April's Guidebook
Food scene
attached to the brewery, come taste all the beer with lively atmosphere
Macchiato Caffe
780 Johnson Sttry the breakfast biscuit!
Italian Food Imports
1114 Blanshard Stdelicious affordable sandwiches and Italian deli
2% Jazz Coffee
1701 Douglas Stroast their own beans. I always get an Oat Milk latte
once was a food truck in Tofino that was so good they set up camp. Not a lot of space to eat in, better to take out. Try the steak taco!
78 locals recommend
Tacofino
760 Pandora Aveonce was a food truck in Tofino that was so good they set up camp. Not a lot of space to eat in, better to take out. Try the steak taco!
casual asian fusion - adobo chicken is my favorite
delicious drinks - I like the spicy pineapple margarita
dobosala cantina & ride thru
760 Pandora Avecasual asian fusion - adobo chicken is my favorite
delicious drinks - I like the spicy pineapple margarita
Japanese restaurant with a great lunch bento box and a lively Sake bar
65 locals recommend
Nubo Japanese Tapas
739 Pandora AveJapanese restaurant with a great lunch bento box and a lively Sake bar
amazing food and refined atmosphere. Ask to sit on the covered patio by the fire for a romantic date night. I get the Pollo Appollonia.
244 locals recommend
II Terrazzo
555 Johnson Stamazing food and refined atmosphere. Ask to sit on the covered patio by the fire for a romantic date night. I get the Pollo Appollonia.
Cafe Brio
944 Fort Stcasual fine dining, make a reso early
tiny fine dining restaurant considered best in the city. They don’t take reso's so go early and get on the list.
119 locals recommend
Brasserie L'Ecole
1715 Government Sttiny fine dining restaurant considered best in the city. They don’t take reso's so go early and get on the list.
Sen Zushi
940 Fort Stbest sushi in my humble opinion. No other California roll will do!
it’s a 10 minute drive and is not fancy, but they amazing authentic food from Trinidad. I get the chicken roti. If you go on a Saturday you can get the special "bussupshut" or "doubles"
6 locals recommend
Trini To D Bone
650 Burnside Rd Wit’s a 10 minute drive and is not fancy, but they amazing authentic food from Trinidad. I get the chicken roti. If you go on a Saturday you can get the special "bussupshut" or "doubles"
Italian wood fired pizza and refined drinks, cocktail bar has lively latenight
55 locals recommend
Fiamo Pizza & Wine Bar
515 Yates StItalian wood fired pizza and refined drinks, cocktail bar has lively latenight
The Drake Eatery
517 Pandora AvePub serving craft beer and good food
Phillips Tasting Room
2000 Government StPub serving craft beer and good food
THE LOCAL
1205 Wharf Stgreat outdoor patio and lively in the evenings, mixed ages
beautiful and refined restaurant with amazing crafted cocktails. Ask to spin the wheel of cocktails and they will make you custom drink based on a selected palate.
40 locals recommend
Veneto Bar Ristorante
1450 Douglas Stbeautiful and refined restaurant with amazing crafted cocktails. Ask to spin the wheel of cocktails and they will make you custom drink based on a selected palate.
Recreation
shows, games and events. plus a huge parking lot that can be rented long term if you have an additional car or over-sized vehicle
48 locals recommend
Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre
1925 Blanshard Stshows, games and events. plus a huge parking lot that can be rented long term if you have an additional car or over-sized vehicle
Night Life
casual food, live bands, gets loud and roudy in the evening, mixed ages
70 locals recommend
Darcy's Pub Downtown
1127 Wharf Stcasual food, live bands, gets loud and roudy in the evening, mixed ages
all food $5. loud music and roudy atmosphere. Early twenties crowd
16 locals recommend
El Furniture Warehouse
533 Yates Stall food $5. loud music and roudy atmosphere. Early twenties crowd
Canoe Brewpub
450 Swift Stbeautiful outdoor patio on the water. Often live music and dancing
Bard & Banker
1022 Government Stlive bands, polished Irish pub, mixed aged crowd
Swans Brewery, Pub & Hotel
506 Pandora Avelive bands, casual, older crowd
multi level pub. Clubhouse dancing and an older crowd, basement is Distrikt nightclub for the younger, and rooftop surfbar has sand volley ball courts for rent and food and drinks. Rooftop is known in the summer for Sunday "Blackout" where drinks are served in buckets and there is a DJ
49 locals recommend
Sticky Wicket Pub
919 Douglas Streetmulti level pub. Clubhouse dancing and an older crowd, basement is Distrikt nightclub for the younger, and rooftop surfbar has sand volley ball courts for rent and food and drinks. Rooftop is known in the summer for Sunday "Blackout" where drinks are served in buckets and there is a DJ
The Duke Saloon
502 Discovery StCountry bar with live bands and dancing
Upstairs Cabaret
15 Bastion SquareDJ's and drinks. Early twenties crowd
Distrikt
919 Douglas StDJ's and drinks. Early twenties crowd
Irish Times Pub
1200 Government Stcasual Irish pub often with live music, older crowd
Lucky Bar
517 Yates StDJ's and drinks, alternative fun crowd
Capital Ballroom
858 Yates Stopen for events
City advice
Don't miss
Ghost Walks
guided tour through the spooky and sometimes tragic history of Victoria
Don't miss
Buchart Gardens
gardens in an old rock quarry. Sounds boring but its spectacular. Its about 30 min away and you can spend a 1/2 or whole day here.
Don't miss
Fishermans wharf
greasy and delicious fish and chips, feed some wild seals and have an ice cream cone!
Don't miss
Lower Johnson
Johnson street near the bridge is known for boutique shopping
Don't miss
Theaters
Royal Theater, MacPherson Playhouse, Alex Goulden Hall, Belfry
Ways to save
Walk the Galloping Goose
Walking and bike path that crosses Victoria. Walk down Pandora over the Johnson street bridge for a scenic stroll or rent bikes and bike all the way Thetis Lake (11km) or Sooke Pot Holes (13km) for a swim.
Ways to save
Buskers
along the inner harbour (in front of the Empress Hotel) in the summer buskers show magic, tell jokes, sing and play instruments.
Ways to save
Parliament Buildings
if you go see the buskers, wait for the sun to go down to see the Parliament Buildings light up.
Ways to save
Beacon Hill Park
Large green space in the middle of city. Go to the petting zoo in the spring and you can play with baby lambs!
Ways to save
Dallas Road
seaside walk. This is a popular dog walking destination. Stretches from Oak Bay, through Fairfield, and into James Bay. At the edge of the park (on Douglas st) there is Beacon Hill drive in with the best soft serve ice cream (I'm a connoisseur)
Ways to save
Chinatown
Victoria's one block Chinatown has lots to see, smell and taste. Find Fan Tan Alley, the smallest road in the country
Getting around
Taxi
Sorry no Uber in Victoria (I know right??) best cab company is Current Taxi, they have a fleet of Tesla's and an excellent app similar to Uber.
other options are Blue Bird, Yellow Cab, and Uptown
Getting around
Bus system
the buses are an efficient way to get around and are reliable to be on schedule
Getting around
Bikes
there are many self serve "rent by the hour" bikes around Victoria. closest available are outside an office building 2 blocks away at 750 Pandora (west of the condo). you will need a credit card to rent them. see my note on the Galloping Goose Trail
What to pack
mixed weather
Victoria doesn't get particularly hot or cold, but you can days that are rainy, then sunny, then windy and cool, then sunny and warm. Wear layers so you can adapt.
hardly any snow but lots of rain!