Guidebook for Victoria
Drinks & Nightlife
This cozy lounge in the Chateau Victoria Hotel has won all kinds of awards. If cocktails are your thing, don’t miss it.
48 lokalkjente anbefaler
Clive's Classic Lounge
740 Burdett AveThis cozy lounge in the Chateau Victoria Hotel has won all kinds of awards. If cocktails are your thing, don’t miss it.
Small jazz club with up and down stages. Check out the calendar online; there’s often great performers here.
36 lokalkjente anbefaler
Hermann's Jazz Club
753 View StSmall jazz club with up and down stages. Check out the calendar online; there’s often great performers here.
Great cocktails. Good food. Small, intimate space.
95 lokalkjente anbefaler
Little Jumbo Restaurant and Bar
506 Fort StGreat cocktails. Good food. Small, intimate space.
Local English pub. Decent food. Just a walk into Oak Bay Village.
53 lokalkjente anbefaler
Penny Farthing Public House
2228 Oak Bay AveLocal English pub. Decent food. Just a walk into Oak Bay Village.
The original Canadian Brewpub that started it all! Great beer. Good food. Nice harbour walk over the bridge from downtown. Parking on site
148 lokalkjente anbefaler
Spinnakers Gastro Brewpub & GuestHouses
308 Catherine StThe original Canadian Brewpub that started it all! Great beer. Good food. Nice harbour walk over the bridge from downtown. Parking on site
CRAFT Beer Market Victoria Harbour
Best patio in town. Really. And decent food.
Food Scene
Victoria boasts the most restaurants per capita in Canada so this is a tiny sampling. Got questions about one of the many that is not listed here? We are always happy to offer our foodie opinions
Best authentic nixtamalized tortillas outside of Mexico and everything that goes in or on them is delicious too. Pop in for lunch or pick up supplies and create your own at home.
MAiiZ Nixtamal Tortillería
540 Fisgard StBest authentic nixtamalized tortillas outside of Mexico and everything that goes in or on them is delicious too. Pop in for lunch or pick up supplies and create your own at home.
Fabulous creative food. Amazing addictive sandwiches and fries. Small beer and wine list.
45 lokalkjente anbefaler
Part and Parcel
2656 Quadra StFabulous creative food. Amazing addictive sandwiches and fries. Small beer and wine list.
A local institution. Consistently good Italian with a busy, upbeat vibe.
49 lokalkjente anbefaler
Zambri's
820 Yates StA local institution. Consistently good Italian with a busy, upbeat vibe.
This beautiful restaurant has been around for 20+ years. Always good food, good wine, good ambience. Hard to get into; make a reservation.
36 lokalkjente anbefaler
Cafe Brio
944 Fort StThis beautiful restaurant has been around for 20+ years. Always good food, good wine, good ambience. Hard to get into; make a reservation.
This pizza is the real deal. The Fort Street location is a 10 minute walk from your door but we prefer the Cook Street vibe and it’s only a 7 minute drive. You can’t go wrong with either one.
40 lokalkjente anbefaler
Pizzeria Prima Strada
14-1400 Cowichan Bay RdThis pizza is the real deal. The Fort Street location is a 10 minute walk from your door but we prefer the Cook Street vibe and it’s only a 7 minute drive. You can’t go wrong with either one.
We pick up sushi from here on those nights we just can’t bring ourselves to cook. It’s always good.
8 lokalkjente anbefaler
Oak Bay Bon Sushi
1467 Hampshire RdWe pick up sushi from here on those nights we just can’t bring ourselves to cook. It’s always good.
For a special night, the food is wonderful and the ambience is lovely.
15 lokalkjente anbefaler
The Courtney Room
619 Courtney StFor a special night, the food is wonderful and the ambience is lovely.
Great view in this rooftop restaurant / bar in the Chateau Victoria Hotel, upstairs from Clive's. Really good food. Occasionally has music.
27 lokalkjente anbefaler
Vista 18 Westcoast Grill & Wine Bar
740 Burdett AveGreat view in this rooftop restaurant / bar in the Chateau Victoria Hotel, upstairs from Clive's. Really good food. Occasionally has music.
This is a new place in Chinatown getting rave reviews. It is super-creative, delicious… and pricey. If you’re a foodie or want a place for a special meal, it’s definitely a good choice.
Ugly Duckling Dining & Provisions
This is a new place in Chinatown getting rave reviews. It is super-creative, delicious… and pricey. If you’re a foodie or want a place for a special meal, it’s definitely a good choice.
Coffee & Bakeries
Victoria is a coffee town. Here are a few good independent ones but there are plenty more than this.
Hide + Seek Coffee
2207 Oak Bay AveA ten minute walk from the house in Oak Bay Village
Discovery Coffee
A five minute walk from the house on Oak Bay Avenue
Habit Coffee
808 Yates StA local favourite in town at Yates and Blanshard Streets
Another local favourite in Chinatown on Fisgard Street.
63 lokalkjente anbefaler
Bean Around The World
533 Fisgard StAnother local favourite in Chinatown on Fisgard Street.
Crust Bakery
730 Fort StIt's all delicious!
This little bakery just a few blocks away at the corner of Richmond and Fort St has only been open for a few months and only Thurs-Sun. but they make the best croissants, pain au chocolat and other stuff. Always a line up. Worth the wait.
