Guide to Downtown Nanaimo and Beyond!
Food Scene
Javawocky Coffee House
90 Front StA scenic cafe right on the harbourfront walkway
A mid-higher-end restaurant literally on the water!
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Lighthouse Bistro and Pub
50 Anchor WayA mid-higher-end restaurant literally on the water!
Mon Petit Choux
120 Commercial StDelicious baked treats in the heart of the Arts District.
Modern Cafe
221 Commercial StA casual vintage restaurant that's popular with locals.
The Bee's Knees Cafe
525 Third StreetA cute play cafe, great for kids!
The Vault
499 Wallace StQuirky, vibrant hub with live music and delicious drinks!
Our closest coffee shop in Old City Quarter, and my personal favourite cafe.
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Bocca Café
427 Fitzwilliam StOur closest coffee shop in Old City Quarter, and my personal favourite cafe.
Waffle Magic
427 Fitzwilliam StAn Old City Quarter favourite with yummy treats and superb bubble tea!
An elegant, intimate restaurant favoured by couples and close friends for a special night out. Foodies will love their French and Italian dishes.
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The Nest Bistro
77 Skinner StAn elegant, intimate restaurant favoured by couples and close friends for a special night out. Foodies will love their French and Italian dishes.
Your best bet for an Italian menu, La Stella consistently ranks among Nanaimo's top restaurants.
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La Stella Trattoria
321 Wesley StYour best bet for an Italian menu, La Stella consistently ranks among Nanaimo's top restaurants.
One of mine and Nanaimo's most cherished restaurants, Asteras unfailingly serves up delicious meals with a charming ambience in the Old City Quarter.
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Asteras
347 Wesley StOne of mine and Nanaimo's most cherished restaurants, Asteras unfailingly serves up delicious meals with a charming ambience in the Old City Quarter.
Sitting inside an old character home, The Milton features a delicious West Coast menu with a fun, quirky vibe. One of my absolute favourites, and just a few blocks away!
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Milton Street Public House
247 Milton StSitting inside an old character home, The Milton features a delicious West Coast menu with a fun, quirky vibe. One of my absolute favourites, and just a few blocks away!
Drinks & Nightlife
A true local's pub, the Oxy regularly hosts local events and parties nights in a big, friendly space.
The Oxy Pub
432 Fitzwilliam StA true local's pub, the Oxy regularly hosts local events and parties nights in a big, friendly space.
One of our most popular microbreweries, White Sails offers a selection of tasty craft beers as well as a large taproom with local eats and party games.
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White Sails Brewing
125 Comox RdOne of our most popular microbreweries, White Sails offers a selection of tasty craft beers as well as a large taproom with local eats and party games.
A vibrant local bar that features local craft beer and live music for a fun night out in the city.
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The Corner Lounge
121 Bastion StA vibrant local bar that features local craft beer and live music for a fun night out in the city.
Sightseeing
One of the only preserved heritage neighbourhoods in Nanaimo, Old City Quarter is a cute little shopping district that features boutique shops and cafés. These local businesses are favoured by locals and tourists alike.
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Old City Quarter
418B Fitzwilliam St One of the only preserved heritage neighbourhoods in Nanaimo, Old City Quarter is a cute little shopping district that features boutique shops and cafés. These local businesses are favoured by locals and tourists alike.
Nanaimo's most iconic landmark, surrounded by ocean views, local shops, and popular restaurants.
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The Bastion
98 Front StNanaimo's most iconic landmark, surrounded by ocean views, local shops, and popular restaurants.
The heart of the Arts District, with galleries, shows, shops, restaurants, and nightlife.
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Commercial Street
Commercial StreetThe heart of the Arts District, with galleries, shows, shops, restaurants, and nightlife.
A paved sea wall lined with cafes, restaurants, and boutique shops offers a leisurely walk with stunning views
Harbourfront Walkway
Harbourfront WalkwayA paved sea wall lined with cafes, restaurants, and boutique shops offers a leisurely walk with stunning views
Petroglyph Provincial Park
Trans-Canada HighwayA neat historic park with ancient rock art and walking trails.
Arts & Culture
Nanaimo's most popular theatre hosts concerts, dance performances, and other performance arts from local and international artists.
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Port Theatre
125 Front StNanaimo's most popular theatre hosts concerts, dance performances, and other performance arts from local and international artists.
Our city's main historic museum is quite popular with visitors and local families and school groups.
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Nanaimo Museum
100 Museum WayOur city's main historic museum is quite popular with visitors and local families and school groups.
Our city's most popular art gallery features exhibits for local artists and hands-on art labs for all ages.
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Nanaimo Art Gallery
150 Commercial StOur city's most popular art gallery features exhibits for local artists and hands-on art labs for all ages.
Essentials
A tiny and beloved independent corner grocery store that is locally owned and operated.
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Superette Foods
687 Albert StA tiny and beloved independent corner grocery store that is locally owned and operated.
A higher-end grocery store with natural and health foods and excellent produce.
