Aura Waterfront Restaurant + Patio in Victoria

This restaurant is located inside The Inn at Laurel Point. Its very classy with a great menu. The drink menu was superb. I had the blood orange cider and the grilled chicken sandwich, yum. It is a pricey restaurant, I guess you are paying for the atmosphere along with the food. But service was super quick. Our server was so nice and friendly. I recommend eating there at least once if youre staying in the hotel.

Aura lived up to our reputation of being the best restaurant/ patio award in 2024 .We were a party of 4 and thoroughly enjoyed our selection of food served in November menu. Kain was our server and made some great suggestions for our group to share. We shared the grilled Octopus which was very tasty , especially since it was seasoned with smoked peppers and aioli. I would highly recommend the lamb shank as it wasn t overdone and it was presented with interesting sides which had a Moroccan flair. The crispy Brussels sprouts along with the grilled chicken breast was my daughter s favourite. The pan fried Ling cod was a highlight that our out of town guest ordered. It was so very fresh and it was a generous portion of fish for the price point of this entree. We finished off our meals with two desserts of Pot De Crème . We were so fortunate as the evening we ate at Aura , it was a clear night. So the view of the harbour activity was interesting to see Definitely would go back to Aura restaurant , as the food exceeded our expectations and Kain was such a processional server that it contributed to a remarkable dining experience! Kudos to Aura!

Went there as a preview to an upcoming wedding to get a feel for the place and the service and the food. The server was friendly enough but didnt check in enough and when we ordered salad to come first it never came. The main meal came and it was cold. I found the servings were small. Im also not a fan of one person taking the order and another person delivering the order which is what happened. So really not sure who youre tipping. And they didnt come back to check on how our meal was until quite late. View is awesome if you have a window seat. There was only one other table with people in it and still it was so loud we could barely hear our own conversation. For the price of the food, I really would not recommend this restaurant.

To be honest, its a great spot, lovely views, and the Starters were good enough. But the Waiter was rude, and the mains were very average. So 3 stars from me, and probably wouldnt recommend.

Great views at some of the tables, but food is only so-so (my Lamb was incredibly oversalted) and not worth the expensive price. Service was sloooow - 2 hours from seating to getting food, 30 minutes to get a drink or refill in a half-full restaurant (their excuse was a large banquet going on, not my problem) Vegetarian options: Not great and almost zero vegan choices and no flexibility from kitchen

Food was delicious! Very flavourful. Staff was running around and very busy - understaffed but all servers were kind, apologetic and doing the best they could. Great views, atmosphere was nice but nothing remarkable.

Beautiful atmosphere and view. Menu did not reflect the dining experience. The menu had to be explained to us, making us feel stupid. Was in culinary language which excludes diners who have no problem paying, but menu was nonsense. Limited items for the price, had scallops, saw most diners ordering hamburgers..says a lot chef!!

Breakfast with a beautiful view, what could be better)) Professional service, delicious food and nice presentation.

Such an amazing place- delicious food, peaceful atmosphere with gorgeous views, tasteful decor, excellent staff and service. Special shout-out to our awesome server Kain, and hostess Hannah! Both went above and beyond to make our experience top notch and it was hugely appreciated :)

Best chicken in my life!!!!

Great views good food quick service!

Took family here to celebrate a birthday. This place is top 3 on Yelp. Definitely lives up to its ratings. It has a great wine and cocktail selection, and the food is great.

If I could give it a zero, I would. My pasta dish was 100% different of what was listed on the menu. Side dish came 10 minutes before the main and 2nd side dish came 10.mins after. Still had to pay in full, eventhough I did not eat the pasta. Such a shame because the location is amazing.

Most friendly and respectful staff, delicious food, spectacular views

Genuinely fantastic. The food was incredible with lovely presentation, beautiful views and great service.

Made a reservation and they didnt sit our group till 35 minutes later and the server didnt arrive within 6 minutes so we left. Poor service and uninspired menu. Nice location and view, wish the service had matched.

We recently dined here to celebrate a birthday and were pleased with the quality of the food. However, there were significant issues with the timing of the meal. Our first main course was served well before the others, with a gap of approximately 15 minutes between the first and the remaining two dishes. As a result, by the time the latter plates arrived, the initial dish was already cold and partially consumed. This lapse in timing detracted from the overall dining experience, as it lacked the professionalism one might expect. Additionally, despite our request for a special acknowledgment of the birthday in our party, this detail was overlooked by our server, leaving the occasion feeling quite ordinary rather than the celebratory atmosphere we had hoped for. While the service was generally good, the poor time management and missed opportunity to enhance the birthday celebration were disappointing.

Overall, our experience with Aura was incredibly disappointing. We had a reservation for 8:30pm and arrived a few minutes early. Upon arrival we were told that our table wasn t ready but would be in about 10-15 minutes. We were then asked to take a seat in the bar area to wait. After about 20 minutes (now almost 20 minutes past our reservation time) we inquired about our table and were told again that it still wasn t ready. About 5 minutes later, the hostess brought over menus so that we could take a look while we waited. The menu is uninspired at best, but we were there for the view. Finally around 9:00pm we were shown to a table and told that a server would be right with us. I m not sure if they forgot about us, but no server arrived and we ended up leaving without having had dinner. The view from the table was very nice, but that s the nicest thing I can say about the experience we had. Given that we paid the $25/ person reservation fee and showed up, but no efforts were made to seat us in a timely manner, I cannot recommend Aura. I understand that sometimes tables take longer, but how a restaurant chooses to handle this either makes or breaks the client experience. They had 40 minutes in which to decide how they could make the experience and they failed. A complimentary round of drinks, or even an appetizer would have been nice.

Amazing experience. Colby, the bartender, was so great. We sat at the bar, waiting for our table. Colby made us delicious cocktails and was so pleasant and engaging. Then came dinner. Liam was the most attentive server. He was highly knowledgeable about the menu and his recommendations were fantastic. Hubby and I shared the Caesar salad which is out of this world. So, so good. Hubby had the scallops. I had the halibut. We could not stop talking about how good our dishes were. The chef perfectly seasoned the dishes. I would highly recommend this restaurant. Great service, great view and fantastic food.

