I read an earlier review from a fellow Seattleite who griped about the lack of wifi here, and my first thought was "Sweet, no laptops hogging all the tables!" (I view this all-too-common situation as one of the downsides to the shift away from working at the office. I'm am staunchly in favor of working from home, but not from the cafe. I have spoken. /grumpy old man rant) The weather was shite outside, so I went with a cozy salted caramel latte and a cheddar & sundried tomato scone. Both were fab. The service was prompt and pleasant, and the music (not something I typically notice) is groovy enough that I am loath to leave. I don't come to Victoria often, but I hope this place is still here next time. read more

Tre Fantastico - Three sips in on a delicious salted caramel latte. Cheddar & sundried tomato scone (also great) in the background. - Cafes Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

See all

Disappointing experience at Tre fantastic, located just outside the Paradise Hotel and Spa. What should have been a straightforward morning coffee run turned into an exercise in frustration due to their surprisingly rigid policies and poor quality. The most baffling issue is their refusal to customize drinks. When ordering their smallest coffee, I was informed it automatically comes with two espresso shots. When I politely asked for a single shot instead, the staff flat-out refused, stating it was two shots or nothing unless I upgraded to a large size. Forcing customers into a higher caffeine content and a more expensive tier just because of a fixed-recipe policy is customer-hostile and strange. Unfortunately, the coffee itself doesn't justify the stubbornness. The brew is very basic, lacking any depth or distinct flavor profile, and simply not worth the money they charge. To top it off, the food was just as disappointing; the croissants were clearly old, stale, and unpleasantly hard. Skipping this spot and finding a cafe with better quality and a bit of flexibility for its customers is strongly recommended. read more

Needed to get some work done and some caffeine, so we walked on over to Tre Fantastico. It has 2 entrances, one from the street and one from the lobby of a hotel. It's a tiny spot and only has a few tables and they were all taken. The hotel lobby had cozy couches and a fire pit, so we ordered our coffees and sat in the lobby. As for Staff, they weren't rude, but weren't friendly either. My cappuccino was good and I got my work done. read more

Tre Fantastico - Nice spot to sip my cappuccino - Cafes Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

**NO WIFI HERE** Proper espresso shop just a stones throw away from downtown. Clientele seemed mainly local, professional, hipster.. in a word: douch-ey. Off-putting sign forbidding computers..pretty sure I'm not disturbing anyone checking e-mails and sipping on my latte. For these prices, I expect to be able to get on wifi--especially as a tourist with no cell service in Canada. Standard coffee-shop douche snobs begrudgingly taking orders. I'm from Seattle, I get it. The espresso was actually OK. Pretty run-of-the-mill as far as Seattle standards go, but the roast was very smooth (not over roasted and bitter) and it was a solid latte. Final Thought: the place is too hipster and too edgy for me. Not only is it a douche move to disallow laptops, but to not offer wifi this close to hotels and bed and breakfasts really leaves me scratching my head...unless this is all part of their master plan to keep the local businessmen/retirees/hipster douche bags happy and keep the tourists away. Solid espresso option in Victoria, but if you're looking to hop on some wifi to plan your day in Victoria, head somewhere else. read more

Tre Fantastico - two cups of coffee on a table - Cafes Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

Meh... super tight spot with no air circulation. Ordered small latte to go. Mediocre at best. Of the 4 coffee shops we have visited on this trip Tre was the only one we would not come back to. Hey Happy was my favorite, Township in Oak Bay Area was my husbands. Both of those options would not leave you disappointed. read more

No free drip coffee refills! They give you attitude if you bother asking! Won't be back, or if I do: I will bring my own coffee in a flask!

