Dinghy Dock Pub and Restaurant, Nanaimo, BC Canada
N 49° 10.601 W 123° 55.603
10U E 432457 N 5447510
The only floating Pub and Restaurant in Canada. The pub is a registered vessel in Canada.
Waymark Code: WM439K
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Date Posted: 07/01/2008
Views: 71
The pub and restaurant was built in 1989 and is located just off Protection Island in the Nanaimo harbour. The pub originally was a seasonal operation, only open from early spring to late fall. In 2004, the Pub changed hands and the new owners decided to operate year round.
When the Pub was first built, it was small and did not have much dock space so most of the boaters would anchor and come to the pub in their dinghy's, they still do. But there is much more space available today.
As one would suspect with a pub very close to the water, there is a heavy marine influence on the decor throughout the place and the menu has quite a few seafood selections. There are also the usual salads, burgers, steaks and even pizza for a discerning pub palate. They have a child's menu and there are separate eating areas both within the pub and on the outer decks for families with under age children along. In the family section of the deck there even is a 'fishin' hole' for the child to try his or hers luck at landing a perch while waiting for dinner.
The Dinghy Dock serves a Blonde Ale brewed by a Nanaimo Brew pub as a featured beer and has a good selection of fine wines too. With quite a few coming from BC vineyards.
Boaters, tourists and locals all enjoy a trip to the 'Dock' and as they say on their website, 'The Dock Rocks' on Friday and Saturday nights with live music. You can reach the Dinghy Dock by private boat or by a short 10 minute ferry ride from Nanaimo.
Until last year, the Pub and Resaurant was renowned on the coast for all the money stapled to the walls with boat names and home ports written on them. I was told that they were disappearing so it was decided to remove them. They are planing to frame them and put them on display again though. You can see pictures of them now on the 'Dock's' website.