Emily's Guidebook
Coffee Shops
High-end coffee shop, sourcing both local and imported coffees. Also have a locally-sourced food menu and quick grab’n’go baked goods.
Hey Happy
560 Johnson StDiscovery Coffee
281 Menzies StHabit Coffee
808 Yates StI'm a sucker for a London Fog and one of their grilled cheese paninis. Grab a book or your laptop and cozy up in a corner.
Bean Around The World Coffee House & Bistro
6308 Thunderbird BlvdI'm a sucker for a London Fog and one of their grilled cheese paninis. Grab a book or your laptop and cozy up in a corner.
Breweries
Tasting room with a great patio in Market Square
Whistle Buoy Brewing Company
560 Johnson StIle Sauvage Brewing
2960 Bridge StPhillips Brewing & Malting
2000 Government StFood scene
Very highly rated and inventive restaurant in the core, sister restaurant is Hanks
Nowhere *A Restaurant
Douglas StreetVery highly rated and inventive restaurant in the core, sister restaurant is Hanks
Taco Justice Food Truck
1580 Cook StReally great taco truck with large portions
Good food and atmosphere with a cute patio out back. Changing menu and great drink list.
18 locals recommend
Wind Cries Mary
45 Bastion SquareGood food and atmosphere with a cute patio out back. Changing menu and great drink list.
Beautiful restaurant with views of the inner harbour. Elevated food and drinks, but still managed pizza classics.
46 locals recommend
Boom + Batten Restaurant & Cafe
2 Paul Kane PlBeautiful restaurant with views of the inner harbour. Elevated food and drinks, but still managed pizza classics.
Boomtown
950 Yates StreetBurritos and beers on a patio
Ghost Ramen
1609 Store StreetBest ramen in the city
Coziest pub in the city with multiple fireplaces. Golf or other is always playing on the screens. Distinct bar and dining areas.
53 locals recommend
Penny Farthing Public House
2228 Oak Bay AveCoziest pub in the city with multiple fireplaces. Golf or other is always playing on the screens. Distinct bar and dining areas.
Best flat top grilled burgers in the city. Different topped fries, many milkshake flavours. Eat here every time I’m in the city!
45 locals recommend
Big Wheel Burger
341 Cook StBest flat top grilled burgers in the city. Different topped fries, many milkshake flavours. Eat here every time I’m in the city!
Chain restaurant with a menu designed by Rob Feenie. Extremely consistent and very tasty options. Always a feature deal of the week and easy to accommodate families.
19 locals recommend
Cactus Club Cafe
1125 Douglas StChain restaurant with a menu designed by Rob Feenie. Extremely consistent and very tasty options. Always a feature deal of the week and easy to accommodate families.
Consistently rated the top restaurant in Victoria. For those who love meat; their fresh ground chuck burger or their steak menu is consistently delicious. If you're not a red meat eater, the mussels and frites are lovely. This spot is one of the priciest, so be sure to check if it fits your budget.
119 locals recommend
Brasserie L'Ecole
1715 Government StConsistently rated the top restaurant in Victoria. For those who love meat; their fresh ground chuck burger or their steak menu is consistently delicious. If you're not a red meat eater, the mussels and frites are lovely. This spot is one of the priciest, so be sure to check if it fits your budget.
Marilena Cafe & Raw Bar
Amazing west coast menu with tons of seafood and excellent sushi.
Bars
Rum cocktail lounge with vintage-inspired decor
Visit the bar for a cocktail. Lovely wood-panelled room with a view of the inner harbour.
23 locals recommend
Tea at The Empress
721 Government StVisit the bar for a cocktail. Lovely wood-panelled room with a view of the inner harbour.
Citrus & Cane
1900 Douglas StreetSightseeing
The Butchart Gardens
800 Benvenuto AveThis is a bit of a challenging hike with a lot of vertical and rock face - takes about 45 minutes to go up
56 locals recommend
Mt Finlayson summit
This is a bit of a challenging hike with a lot of vertical and rock face - takes about 45 minutes to go up
Mount Douglas Park
4500 Cedar Hill RoadOgden Point Sundial
211 Dallas RdMarkets
Really lovely outdoor market that features local producers from fresh breads to natural wines to fish to produce. The market maintains a smaller footprint in the winter months indoors.
Moss Street Market
1330 Fairfield RdNeighbourhoods
Fernwood
Eclectic and artsy. Some cute shops and restaurants on Fernwood Ave.
Family oriented area with a walkable strip. They have some restaurants and shops and have evening events on in the summer. Check their website for their current calendar.
34 locals recommend
Oak Bay
Family oriented area with a walkable strip. They have some restaurants and shops and have evening events on in the summer. Check their website for their current calendar.