I was very happy to see another Fantastico open up closer to downtown, Fantastico is one of a group of great espresso cafes in Victoria, such as Discovery and Habit. But very happy turned to thrilled when I discovered they are also serving my favourite croissants and baguettes from fol epi, and my favourite local beer: Driftwood Ale. I've visited Tre Fantastico several days a week for coffee since they opened and the latte, croissants and cookies have been great, as expected. But we recently went in for beer and snacks hoping we'd found a new place for after-work drinks and weren't disappointed! I had the Driftwood Ale, my friends had the Oatmeal Stout and the Arctic Ale, all were good. What surprised us was the quality of the cheese and charcuterie plate; a great selection, pleasingly presented, and for a reasonable price! One of the things that is becoming a pet peeve of mine is how many restaurants have taken cheese and charcuterie, something that is basically a rustic shepherd's meal, and turned it into a trendy overpriced and under portioned appetizer. Not so at Tre Fantastico where we were given generous portion sizes and a reasonable price. We'll be back for many more lattes and ales! read more

Tre Fantastico - This is the small plate, I think it was $6. - Cafes Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

Been tryin to give this spot a chance to redeem itself since I stay at the hotel often for business​, but guess what? Every time another let down! First off, the folks working here are...one might say...."customer-service-challenged." Ignoring people standing at the till while they talk about last nights excursions, these aren't your "friendly" neighbourhood baristas (think more annoyed wannabe hipsters). Worst interaction I've seen had to be the dumping of their tip jar onto the counter while they counted it in front of customers. Not to mention the SCALDING HOT coffee in a to-go cup doesn't come with a sleeve. Oh, and when I asked I why no sleeves, I was told the "owner doesn't like them". Instead, you can ask for another cup to use as a sleeve and treat yourself to a wide-eyed eyeroll from staff (as well as a good dose of guilt for killing the trees). Guess I'd like to say they redeem themselves in the food department, but I literally ordered a bagel and cream cheese one morning​ and it took over 12 minutes to get to me! Funny, since there was no one else eatin in the place. Overall, methinks not. read more

I found this lovely hidden gem by yelping the area for good coffee. And there it didn't disappoint. It was a lovely rainy morning and I made the 15 minute walk from my hotel to this cute coffee shop easily and with just some mist in the air. The minute I walked in I was greeted with a smile from a busy employee behind the counter. The smile was genuine and fantastic as she still acknowledged my entry while helping others without missing a beat. The coffee was amazing! The view looking over the park area in front was great as I sat on the covered patio area watching the rain fall and enjoying my delicious breakfast sandwich and coffee. Great spot attached to the residential buildings. It's snuck under and on the side so you might just walk right by it and not see. You have access from both inside the complex and outside from the street. read more

See all

I go here when I'm staying at Parkside, the coffee is good. I had the hummus, tapenade & pita for a snack yesterday and it was tasty, but the service was slow. I wish they had more room, it was crowded due to a business function I attended. read more

Two days in a row, my coffee has been fantastico. Enough so that I may make it a hat trick tomorrow. I found this little local roaster on Yelp while in Victoria for a SoMe conference and I'm thankful I did. Conference centre coffee is notoriously bad, and sitting for 12 hours with some sour sludge in your stomach is never an appealing endeavour. So day 1 of the conference at a brain-busting 7am I trekked past low-rated espresso bars to find this almost-portland-esque shop. It's a lot cleaner than most cafes in PDX and more upscale. The espresso is poured with care (I had a shot in porcelain and some americanos for take-away) and the beans are a definite cut above your average corporate roast. Prices are decent. This location also serves booze, beer, and food. All of it looks great. Lots of local stuff, farm eggs, cask beer. Yum. I did have some food - a decent bagel with tasty lox and not enough cream cheese, and my associate sampled the eggs scrambled with dry chorizo and gave them a thumbs up. Tre Fantastico definitely satisfies my need for good coffee and tasty, local, wholesome foods. read more