If you re looking for a dining experience that combines breathtaking views with exceptional food, Aura Waterfront Restaurant + Patio on Montreal St in Victoria is a must-visit. This gem offers a meal and a memorable experience against the stunning backdrop of Victoria s waterfront. From the moment you arrive, the panoramic views of the harbour are simply spectacular. Whether you dine indoors or on the inviting patio, the scenery enhances every aspect of your meal. Watching the boats sail by and taking in the beauty of the waterfront creates a truly relaxing and enjoyable atmosphere. The food at Aura is equally impressive. The menu features an array of mouthwatering selections, from fresh seafood to expertly crafted dishes catering to various tastes. Each dish is prepared with precision and care, showcasing the restaurant s commitment to quality and flavour. Whether indulging in a sumptuous entrée or savouring a delicious dessert, every bite is a testament to the culinary expertise. The staff at Aura are another highlight of the experience. Friendly and attentive, they go above and beyond to ensure that your dining experience is nothing short of perfect. Their knowledge of the menu and dedication to providing top-notch service contribute significantly to the overall enjoyment of your visit. Parking at Aura is convenient, with ample options available nearby. A dedicated parking lot is adjacent to the restaurant, making it easy to find a spot. Additionally, street parking is available in the surrounding area, providing further flexibility. In summary, Aura Waterfront Restaurant + Patio offers an unbeatable combination of stunning views, delicious food, and excellent service. It s the ideal place to enjoy a meal while visiting Victoria s beautiful waterfront. Whether you re a local or just visiting, Aura is a dining destination that promises to impress and delight.

Dry chicken burger. Small portion vegan dish

Beautiful view of the harbour. Delicious food. Dropped 2 stars for the slow service.

What a lovely experience. My partner and I walked down to the restaurant from fishermans warf. We got there just in time to get some food and drinks off their happy hour menu. Their lentil burger was fantastic. My partner also loved her cocktail paddle with 3 different options to taste. Vegetarian options: Lentil burger off the happy hour menu is a must

Delicious! Really great concept for an evening of fine dining

Such a good experience, we were lucky enough to have Liam as our server! We had wonderful conversations and shared some good laughs, he was so attentive to making sure we had a really good time. Excellent service!!

very slow to be seated. staff inattentive. food options limited as they ran out of the 2 items I can eat. overall extremely disappointing. only the view was palatable.

Very good spot to enjoy a beautiful view of Victoria

Celebrated my birthday with family after a long day of seeing the sites. Enjoyed incredible small bites and delicious cocktails. The view was incredible and the staff was attentive and friendly

Went to aura for a drink and just sit and enjoy the day. They were so nice and hospitable. It was a great evening and made our day. Thanks.

Not worth the hype, disappointing. Wont be returning

The food was very good but the service was extremely slow. At one point the server said there was an issue with the kitchen but because the slow service continued to drag on, the kitchen issue didnt seem to be the problem. We did notice though, the server was serving in the main restaurant, the outside seating area and the banquet room - so we cant blame the server; it has more to do with management.

I ve been to Aura many times and every time got a good service until last night Our plates came out with 20 minutes difference, so by the time my friend got her meal mine was cold. Waitress wasn t attentive at all and quite rude. And in the end my credit card was charged twice. Don t think that I will come back to Aura after this experience.

Possibly one of the worst restaurants I ve been to in Victoria. The drinks were just mixed poorly and the food was actually disgusting. It s shame with such a location they could be making so much money and providing great experiences but the staff seemed to depressed and abysmal.

The food was terrible and overpriced.

Came here for an excellent meal on a special occasion. Had an essentially private room with a spectacular ocean view. There is beautiful artwork in the restaurant. Food itself was awesome, best meal I have had out in a very long time. Tried the halibut, chicken, asparagus, burrata, fingerlings, and Parker rolls. For dessert had pot de creme and the mille feuilles. The only miss that I wouldn t recommend are the rolls, the price was not worth it for the size and they tasted just fine.

We love this place. Great service and food. Beautiful location and they usually have room for a late booking.

Excellent cuisine and very attentive service in a pleasant, classy atmosphere with stunning harbor views. Highly recommend the goat cheese salad with pears and grilled hazelnuts, as well as the seared scallops.

Unfortunately this place was not worth the price. The steak - a 10oz ribeye for $50, asked for it medium rare, it was medium-well. A few other items were obvious it was not fresh, they were under the heat lamps a little too long before they got off the pass- they probably would have tasted great fresh. $200 in total for a meal that was very underwhelming, it s too bad. Beautiful views and our server was doing their best.

Excellent oysters! Wonderful burrata with roasted golden beets with rhubarb and candied pecans...crazy yummy. Ribeye with asparagus and a bone marrow croquette. Big portions for two. David, our server, was very knowledgeable on everything and paired a perfect red GSM with our steak and answered all our oyster questions. Great experience in a great hotel.

Great food, service and atmosphere. They have seating inside and outside on a beautiful water from patio, it doesnt always have sun but does have a gorgeous view. The food is flavourful and well put together. A fun spot to check out for sure!

This is one of the most amazing restaurants Ive ever been to. The meal was delicious, and the service was excellent.

Afternoon happy hour from 3-5pm. The karrage chicken had too much sauce you can t even tell it s fried chicken.

Breakfast is not bad, but nothing extra ordinary as well. Their Aura Benny looks beautiful, and appreciate the fusion incorporated. Food

Great food and services!

We had a great dinner here with some pals. Excellent and well-served. Because of the lovely ambiance, this restaurant is highly recommended for groups, friends, and couples.

Skipped dinner, but wanted to share thoughts on happy hour. Opted for a change this New Years and stayed at the Inn at Laurel instead of our usual Empress or Grand Pacific in Victoria. Explored the hotel bar a chic, compact space with a gorgeous view of water and surroundings. The bartenders friendly service and skillful drink choices enhanced the experience. Overall, a charming spot to enjoy drinks and soak in the scenic views. Update 1/1/2024 We opted for breakfast before check-out and were delighted with the service, crafted our mimosas, and enjoyed delicious food. This place made our New Year complete!

