Qualicum Beach Culinary Guide
When the tide is out at Qualicum Beach it almost looks like you could walk to nearby Lasqueti Island through the sea of beach umbrellas, picnic blankets, and towering sandcastles. However, ocean air and sandy beaches are not the only reason to visit this friendly community. The small but mighty culinary scene has farm-to-table fine dining options, stellar coffee shops, quirky bakeries, multi-cultural cuisine and craft breweries—not to mention one of the best burgers I’ve had in a long time.
French Press Coffee Roasters: 694 Primrose St #692, Qualicum Beach, B.C. V9K 1S7
Full disclosure: owners Jeremy and Hannah Perkins are old friends, so needless to say I’ve been a big fan of this coffee shop since it opened in 2017. After a trip to Portland where they visited a café that excelled in both coffee and cuisine, they were inspired to re-create that experience on Vancouver Island and acquired space on bustling Primrose Street. With a recent expansion into the neighbouring space, they have ample seating and an extended all-day breakfast menu, seriously tasty baked treats, and of course, incredible coffee that Jeremy meticulously curates and roasts at his roastery in Coombs. The Myanmar coffee blend is a must-try and the salted chocolate cookie with brown butter is simply perfection.
Photos by Danika McDowell
Wild Culture Bakery: 692 Bennett Rd, Qualicum Beach, B.C. V9K 1N1
The day I visited this tucked-away gem located in a converted old horse stable, it was their first day back after a much-needed six-week break, and the excitement among the locals waiting in line was palpable. Owners Jean Wilson and John Traynor bought the business back in 1997 and originally only made bread for wholesale purchase. They have since expanded and now specialize in creating classic organic sourdough loaves, delectable treats (the cinnamon buns are a favourite) and their extremely popular sourdough pizza that they only make on Fridays. Come early—they sell out fast.
Photos by Danika McDowell
Love Shack Libations: 4134 Island Hwy W #1, Qualicum Beach, B.C. V9K 2B2
If you do not follow Love Shack Libations on Instagram, stop reading this guide and do so immediately. Owner, brewmaster and all-around loveable comedian Dave Paul is a joy to be around, not to mention to watch on his Instagram account. Oh yeah—he also makes great beer. This award-winning nano-brewery is super quirky, teeny tiny and really hard to visit. Dave’s tasting room is only open to the public for eight hours a week (Saturday 1–4pm and Wednesday 5pm–9pm), he only sells his bottle-conditioned beer at one local liquor store (the Shady Rest down the road) and his beer is poured at only a handful of restaurants, mostly local to QB. This brewery is a must-visit, but plan accordingly!
Photos by Danika McDowell
Q Burger: 109 W 2nd Ave, Qualicum Beach, B.C. V9K 1S7
Owner and chef Kevin Munroe’s burgers are so good that they landed him on TV. If you are a fan of “You Gotta Eat Here,” his name might sound familiar as a regularly featured chef on the series. It was his burger that got the attention of the producer of the show, and it certainly got my attention. We were greeted and served by his life and business partner Erin who knew most of the names of the guests coming in for lunch, a sure sign that they have a dedicated following. I sampled the True Canadian Classic, a hand-smashed beef patty topped with fried cheddar, bacon crumble, red onion and pickles. Come hungry, because the portions are generous! They source their brioche buns from the Cumberland Village Bakery and both Kevin and Erin are big fans of foraging for local ingredients, which show up on their seasonal menu.
Photos by Danika McDowell
De L’île Restaurant: 129 W 2nd Ave, Qualicum Beach, B.C. V9K 1S7
Bakery by day, fine dining by night. I’m truly surprised this vegetarian, small plates, experimental, stylish restaurant hasn’t gotten more national attention, let alone Island-based notoriety. My guess is “wait for it,” as they only opened in 2020 during a rough time for restaurants in general. Owners Milena Ficza and Will Cook are trained chefs with a passion for seasonal, local and sustainable cuisine. During the day, they operate as a small bakery creating sweet and savoury pastries, most notably their sourdough bread. In the evening, the space transforms into a beautiful restaurant with Will and Milena at the helm. Their focus is on creating a culinary experience through multiple dishes that act as a tasting journey, truly celebrating the bounty that is available nearby. It’s hard to lock down a “must-try” dish as the menu is ever changing; just know that you are going to get a truly special experience.
Photos by Danika McDowell
Fern & Cedar Brewing: 680 Berwick Rd S #101, Qualicum Beach, B.C. V9K 1R2
This beautiful modern brewery has only been open since December 2021 but has already amassed a big fan base. The reason for the enthusiasm could be because the family that owns nearby Mt. Arrowsmith Brewery are behind this new gastro-pub. (In fact, the head brewer is Wes Bain, former brewery assistant at Arrowsmith.) Or it could be that their head chef Michael Sproul is a local fella, most known for his extremely popular Parksville-based restaurant Bread & Honey, unfortunately now closed. Maybe it's the space: sky-high ceilings surrounded by cedar planked walls and more decorative ferns than a walk in the nearby woods. Most likely it’s the beer itself. They are brewing is a very specific style, my favourite style of craft beer—lower ABV and lighter IBU. That means their beers are easy to drink, not overly complicated and super crushable. The Oceanside Lager is a delight and the buttermilk fried chicken is a revelation.
Photos by Bonnie Todd
Bistro 694: 694 Memorial Ave, Qualicum Beach, B.C. V9K 1T7
Tony and Nancy Szeles have built a loyal following for their intimate and warm restaurant that focuses on global cuisine using locally sourced ingredients. Over the past 10 years in business, they’ve seen a big change in the community and have noticed more people moving to the area, especially from bigger cities, and they welcome the new clientele. The recipes, acquired by their numerous holiday trips, range from Kashmiri butter chicken to Balinese Prawn curry. I highly recommend their lovely crab and shrimp cakes, and Nancy recommended the decadent seafood crepes as one of their most popular dishes. They are well known as a date-night spot, a popular destination for wedding proposals.
Photos by Bonnie Todd
Qualicum Beach Café: 2690 Island Hwy W, Qualicum Beach, B.C. V9K 1G8
I had the pleasure of sitting down with owners Eli Brennan and Alan Tse to chat about their new Italian-inspired restaurant nestled along the coastline inside the boutique Qualicum Beach Inn. Both Brennan and Tse bring a ton of experience and talent with them to this seaside gem (they are also owners of the iconic Water St. Café in Gastown). The menu is exciting, the wine list is local and the views are spectacular, all great reasons to make this a must-visit destination. Despite having a fine-dining, big city background, the team has created a sophisticated experience with a very welcoming and approachable space including live music nights, a killer happy hour and a very popular brunch menu. Some stand-out dinner dishes worth drooling over are the handmade gnocchi, the seared albacore tuna and their Forno pizza. Keep an eye out for their monthly wine dinner events with B.C. wine makers.
Photos by Danika McDowell
