Aura Waterfront Restaurant + Patio

Someone from this business manages this listing.

#23 of 707 Restaurants in Victoria$$$$, International, Fusion, Vegetarian friendly

+1 250-414-6739+ Add website

Write a Review

Hours

Sun

7:00 AM - 11:15 AM12:00 PM - 2:30 PM3:30 PM - 10:00 PM

Mon

7:00 AM - 11:15 AM12:00 PM - 2:30 PM3:30 PM - 10:00 PM

Tue

7:00 AM - 11:15 AM12:00 PM - 2:30 PM3:30 PM - 10:00 PM

Wed

7:00 AM - 11:15 AM12:00 PM - 2:30 PM3:30 PM - 10:00 PM

Thu

7:00 AM - 11:15 AM12:00 PM - 2:30 PM3:30 PM - 10:00 PM

Fri

7:00 AM - 11:15 AM12:00 PM - 2:30 PM3:30 PM - 10:00 PM

Sat

7:00 AM - 11:15 AM12:00 PM - 2:30 PM3:30 PM - 10:00 PM

Improve this listing

What is Travelers’ Choice?

Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.

Ratings and reviews

4.5

747 reviews

#23 of 707 Restaurants in Victoria

RATINGS

Food

Service

Value

Atmosphere

Details

Someone from this business manages this listing.

Learn More

PRICE RANGE

$15.00 – $25.00

CUISINES

International, Fusion

Special Diets

Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options

meals, features

Location and contact

680 Montreal St Located at Inn at Laurel Point Hotel, Victoria, British Columbia V8V 1Z8 Canada

James Bay

+1 250-414-6739

Improve this listing

Can a vegan person get a good meal at this restaurant?

Yes

Unsure

Details

Manage this business?

About

Aura Waterfront Restaurant + Patio is a globally-inspired “small plates” restaurant set against the inspiring backdrop of Victoria’s renowned Inner Harbour.

PRICE RANGE

$15.00 – $25.00

CUISINES

International, Fusion

Special Diets

Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options

Meals

Drinks

FEATURES

Wine and Beer, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service, Waterfront, Non-smoking restaurants, Gift Cards Available

Contribute

Write a review

Upload a photo

Ask a question

4.5

747 reviews

Excellent

407

Very good

194

Average

Poor

Terrible

GaryReg

Victoria509 contributions

Back again after COVID-19

Jul 2020 • none

Back again after COVID-19 closure. We couldn’t get a reservation until Monday, having waited too long to make it. We sat on the patio and had a bottle of wine (on special $40) and the 3-Cheese plate served with brie, aged cheddar and blue cheese, crackers, fruit bread and jam relish. All good but a bit pricey at $22. We then moved inside and ordered Karaage (Japanese) Fried Chicken $13 for my Sweetie, and I had a Five-Spice Bacon Burger, $14 with aged Cheddar on a Brioche bun. We also shared the Gnocchi dish which was a very small serving for $12. Both the Chicken and Burger were excellent. They had a nice dark and mild (3.8% abv) Riot brewing, “Working Class Hero” Ale from Chemainus $7/ glass which went really well with the burger. Aura continues to be one of our favourite restaurants in Victoria.

Written July 1, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

janisg2013

Thank you so much for joining us! We missed our guests so much! So great to see you toured through a few of our small plates, I love to see people try a few different flavours as they dine. We love the Dark Mild too, and Riot Brewing is such a great producer. Hope to see you again soon!

Written July 31, 2020

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Jonathan C

Victoria662 contributions

Every dish is packed with flavour!

Feb 2020 • friends

Aura was recently relaunched as part of the renovations at the Laurel Point Inn. The menu has been revamped, and it is extremely intriguing. There are no basic dishes, as every item has some sort of interesting twist. We visited for brunch, and had a fantastic corner table with views of the waterway. The plates are cheaper, and smaller, and they are meant to encourage sharing and experimentation. Everything we ordered was quite tasty, but the standouts were the Seafood Benny and the Spam Sandwich, both of which were rich with unusual flavours. I definitely recommend a visit to Aura!

Written February 17, 2020

Jim S

Victoria19 contributions

Dinner, then brunch

Jan 2021 • couples

Taste, service, location and view -- such a different menu, almost tapas-like, smaller portions and the opportunity to try many things. Service was exceptional, the view of Victoria's perfect inner harbour topped it off, part of a staycation at Inn at Laurel Point. Brunch was excellent, so many tastes and flavors. Highly, highly recommend. Then go for a walk along the water.

Written January 11, 2021

Pennymc1979

Alameda2 contributions

Brunch at Aura

Mar 2021 • none

We had a very nice table in a semi private room for our family. Brunch items were limited and very small compared to regular breakfast menu and brunch menu very limited. When I made reservation I did not realize whole breakfast menu would not be available. Service okay but not outstanding.

