Skip to content 
We recently took a weekend trip to Salt Spring Island, located in the southern Gulf Islands and just a 1.5 hour ferry ride from Tsawwassen. If the direct ferry is not available, you also have the option of transferring at Swartz Bay terminal in Victoria. We were really impressed by the food while we were there! Our stay was short and we didn’t have enough time to explore the entire island, but here are some highlights from our trip!
Click here for more posts detailing our island adventures in British Columbia.
KITCHEN KODAMA AT THE FOOD GARDEN
One of our favourite meals of the entire trip was at the Kitchen Kodama food truck! It’s run by a lively husband and wife team. We stumbled upon the food truck while hunting for food at the Food Garden, a collection of food trucks in the main Ganges area of Salt Spring Island. I was immediately drawn in by the sizzling grill and amazing aromas of the okonomiyaki pancakes. I had tried Osaka style okonomiyaki (Japanese pancake) before, but never the Hiroshima version which includes yakiudon. I have to say I loved the Hiroshima style!
Location: 105 Rainbow Rd, Salt Spring Island, BC V8K 2V5. Click here for the map.
TREE HOUSE CAFE
We dined at the Tree House Café several times during our trip at the request of my boyfriend. He loved the food here! The restaurant is built around a tree with lots of open air. There were cute little birds flying in and out of the restaurant! It really feels like you’re dining in a tree house. We enjoyed their traditional breakfast, as well as the Salmon Sandwich.
Location: 106 Purvis Ln, Salt Spring Island, BC V8K 2S5. Click here for the map.
SEASIDE RESTAURANT
For a nicer meal with an amazing view, I’d recommend Seaside Restaurant. We wanted a more elevated dining experience for dinner one night and chose this restaurant for its fresh seafood and Vesuvius Bay location. We both enjoyed the Grilled Halibut, served with roast potatoes on rice and fresh veggies.
Location: 795 Vesuvius Bay Rd, Salt Spring Island, BC V8K 1L6. Click here for the map.
SWITCHBOARD CAFE
Switchboard Café was our go-to spot for coffee and tea in the mornings. According to Google reviews, this café serves some of the best coffee on Salt Spring Island! I really enjoyed their dairy-free lattes and my boyfriend indulged daily in their assortment of vegan baked goods.
Location: 122 Hereford Ave, Salt Spring Island, BC V8K 2T4. Click here for the map.
FARMERS MARKETS
Salt Spring Island has some great farmers markets. One of the highlights of the trip was our visit to the Salt Spring Island Saturday Market, which typically runs runs every Saturday from Easter weekend to the last weekend of October. We enjoyed food from several stalls, including Gingery Beet Soup from Salt Spring Gaia Foods, handmade dumplings from Rainbow Potstickers and vegan treats from Salt Spring Vital Kitchen. We would have loved to check out the Salt Spring Tuesday Farmers Market as well, but unfortunately we left on a Monday long weekend.
Click here for the map.
RUCKLE PROVINCIAL PARK
We went for a scenic walk around Ruckle Provincial Park with beautiful views of the ocean. There are many different paths you can take, we opted for the 1 hour long walk. The dog loved it too! (Note that dogs must be leashed at all times)
Location: Beaver Point Rd, Salt Spring Island, BC V8K 1W3. Click here for the map.
