Nanaimo Pubs and Breweries With Food

Nanaimo pubs are a mix of old-fashioned hotel taverns, neighbourhood locals and a craft beer scene that has grown over the years. Wolf Brewing Company on Old Victoria Road has a lounge on the edge of downtown. Go on a weekday, order a proper meal with the first pour and plan your ride.

Burgers, fish and chips, wings, nachos, pies, bangers and mash and a daily special are typical, with West Coast pale ales and lagers leading the taps. Most pubs open for lunch, though hours vary.

What are Nanaimo pubs like?

Varied. Some are hotel pubs with big screens and beer by the jug, some are neighbourhood spots with darts and pool, and a few are modern gastropubs. Most have a kitchen. The mood runs from loud to quiet, and the food runs from wings to roasts. A pub is often the best place to meet locals, since it is where they eat after work.

Which Nanaimo breweries have food?

Wolf Brewing Company, on Old Victoria Road, has a lounge on the edge of downtown that pours European and West Coast styles, with live music on some Friday nights according to the BC Ale Trail. Longwood Brew Pub and Restaurant sits in Longwood Station in North Nanaimo, serving West Coast pub fare alongside its own beer. Confirm hours, since small breweries change them.

What is Nanaimo pub food?

Burgers, fish and chips, wings, nachos, pies, bangers and mash, salads and a daily special. Better places make their own sauces and buns, and chefs at the brewpubs pair dishes with the beer. Vegetarian choices usually include a bean burger and a salad. Ask about the soup of the day, which often reveals the kitchen's care. The Old City Quarter guide lists nearby tables.

What is Nanaimo craft beer like?

West Coast pale ales and lagers lead, with seasonal pours and darker beers in winter. A flight is the best way to learn the range. The island's craft beer story is told in the regional foods guide, and a taste of the local beer makes the next meal better. Ask the server what is fresh.

How do you plan a Nanaimo brewpub lunch?

Go on a weekday, order a proper meal with the first pour and sit near a window. A lunch visit keeps the day sensible and lets you walk it off by the harbour. If you are with a group, choose a long table and share starters. A brewpub lunch is a better value than a dinner, and the kitchen has time.

How do you choose between a taproom and a restaurant?

Ask what you want. A taproom suits a flight and a snack; a brewpub or a pub suits a meal. If you have children or a dog, look for a patio. If you want quiet, avoid Friday night. When you rate a place, tag it Taproom or Brewpub, Kid-Friendly or Dog-Friendly where they fit, and write a line on the room.

How do you rate the plate and the pint?

Separately, in your words. Say what you ate, whether it arrived hot and how the beer paired. "The fish and chips and a pale ale, a Thursday at one, crisp and not greasy" tells a stranger what to expect. Add Group Dining if a table of friends was looked after. The tags are notes from raters, not promises from the pubs.

How can friends share a pub list?

Open the Mosey app, rate each stop and save it in a list called Nanaimo pubs, with sections for Brewpubs, Locals and Patios. Invite friends through a link and tag the people you ate with, who can add their own rating. On the map, Friends' picks shows places the people you follow rated or saved.

What about a pub for a quiet evening?

Look for a place with a fireplace, a short menu and a local crowd. Weeknights are the best time, when a server has time to explain the beer list and the kitchen is not rushed. A pub in a hotel or a small neighbourhood room often serves a better dinner than its sign suggests. Order the special, ask what is on tap and settle in. Rate the room as well as the plate.

Which places in town suit a group?

Those with a large patio, long tables and a menu with something for everyone. Phone ahead with the number in your party, arrive before the rush and agree on a budget. A shared platter of wings, nachos and fries gets a group started, and a pitcher of water keeps the day sane. After the meal, rate the place with the Group Dining tag if the table was looked after, and tag the friends who came.

Do you need a driver? Yes, or a ride. Plan the trip home before the first pour.

Are pubs open for lunch? Most are, though hours vary.

For the island's other drink and food, read the Nanaimo food guide, and for the province start at the Food in British Columbia page. More of the country is in the Canadian food guides.

With the menu still in your hand, download the Mosey app, rate the plate that went with the pint and share your pub list with whoever asks.