Written March 21, 2021

Janis G

Thank you for your feedback, and I'm sorry to hear that you weren't as happy as you could have been. The brunch menu is quite different than our breakfast menu, as it is part of our small plates program and breakfast is a more traditional size. It is a good reminder to ensure that we are communicating this both at the time of taking a reservation and we seat you, and I will share this with my team to be more proactive about this. The Cove room is a lovely spot, it's nice to have a bit of your "own" space in a restaurant and having a water view is definitely a bonus!

Written March 24, 2021

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

atravelnut19

Victoria49 contributions

Meh...Underwhelmed

Feb 2020 • none

Had lunch in the newly renovated Aura last Friday. I must say the overall experience was underwhelming. The view is certainly gorgeous with a panorama vista of the Victoria Inner Harbour but I feel they missed the mark with the renovations. The space is very modern no doubt but in my opinion lacks warmth and charm. Our servers were pleasant and attentive and the food served in the small plate style completely fine but when all was said and done I just felt underwhelmed. I don't think I would return for another try....overall a missed opportunity in such a lovely location:(

Written February 23, 2020

janisg2013

Thank you for coming in to try Aura's new menu style, I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed the service and food. It is disappointing to hear that the renovations outweighed the positives on your dining experience, but I thank you for your feedback and we will take this into consideration as we continue to settle into our space.

Written February 24, 2020

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

BobC

Victoria16 contributions

We had supper here on New

Jan 2020 • none

We had supper here on New Years Eve. unbeknownst to us they made some significant changes in their menu after they reopened in September and it’ switch ed to what I would best describe as an Asian fusion menu. We ordered five plates to be shared between us. One arrived at room temperature and another arrived at slightly above that. This problem was quickly rectified by the serving staff but it took away from the pleasure of eating there. What we discovered is we are not big fans of Asian fusion cooking but if you are you might enjoy the experience. Make sure you ask for a seat facing the inner harbor!

Written January 11, 2020

janisg2013

I'm sorry to hear that you were not aware of the changes that we have made upon re-opening Aura and that we weren't quite what you were looking for. We really appreciate your feedback and do our best to ensure that we are consistently informing all our guests of our new style of service. I'm glad that the view was a positive point for you, it really is beautiful!

Written January 14, 2020

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Caroline M

Vancouver Island5 contributions

Underwhelmed

Mar 2021 • couples

The view is lovely. We were not impressed with the small plate limited selection for brunch or the high prices for sad presentation . Sadly our service was terrible. Our server disappeared after bringing the bill which we told her we needed the machine for and no offers of more coffee, we had 1 top up on coffee the entire time. The restaurant was not busy, so she doesn't get that excuse. She totally forgot about us. After about 20 min we got up to leave and try to find somewhere to pay our bill. Too many other good restaurants in Victoria to eat at to ever set foot in there again.

Written March 20, 2021

Janis G

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback, and I’m so sorry to hear of your dissatisfaction. In all honesty, we rarely receive negative feedback on menu or service, and it does sit heavily on us to hear when we’ve missed the mark, which we clearly did with you. If you would like to share anything further with me, please feel welcome to contact me on janis.goard@laurelpoint.com as we take your comments seriously and always wish to learn from our mistakes.

Written March 21, 2021

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

TomTom676

White Rock30 contributions

Tiny portions, Poor Service

Sep 2020 • friends

We went with a large group seated at 2 tables for covid protocol. The view is amazing and the staff was very friendly. The food was very nicely presented and full of flavour, bit was quite taken aback with the tiny tiny portion sizes. The entrees were the size of a small appetizer. We felt that for the price, there the portions should have been larger. We were left hungry. Also our drinks took about 20 min to arrive, while the other table received theirs much sooner. Upon receiving our entrees, 3 of us received our food, whe one of us had to wait at least 10 min longer. Not very impressed. Will not be returning

Written September 3, 2020

janisg2013

Thank you for your comments, and I'm so sorry to hear that our restaurant style wasn't clearly described to you when you arrived. We have moved away from entrees and appetizers which we did serve prior to the renovation, and upon reopening launched a small plates restaurant concept. As part of this, dishes arrive in waves to the table (rather than as structured courses). The intention is to give our guests the ability to sample a variety of different dishes, and to encourage interaction. Thank you for mentioning the friendliness of the staff and flavours of the food, and again, my apologies for the miss on an explanation of our restaurant concept.

Written September 4, 2020

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Ryan Ashmead

Victoria32 contributions

Delicious share plates, good value

Jan 2020 • none

We were keen to try this restaurant after hearing bout the renovations and the new chef. I'm sure glad that we did! The shareable dishes were outstanding, a fusion of cultural favourites. We enjoyed deep fried sushi, a cashew scotch egg, Gnocchi, and a delicious prawn and salmon dish. High marks to the chef. We would go back. As for the setting, we had an expansive view of the Victoria harbour, from a window over the waters edge. My only comment would be the dark carpet and brown chairs had a somber feel, though this may brighten during the day. Thank you to Simon for the warm service.

