Victoria’s decadent dessert destinations
Sure, we're known for our seafood, but Victoria also has some of the most delicious desserts in Canada. Who knew we had such a sweet tooth? Whether you're looking for a perfect ending to a perfect meal or just want to treat yourself to a little afternoon delight, here are some of the sweetest dessert spots in the city.
wannawaffel
102-560 Johnson St, Victoria, BC V8W 3C6When you want an authentic Belgian waffle – overflowing with chocolate syrup, sweet fruit, whipped cream – this is the place to go. Founded in 2009, Wannawafel is family run with humble beginnings: they started out with a waffle cart in Victoria’s Inner Harbour. They soon grew to be a favourite among locals and their popularity continues to grow. Wannawafel’s menu is short and sweet: you can order two types of waffles and a choice of whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, Belgian chocolate sauce or fruit compote toppings. Add a sprinkle of icing sugar on top at no extra charge.
Cold Comfort Ice Cream
2-1115 North Park St, Victoria, BC V8T 1C7“Cold” and “comfort” usually don’t go together. Except when it comes to ice cream. Most people love this frozen dessert, but not all ice cream is created equal. Cold Comfort’s handcrafted ice cream, featuring seasonally inspired flavours, stands apart from the rest. The high-quality, organic ingredients used in this rich, decadent treat create true comfort food. Flavoured just right, using mostly local fruits, herbs and other ingredients whenever possible, these treats are free of artificial flavours and preservatives. They even have a delicious dairy-free option.
Chocolat Chocolatiere de Victoria
703 Fort St, Victoria, BC V8W 1G9Chocolate lovers will fall in love – even before they set foot in this store. The name alone will win them over. For more than 25 years, Chocolat has been making tiny, handcrafted chocolate delights from raw French and Belgian chocolates. The chocolates are uniquely flavoured, with taste combinations you can’t find anywhere else, such as saffron, wasabi, matcha and lavender to name a few. They have several dairy-free, nut-free and no-sugar-added options to choose from. Located in downtown Victoria, this quaint chocolaterie is one-of-a-kind.
BeaverTails
602 Broughton St, Victoria, BC V8W 1C7Beaver tails are a signature Canadian treat often sold at festivals. But you can enjoy this classic Canadian dessert year round at BeaverTails. More than just your basic flour pastry covered in sugar and cinnamon, the beaver tails here come in several decadent flavour options. You can top your tail with Skor cheesecake, coco vanilla, apple cinnamon or chocolate hazelnut spreads. And every year the flavour varieties change. BeaverTails also serves another Canadian classic, poutine, to satisfy your savoury cravings.
Ooh La La Cupcakes
1391A Hillside Ave, Victoria, BC V8T 2B3You’ll be saying, “ooh la la” when you try one of these tasty treats. Like tiny pieces of heaven, each cupcake is moist, rich and topped with delicious icing. These luxurious little cakes come in several fun flavour varieties, including coconut-pineapple, chocolate-almond and banana. You can order cupcakes individually, by the half dozen or by the dozen when you really want to indulge. Ohh La La also caters weddings and special events.
Bon Macaron Patisserie
1012 Broad St, Victoria, BC V8W 1Z9If you don’t know what a macaron is, it’s time to learn. These brightly coloured, fluffy pastries will melt in your mouth. Rich and decadent, they consist of two meringue shells that are stuffed with delicious fillings, such as buttercream, ganache, preserves or cream cheese. Bon Macaron’s creativity is endless – this little shop is constantly inventing new flavours such as crème brulee, raspberry coconut and pumpkin spice for you to enjoy. Owners Yann Fougere and David Boetti are native Frenchmen with a love of tasty pastry.
Qoola
550 Yates St, Victoria, BC V8W 1K8Frozen yogurt has taken the country by storm, with shops popping up all over Canada, and Victoria is no exception. Qoola stands out from other frozen yogurt joints in the city with a focus on quality, using natural, wholesome ingredients in their frozen yogurt. It’s made using 100% cane sugar and contains no high-fructose corn syrup or aspartame. The menu features a delicious selection of flavours for you to choose from, including red velvet, sweet coconut, pistachio and cookies and cream.
Dutch Bakery & Diner
718 Fort St, Victoria, BC V8W 1H2It’s no secret: the Dutch are great bakers. And Victoria is blessed with one of the best Dutch bakeries outside of Holland itself. The Dutch Bakery & Coffee Shop is family owned and operated by three generations of Schaddelee’s. Try their tempting pastries, including delectable delights such as Florentine tarts, almond bread, Grand Marnier baskets and danishes. These tiny masterpieces are rich, moist and overflowing with sweet flavour. Each pastry is only $2.75.
Kid Sister Ice Cream
10 Fan Tan Alley, Victoria, BC V8W 1W3Known by many as “the popsicle store,” Kid Sister is open seasonally, selling a variety of high quality frozen treats. What put them on the map, however, are their paletas: Mexican fruit popsicles that are unlike anything you’re used to. Sweet, but not too sweet, each fruit popsicle is jam packed with flavourful fruit combinations like mango-raspberry, blood orange-blueberry and strawberry-lime. These popsicles will delight your taste buds and cool you off on warm afternoons.