High tea was very nice! Beautiful views and great service

A very excellent restaurant. Went on a weeknight in late- Jan with some business colleagues. We opted for a shared meal comprised of vegetables and meats (two types of fish, beef, veal, and chicken). Everything was excellent. The service excellent. A table against the window with a nice view of the bay area. Glad I went.

Such a great place! The people are all friendly and helpful. Beautiful atmosphere and excellent views of the harbor. I enjoyed a perfectly made Classic Benny. Well done everyone!

Excellent burger, but the Sable fish dish we ordered was, well, odd and I found many the offerings to were not to my particular taste. YRMV. Service was excellent, and the atmosphere is pleasant.

Nice place and service, the food is also good but they don t offer jams or syrup for the toasts.

Fabulous service from our waiter during breakfast time! The food is very good, though very unique and a bit on the pricier side.

We stay in the Inn for about a week every year so we have always enjoyed their restaurant, Aura. We came in the winter this year for a few days with the folks and had a great experience. The tasting menus was amazing - all of it. The wine selection is very good and the cocktails are always delicious and made well. Their breakfasts are delicious and Im not too sure how they always have the most delicious fresh fruit, but really...its always fresh, no matter the season. The bartender they have had for the past 8ish months is awesome! We look forward to being back again soon!

The service here was excellent and they had a good happy hour menu. The atmosphere here was great and the location was beautiful. The food was a bit expensive and fancy for my taste but worth a visit at happy hour.

We had a wonderful time. Service was excellent. Food was delicious. Thank you.

Brunch here was excellent and our server was from Ontario who we all enjoyed hearing about her experiences in BC and elsewhere.

We had dinner here and based on the menu we had high expectations. However, service was slow, it took a long time for food to come, and food was served cold or undercooked. Portions were very small for the cost. We were told it was family style but in my experience that means each plate serves the table. Entrees were only enough for 3 people if we ordered 4-5 with an additional 3-4 sides. Its more like tapas (appetizer size) shared plates but overpriced for such small portions. The octopus was lukewarm and undercooked and the chickpeas were hard and seemed completely uncooked, which was disappointing because we love octopus and order it every time we see it. It was probably much better when cooked and warm. Like another reviewers below, when we gave feedback on the octopus, we were told how much everyone likes it and asked if weve ever eaten octopus before and told its not for everyone. Scallops were really good and warm but the portion was small. All portions were too small. Desserts were about 2 bites, definately not large enough to share. We had to order extra entrees and sides for 3 people and after over $300 we were still hungry. Breakfast was inconsistent too, one morning, like dinner, service was very slow, food was cold and undercooked and lukewarm with mostly raw bacon and soggy pastries. The other morning, service was fast, food was hot, bacon cooked and pastries warm, golden brown crispy and delicious. Portions were inconsistent too, one morning pastries, fruit, tomatos and bacon servings were generous, the other morning, they were about 1/2 the amount. We were surprised to see over 4 stars on ratings. Maybe we were there on an off night. My advice, look at the menus and make sure dishes are your liking, ask about portion sizes before ordering, be prepared to spend big on tiny food, and send food back if it arrives undercooked or cold. The location is convenient with a short walk to the ferry and the view is beautiful. Weve eaten here before and had faster service and better food so hopefully our experience was unusual.

I ordered the grilled octopus on a bed of legumes. Amazing charred octopus, perfectly cooked, and the legumes were a well thought out addition. The ambiance was great and we ended tge evening with a stroll along the Inner Harbour. I WILL be coming back!

Food and service were phenomenal, will be back again.

Spent a lovely night with good friends/fellow chefs thanks to the aura for supplying a amazing dining experience. The food was some best Ive ever had in my life. Especially the tuna and the pork belly. Muah . The plates are were all small and shared between two people yet by the end I was stuffed despite a big appetite. To conclude, for the price of only 65$ per person and eating such delectable food till a full belly Id definitely recommend either this menu or single plates off it. Parking: For parking there is a large parking garage off the side of the main entrance.

We went for Dine Around 2023. Along with the Dine Around menu, we were also given a shareable menu (aka tapas menu). We chose to stick with the Dine Around but we didnt realize the the 3-course menu was tapa sized as well. Although the food was very tasty, the portion sizes served are for someone thats on an diet... an expensive one at that. Also, the service felt very awkward at times.

A friend and I had dinner there on the Dine Around menu. I have been there many times before for Happy Hour, dinner, etc. and, as usual, it didnt disappoint. Our server was attentive, our food was excellent and also presented visually (the gold leaf bits in the dessert were exquisite). Also, one of the best views in town!

Did not have a good experience here. It felt like the staff did not treat us with respect due to our age?? Though the view and food are quite nice, I would not return

I came to Aura during DineAround with my father and really enjoyed the meal. The pork belly was great, the chicory salad was great. I left happy. Last night, I came with my wife and the meal was not good. It was like it was a completely different chef. For example, the cauliflower was so over-spiced that the spice formed a paste in my mouth. The sauce for the scallops couldnt decide if it wanted to be acidic or spicy, and the scallops were under cooked. The meal was rushed, even though the restaurant wasnt busy - we felt like they wanted to get us out of there, and all we wanted to do was enjoy a romantic dinner on the anniversary of our engagement. For the price, this was not good value. Pay a little bit more and have a fantastic dinner at Saveur. I would rate it at 1 star, but our server was quite friendly and the pork belly was still good.

Elegant, tasty food, just not particularly satisfying. More for people who admire concepts than who enjoy eating.

