Guidebook for Victoria

Chad
Guidebook for Victoria

Food Scene

Casual place, can be busy, one of our definite favorites! The tartines are excellent and cheap. The Biryani of the Day is always fantastic too. Same owner as Red Fish Blue Fish down on the wharf.
51 locals recommend
Fishhook
805 Fort St
51 locals recommend
Casual place, can be busy, one of our definite favorites! The tartines are excellent and cheap. The Biryani of the Day is always fantastic too. Same owner as Red Fish Blue Fish down on the wharf.
Awesome fish tacos etc. served out of a converted shipping container right on the water!
163 locals recommend
Red Fish Blue Fish
1006 Wharf St
163 locals recommend
Awesome fish tacos etc. served out of a converted shipping container right on the water!
Just a couple of doors from the loft...excellent NY style pizza slices all day...and half price with drink purchase after 9pm. Grab a slice and take it up to the roof deck of our building!
7 locals recommend
Famous Original
538 Yates St
7 locals recommend
Just a couple of doors from the loft...excellent NY style pizza slices all day...and half price with drink purchase after 9pm. Grab a slice and take it up to the roof deck of our building!
Awesome breakfasts...worth the wait! Personal favorite is the chicken and waffles...and their bacon is excellent if you're a carnivore.
201 locals recommend
Jam Cafe
542 Herald St
201 locals recommend
Awesome breakfasts...worth the wait! Personal favorite is the chicken and waffles...and their bacon is excellent if you're a carnivore.
A wonderful vegetarian option...too busy on theatre nights but a perfect place any other time! Nice vibe and everything is really really good. The Green Bowl and Mac & Cheese are both personal favorites!
73 locals recommend
Be Love
1019 Blanshard St
73 locals recommend
A wonderful vegetarian option...too busy on theatre nights but a perfect place any other time! Nice vibe and everything is really really good. The Green Bowl and Mac & Cheese are both personal favorites!
Simple, local, healthy food beautifully cooked and presented. Usually lots of vegetarian options. A great location and a nice walk from the loft around the harbour past the Gov't buildings. Brunch is excellent!
56 locals recommend
Nourish Kitchen & Cafe
225 Quebec Street
56 locals recommend
Simple, local, healthy food beautifully cooked and presented. Usually lots of vegetarian options. A great location and a nice walk from the loft around the harbour past the Gov't buildings. Brunch is excellent!
Fantastic Neapolitan style pizza cooked in the wood fired oven. This Cook St location is the original spot but there are a couple of other locations now too. Legit pie.
145 locals recommend
Pizzeria Prima Strada
230 Cook St
145 locals recommend
Fantastic Neapolitan style pizza cooked in the wood fired oven. This Cook St location is the original spot but there are a couple of other locations now too. Legit pie.
We almost hate to recommend this one in case it gets too busy...but so far it remains a local favorite and is not overrun...best Italian food in town, pretty affordable, nice location.
29 locals recommend
IL Covo Trattoria
106 Superior St
29 locals recommend
We almost hate to recommend this one in case it gets too busy...but so far it remains a local favorite and is not overrun...best Italian food in town, pretty affordable, nice location.
THE market on the Island. Saturdays from 10am til 2 starting in May. Food vendors, bakeries, live music, produce and crafts...a Victoria institution. Come to the area and walk to nearby Moss Rock Park for a beautiful view out over the water to the Olympic mountains.
68 locals recommend
Moss Street Market
1330 Fairfield Rd
68 locals recommend
THE market on the Island. Saturdays from 10am til 2 starting in May. Food vendors, bakeries, live music, produce and crafts...a Victoria institution. Come to the area and walk to nearby Moss Rock Park for a beautiful view out over the water to the Olympic mountains.
Excellent alternative to coffee chains!
99 locals recommend
Habit Coffee
808 Yates St
99 locals recommend
Excellent alternative to coffee chains!
Excellent French bakery with a nice outdoor seating area right on Yates.
154 locals recommend
Fol Epi
398 Harbour Rd
154 locals recommend
Excellent French bakery with a nice outdoor seating area right on Yates.
Right across the street...super funky decor, $5 food items (but $12 Margaritas!). Everything we've tried has been excellent...and we've eaten lunch here a lot!
16 locals recommend
El Furniture Warehouse
533 Yates St
16 locals recommend
Right across the street...super funky decor, $5 food items (but $12 Margaritas!). Everything we've tried has been excellent...and we've eaten lunch here a lot!
Another chill independent coffee shop just one block over.
56 locals recommend
Hey Happy
560 Johnson St
56 locals recommend
Another chill independent coffee shop just one block over.
This is our backup when our favorite spots (Fishhook and belove) are packed! Our Thai friend says this is the best Thai in Victoria...so who's to argue!
26 locals recommend
Baan Thai Wok & Bar
1117 Blanshard St
26 locals recommend
This is our backup when our favorite spots (Fishhook and belove) are packed! Our Thai friend says this is the best Thai in Victoria...so who's to argue!
Casual counter spot for inexpensive asian-inspired dishes....great curries, good (by sometimes spicy!) pad thai. The seating area is a bit noisy from traffic, but grab a takeout container and head to the water...or back to the rooftop deck at the loft!
45 locals recommend
Foo Asian Street Food
769 Yates St
45 locals recommend
Casual counter spot for inexpensive asian-inspired dishes....great curries, good (by sometimes spicy!) pad thai. The seating area is a bit noisy from traffic, but grab a takeout container and head to the water...or back to the rooftop deck at the loft!
Sushi can be pretty hit or miss in Victoria for some reason...and some of the big joints right downtown I've heard bad reports on. But this little place in a strip mall in James Bay is the best we've found. Relaxed, friendly, good prices and "real crab" options on the California Rolls.
8 locals recommend
Sushi Matsuri
239 Menzies St
8 locals recommend
Sushi can be pretty hit or miss in Victoria for some reason...and some of the big joints right downtown I've heard bad reports on. But this little place in a strip mall in James Bay is the best we've found. Relaxed, friendly, good prices and "real crab" options on the California Rolls.
A bit of a trek...but really. really good ice cream!
51 locals recommend
Can Canteen (Cold Comfort Ice Cream)
1115 N Park St
51 locals recommend
A bit of a trek...but really. really good ice cream!
Nice little low key place in Cook St Village with a fantastic Vegetarian and Vegan menu. The soups are great, and the sandwiches are on delicious homemade Foccacia!
16 locals recommend
The Hot and Cold Cafe
313 Cook Street
16 locals recommend
Nice little low key place in Cook St Village with a fantastic Vegetarian and Vegan menu. The soups are great, and the sandwiches are on delicious homemade Foccacia!

