Come along as I hit the Nanaimo Bar Trail in search of the best Nanaimo Bar in Nanaimo.
When it comes to Canadian cuisine, sweet treats are aplenty. From pancakes covered in maple syrup to Timbits and sugar pie, Canada loves its sugary snacks and desserts. Arguably, there are none more popular than butter tarts in the east and Nanaimo bars in the west…with Winnipeg somewhat divided.
On a recent trip to Vancouver Island, I set out to better understand what Nanaimo bars are and how they came to be. Let’s dig into the history and find out where the best Nanaimo bars in Nanaimo are.
CHECK HERE Compare prices on flights to British Columbia, Canada with SkyscannerWhat is a Nanaimo Bar?
Although I grew up in Canada’s arctic, I was very familiar with Nanaimo bars. They were a frequent treat my mother would make, especially around Christmas time. It never occurred to me that this was likely due to its readily available ingredients in a place where getting anything fresh was not always an option.
Nanaimo bars are made up of three layers; a wafer base consisting of crushed nuts and coconut, a custard middle, and a chocolate ganache topping. No baking is required in making these treats.
There are countless variations out there, especially with the filling. My mother would often make a mint filling and dye it green for effect. All of this is delicious but none of this screams West Coast to me. To better understand its origins, I went straight to the source.
Nanaimo Bar Origins
From Vancouver, the seaside town of Nanaimo is just an hour and 40-minute ferry ride across the Georgia Straight. Known as the “Harbor City“, Nanaimo’s past is filled with fur trading, coal mining, and lumber. So how exactly did it get a dessert named after it?
Inside The Nanaimo Museum, there’s a small but great display dedicated to the Nanaimo bar. Turns out, the first recipe representing today’s Nanaimo bar in print is from the 1952 edition of the Woman’s Auxiliary of the Nanaimo Hospital Cookbook. It was simply called “Chocolate Square.“
A year later, this recipe was published in Vancouver‘s Edith Adams Cookbook and called “Nanaimo bar.“ This is the first known publication under the now infamous name. This publication and the original recipe is on display at the museum.
That all said, unconfirmed origins go much deeper. Stories of miners taking these treats to work and even sailors packing them across the Atlantic on steamships are out there. Still, there is no disputing that the city put the treat on the map.
The Nanaimo Bar Trail
Speaking of maps, Tourism Nanaimo makes searching for the best Nanaimo bar in Nanaimo easy with their Nanaimo bar Trail.
This listing includes over 30 locations in the region and is broken down into categories. These include speciality fillings and flavours, ice cream, and deep-fried. You can even find organic, vegan, and gluten-free options as well as Nanaimo bar influenced cocktails and cakes.
So, Where’s the Best Nanaimo Bar in Nanaimo?
For this visit, I stuck to the traditional recipe. This limited my search down to 10 locations. To ensure I made my 5 PM ferry sailing (and to keep my waistline in consideration) I narrowed the search down to the top ratings found on Yelp and TripAdvisor.
Bocca Café
This had me first visit Bocca Café which is located in the unique Old City Quarter, somewhere I have never visited or knew existed in all my years of passing through town. Bonus points on location.
Inside this small café, I was welcomed by a local musician playing the guitar and a display case filled with a variety of bars. Above that case, an award for the best Nanaimo bar in Nanaimo proudly on display. Off to a good start.
I ordered a coffee and the original bar before taking a seat and tucking in.
Before I took my first bite, I couldn’t help but overhear a couple at the table next to me complaining about how sweet their bar was. They weren’t wrong. Still, I enjoyed it with a side of coffee and a short set of acoustic songs.
Serious Coffee
My next stop was Serious Coffee, a Vancouver Island coffee chain with two locations in town. I chose the one next to the city museum and took the assumption that they get their bars from the same kitchen. Perhaps after having a sugar overload at Bocca Café, I found Serious Coffee‘s bar not sweet enough if that’s even possible. Still, they have great dark roast coffee and is an accessible option no matter where you are on the island.
The White Rabbit Coffee Co. – A Nanaimo Bar Stop Worth the Detour (Updated for 2026)
On my most recent trip to Vancouver Island — part of an EV road trip up the Sunshine Coast before hopping the ferry across — I decided to revisit the Nanaimo Bar Trail and check out a couple of spots I had missed on my previous visit. Two places kept popping up in recommendations: The White Rabbit Coffee Co. and The Vault Café. Both looked incredibly unique online, and as someone determined to track down the best Nanaimo bars in Nanaimo, they were impossible to ignore.
Located inside Nanaimo’s historic old railway station, The White Rabbit Coffee Co. is one of the most memorable café spaces I’ve visited on Vancouver Island. The building itself dates back to the early 1900s when Nanaimo was a key hub for Vancouver Island’s coal and railway industries. Today, the restored station houses a cozy café filled with vintage charm, local art, and the unmistakable smell of fresh espresso.
But what really makes the place stand out — and what initially caught my attention — is what’s happening outside.
Yes, there are literal white rabbits grazing on the lawn in front of the café.
At first I assumed it was some sort of clever branding stunt tied to the café’s name. But when I asked the barista about it, he laughed and insisted they weren’t planted there intentionally. Apparently the rabbits simply made themselves at home and have become a sort of unofficial mascot for the café.
Even funnier, the café’s sister restaurant nearby is called The Black Rabbit, and sure enough, there was a black rabbit grazing outside there as well.
Coincidence? The barista swore it was.
