Today, Victoria tasting menu restaurant Ugly Duckling Dining & Provisions was named to 50 Best Discovery for the first time, joining a global collection of exceptional restaurants, bars, hotels and vineyards recognized by the voting academy behind The World’s 50 Best Restaurants.
The 50 Best Discovery guide is curated by the same international voting academy responsible for the annual rankings and highlights exceptional hospitality destinations around the globe. Businesses cannot apply for inclusion.
Each year, more than 3,000 members of the 50 Best Academy submit their top dining experiences from the previous 12 months. Those votes determine The World’s 50 Best Restaurants rankings and inform the 50 Best Discovery guide, which recognizes establishments recommended through the Academy’s voting process.
Chef-owner Corbin Mathany opened Ugly Duckling Dining & Provisions in 2023. The intimate tasting menu restaurant in the heart of Victoria’s historic Chinatown draws inspiration from its location at the intersection of Coastal BC’s breathtaking landscapes and the deep cultural heritage of Canada’s oldest Chinatown. Ugly Duckling’s menu showcases seasonal fare and an exclusively Canadian wine list, resulting in an inventive fine-dining experience that spotlights extraordinary, often overlooked ingredients and the kind of hospitality that makes people feel genuinely cared for.
Since opening, the restaurant has earned recognition from Air Canada’s Best New Restaurants, Vancouver Magazine, OpenTable and Food Network Canada.