All I can say is, MMM!! The food is well prepared and delicious. The 3 star service was for our first morning room service breakfast that was not delivered. The second morning room service breakfast was delivered and hot and delicious! But this restaurant is one we will be visiting with our guests. Bravo! Came back to eat at this restaurant last night(March 25th) and was a bit disappointed with the Halibut dish. The description of the dish was not what I got. It said it came with brown buttered mushrooms and spring vegetables. I got 2 pieces of spongy mushrooms, which actually looked like chunks of fat and sliced radishes, partially cooked. The miso crust on the Halibut was soft. I hope they read these reviews and hope they have a chat with whoever put out that dish! I cant do a new review or I would have given that Halibut 2 stars.

Exceptional food and service. And what a view. I d highly recommend this restaurant.

Really delicious food made for sharing

The ginger receptionist lady seemed angry, and said virtually nothing to us. View was nice, but it takes a long time to receive food (and I got mine a good 10+ minutes before my date received hers). Young lady with dark brown hair in a white coat was very kind though, and made the experience better

Great location friendly Staff

The food and service at Aura was once again flawless during our most recent evening. Excellent creative cuisine. We enjoyed five share plates and found room for dessert, just too good not to indulge. The mushroom dish with sansho pepper, tare sauce, crispy rice and scallions was yummy. The pannisse with miso charred cabbage, kohlrabi salad and Thai coconut braised lentils was oh so delicious and interesting. The steelhead trout with black bean relish & chilli along with the glazed pork belly and carrot truffle mouse simply excellent. A side dish of winter squash gnocchi is a must enjoy. Of course, desserts were the perfect light finishing touch. The restaurant has a nice ambience with contemporary decor and many tables with superb views of the Inner Harbour. Once again we enjoyed another wonderful evening at Aura. The views remind us every time why we love our city Victoria, its a beautiful place. The whole vibe is wonderfully enhanced by the excellent quality and creative cuisine of Aura.

The Aura benny taste really good! Didn t expect the kimchi blend so well with hollandaise. With the view of inner harbor, peaceful dinning environment, and attentive service, really nice place for breakfast.

The quality of food and service is pretty good, for sure. But the portion is smaller than smaller. Also, I m not a fan of the coffee (written as espresso but served as normal black coffee), a lot of spaces for improvement.

Setting, view, and waiter were all great. The amount of food for the price was shockingly bad. We were still hungry after our meal. We each had the halibut, and the portion was so tiny. The mille feuille for desert was tasty, but it was the size of a piece of a Kit Kat bar. For $8? No, not worth it. The waiter had to explain to each diner about the whole shared plate concept, which took a few minutes and nobody really seemed to understand. If I had shared my plate, I would have had nothing left to eat! I would never return.

Great Western omelette and Aura Benedict! We enjoyed our stay in the hotel as well as our breakfast at Aura waterfront restaurant. We were also with 3 toddlers and they were kept busy with the provided drawing supplies which was nice.

Came for a private room function with tasting menu so cant say much about the regular menu. Most items were good or excellent. Desserts were disappointing.

What another fantastic meal and experience at Aura. They know how to do the drinks, food, and service right. Their outdoor patio has a great view of the city. It was cold tho since it faces east but if you can get there before the sun goes down to far, you definitely need to sit outside. I highly recommend Aura and look forward to coming back.

Terrible service. Waited half an hour for one drink. Server did not even care and never came to ask if we need help. Very disappointed. Will never visit again.

Server was unfriendly, dismissive frankly kind of rude. Bussers were lovely. Food was ok. Zero atmosphere. Very beige vibe. Will not return or recommend. This was dessert, purportedly mille feuille. Embarrassing.

We chose Aura for our last meal in Victoria before flying home to the UK and it was SO worth the wait! Amazing food, just the right amount, beautiful setting and views and our server, Kain, was fantastic from start to finish. (Kain if you are reading this review, we hope it makes you happy and you deserve a pay rise!) If you are visiting Victoria, Aura is a MUST!

Yummiest sandwich in town with the best view!

Great views but the food is pretty average and small portions with higher cost.

We went for lunch and sat on the patio with an umbrella for shade. I had a green salad with lemongrass chicken. Simple, nicely done. My wife had beet salad and lemongrass chicken bowl. It had lentils which were enjoyed.

Breakfast with a harbor view.

Highly recommend seating on the patio, where you can enjoy delicious food and a beautiful view simultaneously

My partner and I decided to celebrate his birthday at Aura, and let me tell you, it was an exhilarating experience that surpassed all expectations. From the moment we arrived, we were greeted warmly by the hostess who happily accommodated our request to sit on the patio. The view from our table was nothing short of breathtaking - we gazed out at the inner harbour, basking in the beauty of downtown Victoria. The menu, designed tapas-style, delighted us with a plethora of enticing options. We eagerly allowed the server to bring out dishes as they were ready, creating an exciting culinary journey. Our taste buds were treated to a medley of delectable flavors, starting with the beef tongue, burrata, and fresh oysters. Each dish surpassed the last, with the burrata boasting a freshness reminiscent of Italy. As our main courses arrived, we were thrilled to try the oven-roasted chicken with a side of fingerling potatoes and the seared lingcod. Our waiter kindly informed us that the chicken would take a bit longer as it was freshly prepared, and he was absolutely right. The chicken was cooked to perfection, leaving us in awe of its amazing taste. The seared lingcod, a white fish dish, was an experience like no other - the flavors were unparalleled. To top off the evening, we indulged in mouthwatering desserts crafted by the in-house pastry chef. I opted for the Mango Tart, while my partner savored the Pot de Creme. The attention to detail and care put into these treats was evident in every delectable bite, providing a delightful conclusion to our meal. A standout of the evening was our exceptional server, Simon. His attentiveness, cheerful demeanor, and wealth of information made the dining experience all the more enjoyable. Despite being busy, he never rushed us and went above and beyond to answer our questions and provide insights into the menu and the establishments culinary artistry. In conclusion, Aura undoubtedly offers a dining experience like no other. The combination of a spectacular view, tapas-style menu, and superb service by Simon made it a night to remember. If you seek a special and memorable culinary adventure, look no further than Aura.

This place should definitely be rated higher. It was a 10/10 experience. All of the dishes were exquisite, each bite was an experience, and you could tell the chef designed and crafted the menu with incredible detail. One of the best fine dining meals I ve had in a while. This dinner was better than my experience at the Fairmont Empress.