GoodSide Pastry House
This little bakery just a few blocks away at the corner of Richmond and Fort St has only been open for a few months and only Thurs-Sun. but they make the best croissants, pain au chocolat and other stuff. Always a line up. Worth the wait.
Favourite Walks / Hikes
We cannot begin to list the vast number of hikes in and around town; there are hundreds. The All Trails app is your friend. Here are just a few.
Lovely easy walking trails through a Garry Oak meadow. Connect to Cattle Point on the other side of Beach Drive for an oceanside stroll too.
9 lokalkjente anbefaler
Uplands Park
3040 Beach DrLovely easy walking trails through a Garry Oak meadow. Connect to Cattle Point on the other side of Beach Drive for an oceanside stroll too.
Lovely hiking trails from easy to difficult with beautiful views at the top. Access from a number of parking lots; check your map app or download the AllTrails app.
180 lokalkjente anbefaler
Mount Douglas Park
4500 Cedar Hill RoadLovely hiking trails from easy to difficult with beautiful views at the top. Access from a number of parking lots; check your map app or download the AllTrails app.
Lovely hiking trails from easy to difficult. It gets very busy on the weekend.
242 lokalkjente anbefaler
Goldstream Provincial Park
Lovely hiking trails from easy to difficult. It gets very busy on the weekend.
Some of the most beautiful hiking in the region. Well worth the 45-60 minute drive. Bring a picnic and enjoy the west coast views.
95 lokalkjente anbefaler
East Sooke Regional Park
6807 East Sooke RoadSome of the most beautiful hiking in the region. Well worth the 45-60 minute drive. Bring a picnic and enjoy the west coast views.
The Dallas Road portion runs approximately 5 (flat, paved) km from the Ogden Point Breakwater, along the Beacon Hill Park perimeter, CloverPoint and Ross Bay. It continues into Oak Bay and Saanich. On-street free parking all along the pathway so you can start out anywhere along. There is a separated cycling path along Dallas Road.
Dallas Rd Waterfront Trail, Victoria, BC, Canada
The Dallas Road portion runs approximately 5 (flat, paved) km from the Ogden Point Breakwater, along the Beacon Hill Park perimeter, CloverPoint and Ross Bay. It continues into Oak Bay and Saanich. On-street free parking all along the pathway so you can start out anywhere along. There is a separated cycling path along Dallas Road.
Sightseeing
The one and only. If you've never been it is worth a visit. The gardens are fabulous any time of year. Know that it is pricy and crowded so going off-peak hours (early or late) is a good idea.
388 lokalkjente anbefaler
Butchart Gardens
800 Benvenuto AveThe one and only. If you've never been it is worth a visit. The gardens are fabulous any time of year. Know that it is pricy and crowded so going off-peak hours (early or late) is a good idea.
Cowichan River Tubing -Cowabunga Tubes
Fun! Fun! Fun!
Beautiful lake for hiking, swimming and paddling. Make sure to check the condition first, there are occasional green algae blooms that make the lake un-swimmable.
109 lokalkjente anbefaler
Thetis Lake
Beautiful lake for hiking, swimming and paddling. Make sure to check the condition first, there are occasional green algae blooms that make the lake un-swimmable.
Go at low tide. It's beautiful and the tide pools are amazing. 2 hour drive. Stop in Sooke for lunch or dinner,.
Botanical Beach Provincial Park
Go at low tide. It's beautiful and the tide pools are amazing. 2 hour drive. Stop in Sooke for lunch or dinner,.
Great easy Harbourside walk connecting to West Song Way on the north side of the harbour over the Johnson Street bridge. Start at the Ogden Point Breakwater Cafe and walk east to the inner harbour and across the bridge. Stop for lunch at Spinnakers or Red Fish Blue Fish in the Inner Harbour.
David Foster Harbour Pathway
100 Superior StGreat easy Harbourside walk connecting to West Song Way on the north side of the harbour over the Johnson Street bridge. Start at the Ogden Point Breakwater Cafe and walk east to the inner harbour and across the bridge. Stop for lunch at Spinnakers or Red Fish Blue Fish in the Inner Harbour.
Råd om byen
Gå ikke glipp av
Cycling the Galloping Goose trail
Bike rentals are available all over town. The GG is a wonderful day out. You can bike to Thetis Lake. swim, and bike home. Note the precaution under Thetis Lake section. You can also continue all the way (approximately 40km / 3 hours one way) to Sooke. In the other direction it meets up with the Lochside Trail and goes as far as the Swartz Bay ferry terminal (36kkm).
Gå ikke glipp av
SUP or Kayak rental / lessons
There are a number of local businesses renting equipment, offering tour and lessons from beginner to advanced.
Gå ikke glipp av
Beacon Hill Park
The main park in town and just beautiful
Gå ikke glipp av
A small sample of nearby summer festivals
Here's a few. For a more complete listing search
Victoria Musicscene dot com
There are websites for all of these but I can't add here
Victoria SkaFest — June 21 - 25
Victoria JazzFest — June 28 - July 2
Phillips Backyard — various dates
Great Canadian Beer Festival — Sept 8 / 9
Cameron Bandshell in Beacon Hill Park (June - Sept)