Written January 18, 2020

janisg2013

Thanks so much for your feedback, Ryan! I'm so glad to hear that you enjoyed all the flavours you tried, it sounds like you had some of our favourites. We have passed your comments about Simon's service on to him, thank you for recognising him! Hope to see you again soon.

Written February 24, 2020

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Hel D

126 contributions

Disapointing

Mar 2021 • couples

We thought that it was going to be an amazing restaurant, but it was really disapointing. Too snobby for its own good. Not much choice of meals, and frankly for the price you would espect better than "fried fish" and "squash soup" mouthful size. After the excellent meals we had in other restaurants in Victoria, this one was simply too expensive for what we got. And of course, the desserts had to be strange combination of flavours, such as this one, directly out of an Indian bazare or something.

Written March 5, 2021

Janis G

Thank you for your feedback, and I’m sorry to hear our small plates style and flavours weren’t to your liking. We do have a smaller than usual menu at the moment; due to covid and slower business volumes, we are doing our best to minimize waste and keep what we have on offer as fresh and vibrant as possible. As things loosen up we will definitely be expanding our offerings and we look forward to those times. I am disappointed that you found us snobby and I truly apologize that you feel this way. Our goal is for people to feel relaxed, at ease and at home in our midst. If you would like to provide any other feedback, please feel welcome to contact me on janis.goard@laurelpoint.com.

Written March 7, 2021

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

AbbyEmptyNesters

Abbotsford244 contributions

Good Food in a Lovely Location

Aug 2021 • couples

My partner and I were joined by another couple to dine at Aura on a clear but breezy Summer evening. As it looked a little cool on the patio, we chose to sit at a window-side table with a view of the water. Service was very good, the waiter went out of his way to ensure that my partners allergy to Dairy was dealt with in a safe manner. This is very much like a Tapa experience, with small shared plates of beautifully presented and very tasty food. The selection was broad enough to satisfy everyone's tastes. Desserts were like the dinner - small but very flavourful. Overall a very nice dining experience. Anytime you can spend 2-1/2 hours over a meal with friends is a gift in these times. Well worth a try, and we would go back.

Written August 22, 2021

operalover939

Toronto2965 contributions

Exquisite lunch

Feb 2020 • none

The emphasis in Aura is on quality rather than quantity, and the quality is very high indeed. The squash soup is superb, as is the seacuterie. For those who want some carbohydrates, the focaccia should not be missed. The desserts are small — my wife and I shared two — and very tasty. The service is excellent, the view over the Inner Harbour unexcelled. Don’t expect low prices here; do expect a great meal.

Written February 13, 2020

janisg2013

Thank you for your amazing review of our small plates menu! So glad you took advantage of dessert as well- this is maybe my favorite part of small plates, being able to share and try more than one option!

Written February 15, 2020

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Peter B

Vaerloese1 contribution

Nice food but “give us your money and be gone atmosphere”

Aug 2023 • family

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.

Written August 2, 2023

IJN

1 contribution

Small plates were indeed very very small

Jan 2020 • none

We were quite excited to try our Auras new menu but in honesty we came away very disappointed. Staff were friendly but food and menu let them down. Small plates were very small and not particularly amazing with the variety of flavours that a restaurant would have to achieve to pull off such a menu. Dishes were very small and had to order many more than initially expected (which may be their business plan to make money perhaps?) but portions were too small to even share. IF the plates were busting with flavour I would have forgiven them. I much preferred their old style of menu. Not sure I will return. Shame as location and staff were great.

Written January 12, 2020

janisg2013

Thank you for coming in to try our new menu! As you mention, the plates are quite small and not all are meant to be shared. Some definitely can be, however sharing isn't the primary intention of this menu and I apologize if our menu style was not clearly communicated to you. We do intend for multiple dishes to be ordered and our staff are tasked with guiding our guests through that to ensure the style of service and quantities of food are clear. I hope you will come back again to give us another try- if small plates are not what you are looking for we do offer a traditionally sized breakfast service with those same great views and service, or if you wanted to try the small plates style at a different time we do small plates lunch on weekdays, small plates brunch on weekends, and small plates for happy hour every day.

Written January 14, 2020

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

NicoB

Calgary13 contributions

Best restaurant in Canada

Aug 2020 • none

It's my own opinion, but this is the best meal I had in three years in Canada, for the same price as a standard diner in Calgary or Vancouver. Delicious food: oysters (I usually don't eat), salmon, prawns, duck, etc. The dessert was incredible ! A mix of chocolate and mandarine: only the greatest pastry cooks are able to do this !

Written August 19, 2020

janisg2013

Thank you so much for your amazing comments! I'm so glad to hear you were able to join us, and had such a great experience. Our pastry chef and her team are incredible, as is our entire culinary team. We'll hope to see you back again so you can try everything else!

Written August 20, 2020

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

…

Showing results 1-15 of 732

As Featured In