This is a great breakfast or lunch or late evening option if you're nearby. Especially if you're staying at the Parkside where it's located on the first floor across from the lobby. The morning menu looked so good that instead of being smart and choosing just one item, I chose the breakfast sandwich and the granola, honey and yogurt. Both were great and both were gone in just a few minutes! Don't get me wrong though - I was famished. The portions are perfectly sized and I was pretty darn stuffed about halfway through the granola dish. I also had a latte which was perfect. My friends and dining partners had a salad to split, some grilled veggies and Americanos. From the looks of it, we were all super satisfied and practically licked our plates and cups clean. The interior space is slightly limited so it may not be best to come with a group of say 8 or more people without calling ahead, but if the weather is nice they have a cute little patio along a quiet tree-lined street. Perhaps not a place I'd walk way out of my way to go, but extremely satisfying if you're in the area. In fact, if you stay at the Parkside it'd make sense to do coffee and/or breakfast here daily. Very cute spot and the barista was extremely friendly. read more

I'm not sure whether it was a particularly busy day or whether the kitchen is always slow, but it took 30 minutes to make my Denver sandwich (that day's special). Since I only had 30 minutes for lunch, I had to change it from eat-in to take-away. The sandwich and a glass of orange juice cost over $15 including tax and tip and the sandwich didn't even come with any sides! Slow service and high prices - I would not return. read more

Tre Fantastico - Nice view and patio, but slow service and high prices. - Cafes Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

This place is great. I've been there on a few past visits so I know they serve up a menu of fresh, uncomplicated and completely satisfying food. Keep it simple stupid. Words to live by and these guys do it well. Plus they make a good cappuccino. Not a phenomenal cappuccino but a good one. The first place we tried while Yelping it up at the Victoria Conference Center was dismal, so if you're in the area and seeking coffee that doesn't come out of an automatic machine - walk down here instead. It's worth the five minutes. Staff were quick, pleasant and remembered us and our orders each visit. Plus, the water tap is very cool. Because I note random things. Fan. read more

Very nice little coffee shop right off the lobby of our hotel. We stopped in for a cup of coffee and breakfast sandwich one morning - it had egg, bacon, avocado - very good. read more

Worst customer service EVER. If your a tourist and don't want to be treated like a piece of garbage DO NOT COME HERE!!!! I was met with an annoyed look, no greeting and my cup put on the counter with no thank you or eye contact what so ever. So bad the rest of my group would not give them their business. Great coffee all over Victoria. Do yourselves a favor and go somewhere else read more

Y'know, I had a pretty crappy day today. Thus, please understand that I was in full-bore Eeyore mode when wifelet dragged me down to Tre Fantastico for supper. Self: "But I don't wannna!" She: "They have beer..." Self: "I'll get my coat." Turns out this little Cafe cum Bistro is a concrete-walled jewel. Granted, I'd love to see a little more variety on the beer list, but that's only because I'm a full-bore beer snob that's drinking an Imperial IPA while writing this and finding it a bit thin. So here's the lowdown: cranky elitist that I am, I still loved this place. It's small enough that the host will chat to you from behind the counter; the little flutelets of beer for two bucks are a cool idea for samplers; and the food was delicious. I had Lamb Tagliatelle which was laden with olives and lemons and paired nicely with a Swans Oatmeal stout. It was a perfectly-sized portion, and for 13 bucks, good value. Wifelet had Penne Zitti which she enjoyed, although she eyed my plate with envious glances until I was forced to give up a few bites in the interest of furthered matrimonial harmony. The food arrived fast and was all hot, and frankly, I was impressed. What would I improve? Maybe one "big beer" in the rotation, but hey, they've only got three taps, so let's call it a hidden gem. read more

This review is for my experience ordering a coffee in the morning. I had quite a different experience at night when I popped in for a HH glass of wine. The young woman working was quite friendly and welcoming. Not so much the day staff...The other reviewers are spot on with this place. Customers are treated as an annoyance as the staff are clearly more interested in chatting amongst themselves vs. making you feel welcome (or even acknowledged). And as mentioned by another reviewer, they don't offer sleeves. Do they think it's more environmentally friendly to give you two cups vs a sleeve? Very strange. The two stars are for my coffee which was pretty good. read more