Parks & Nature

A beautiful walk through the landscaped ground of the Queen's Representative in BC. Rose gardens, herb gardens, duck pond with turtles, a beautiful ever changing rotation of flower beds. Don't miss the stroll through the trails in the preserved garry oak forest on the south side of the grounds!
103 locals recommend
Government House
1401 Rockland Ave
103 locals recommend
A beautiful walk through the landscaped ground of the Queen's Representative in BC. Rose gardens, herb gardens, duck pond with turtles, a beautiful ever changing rotation of flower beds. Don't miss the stroll through the trails in the preserved garry oak forest on the south side of the grounds!
For dog owners (or lovers) the area just west of Clover Point is an off leash dog area. You can follow steps down to the beach at several places all along Dallas Road as well...
45 locals recommend
Clover Point Park
1250 Dallas Rd
45 locals recommend
For dog owners (or lovers) the area just west of Clover Point is an off leash dog area. You can follow steps down to the beach at several places all along Dallas Road as well...
Our own little Central Park. Duck ponds, planted areas, private picnic spots, a petting zoo!
503 locals recommend
Beacon Hill Park
100 Cook St
503 locals recommend
Our own little Central Park. Duck ponds, planted areas, private picnic spots, a petting zoo!

Essentials

The closest liquor.
13 locals recommend
Swans Wine & Beer Shop
514 Pandora Ave
13 locals recommend
The closest liquor.
Excellent all around market, plus nice deli and bakery sections.
185 locals recommend
Market On Yates
903 Yates St
185 locals recommend
Excellent all around market, plus nice deli and bakery sections.

Sightseeing

See the houseboats, feed the fat seals, get some takeout fish & chips and eat at the picnic tables or just across the street in the park.
255 locals recommend
Fisherman's Wharf Park
12 Erie St
255 locals recommend
See the houseboats, feed the fat seals, get some takeout fish & chips and eat at the picnic tables or just across the street in the park.

Drinks & Nightlife

Our "local" pub with a great range of local beers on tap and a nice south facing patio. Can be busy but not as touristy a spot as the Irish pubs downtown.
37 locals recommend
Beagle Pub The
301 Cook St
37 locals recommend
Our "local" pub with a great range of local beers on tap and a nice south facing patio. Can be busy but not as touristy a spot as the Irish pubs downtown.