Come Hungry
CAFFEINATE AND CARBO-LOAD Tofino Co ee Roasting Co. 112-605 Gibson St.
There’s no room to sit down in this compact café, but the small square footage appropriately reflects the small-batch ethos of the roasting process. Besides, there’s no shortage of picturesque spots nearby to enjoy your strong Americano and perfectly flaky twice-baked almond croissant. tofinocoeeroasting.com
AFTERNOON DELIGHT Shelter 601 Campbell St.
Open since 2004, Shelter has got their casual-fine experience down to a science at this point. The vibe is that of a laid-back island version of Cactus Club (no surprise that Richard Jaray is a silent investor), but the local focus of the menu gives it a delicious sense of place: think BLTs with house-smoked salmon, Marina Island littleneck clams and free-run saltand-pepper wings. shelterrestaurant.com
NICE TO MEAT YOU Picnic Charcuterie 117 Industrial Way
It’s a carnivore’s dream in Picnic’s tiny storefront, where the display cases are packed to the brim with salamis, sausages and cured meats that are butchered and aged on-site. Stock up on thick slabs of hand-cut bacon for tomorrow’s breakfast, or slice up chunks of chanterelle salami to eat then and there. picniccharcuterie.com
STELLAR SANDWICH RedCan Gourmet 700 Industrial Way
“Artisan” and “hoagie” aren’t usually used in the same sentence, but there’s no other way to describe the excellent sandwiches RedCan whips up using fresh-baked baguettes and smoked brisket. Get yours to go and bring it across the street to Tofino
Brewing Co.— it’ll pair perfectly with your tasting flight. redcangourmet.com
THE HAPPIEST HOUR Kuma 101-120 4th St.
Pop in for happy hour at this mod take on a Japanese izakaya—though it’s a struggle not to spoil your appetite for dinner here. Pair your Sapporo tallboy with the grilled chicken karaage rice balls, house ramen with braised pork belly and Bear tuna (local albacore with tamari-trule vinaigrette spread onto crunchy crostini). kumatofino.com
DREAM DINNER Wolf in the Fog 150 4th St. NIGHTY-NIGHTCAP The Hatch 634 Campbell St.
The pub may be under new management—part of a revitalization of the Tofino Resort and Marina property this past summer—but it boasts Tofino’s oldest liquor licence, so it’s the only place in town open until 2 a.m. On tap at the horseshoeshaped bar, find options from West Coast craft brews (and sourdough-crust pizzas from the kitchen’s wood-fired oven, should you somehow feel hungry again). tofinoresortandmarina.com In 2014, Wolf was named EnRoute’s best new restaurant in Canada, and four years later chef Nicholas Nutting is still at the top of his game. Each dish—from crispy potato-crusted oysters to a shiitake-infused seaweed salad to the fall-o-the-fork hot smoked char—is a forager’s dream, spotlighting regional treasures and the seasonal harvest with stunning presentation and an impeccable depth of flavour. The excellent cocktails (we loved the cedar sour) are just a bonus. wolfinthefog.com