Reminds me of the Starbucks you see in the lobbies of casinos in Vegas. It's probably perfect if you are on your way out and don't have time to look for a better option. There are better options. Try Township, try Hide and Seek, or the best we have tried in the area, try Hey Happy. read more

Stopped in for a light lunch on my visit to Victoria. I ordered one of the local craft beers on tap and the roasted vegetable sandwich. The beer was ok and the sandwich was great. The sandwich was on a small baguette loaf with a European style crunchy crust. Inside they had pesto, carrots, pickles, and sprouts and the flavors all melded together really well. The big drawback for me was the small amount of seating. There were only 4 small tables inside and a bit more on their outdoor patio. I ended up sharing a table with other diners. read more

Teeeny TINY portions, the $18 plater with cheese, meat, olives etc. Is not even enough to be dinner for one person, it is barely even snack size. The cake I had for dessert was a slice so skinny it didn't even take up a 1/4 of the box they put it in. Came here because it was late and we were having a hard time finding a place to eat that was still open, and we were staying in the hotel. I will not waste anymore money at this place, what a rip off. You will do better elsewhere read more

They have $4 draught beer that's good and it has a nice ambiance. It gets busy at times. Saturday morning I had to get my coffee to go because no tables were available. The wifi only worked when sitting near the glassworks as if the walls are made of lead. The coffee was disappointing. Almost $7 for a quad latte and the espresso tastes flat like decaf. Better than Starbucks espresso but not much better. The staff were friendly and say funny local things. There's out door seating too. read more

Over priced cafe with no wifi and sign saying "no laptops!" They obviously don't want people taking up the space. The Warm Winter Salad has raw potatoes that weren't cooked, while the rest was cooked. Shame because the place itself is nice to sit in. read more

Cafe Terrible. The staff are rude. We had some super brown guacamole, and when I asked for some fresh guacamole, she smugly said "well you don't have to eat it then". Save yourself and go anywhere else. read more

Tre Fantastico - Cafes Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

was after a light dinner since lunch was p indulgent - I ordered a chicken, Apple and cheddar melt and 'Canadian quinoa salad'. The meal size was perfect and both dishes were really tasty, but I'm going to give the slightest edge to the melt because the chicken was perfectly tender and the apple was inventively crunchy and fresh in a savoury meal. Really lovely to sit outside w some wine as the evening got cooler - waitstaff were welcoming as well. Relaxed vibes and food that hit the spot read more

This place is pretentious and uninviting. They want you to do everything yourself (get water, utensils, find and set up the high chair, etc.). This is fine, but they act completely put out if you have the audacity to ask them for anything. Too much attitude and the food itself is just fine. They have a bunch of toys/books for kids but all are completely filthy. Skip it. read more

Had the breakfast sandwich and my wife had the breakfast board. The sandwich was good but expensive fOr what you got. Breakfast board had less the 2nd time. Coffee was ok nothing special small & expensive. read more

It says here they are dog friendly so we brought our dog right away they told us we couldn't have her there but she could be in the lobby of the hotel. So we order food and before they brought it to us they decided to tell us that we couldn't have the food in the lobby after ordering. After I told the lady it says they are dog friendly she started arguing with me that the hotel it when this is clearly the page for the cafe not the hotel. We walked there from our hotel and they didn't provide us a bag or silverware. Once I got my food the chicken is very undercooked and slimy I'm very displeased with this cafe and would give 0 stars if given the option. read more

Good espresso, great breakfast sandwich, and easy location... what more could you ask for? I stopped in for coffee and a bite on my first day in Victoria before a bike tour nearby and was not disappointed. There was no wait whatsoever at 9:30AM on a Wednesday morning and you can take your sandwich to go if you so wish. The yolk of the egg in the flavorful sandwich was even a little runny instead of overdone, but not so much that eating it was a disaster. I was so much more pleased with this simple breakfast stop than I was with my long wait and mediocre food at Jam. The only way it could have been better is if the guac had a little less lime/citrus, but it was still good! read more