Inside, The White Rabbit serves excellent coffee, pastries, and — most importantly for my purposes — their take on the iconic Nanaimo dessert. If you’re searching for where to get Nanaimo bars in Nanaimo while enjoying one of the most unique café settings in the city, this is a fantastic stop.
The relaxed atmosphere also makes it a great place to take a break if you’re exploring downtown Nanaimo or following the full Nanaimo Bar Trail.
The Vault Café – Nanaimo Bars Inside a Historic Bank (Updated for 2026)
Another stop I was excited to check out on this return visit was The Vault Café.
As the name suggests, the café is located inside a former bank building in downtown Nanaimo, and yes — the original bank vault is still part of the space. The building once housed the Bank of Nova Scotia in the early 20th century, and today the preserved vault door and historic architecture give the café a character you simply won’t find anywhere else.
You can learn more about the café on The Vault Café Nanaimo website.
Walking inside feels like stepping into a piece of Nanaimo history. High ceilings, exposed brick, vintage fixtures, and the massive steel vault door create a unique atmosphere that blends heritage architecture with modern café culture.
Of course, I wasn’t just here for the ambiance. I was still on the hunt for more contenders for the best Nanaimo bars in Nanaimo.
The Vault doesn’t disappoint. Their version of the classic dessert sticks closely to tradition, with the familiar three layers that define the treat:
- A chocolate and coconut crumb base
- A creamy custard butter filling
- A rich chocolate topping
At The Vault, the focus is less on novelty flavors and more on doing the classic version extremely well. The result is a rich, balanced dessert that’s perfect alongside a cappuccino.
If you’re exploring downtown and wondering where to buy Nanaimo bars, The Vault is an easy addition to your itinerary.
Hearthstone Artisan Bakery
My last stop was Hearthstone Artisan Bakery. Now, being a no-bake recipe I was sceptical about going to a bakery to get Nanaimo bars. The scepticism washed away on the first bite. Like Goldilocks searching for the perfect porridge, the combination of Heathstone’s custard, crumb base, and the chocolate topping was just right. Also, the peanut butter Nanaimo bar sold me even though I was seeking out the original.
The Best Nanamio Bar in Nanimo – TBC
Full up and riding a sugar high, I set sail satisfied that I found the best Nanaimo bar in Nanaimo. So much so that I took a dozen more home with me to share with friends.
Still, there are plenty of places on the Nanaimo Bar Trail left off my list. This made me skeptical. Had I really found the best Nanaimo bar in Nanaimo?
With that in mind, I will happily continue the search as I pass through Nanaimo in the future and I will update this post accordingly. Until then, if you want to make Nanaimo bars at home, here is the OG recipe!
The Official Nanaimo Bar Recipe
The following is from the Nanaimo Tourism website. It was voted on by locals through a contest in 1985 to determine the definitive and “official” recipe. The winner was Joyce Hardcastle and this is her recipe.
BOTTOM LAYER
½ cup unsalted butter (European style cultured)
¼ cup sugar
5 tbsp. cocoa
1 egg beaten
1 ¾ cups graham wafer crumbs
½ cup finely chopped almonds
1 cup coconut
Melt first three ingredients in top of a double boiler.
Add egg and stir to cook and thicken.
Remove from heat. Stir in crumbs, coconut and nuts.
Press firmly into an ungreased 8″x8″ pan.
MIDDLE LAYER
½ cup unsalted butter
2 tbsp. 2 tbsp. and 2 tsp. cream
vanilla custard powder ½ cup unsalted butter
2 cups icing sugar
Cream butter, cream, custard powder and icing sugar together well.
Beat until light. Spread over bottom layer.
TOP LAYER
4 squares semi-sweet chocolate (1 oz. each)
2 tbsp. unsalted butter
Melt chocolate and butter over low heat.
Cool. When cool, but still liquid, pour over second layer and chill in refrigerator.
`Creative Flavours Along the Nanaimo Bar Trail (Updated for 2026)
One of the reasons the trail is so much fun is that many cafés have created their own spin on the classic dessert.
During this latest visit I noticed several creative variations appearing around the city, including flavors like:
- Nanaimo bars mint
- Peanut butter Nanaimo bars
- Espresso Nanaimo bars
- Vegan Nanaimo bars
- Keto Nanaimo Bar options
The mint Nanaimo Bar version in particular has become surprisingly popular. The refreshing mint layer pairs nicely with the rich chocolate topping and custard center, creating a dessert that feels slightly lighter than the traditional version.
I was also surprised to see a few bakeries experimenting with a Keto Nanaimo Bar, designed for those following low-carb or ketogenic diets. While the traditional Nanaimo bar recipe is definitely indulgent, these keto versions typically swap sugar for low-carb sweeteners and replace the crumb base with almond flour or other keto-friendly ingredients. The result is a Keto Nanaimo Bar that still delivers the familiar chocolate and custard flavor while being much lower in carbohydrates.
Trying these creative twists is part of what makes following the Nanaimo Bar Trail such a fun foodie adventure. It’s not just about finding the original — it’s about seeing how local bakeries continue reinventing a classic Canadian dessert, whether that means experimenting with Nanaimo bars mint, vegan options, or even a surprisingly good Keto Nanaimo Bar.
If you’re making a trip out of exploring the Nanaimo Bar Trail, consider basing yourself just up the coast in Parksville—I shared my stay at the Bayside Resort Parksville, which offers a great central location for exploring this part of Vancouver Island.
What are your
thoughts on where to find the Best Nanaimo Bar in Nanaimo?
For more reviews from Canada and beyond see HERE.
