When you hear Nanaimo you of the think of the famous dessert named after the city. So I was delighted to learn that when you visit you can actually take a Nanaimo Bar tour. This is a collection of businesses and vendors selling Nanaimo bars or Nanaimo bar inspired and flavoured goods and services.
The trail is a list of stops and it is self guided. There isn’t a map, nor are there any signs on business exteriors making mention of it. Available online (and here, below), the list covers all of Nanaimo and is arranged by Nanaimo bar type.
Our travels would be concentrated to downtown Nanaimo. We would visit five of the listed downtown stops, starting with the Nanaimo Museum to learn more about the history of these bars.
For those unfamiliar with this dessert, it is has a chocolatey coconut crumb base, a creamy custard-flavoured middle, and a glossy chocolate topping.
The origins and recipe are contested outside of Nanaimo. Here, in the city, they follow one recipe, which was that of the winner of the Expo ‘86 competition, to find the best recipe and make it the official bar recipe of the island. Apparently folks still disagree on the custard to base ratio and whether nuts belong in the mix and then if so, what kind. All this is a story that you can learn more about in Nanaimo’s museum, and where I would recommend you start your Nanaimo Bar Crawl.
They also sell a copy of this recipe on a kitchen towel, as well as other Nanaimo bar themed goods in their gift shop, to take home as souvenirs.
For those wanting to try the official version mentioned above, you can visit Serious Coffee, attached to the museum, for one. I normally shy away from this dessert given how sweet it is, so was surprised and delighted by how much I did like it on my first bite. I enjoyed the hearty crunch of the crust the most, where the shredded coconut and crushed nuts gives the base some texture, smoothing and balancing out the sweetness in the custardy centre.
Across the street is Red’s Bakery, a popular one for locals, as they use to be open 24 hours a day. Their take on the Nanaimo bar has a greater custard to crust ratio, for those preferring that version. As a result I found this one sweeter, with a crust that had more of a granola bar texture. I overwhelmed by the heavier cream.
The other cafes listed too do their own versions, hoping that theirs is the one that locals and visitors alike prefer.
For the adults, you can drink your Nanaimo bar as a cocktail, from the aptly named “The Nanaimo Bar”. Sadly, not a themed bar named after the famous dessert, but a bar in Nanaimo. This was definitely the local watering hole, where you come for the charisma of the owner and stay for the easy going atmosphere of the bar’s rustic steampunk setting.
Their Nanaimo bar cocktail was actually created 13 years ago for a competition. So when the owner opened up “The Nanaimo Bar”, it only made sense to offer it here.
Here, they have two different Nanaimo Bar cocktails. One that looks like an Nanaimo bar with a clear brown layer and a creamy yellow one, that you have to completely stir together in order to get the true and intended taste. It is creamy and lush and drinks exactly like the promised dessert in cocktail form.
The other take is more like a classic martini, served in a martini glass with a layer of chocolate sunk to the bottom, and crowned with a red cherry that you can use to dip and scoop the chocolate up with. Once again it tastes like a bar, chocolatey and on the sweeter side. This hides most of the spirit kick, as a very fun dessert cocktail to start your night off with.
And for those who don’t want to eat a Nanaimo Bar, you can still get in on all the fun at Kiyo day spa, with one of the Nanaimo Bar pedicures. This is a regular pedicure with feet soaking, leg and feet scrubbing and massage, callus filing, and your choice of nail polish to finish. What makes this a Nanaimo Bar pedicure is the products they use. Their scrub, foot mask, and hydrating cream are all scented in either a chocolate or cream. Meant to mimic the flavours of this iconic dessert. I did enjoy that unique feature. We were utterly pampered and left smelling good and with a perfectly painted toes.
That was just the stops we personally made on the trail, but there were a lot more. For those looking to embark on the journey yourselves, here is the full Nanaimo Bar Trail list.