Hmmm Actually there is a nice view from the restaurant and the food I would rate to a 4 but the stressful atmosphere in the restaurant was awful. If Auras wish is for guest to spend a lot of money fast and be gone they were successful! We had really looked forward for a nice evening but the high pace ambience music, the loud volume (76 dB) and the 10 servings of starters and mains served all within 15 minutes had us out of there in 75 minutes. Details: The restaurant played ambience music at a high dB level (I measured it to 76 dB) the ambience music type was with a high pace (designed to make you do things fast e.g. eat fast). We asked for them to turn down the music level but was informed straight away by the waiter that that was not possible (she had had det request before from other guests). The food was served with starters and main dishes randomly. All 10 dishes was served within 15 minutes !!! I know the restaurant warn they serve family style and dishes are served randomly but 10 dishes within 15 minutes ??? Had we known better we could have chosen to order the dishes few at a time and take control ourself and not leave this up to the restaurant.

My parents and I enjoyed a lovely evening dinner here. Unique menus items. I had the oysters (amazing! Especially on buck-a-shuck!) and the salmon. The portions were just right, the salmon was smoky and the succotash it was served with was refreshing. My dad had the chicken and raved about it my dad doesn t typically rave about chicken. My mom had the burrata and the scallops. So tasty! The pot de crème was a lovely sweet bite to finish.

Impeccable! The food was superb, portions were fair and didnt take too long to prepare. We ordered the Fingerling Potatoes, the Farmhouse Chicken Breast and the Pot de Crème for dessert, besides the drink that we cant remember the name and is not pictured but it was also delicious. Staff was friendly and professional, making sure we had everything we needed without checking on us in any intrusive way. The view completed our 5-star experience. They also offered to turn on the heater and to bring us blankets in case we were cold as it was a cloudy Summer day. Music wasnt loud, and we just loved the calm vibe, far enough from Downtown that we wouldnt hear the street noise, but not too far that we wouldnt appreciate the harbour view. Definitely recommend!

We had a beautiful dinner. Rob had the Ling Cod with clams and I had the Top Sirloin with bone marrow au jus with potato purée. Colleen, our server, made great suggestions for dinner. We stayed at Laurel Point Inn in The Arden Suite, it was fabulous. Great city and marina views and watching seaplanes land through out today.

Loved it! So unique and great menu. Excellent quality! Well done chef! Lovely atmosphere and view. Great service - thank you to you our server Joe. Would definitely come back !

Excellent, top quality meals. This is the type of food and drink other restaurants should look to clear. The exec. chef is proud of his work, experimenting with food, and his best meals shine radiantly. David, our server, was polite, thoughtful, and took care of us well. The atmosphere of sharing the meals means everyone gets a taste and we loved every bite. Excellent view of the waterfront as well. Vegetarian options: GF and Vegetarian options. Id recommend a minimum pescatarian diet for best experience, however. Kid-friendliness: Kid friendly, but I wouldnt bring them. Alcoholic drinks and a smart-casual dress code wouldnt mix well with children. Wheelchair accessibility: accessible. Didnt check bathrooms or back area.

On July 10th I received a call from the restaurant manager. She mentioned that the NEW fellow that was serving us was having a tough time working between the patio and the main restaurant. They were short-staffed at and they had no choice but to give him tables rather than Shadow another server. She appreciated my feedback and provided me with an appropriate credit based on the issues we had..... Thank-you very much. The food menu was very limited 2. Some of the food was overcooked and unedible due to what I would suggest as severe over salting. 3. The steak was overcooked and tough in the portion seem smaller than the advertised oz. 4. The other people at our table ordered food and were told afterwards but it was not possible to get because the order went in late. 5. The server took at least 15 minutes to come to the table and another 15 minutes to bring us our drinks. When our other guests ordered their drinks it was almost a half-hour. 6. The server was not very familiar with the food menu. 7. I told the server I was hungry and he was not helpful. Even though the food was not that great I ate most of it because I hadnt eaten since breakfast.

I rated this 1 star because I spent $70.00 ($10.00 tip as server was good). So $60 .00 for a terrible green salad with 2 cherry tomatoes, about 1 cup of greens 1/4 of a pickle and a 3 in long slice if carrot. I had 6 very small oysters and a cup of herbal tea. I was starving when I left and I do not have a large appetite. Terrible value for the money. Server was good , nice view etc I guess thats what I paid for. I will not return

Arrived at 12:15pm on a Sunday asking for a table of 4. Was told it would be a 15min wait since they had a couple of large tables there, no problem. We re happy to wait. 20min later we were seated. Server was nice and took our order quite quickly. Then we sat waiting for a long time (at least another 20min), server stopped by to say that our food was on its way. Continued waiting and the manager just shows up saying Hey sorry I hear your food is taking a while so have a dessert on us . Nice gesture but we waited another 20min after that interaction. Tables who showed up after us already finished their meals by the time ours finally arrived. Someone clearly dropped the ball (which yes we understand happens sometimes). Then the food finally arrived! My $20 Tuna melt was a single piece of bread, weirdly citrus flavored tuna and cheese and a tiny tin cup of pickled carrots/onions. I would have been embarrassed to serve that. No fries? No greens? $20??? Hard to justify that price. A single piece of bread with Tuna and cheese on a plate. My husband had an avocado tartine, no seasoning at all on the egg or avocado. The greens were disgustingly over dressed and soggy, inedible. I appreciate the offer of free dessert but we will not be back.

Any non-5 star review of this place is nuts. Everything was so delicious and interesting!

Upon perusing the menu at Aura, a degree of uncertainty lingered within me. Yet, my concerns quickly went away as the waiter explained the dining process, reaffirming my decision to eat here. The staff exuded a genuine warmth and a helpful demeanor, though the true highlight lies in the exceptional cuisine so lets cut to the chase The reason your reading this is your not sure if you would like to eat here let me just say the food is nothing short of extraordinary, so much so that we found ourselves jumping at the opportunity to order seconds.

