Written by Danielle Steiner

Insights and Suggestions from a Local FOODIE

The best advice I can give you when arriving at the picturesque Comox Valley Harbour is to prepare to stay awhile. The beautiful Valley is home to a trifecta of towns, each offering delicious spots to grab a coffee, enjoy a meal, or relax with a local brew. Comox, Courtenay and Cumberland are located conveniently close in vicinity to each other, with each offering a unique Island persona—and their focus on serving tasty local food makes them all worth a visit.

Comox

From the Comox marina, I like lacing up my walking shoes and exploring the Valley right from the harbour. Just a few minutes’ walk brings you to a selection of coffee offerings, such as Komox Espresso & Smoothie Bar, The Mill Coffee or Milano. Tidal Café is a great option for a hearty breakfast, and there are a multitude of lunch and dinner options: Blackfin Pub offers beautiful views over the harbour, The Spice Hut is a local favourite for their vast menu, and Toscano’s provides an intimate atmosphere for a delicious Mediterranean dinner. And of course dessert! Benino Gelato is the perfect stop for something light before you wander back to the boat.

Whether you decide on an afternoon pint or a cold brew to finish the day, Comox has a selection of places to kick back with a beer within walking distance of the harbour as well. New Tradition Brewing Company greets you first as you wander up from the shore, and not far from them is Church St. Taphouse, which has a huge patio with a view of the mountains to perfectly complement your drinks. If you’re willing to stroll a little further, Land & Sea Brewing Company is another great choice to enjoy some local craft beer.

Courtenay

Exploring the culinary delights of Courtenay and the surrounding area is a great plan while docked in Comox as well, though we prefer hopping on our bikes for this longer excursion. If it’s a Saturday morning, we always prioritize pedalling to the Comox Valley Farmers’ Market, which is one the largest markets on the Island. It’s open year-round and is a great place to do some local provisioning—pick up baking, produce, and other locally made food and drink products. We also enjoy visiting the various farms and market gardens along the backroads of the Valley.

Courtenay’s downtown is a whimsical area filled with shops, restaurants and cafes to keep you busy all day. Hot Chocolates is a must-visit for artisan chocolate; The Mustard Lady offers an array of local treasures; and Butcher’s Block stocks all manner of local products. For breakfast, we often enjoy Off Main or Early Bird Café, both great options for their quirky atmospheres and delicious food. For lunch, you can’t go wrong with local favourite Atlas Café; or, enjoy handmade noodles at Nikkei Ramen-ya. And dinner options abound as well—it’s always so hard to choose which local restaurant to try. We have savoured the Greek food at Yiamas Greek Taverna, and the Italian food at Il Falcone is well worth repeating. Another favourite option is to make our way to Locals, located on the riverside, which is well-known across the Island for its classy atmosphere and impressive dishes.

It’s worth the trip to Courtenay alone if you’re on the hunt for local spirits, wine and beer. Gladstone Brewing Company’s patio is a popular local haunt, the perfect place if you’re biking around and need to stop for a refreshing drink. Ace Brewing Company, located by the popular Courtenay Air Park, is another great option for a pint of craft beer. We also enjoy partaking in a glass or two of wine, so we often stop at Beaufort Vineyard and Estate Winery or 40 Knots Winery. (If you want to sample a variety of Comox Valley wine with ease, I recommend checking out Ambassador Transportation—they offer unique wine tours that will allow you to visit many of the local vineyards with ease.) If spirits are more your style, I would recommend visiting Wayward Distillery on your way to Cumberland—they make all their spirits with 100%. B.C. honey, and we love picking up bottles of their newest seasonal releases.

Cumberland

Cumberland is the town farthest away from the Comox Marina, but we always make time for it during our culinary Valley explorations. If you have an e-bike, you might enjoy the longer adventure out to the town, but renting a car for the day will give you a little more mobility as well. In my opinion, a trip to the Comox Valley isn’t really complete without a visit to the Cumberland Village Bakery for one of their melt-in-your-mouth donuts.

Cumberland has many delicious choices for eating out. It’s the place to go if you have a hankering for the tastiest tacos in town—Biblio Taco might just be one of my husband’s favourite places in the entire Valley. Rider’s Pizza is my go-to for delicious savoury pies, and if we are in the mood for a seriously satisfying burger, we make a beeline for Cooks Restaurant. We also enjoy finishing out the day at the Cumberland Brewing Company, regardless of the weather—we love getting cozy with their outdoor heaters while enjoying a flight of beer.

Mount Washington

The final place to visit while you’re in the Valley actually isn’t in Comox, Courtenay or Cumberland, but just slightly north on Highway 19: Mount Washington. This one is harder to get to without a vehicle, but Ambassador Transportation is a great option here as well, as they provide shuttle services from anywhere in the Valley up to the mountain resort. The incredible skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing options during the winter and hiking and mountain biking during the summer make it the perfect outdoor adventure destination—or simply a great place to bring a relaxing picnic and enjoy the scenic view over the Georgia Strait.