The Nanaimo bar is a no-bake three-layer dessert with a graham cracker, coconut and almond base, a custard middle and a chocolate top. Originally from Nanaimo on Vancouver Island, the dessert is the city's calendar bake.
The Nanaimo bar is named for the Vancouver Island city, first published as a recipe in the 1953 Edith Adams Omnibus Cookbook from the Vancouver Sun. Mabel Jenkins won the first Nanaimo bar contest in 1986 with the canonical recipe. The dessert appears on every Vancouver bakery counter and in the Canadian school lunchbox.
2 editor picks for Nanaimo bar in Vancouver, ranked by editorial score. All Vancouver signature dishes · Nanaimo bar across every city.
Beaucoup Bakery ★ 4.7
south-granville · 2150 Fir Street, Vancouver, BC V6J 3B1
Beaucoup Bakery on Fir Street is Vancouver's reference French laminated pastry shop since 2012, the gold-standard almond croissant plus daily seating.
Granville Island Public Market ★ 4.7
granville-island · 1689 Johnston Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 3R9
Granville Island Public Market under the Granville Bridge since 1979 is Vancouver's reference indoor food hall, 50+ vendors, BC seafood and produce daily.