Victoria guidebook
Food scene
There are some lovely restaurants nearby which we recommend you check out. Below are some of our favourites. Almost all are just a block or two away. It’s recommended to call ahead for a reservation as Victoria can get rather busy, especially on the weekends. We hope you enjoy!
Cozy, urban speakeasy providing a chill atmosphere, an imaginative, elevated menu & craft cocktails. A personal favourite. Having trouble choosing? You can’t go wrong with this crowd-pleaser for a nice dinner.
95 locals recommend
Little Jumbo Restaurant and Bar
506 Fort StCozy, urban speakeasy providing a chill atmosphere, an imaginative, elevated menu & craft cocktails. A personal favourite. Having trouble choosing? You can’t go wrong with this crowd-pleaser for a nice dinner.
Simple yet stylish setting for sophisticated Pacific Northwest dishes & global wines.
58 locals recommend
OLO Restaurant
509 Fisgard StSimple yet stylish setting for sophisticated Pacific Northwest dishes & global wines.
Dockside seafood restaurant known for its creative, hand-roll-style tacos. Open seasonally. Seafood tacos on the dock. Perfect outdoor lunch option for a warm sunny day.
163 locals recommend
Red Fish Blue Fish
1006 Wharf StDockside seafood restaurant known for its creative, hand-roll-style tacos. Open seasonally. Seafood tacos on the dock. Perfect outdoor lunch option for a warm sunny day.
Hip bar & eatery serving ribs, sandwiches & regional craft beers in a brick-walled space. Reasonably priced!
119 locals recommend
The Drake Eatery
517 Pandora AveHip bar & eatery serving ribs, sandwiches & regional craft beers in a brick-walled space. Reasonably priced!
Intimate fixture featuring Spanish tapas, wine & cocktails in a warm atmosphere, plus patio seating.
33 locals recommend
Bodega
1210 Broad StIntimate fixture featuring Spanish tapas, wine & cocktails in a warm atmosphere, plus patio seating.
Long-running, old-fashioned Chinese institution offering dim sum & other Cantonese & Sichuan plates.
32 locals recommend
Don Mee
538 Fisgard StLong-running, old-fashioned Chinese institution offering dim sum & other Cantonese & Sichuan plates.
Celebrated brasserie for French fare & wine served in bustling, unpretentious quarters.
119 locals recommend
Brasserie L'Ecole
1715 Government StCelebrated brasserie for French fare & wine served in bustling, unpretentious quarters.
Casual, narrow venue for modern Japanese izakaya-style dishes, bowls & tapas, plus sake. Excellent sushi and some very creative Japanese dishes.
65 locals recommend
Nubo Japanese Tapas
739 Pandora AveCasual, narrow venue for modern Japanese izakaya-style dishes, bowls & tapas, plus sake. Excellent sushi and some very creative Japanese dishes.
Menbow Ramen Bar -- Authentic Japanese Ramen
1018 Blanshard StreetAuthentic Japanese ramen. Best ramen in the city.
Intimate, candlelit Italian nook with brick fireplaces, patio seating & a notable wine list.
244 locals recommend
II Terrazzo
555 Johnson StIntimate, candlelit Italian nook with brick fireplaces, patio seating & a notable wine list.
Pasta dishes & other Italian staples served at this stalwart eatery with kitschy decor & live music.
126 locals recommend
Pagliacci's
1011 Broad StPasta dishes & other Italian staples served at this stalwart eatery with kitschy decor & live music.
Jones Bar-B-Que
1725 Cook StTraditional Texan barbecue.
Charming brick-lined eatery featuring all-you-can-eat vegan & vegetarian meals, along with juices. Lovely vegetarian buffet.
34 locals recommend
Green Cuisine Vegetarian Restaurant
Charming brick-lined eatery featuring all-you-can-eat vegan & vegetarian meals, along with juices. Lovely vegetarian buffet.
Contemporary vegetarian eatery with a low-key vibe, plus a selection of juices, wine & beer.
55 locals recommend
Rebar
50 Bastion SquareContemporary vegetarian eatery with a low-key vibe, plus a selection of juices, wine & beer.
Bar scene
Polished venue offering classic & creative cocktails, eclectic small plates & comfort grub. Best cocktails in the city.
48 locals recommend
Clive's Classic Lounge
740 Burdett AvePolished venue offering classic & creative cocktails, eclectic small plates & comfort grub. Best cocktails in the city.
Art galleries
Has the largest collection of works out of any art museum in British Columbia, with approximately 20,000 works in its permanent collection. Variety of art, including pieces from Canada & Asia, plus gardens with a Japanese Shinto shrine.
111 locals recommend
Art Gallery of Greater Victoria
1040 Moss StHas the largest collection of works out of any art museum in British Columbia, with approximately 20,000 works in its permanent collection. Variety of art, including pieces from Canada & Asia, plus gardens with a Japanese Shinto shrine.
Madrona Gallery
606 View StA small contemporary and historic fine art gallery.
Cinemas
Capital 6 Theatres
805 Yates StCineplex Odeon Victoria Cinemas
780 Yates StIMAX
675 Belleville StSports Stadium
Large indoor arena hosting hockey games & live entertainment such as concerts & stand-up comedy. Home of the Victoria Royals.
48 locals recommend
Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre
1925 Blanshard StLarge indoor arena hosting hockey games & live entertainment such as concerts & stand-up comedy. Home of the Victoria Royals.
Museums
This museum showcases artifacts, documents and specimens of British Columbia’s natural and human history. Includes an extensive Indigenous collection and an IMAX movie theatre.
534 locals recommend
Royal BC Museum
675 Belleville StThis museum showcases artifacts, documents and specimens of British Columbia’s natural and human history. Includes an extensive Indigenous collection and an IMAX movie theatre.
Sightseeing
A popular walk that follows a cement structure out onto the Juan de Fuca Strait to a lighthouse on its furthest end. The area gives people an opportunity to see Victoria's busy harbour traffic as cruise ships, ferries, sailboats, float planes, helicopters and more all pass through the area to reach Victoria.
46 locals recommend
The Breakwater
The BreakwaterA popular walk that follows a cement structure out onto the Juan de Fuca Strait to a lighthouse on its furthest end. The area gives people an opportunity to see Victoria's busy harbour traffic as cruise ships, ferries, sailboats, float planes, helicopters and more all pass through the area to reach Victoria.
This unique marine destination offers food kiosks, unique shops and eco-tour adventures amongst fishing vessels, pleasure boats with live-aboard residents, float homes, and commercial businesses. The wharf is a great destination for those seeking fresh fish or seafood.
23 locals recommend
Fisherman's Wharf Park
12 Erie StreetThis unique marine destination offers food kiosks, unique shops and eco-tour adventures amongst fishing vessels, pleasure boats with live-aboard residents, float homes, and commercial businesses. The wharf is a great destination for those seeking fresh fish or seafood.
A breathtaking collection of botanical gardens spread over 22 hectares. Featuring eateries and seasonal entertainment. Designated a National History Site of Canada.
388 locals recommend
The Butchart Gardens
800 Benvenuto AveA breathtaking collection of botanical gardens spread over 22 hectares. Featuring eateries and seasonal entertainment. Designated a National History Site of Canada.
Elegant 200-acre Victorian park with trees & landscaped gardens, ponds & peacocks. The crowning jewel in Victoria's park system. Don’t miss the petting zoo!
503 locals recommend
Beacon Hill Park
100 Cook StElegant 200-acre Victorian park with trees & landscaped gardens, ponds & peacocks. The crowning jewel in Victoria's park system. Don’t miss the petting zoo!