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Thrifty Foods
114 Purvis LnA higher-end grocery store with natural and health foods and excellent produce.
A local grocery chain with good selection and decent prices.
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Quality Foods Harewood
867 Bruce AveA local grocery chain with good selection and decent prices.
An outdoor shopping complex with groceries, pharmacy, take out, laundromat, gas station, pet store, thrift store, etc.
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University Village Mall
530 Fifth StAn outdoor shopping complex with groceries, pharmacy, take out, laundromat, gas station, pet store, thrift store, etc.
Parks & Nature
A gorgeous wildlife nature park with lots of trails, wading areas, foot bridges, and hidden gems. Adjacent to the park is an outdoor swimming pool, beach volleyball, frisbee golf, skate park, and ice rink.
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Bowen Park
500 Bowen RdA gorgeous wildlife nature park with lots of trails, wading areas, foot bridges, and hidden gems. Adjacent to the park is an outdoor swimming pool, beach volleyball, frisbee golf, skate park, and ice rink.
A popular fishing/crabbing spot with locals, it's also a fun place to explore with kids. Don't forget to walk under the bridge to explore all the tide pool creatures!
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Swy-A-Lana Lagoon Fishing Pier
A popular fishing/crabbing spot with locals, it's also a fun place to explore with kids. Don't forget to walk under the bridge to explore all the tide pool creatures!
A popular waterfront park near downtown that often hosts community events and live performances. It features a sandy swimming beach in the lagoon, a kids playground, a grassy urban park, and a scenic waterfront walkway.
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Maffeo Sutton Park
100 Comox RoadA popular waterfront park near downtown that often hosts community events and live performances. It features a sandy swimming beach in the lagoon, a kids playground, a grassy urban park, and a scenic waterfront walkway.
A cute little playground and grassy park, complete with picnic tables and our community garden
Pawson Gyro Park
410 Machleary StA cute little playground and grassy park, complete with picnic tables and our community garden
Saysutshun/Newcastle Island is a gorgeous provincial park just a 10 min ferry ride away from downtown Nanaimo. Plan a nature retreat day trip to explore the tidal beaches, walking trails, parklands, and wildlife and grab a bite at the bistro before sailing back.
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Newcastle Island Marine Provincial Park
668 Centre StreetSaysutshun/Newcastle Island is a gorgeous provincial park just a 10 min ferry ride away from downtown Nanaimo. Plan a nature retreat day trip to explore the tidal beaches, walking trails, parklands, and wildlife and grab a bite at the bistro before sailing back.
A beautiful clear lake at the bottom of Mt Benson with a 5.5km trail circling around it, popular with runners and dog walkers. Features a playground and sandy swimming beach that's very popular in summertime.
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Westwood Lake Park
381 Westwood RoadA beautiful clear lake at the bottom of Mt Benson with a 5.5km trail circling around it, popular with runners and dog walkers. Features a playground and sandy swimming beach that's very popular in summertime.
A large forest park with lots of trails, a dog off-leash area, and a freshwater swimming spot that's more popular with locals than with tourists.
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Colliery Dam Park
635 Wakesiah AveA large forest park with lots of trails, a dog off-leash area, and a freshwater swimming spot that's more popular with locals than with tourists.
Entertainment & Activities
This Canadian-owned outdoor recreation park offers adventure courses for ages 5+, bungee jumping, ziplines, and more.
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WildPlay Nanaimo
35 Nanaimo River RdThis Canadian-owned outdoor recreation park offers adventure courses for ages 5+, bungee jumping, ziplines, and more.
"The Galaxy" Cinemas in Nanaimo North Town Centre features box office hits as well as classics, dance, drama, opera, and family favourites.
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Cineplex Entertainment
4750 Rutherford Rd"The Galaxy" Cinemas in Nanaimo North Town Centre features box office hits as well as classics, dance, drama, opera, and family favourites.
Jumps, trails, BMX track, mountain biking skills park, and pump tracks... with different areas suitable for toddlers on balance bikes all the way to advanced riders.
Steve Smith Bike Park
Jumps, trails, BMX track, mountain biking skills park, and pump tracks... with different areas suitable for toddlers on balance bikes all the way to advanced riders.
A smaller local theatre hosted by the Nanaimo Theatre Group that puts on plays and musicals for the community.
Bailey Studio
2373 Rosstown RdA smaller local theatre hosted by the Nanaimo Theatre Group that puts on plays and musicals for the community.
"The Avalon" theatre in Woodgrove Mall features both Hollywood new releases and film series such as Impact documentaries, Canadian features, TIFF selections, and Fringe Flicks.
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Landmark Cinemas 8 Avalon Nanaimo
6631 Island Hwy N"The Avalon" theatre in Woodgrove Mall features both Hollywood new releases and film series such as Impact documentaries, Canadian features, TIFF selections, and Fringe Flicks.