Modern Café

“The food was creative, fun, delicious, and made from local ingredients.”

Justin★★★

We booked a reservation in advance for Mother's Day brunch and got a nice table right by the window. The 2 Mom's each got a free mimosa (they could choose with or without alcohol). I had the Modern Hash with brisket and no mushrooms. The coloured hashbrowns were delicious, came with plenty of brisket (you could also choose duck or pulled pork) and eggs cooked well. My wife and mother in-law had the Mt Washington Benny which had tomato jam, avocado, brown butter hollandaise on mini waffles. They both enjoyed it. My daughter's each had the Orange Cream French Toast which was pretty sad. A cou

zee★★★

The experience in general meh was but the food in particular was.. not good. Crab dip was fishy in an unpleasant way and the “green goddess” salad was not what a typical green goddess salad is supposed to be and also tasted off somehow? They use a craft/local vodka in their Caesar’s and only serve it as a double so it overpowers and throws the cocktail off balance. Service was ok but rushed on a slow day.

Ali Parekh★★★★★

An absolute must-visit in downtown Nanaimo! Housed in a stunning 115+ year old heritage building, this place blends rich history with a genuinely modern dining experience. We came back twice for dinner in just three days — that says it all. The Lavender Gin Fizz is a must if you enjoy gin, and the Modern Bowl is equally impressive. The menu is so good, I'd love to work my way through every single dish! Warm, welcoming, and full of character — Modern Cafe is a downtown Nanaimo treasure worth every visit.

Sangeeth★★★★★

We visited Modern Cafe in Nanaimo during the Valentine’s long weekend. While almost all the surrounding restaurants were fully booked and reserved, this cafe was open and accepting walk-in visitors. Even though it was a very busy evening, we managed to get a seat within five minutes. One thing I absolutely loved was the staff – they were super friendly! Despite the busy evening, everyone served with energy, smiles, and genuine friendliness, which made the experience even more enjoyable. The food was delicious, and the portions were more than enough. We ordered 3–4 dishes and enjoyed every bi