. We have a dog we cannot leave alone because of her health issues and we so looked forward to the dog friendly patio opening. We did not expect to be served food fit for dogs. Sad. This is the Empress. Its a Canadian institution. You can do much better than this.
Had the Clifford's Hot Cocoa and it was delicious! Definitely recommend visiting and enjoying the view with your dessert!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kurt S
The food and service were very good, however the atmosphere was horrible. The noise from the bar and the music was so loud we couldn't carry on a conversation at our table of 4! They now have hard wood floors and no table clothes, thus making it an echo chamber. They really need to install a wall between the bar and dinning room or at least a heavy curtain to mute the noise. We were here 15 years ago and it was memorable. Our friend's missed the previous dinner and they were disappointed. Considering the price (very expensive), we won't be going back and can't recommend it to our friends.
FuzzyBeaver
We had a delightful meal with excellent food and service. All the dishes were a hit. The crab appetizer was particularly good. We did have a variety of appetizers and mains. Each was outstanding. They also have a great menu for kids. The service was extremely good and they handled the children with ease. Good compact wine list. We went with a BC chardonnay which was so tasty. The only minor quibble was we were seated near the entrance and you go a lot of noise from the bar. However, I highly recommend the restaurant.
MyVisit MyView
Stunning view, enjoyed drinks and appetizers. Service was good.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Linda Xu
Food is awful, service is very slow. We have dog so not many restaurants can sit us so we went to Veranda but so
A Timeless, Romantic Experience: The Veranda at the Empress Hotel is truly one of the most magical spots in Victoria, perfect for a romantic date or a special occasion! The Empress's rich history adds a layer of elegance and charm that makes every visit feel like stepping back in time. Set against the stunning backdrop of the iconic harbour, this location offers a dining experience like no other.
The food and drinks here are nothing short of exceptional. From the perfectly crafted cocktails to the exquisite dishes, every bite bursts with flavour, and you can truly feel the care that goes into each plate. Whether indulging in fresh, locally sourced seafood or sipping a crisp glass of wine, the Veranda impresses.
What really sets The Veranda apart is the atmosphere. The beautiful outdoor seating area offers sweeping views of the water paired with the elegance of the Empress's architecture. It's the perfect spot to enjoy a leisurely meal, soaking in the ambiance of Victoria’s history and beauty. The soft lighting and charming decor create an intimate, romantic vibe, making it an ideal date night destination.
Whether you're a local or visiting Victoria for the first time, The Veranda is an experience to be noticed. It is timeless, romantic, and utterly beautiful.
Highly recommended! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The price will come across as a lot per person but let me be clear we drank and ate beyond a normal amount. It was just such an amazing view and atmosphere. The live music and fire table just took it over the top.
We will be back without a doubt. We just may control our impulse more haha.
Parking: Parking was easy, but finding where to go after parking was not, thank goodness we had some locals leading us.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The food and beverage team at the Empress is outstanding! Ty helped me with a reservation and Marco served us. Both were amazing and made our experience incredible! We had the best cocktails and delicious food for an unforgettable sunset on the Veranda for our last night on our Canada vacation. Highly recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We stopped by the Veranda for coffee and sweets before heading to the Ferry back to our hometown. Because of superb service and kindness of server Isabella, the manager and staff, this impromptu afternoon coffee became a memorable experience exemplifying Fairmont Empress’ dedication to customer service. Great finale for our Victoria Island vacation.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I will start with the cosmo drink a friends wife had that was returned three times to be corrected. I just had a snack but it was supposed to be k chips, whatever that is. Turns out to be ketchup. Anyway is was K chips and dip. The dip was plain sour cream with chives on top. Not sure but i think it was $17. They were awful. We ordered a charcuterie and cheese plate for $45 that had stale prosciutto and capicola ham that had had a birthday in the refrigerator. I could go on, except that what i really took offense to was that this was the offering at one of the prize CPR hotels in Canada. The food was an insult to the venue.
Parking: Across the street and down the stairs
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Marinated Olives
This was the best burger I've ever had, the pizza was amazing and service unmatched. Sitting outside was senic and temperate. 10/10 would recommend and if we lived closer this would be a common spot for us!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
What a wonderful experience having dinner here. Sitting outside, the view we had was amazing, sun shining on the water, boats scurrying about the harbour. The food……AMAZING!!! If you like steak, the steak au poivre is your choice. Melt in your mouth good. The 5 layer chocolate cake with Chantilly cream and mandarin coulis is to die for. Our server Calvin was fantastic. He was very personable, attentive and very intuitive in figuring out what we needed. We will be back and will be recommending The Veranda to our family and friends.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Best view and service in Victoria! The food was incredible, and so were the cocktails. We will be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I don’t know where to start. Worst meal is living memory. It was inedible. The crudités were limp and the carrots and parsnips weren’t peeled and everything just seemed thrown on the plate and some cream cheese stuff plopped unceremoniously in the middle. The burger was ok but again no care put into presentation and what was the marshmallow like stuff that was brûléed in the side?!? Nothing fresh or green or a slice of tomato to cheer it up. Then the crispy cod came and it was a burger as well to our surprise but maybe we got the wrong order as the waiter said that was happening a lot today. The fish was a sponge of oil topped with a Kraft cheese slice and this is a nearly $30 entree? Are you kidding me. The fries were equally oil sodden and pale. They were served with a flip of something that tasted and looked like just mayonnaise. Everything looked in poor quality and poorly made and presented. Ok, so this is your patio for the food undiscerning? You have so little respect for your customers? The manager to his credit cancelled our bill. The wait staff seemed overwhelmed and poorly trained and I suspect not supported by good management. Its a mess! What a surprise. We have a dog we cannot leave alone because of her health issues and we so looked forward to the dog friendly patio opening. We did not expect to be served food fit for dogs. Sad. This is the Empress. Its a Canadian institution. You can do much better than this.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 1
cooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool??
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Had the Clifford's Hot Cocoa and it was delicious! Definitely recommend visiting and enjoying the view with your dessert!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The food and service were very good, however the atmosphere was horrible. The noise from the bar and the music was so loud we couldn't carry on a conversation at our table of 4! They now have hard wood floors and no table clothes, thus making it an echo chamber. They really need to install a wall between the bar and dinning room or at least a heavy curtain to mute the noise. We were here 15 years ago and it was memorable. Our friend's missed the previous dinner and they were disappointed. Considering the price (very expensive), we won't be going back and can't recommend it to our friends.
We had a delightful meal with excellent food and service. All the dishes were a hit. The crab appetizer was particularly good. We did have a variety of appetizers and mains. Each was outstanding. They also have a great menu for kids. The service was extremely good and they handled the children with ease. Good compact wine list. We went with a BC chardonnay which was so tasty. The only minor quibble was we were seated near the entrance and you go a lot of noise from the bar. However, I highly recommend the restaurant.
Stunning view, enjoyed drinks and appetizers. Service was good.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Food is awful, service is very slow. We have dog so not many restaurants can sit us so we went to Veranda but so
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
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