The Courtney Room

About Us

Gather at the bar for fresh-shucked oysters, unwind with friends over sharing plates in the lower brasserie, or savour an elevated experience in the upstairs dining room with impeccably prepared local seafood, steak and fine wine.

Old world meets new at The Courtney Room, Victoria’s newest dining destination. As an extension of The Magnolia Hotel & Spa, The Courtney Room is an elegant space providing genuine hospitality. Whether you’re here for brunch, happy hour or celebrating a special occasion, we will ensure you have a memorable experience!

The Bar

“Diverse and approachable, a little something for everyone” is how sommelier Anna Romeyn Ion describes the wine program at The Courtney Room.

Anna and Food & Beverage Manager Adrian Gatt have curated a wine list that represents the best of varietals and regions. British Columbia wines will be highlighted, several from Vancouver & the Gulf Islands. French wines will also be well represented.

Look for the best in spirits, beer and cider, including a selection from Vancouver Island. The cocktail program will include the classics as well as some house originals.

The Food

Chef de Cuisine Chris Klassen, along with opening Chef Sam Harris, set the bar for Victoria’s flourishing culinary scene at Agrius when it was listed in Air Canada enRoute Magazine’s 2016 Best New Restaurants top 10, and they have done it again 2018 when The Courtney Room was honoured as the #10 Best New Restaurant in Canada!

The Courtney Room’s menu combines the finest ingredients from the land and sea, with a classic French twist. “We reflect the idea of land and sea through our charcuterie” says Chef Klassen, “using a variety of meats and cuts from local producers and fish from our local waters.” Our partnership with local farmers allows us to the highlight the local bounty from Vancouver Island.

Chef Klassen has held positions at Victoria restaurant Café Brio, and Roux at the Landau in London, England. In The Courtney Room, Chef Klassen combines his love for fine dining with his passion for seasonal and local organic produce.

The Story

Born of the desire to continue the experience of timeless hospitality embodied by the award-winning Magnolia Hotel & Spa, The Courtney Room delights locals and visitors alike with delicious local cuisine and exemplary service.

Food is ingredient-driven, using local seasonal products wherever possible. From foragers to produce, seafood to spirits, The Courtney Room is proud to partner with many local suppliers, including:

Umi Nami Farm • Haliburton Farms • Saanich Organics • Lance Staples – wild food forager • Finest at Sea • Outlandish Shellfish Guild • Albion Fisheries • Two Rivers Meats • Parry Bay Sheep Farm • Unsworth Vineyards • Sea Star Vineyards • Sheringham Distillery • Sea Cider Farm & Cidherhouse • Hoyne Brewing Company • Tofino Brewing Co

The Room

Taking cues from the old grand dame hotels of Paris, Sharon Bortolotto of BBA Design was inspired by the classic French bistro. The Courtney Room boasts high ceilings, and is layered with elements of Art Nouveau to create a casually elegant ambience. Focal features include commissioned artwork by Blu Smith in an abstract expressionist style and a central black granite bar framed between two paneled wood columns with white marble chevron detail – a place to gather and be seen.

A classically inspired tiled entrance and chevron patterned wood floor lead to brasserie style velvet banquette seating and the main bar – clad with an elegant gray marble showcasing a custom glass oyster station and illuminated back bar shelves.

Upstairs at The Courtney Room provides an elevated dining experience in a carpeted space with white tablecloths, and a glassed-in wine room. Vintage style lighting, leather touches, brass accents, and bronze beaded curtains add layers of elegance, whilst the smoky grey/blues, taupe and elegant earthen hues continue the feel and flow of the hotel’s colour palette throughout the restaurant. Reservations are recommended.