CLASSIC NANAIMO BAR
- A Wee Cupcakery – 407 Fitzwilliam St. (Old City Quarter)
Serious Coffee Downtown – 300-60 Commercial Street (Downtown)
Serious Coffee North – 6357-B Hammond Bay Rd. (North)
Hearthstone Artisan Bakery – 115A 50 Tenth Street (South)
Mad Rona’s Coffee Bar – 500 North Road (Gabriola Island)
Red’s Bakery – 101 Commercial St, Nanaimo (Downtown)
Vault Cafe – 499 Wallace St, Nanaimo (Downtown)
Drip Coffee – 2835 Departure Bay Road and 1515 Dufferin Crescent
La Isla Cafe – 250 Prideaux Street
Island-ish Lifestyle Boutique – 5299 B Rutherford Rd (North)
Brix & Mortar Socialhouse – 234 Commercial Street (Downtown)
SPECIALTY NANAIMO BARS
- Smokin’ George’s – Alternate between Maple Bacon Topped Nanaimo Bar & Dulche De Leche Nanaimo Bar, Unit 5- 4131 Mostar Rd. (North)
BOCCA Cafe – All Nanaimo Bars are Gluten Free – 7 kinds including Traditional, Peanut butter and salted caramel – 427 Fitzwilliam St. (Old City Quarter)
Hearthstone Artisan Bakery – Peanut Butter Crunch Nanaimo Bar – 115A 50 Tenth Street (South)
Red’s Bakery – Peanut Butter Nanaimo Bar – 101 Commercial St, Nanaimo (Downtown)
Nellie’s European Deli – Nut Free – 500-2980Rock City Road, Rock City Plaza
Mama Sue’s Granola Bars – Regular and Gluten Free, Island Roots Farmers’ Market & Cedar Farmers’ Market
Wolf Brewing Company – Mash (Brewery grain in place of the coconut) Nanaimo Bar. #2 940 Old Victoria Road
ORGANIC/ VEGAN/ RAW/ GLUTEN FREE NANAIMO BARS
- Mon Petit Choux – Wheat Free, 120 Commercial St. (Downtown)
BOCCA Cafe – Gluten Free, Gluten and Dairy Free options – 427 Fitzwilliam St. (Old City Quarter)
White Rabbit Coffee Co. – Gluten and vegan-friendly, 321 Selby Street
NANAIMO BAR ICE CREAM VARIATIONS
- Living Forest Cafe – Nanaimo Bar Milkshake (seasonal starting from June 25th), 6 Maki Rd. (South)
Waterfront Confections – come taste a delicious version of the Nanaimo Bar via GELATO. You can thank us later! (Downtown)
NANAIMO BAR CHEESECAKE
- Minnoz Restaurant – 11 Bastion St. (Downtown)
Modern Cafe – 221 Commercial St. (Downtown)
Longwood Brew Pub & Restaurant- 5775 Turner Rd. (North)
Red’s Bakery – 101 Commercial St, Nanaimo (Downtown)
NANAIMO BAR CAKES / CUPCAKES
- A Wee Cupcakery – 407 Fitzwilliam St. – Fridays & Saturdays & by chance (Old City Quarter)
Real Food Fast Cafe – Nanaimo Cake – 321 Wesley Street, Old City
NANAIMO BAR MACARON
- Burnt Honey – French Macaron: A classic Nanaimo bar in macaron form (gluten-free) – 96-3200 North Island Hwy (Country Club Centre)
NANAIMO BAR SPRING ROLL
- Noodlebox Nanaimo (Port Place) – 107-648 Terminal Avenue (Downtown) – call ahead for availability ( 778-441-4494)
NANAIMO BAR FUDGE
- Cabela’s – 6902 Island Highway (North)
Newfoundland to Nanaimo Souvenirs & Canadian Gifts – 90 Front Street (downtown)
NANAIMO BAR WAFFLE
- Waffle Magic – come try a tasty, fresh waffle topped with Nanaimo Bar fixin’s. Gluten Free Available (Old City Quarter)
NANAIMO BAR SWEETS
- Island-ish Lifestyle Boutique – Nanaimo Bar Lollipops. 5299 B Rutherford Rd (North)
NANAIMO BAR COCKTAILS/ALCOHOLIC DRINKS
- The Grand Hotel – Nanaimo Bar Cocktail, 4898 Rutherford Rd. (North)
The Nanaimo BAR – Nanaimo Bar Cocktail/Shot/Martini, #2, 75 Front Street (Downtown)
The Nanaimo Bar Porter – Vancouver Island Brewing, available at most liquor stores.
NANAIMO BAR TEA AND COFFEE
- BOCCA Cafe – Nanaimo Bar Latte, 427 Fitzwilliam St. (Old City Quarter)
Island-ish Lifestyle Boutique – Nanaimo Bar Tea made locally on Vancouver Island, 5299 B Rutherford Rd (North)
Newfoundland to Nanaimo Souvenirs & Canadian Gifts –Nanaimo Bar Loose Leaf Tea – 90 Front Street (downtown)
INEDIBLE VERSIONS
- House of Kiyo Salon & Spa – Nanaimo Bar Pedicure, #110-256 Wallace Street
Nanaimo Museum & Tourism Nanaimo Visitor Centre , 101 Gordon Street– Nanaimo Bar Recipe Tea Towels, Nanaimo Bar Socks, greeting cards, postcards – 100 Museum Way (Downtown)
Island-ish Lifestyle Boutique – Nanaimo Bar Soap, candles and mugs. Boxed Nanaimo Bars for gifting. 5299 B Rutherford Rd (North)
Serge & Sew Nanaimo Bar Table Runner Kit, 105 – 6750 n. Island Highway (North)
Newfoundland to Nanaimo Souvenirs & Canadian Gifts –Nanaimo Bath Bar, Aprons, Tea Towels, Post Cards, and T-shirts, decals, magnets – 90 Front Street (downtown)
Peacock Jewellers Studio & Boutique – Nanaimo Bar Jewellery – 427 Fitzwilliam St #100
