Two Victoria restaurants have been named among the top 50 hotel restaurants in Canada for 2025, according to a joint list by travel website KAYAK and restaurant reservation website OpenTable.
The Courtney Room, located inside the Magnolia Hotel, and Tea at The Empress, located in the Fairmont Empress’ lounge, made it onto the top 50 list this year.
OpenTable describes the Courtney Room as “modern Pacific Northwest cuisine,” with menu options ranging from fresh shucked oysters to specially crafted cocktails.
It also pointed to its location near the Victoria Inner Harbour and its rotating, seasonal menu for reasons why it made the list.
Meanwhile, OpenTable called Tea at the Empress “ideal for celebrations or a sophisticated afternoon outing” with a mixture of premium teas, delectable pastries, and savory sandwiches.
“Afternoon Tea at Fairmont Empress is a cherished tradition in Victoria, delighting guests for over a century,” says OpenTable.
The restaurants that landed on the top 50 list were not given individual numerical rankings. Overall, 10 of the top 50 spots were located in B.C., with just the Courtney Room and Tea at the Empress representing Vancouver Island.
OpenTable says restaurants located inside hotels shouldn’t be overlooked.
According to a WALR survey completed by about 1,500 people in Canada, 68 per cent of respondents said they would book at the same hotel again if they had a positive dining experience at its restaurant.
Meanwhile, 64 per cent said they believed hotel restaurants were an appropriate option for both hotel guests and locals. Meanwhile, OpenTable says its website data found 61 per cent of hotel restaurant diners were locals over the past 12 months, while just 39 per cent were travellers.
OpenTable made its Top 50 Hotel Restaurants in Canada for 2025 list by examining 1-million reviews from verified OpenTable diners between June 1, 2024 and May 31, 2025.
The restaurants were then based on things like diner rating and percentage of five star reviews. OpenTable notes that only restaurants located in hotels that were bookable through KAYAK appeared on its list.
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