Had the pulled pork with my Americano. All I can say is I have found my new lunch spot. Great food, wonderful atmosphere, and nice staff. Looking forward to visiting again and trying the other menu items! Soooo glad there is a Caffe Fantastico that is open late and serves beer in the evenings! You can buy Fol Epi bread here too (from their other location at Dockside Green). Glad Caffe Fantastico is becoming a Victoria icon. They have not lost an once of quality as they have expanded. Edit: I had to remove a star as their food has not really met my expectations over time. They need to be a little more creative than that to keep me coming back. They keep the four stars for their atmosphere and great coffee. read more

Great atmosphere and location. Good job on the coffees. For those of you from Seattle - better than Starbucks but not quote as good as Vivace. We hit it first thing in the morning but looks like they had a nice selection of food and desserts as well as cask ale if you visit later in the day - maybe after a trip to Beacon Hill Park. read more

Excellent coffee and breakfast items. We enjoyed the braised kale greens and perfectly poached eggs. Bakery items: jalapeno cheese scones, excellent toasted whole wheat baguettes. We ordered ground coffee beans to take home. read more

We had a salad with some delicious grilled cheese on top. We also had pear flatbread. Very good!

I had a business meeting here yesterday, very disappointing and a little outraged. This review is not directed at the staff but at the ownership. I asked for a small cappuccino, the barista informed me that it had two shots of espresso, I asked him to make it with only one shot as I didn't want so much caffeine. Here is the crazy part, he said I'm sorry I can't do that "our policy is two shots" are you kidding me? I said please make it with one shot only I'll pay the full price but want it with 1 shot. He said the owner have him strict instruction to make every cappuccino with two shots not exceptions. I'm am the paying customer and I am drinking the damn cappuccino not the owner, this borders on coffee snobbism and reminded me of a Seinfeld episode...remember the soup Nazi? Needless to say I won't be coming back and neither will any of the people I talk to, drink the two shot cappuccino yourself. read more

You've gotta try the breakfast blend they are brewing. Sumatra + Costa Rica...wicked roast Derek! Sorry to anyone who missed it.

I love the coffee and the beer selection! Seating is usually good and the wait staff are friendly. The only food I'd avoid is the quinoa salad - I love quinoa but I don't think they pre-soak it so it's too bitter for my taste. read more

Probably the most European flavour of any café in town. They actually have a patio, rare for Victoria and serve beer, wine and some very tasty short order (but not low quality) food. The standout items to me are the Breakfast Sandwich $6 - avocado mash with cheddar, sunflower sprouts and egg on a perfect bun and the Lox and bagel for just six bucks as well. Great coffee, locally roasted. Good place to meet friends, business or just read. Edited to 5 stars because of how fair their local beer prices are. read more

I have been to Tre Fantastico twice in the last week and in both instances, I was disappointed. In our first visit, we ordered two drinks - a dirty chai latte and a vanilla latte but the baristas forgot the espresso for the chai latte. Our second visit, we thought we had ordered a chai latte, cheddar and herb scone, and an americano. However, we got a pretty good scone, a chai tea, and a burnt americano. My husband politely asked our barista what he had ordered, explaining he had thought he had ordered a chai latte. The barista condescendingly said she had clarified the order 3 times but, clearly frustrated and exasperated, she rudely said she would add hot milk to which my husband responded that it was unneeded. Afterwards, I walked back inside to add some milk to my americano and heard the barista complaining to customers and the other baristas about the interaction. This treatment was totally unwarranted and the drinks are sub par. Would not recommend. read more

Great great staff. That is the first thing that I thought when I walked away from here. In addition to the staff, the coffee and the drink selection is fantastic. Apparently they have some sort of deal worked out where they have locally brewed cask ale on tap, from different producers on the regular; a really tasty and fun concept! I would and will be going back. read more

Bust on a Saturday morning but great place for a coffee and breakfast sandwich. Very popular with young families and more space than it looks. Part of a great looking hotel with fish in indoor ponds. Great views from inside or the patio. read more