Amazing, would highly recommend

Good place with a nice patio

Had happy hour drinks here. 3 glasses of wine (6oz). When I got home, realized they charge me $50 for the drinks. Spoke to my in-laws about it and they had a similar experience the night before. If you have drinks here, check/double check your bill. Dont know what they are trying to pull

Great food service was okay we need to ask for things that should have been obvious. Food was great, just a observation when the lights go dim there should be a candle or something on the table for seeing and ambiance. Willing to go again for the food

Fantastic taste for all menu and perfect harbor view is a bonus!

Beautiful view, great service, and absolutely divine food. Pricey but worth it!! I had the beef shin and I think it was the best beef dish Ive ever had.

Id like to say I have no words!! What was supposed to be a fabulous special dinner turned into my most DISAPPOINTING dining experience EVER. The restaurant was so cold everyone had their coats on, including a patron (at a different table) wearing a down filled jacket. No apology or explanation was offered. Initially the staff were very attentive. But then they disappeared. No more drinks. Nothing. It was well over an HOUR before our orders arrived. The tiny portions of food were admittedly great. But that is where the greatness ends. After apologies were offered, we ordered more wine. It never came. There are plenty of fabulous fine dining options, with amazing service, in Victoria - THIS ISNT ONE OF THEM.

Waterfront view, modern cuisine, knowledgeable waitstaff, pricey but worth the whole experience. It all started with the friendly, helpful hostess, then our waiter who took his time to explain everything. A very memorable evening! The beef shin was a bit spicy for our Midwest palates. Dietary restrictions: We are gluten intolerant and we had several options.

Restaurant is inside the Inn at Laurel Point. Consideting the location and being part of the hotel, we had higher expectations of service. Service at best was so so,worse because the Restaurant was virtually empty when we were there. Maximum 2 other tables at the same time. Food Location is all excellent, service was a disappointment

Good place and food

Awesome Awesome view, the hotel is beautiful and very clean. The staff very professional, friendly and helpful. The restaurant menu very sparse and limited. Had meals off property. Overall I had a beautiful relaxing stay. Will definitely come back.

Great food, incredible ambience and view, and professional staff.

One of the special places in Victoria. Quiet, fabulous view, and excellent service and food. Can t wait to go back.

We chose Aura for this year s Victoria Dine Around Dinner . Wow, simply the best food and experience. Of course the views and vibes at the restaurant are what you expect sitting there makes you appreciate why Victoria is loved. Service was friendly and welcoming. Food was on another level, and the wine pairings were thoughtful and enjoyed. There is so much care, technique and experience put into the food. With that in mind, I think the prices are on the low side. Everywhere has increased their prices because of current issues surrounding operating restaurants in 2022 - so I feel you get quite a lot of value for their current pricing. It s appreciated but understand if prices need to be adjusted.

It was such a peaceful experience eating with a sea view. We had brunch, which was chicken with waffles and eggs. The flavour in all the dishes was unreal, especially the soft texture of the waffles. We didn t have a reservation but the staff was super nice and still gave us a view table. Couldn t be any better. Big shoutout to Kaitlyn I believe, she was so friendly from saying hi to bye. She told us about the dishes and about places we could visit in Victoria while we were there. Overall, great staff and amazing food. On a side note, patio was closed when we visited so if you re going to have a patio experience, just call the restaurant and confirm.

Excellent food and service, with a gorgeous view.

Fabulous 100th birthday dinner

Amazing service, wonderful food!

They don t have too many options in their menu. And the amount of food that they bring is small and it too expensive for the food that they give to their costumers. I ordered croissant, egg Benny, and roaster tomato. They brought me only two slices of tomato while I expected they bring more tomatoes. The view is nice, but I d never ever recommend that restaurant to anyone. I was really disappointed, they also didn t have avocado for their brunch. And it was hard for them to know how to replace the English muffin with croissant. I had to explain a lot so they understood what I want. But again they charge a lot while the food they provide is little and not filling at all. It is not a surprise that they got four starts. I can make way better brunch at home instead what I had at his restaurant.

Not what we were expecting for a motel restaurant

Great food, great service, great location.

What a spot ! Right on the water. We had dinner excellent flavor and plated like art work. Great staff!

My happy place! Best in the city. Robin the SOM, is the best thing to happen to F&B in the city. Thank you for letting me LOVE THIS PLACE!

The food here is so impressive the restaurant deserves 5 stars. Unfortunately the renovated space is still lets come here for business like and too Im definitely in a hotel. The desserts are perhaps one of the tastiest sweet things Ive ever put in my mouth and Im a savory person! Id still go to Aura even if it was only a dessert bar. The food is phenomenal though and innovative combining various regions like PNW infused with Japan. Its a pity not as many people think to go to a hotel for food as this place deserves to be busier..... But perhaps changing up the decor so diners arent reminded of being in a hotel would give it that extra star!

Very good food. The ling cod is spectacular. The smoked tuna is delicious.

Nice location, delicious food and great service.

We arrived @4:45, a number of window seats available but were told they were all reserved. The menu is very limited, the meal was mediocre and yet very pricey. The server was excellent. When we left @6:00 a number of window seats still available. The overall experience was less than satisfying, we will not return.

Do not go here if you are gluten free, I ordered for gluten free bread to replace egg banny as I am gluten allergic (hives) and they gave me a regular English muffin and told me it was gluten-free. I double checked with the lady who brought food if it was gluten free as it appeared exactly same as regular English muffin and she confirmed it was. Restaurant manager came to check if I was okay but she didnt provide any solutions. I am really disappointed and Yelp review seems to be overrated (to be honest the food was not that great either, there was nothing especial about the food/unique options). I saw the yelp rating and came to taste their food, but very disappointed on so many levels, I wish they take food allergies seriously, it really is not some diet program or trendy thing, rather it is a medical concern for some.

Great staff. Very friendly and attentive. Breakfast was great. We had adult beverages on the patio later in the afternoon , nice view of Victoria. Two thumbs up for this place.

Perfect spot for a delicious breakfast with a spectacular view! Unfortunately they didn t have an outdoor seating with an umbrella available, so we had to sit inside.

Would definitely give the overall High Tea experience at Aura a high score. The service was on point, the presentation beautiful, and the views are some of the best in the city. I also really loved the Japanese twist on most of the bites - starting with salmon aburi on an onikamiyaki pancake & a chicken katsu sandwich, ending with sesame tarts, matcha opera cake and more. But I did find myself wishing that all flavours were kicked up about two notches. Standouts we re the glazed scone and katsu sandwich. Could live withouts include the pork bun, tamago sandwich and beets on a bun.

Very good experience. Server Tess was great.

Awesome menu, service and omg the food (presentation, flavour combos, EVERYTHING). One of my best Victoria evenings.

Wondering if people below really enjoyed their food. I watched a youtube video and looks food in this restaurant is good. Even we didnt live in this hotel, we still went to this restaurant for dinner. Very disappointed. Nothing testy! Halibut was overcooked, vegetables was too old to chew and etc. I quickly lost my appetite. But I blame myself to trust two girls bragging. I should have known it at the first place when I heard they got a free accommodation in this hotel.

Had 6 in our party and we had the tasting menu. It was amazing and dialed in. The waiter David was a pure professional and every dish was cooked to perfection. Thank you all so much for an awesome evening.

We had dinner here for my sons birthday. The food was alright with the exception of the flank steak. Our service was very poor. The waitress did not make us feel welcomed. A robotic service with no dialogue. Our server made no attempt to make us feel welcomed and did not attempt to engage in any conversation. She didn t even introduce herself.

My gnocchi looked like corn puffs. whos manz thought that was a good idea. Smallest main dish Ive ever seen.

High prices, small portions but top notch. Mose excellent food and service. The chef made special dishes to accomodate diet restrictions and also managed an allergy.

Great service, lovely shared plates, and nice cocktails. Plus a great view. Highly recommend!

Fantastic experience! The dishes were beautiful and delicious. Our server was super helpful and friendly, both me and my partner felt welcome and were dying to go back!

Good food and drinks, as well as friendly staff

We had the gnocchi and the halibut which were extremely small dishes and both were way overpriced for the sizes. We had to do takeout at another restaurant afterwards because we were still hungry. The view was nice but not worth the price of the food, especially when you can see the same view for free all around the area.

If you re in Victoria this restaurant is a delicious place to eat. We had a romantic dinner for two with an outside table, which had a beautiful view of the waterfront at night. This menu is made up of plates that are meant to be shared so you have an opportunity to try a few different things. Each dish was so full of perfectly balanced flavors. Our server Kate provided great recommendations for both dinner and dessert!

Great food. Real service.

After several cancellations from other restaurants due to holiday closures we were just happy to get a reservation. The food blew us away - much better than we expected for a hotel restaurant. A lot of thought clearly went into the menu, centered around Asian themes and influence. Service was wonderful - friendly and accommodating. Well be back for sure!

What an amazing experience!! The food was fabulous, we loved the small dishes and tried several of them. They were all outstanding! The wait staff were fabulous and so knowledgeable about the food and their recommendations were spot on. I can t wait to go again!

Simply amazing!

Beautiful setting and great views of the Inner Harbour. And fabulous meals, even with the $40 Dine In Vic choices. Just shockingly quiet in our current pandemic mode. Highly recommended!

We visited Aura during the annual Dine Around and Stay in Town event. Definitely more high end than our normal dining experience. Our meal was exquisite and the dessert was decadent. The staff was excellent, all of this during a pandemic. If you have the extra ducats, check it out.

We had the Dine Around menu (2021) and it was fantastic. All the dishes were beautifully prepared and vey tasty. The deserts were a highlight!

I had the trout. Tiny, tiny portion, but very good. Wonderful staff

The food was not bad, but I felt it was not great either. We came for a dinner during the Dine-around Victoria event, so unsure if the dishes were small because of that or that is the standard size. Food on the paper was pretentious, but did not live up to the expectations on the plate. Service was very good and professional. I might give it another chance

The seafood benedict at Aura is absolutely delicious. Instead of a muffin, it rests on a salmon cake and features prawns beneath poached eggs and a hollandaise that features a bit of heat rather than lemon. The fruit salad completely fills a platter! Or if you prefer to design your own, the omelet lets you choose the ingredients and it is perfectly prepared. All with friendly, attentive service and fabulous views of the beautiful inner harbor.

Lovely tapas style dishes that delight the senses.

Beautiful waterfront restaurant and patio. I would give the baked goods a 5/5 like their croissants and speciality breads. Their standard menu offerings for brunch and dinner have an Asian fusion vibe which is refreshing. Their pastry program outshines the savoury dishes though.

The views of the Inner Harbour are stunning and reason enough to enjoy a meal here. But you dont have to settle for mediocre food. We enjoyed a tasty breakfast and well presented accompanied by friendly service. We chose our meals from the menu but their Sunday Brunch also looked inviting (we arrived a little early for the brunch). Located in the Inn at Laurel Point, wheelchair access is excellent. Will definitely come again.

we went to eat with our 1 year old baby. they were very welcoming and the food excellent. thank you so much

Had a wonderful meal at Aura! Loved all the small bites and that we were able to try everything. Really enjoyed that food just kept coming but at no point did we feel like we did not have enough or had overindulged! Not your traditional sit down meal with appetizer, entree, dessert. Like a particular dish you can easily order another one! Pace of dining was wonderful. Staff were friendly, attentive and helpful to guide you through this unique dining experience. You didnt feel rushed. Excellent wine list - enjoyed the Sommeliers recommended feature. And the views...Aura really is a hidden gem. You look out on one of the best views of the Victoria harbour.

Delicious tea for two! Come hungry. It is a set menu with an Asian inspired twist. The service was top notch. Lovely people. Oh and lets not forget that view. Thank you for a wonderful afternoon!

We came late in the evening. Hamburger was terrible, patty meat was mushy, barely held together, bun was soggy inside. And for $14 all you get is one hamburger, not even a side of fries. Fish plate, fish was cold because they put a piece of fish onto cold noodle salad. Kids fries looked burned but was soggy, meaning that it was terribly warmed up. The only thing edible was my children s grilled cheese sandwiches & salad. Waitress was friendly but never bothered to ask how our food was, likely because she knew it was bad. NOT worth my $100 bill

Victoria is flooded with a variety of dining options, but one always feels underwhelmed by what seems to be simply variations of the very same or similar dishes. Yes, west coast catch of the day, served with grilled veggies and potato pureed. Or steak and frites. And let s not forget the inevitable burger with a side of salad and fries. But not here. Not at Aura. What the chef is creating in this kitchen is quite simply a spectacular culinary experience. These small plates are meant to be experienced with all your senses: the colourful and stunning array of textures and shades, the magical smells of local and fresh food and of course the explosion of flavours that send your tongue into realms long forgotten. We started with the Smoked Tuna accompanied by the tomato salad. Locally sourced tomatoes that were covered in a delicious vinaigrette. Our second choice was the Bavette and Potato Bonito Bravas, both extraordinary and cooked to perfection. Lastly, we closed our evening with the Kimchi Braised Short Ribs and dessert was not necessary. The caramelized smokey and sweet texture of the beef was the ideal way to finish our meal. Quite possibly, the best dining experience in Victoria presently. Oh yeah, and the views are to die for!

Food was great!! Would love to see more items on the menu

Very tasty food, but far too small portions

Not worth the price. You expect better quality for a nice hotel restaurant. The positive reviews make no sense.

We went there for dinner (Aug 2021), not brunch/happy hour/other. Its the tapas formula, so Ill get the downsides out of the way first: for a tapas menu, its not very expansive. But the food was absolutely delicious. Worth every dollar of the very many that it costed. The smoked tuna and the pacific halibut were extraordinary, kudos to the chef. Other dishes were also very good. Only the cheese plate was on the boring side, predictable, with bread that could be fresher. Service was friendly and flawless. Overall a great experience, highly recommended.

Great view. Nothing too outstanding

Very quiet, tapas food, comes out as it is made, very casual sharable plates. Limited menu selections.

Amazing service and great food

Beautiful waterfront views and patio. Stopped in for a drink so I cant comment on food. Service was good for pandemic shortages time. Tables well spaced. Single use menus was an appreciated touch. Due to staff shortages Restraunt is closed Tuesday and Weds. This may change so check before you book your reservation.

Afternoon tea for two was a fantastic experience. Every item was phenomenal.

Nice little eatery with a scenic view. Tried multiple items and all of them were fantastically flavored.

Great view, food is good but overpriced. Wine is not good. Went for my wifes birthday, stated in the reso notes and when the manager called to confirm. No one noted or said anything when we arrived. Additionally I requested a patio seat and they tried to seat us inside, after negotiating we got the patio. Food was good but way overpriced for the portions. Wine was not good, really dry even for a reisling. Server was really nice and helpful, even provided recommendations around town. I would recommend just having drinks on the patio. Food 2.5 Vibe 4.5 Service 3 Value 1.5

My wife and I had the pleasure of spending our 40th Anniversary at the Aura Waterfront Restaurant. The service was incredible, the atmosphere over looking the Inner Harbour, amazing and the food deserves Michelin Star rating. A fabulous dinner on every level, thank you

Food was really good and the views were spectacular! The staff were very friendly and attentive. My favorite bite was definitely the risotto, it was amazing! All the food was great to be honest and its such a beautiful location. I would definitely recommend going

Went for brunch for two. They won t let you in before 11.30 (had to wait in the lobby for 30 minutes). Food is not good. Overpriced, plates are tiny and menu is limited. Mentioned this to the staff, said we should order more food if we were still hungry. Bad service, bad food. Not recommended

We had the most exquisite food here for the last night of our honeymoon. We shared the small plates and had experienced the most wonderful delicate flavours. Excellent service, lovely ambiance with views of the lights reflected from the other side of the harbour. 10/10!

Food was absolutely delicious, view was top notch. For tapas small plates, the portion and pricing were very reasonable for the view and what we expect of a restaurant or this quality. The restaurant manager was very pleasant, sat us by the window with beautiful view and checked on us a few times. The proteins were all done perfectly, smoked tuna was fresh and the daikon complements it. Duck breast temperature was perfect and sauces paired elegantly with it. We particularly enjoyed the patata bravas, this is something so many places do but so little places stand out - this was fluffy with crisp skin and the mayo their paired with that was unique & flavorful. The food selection was rather limited for a tapas style restaurant, but everything was done very well. It was our honeymoon, so we got desserts on the house. It was a great gesture from the hotel and both tasted delightful. I would hope both would be properly plated, since the presentation didnt feel classy. A note on the service, Im not sure if we actually look well below our age, we got the feeling that we were treated like teens eating at a restaurant too fancy for us. We dressed for the occasion, and didnt conduct ourselves inappropriately; but the server seems to prefer to speak as though we didnt know what fancy words mean when we asked for recommendations. It was our honeymoon, so it was natural we wanted to take pictures. The server never offered so we just took a selfie at our table. We figured the server didnt offer to help due to COVID, but she seemed a bit annoyed when she came to deliver us the food mid-picture. When I ate at similar restaurants in Toronto, usually we dont get an almost snobby vibe, so I feel the staff definitely needs better training to match the quality of the food and view. Other than the service, I would say this restaurant is definitely 5 stars and think this place is a steal for the price.

We had the best seat in the house and the small plates were delicious.

All the food was amazing! Best meal Ive had in a long time. Loved the small plates so tried the potatoes brava, parkerhouse roll, halibut, smoked tuna and halibut. Oh...and the pot de creme. Very thoughtful dishes with amazing flavors. Cant wait to return!

Lovely atmosphere and delicious food - some unique twists on otherwise unassuming dishes

Awesome evening for our Xmas party.