Food Scene
My favourite places to eat.
It is just down the road and is a little hole in the wall with excellent and very well priced Japanese food, The Bento boxes at lunch time are a bargain. The sushi and sashimi is very good.
8 locals recommend
Sushi Field
1594 Fairfield RdIt is just down the road and is a little hole in the wall with excellent and very well priced Japanese food, The Bento boxes at lunch time are a bargain. The sushi and sashimi is very good.
Shine Cafe
1324 Blanshard St10 mn walk up St Charles to Fort Street. Good breakfasts.
Imaginative breakfast and lunch menu. 10 minute drive away on Oak Bay Avenue.
21 locals recommend
Vis-a-Vis
2232 Oak Bay AveImaginative breakfast and lunch menu. 10 minute drive away on Oak Bay Avenue.
Fabulous ocean views and often evening music upstairs. Good selection of local beer. Downstairs has better food options: Good fish and chips and charcuterie selection.
62 locals recommend
Breakwater Cafe . Bistro . Bar
199 Dallas RdFabulous ocean views and often evening music upstairs. Good selection of local beer. Downstairs has better food options: Good fish and chips and charcuterie selection.
Vast selection of imaginative Japanese dishes. Sophisticated and good value bento box at lunch time. Modern interior.
65 locals recommend
Nubo Japanese Tapas
739 Pandora AveVast selection of imaginative Japanese dishes. Sophisticated and good value bento box at lunch time. Modern interior.
Very tasty, well priced Thai restaurant. Large portions. Opposite Save-On Foods grocery store.
16 locals recommend
Baan Thai Wok & Bar (Oak Bay)
2000 Cadboro Bay RdVery tasty, well priced Thai restaurant. Large portions. Opposite Save-On Foods grocery store.
Although a small Chinatown, there is a good selection of restaurants here, food shops and gift stores.
124 locals recommend
Victoria's Chinatown
500 Fisgard StAlthough a small Chinatown, there is a good selection of restaurants here, food shops and gift stores.
Jam Cafe
542 Herald StGreat breakfast or brunch destination..
II Terrazzo
555 Johnson StGood Italian fusion restaurant
Hip restaurant downtown. Part of a chain so the meals are consistent.
19 locals recommend
Cactus Club Cafe
1125 Douglas StHip restaurant downtown. Part of a chain so the meals are consistent.
A chain restaurant with consistent good meals and its inner harbour position means you have a wonderful view of the inner harbour and the parliament buildings.
53 locals recommend
Milestones
2401 Millstream RdA chain restaurant with consistent good meals and its inner harbour position means you have a wonderful view of the inner harbour and the parliament buildings.
This pub has brilliant views across the harbour to downtown Victoria. You can get there from downtown inner harbour opposite the Empress Hotel, by the little harbour ferries. The drive is about 8 mins from downtown over the Johnson Street bridge. The food is just okay a lot of the time but it has its own brewery.
148 locals recommend
Spinnakers Gastro Brewpub & GuestHouses
308 Catherine StThis pub has brilliant views across the harbour to downtown Victoria. You can get there from downtown inner harbour opposite the Empress Hotel, by the little harbour ferries. The drive is about 8 mins from downtown over the Johnson Street bridge. The food is just okay a lot of the time but it has its own brewery.
I didn't have the choice of describing it as a "Food Truck" which is what it is essentially. Really good fish and chips, fish tacos , fish burgers and other seafood treats at good prices.
163 locals recommend
Red Fish Blue Fish
1006 Wharf StI didn't have the choice of describing it as a "Food Truck" which is what it is essentially. Really good fish and chips, fish tacos , fish burgers and other seafood treats at good prices.
Very good breakfasts: generous servings and well priced/ Be prepared for a queue.
106 locals recommend
Blue Fox Cafe
919 Fort StVery good breakfasts: generous servings and well priced/ Be prepared for a queue.
Fisherman's Wharf is a small but nice little place to visit. There are colourful houseboats and various cafes for a quick meal including fish and chips. You can get here by taking a little harbour ferry from the inner harbour or just drive from downtown. There are usually seals to watch as they bob up and down, hoping for a morsel.
255 locals recommend
Fisherman's Wharf Park
12 Erie StFisherman's Wharf is a small but nice little place to visit. There are colourful houseboats and various cafes for a quick meal including fish and chips. You can get here by taking a little harbour ferry from the inner harbour or just drive from downtown. There are usually seals to watch as they bob up and down, hoping for a morsel.
Sightseeing
An iconic and majestic hotel downtown. Wander inside and perhaps indulge in their expensive but elegant high tea.
194 locals recommend
Hotel Fairmont Empress
721 Government StAn iconic and majestic hotel downtown. Wander inside and perhaps indulge in their expensive but elegant high tea.
The parliament buildings are as iconic to downtown Victoria as the Empress Hotel. At dusk the building is totally lit and is a pretty sight. There are daily tours available and also a well priced dining room inside for breakfast and lunch.
218 locals recommend
Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
501 Belleville StThe parliament buildings are as iconic to downtown Victoria as the Empress Hotel. At dusk the building is totally lit and is a pretty sight. There are daily tours available and also a well priced dining room inside for breakfast and lunch.
Government House is a few minutes walk away. The extensive grounds are open to the public and there is a quaint tea room and small museum on the grounds. In July, there are 3 outdoor evening concerts when you can sit on the lawns and have your own picnic dinner.
103 locals recommend
Government House
1401 Rockland AveGovernment House is a few minutes walk away. The extensive grounds are open to the public and there is a quaint tea room and small museum on the grounds. In July, there are 3 outdoor evening concerts when you can sit on the lawns and have your own picnic dinner.
This "castle" was built by a Scottish land baron who made Victoria his home. There are daily tours of the house. Be prepared to climb the stairs. There are special seasonal events held there from time to time.
234 locals recommend
Craigdarroch Castle
1050 Joan CrescentThis "castle" was built by a Scottish land baron who made Victoria his home. There are daily tours of the house. Be prepared to climb the stairs. There are special seasonal events held there from time to time.
Arts & Culture
Large and interesting natural history museum with a floor for the history of the First Nations people. There is usually a special exhibition of international interest. During the summer there are food truck behind the museum. There are First Nations carved poles in the garden area.
534 locals recommend
Royal BC Museum
675 Belleville StLarge and interesting natural history museum with a floor for the history of the First Nations people. There is usually a special exhibition of international interest. During the summer there are food truck behind the museum. There are First Nations carved poles in the garden area.
Relatively small art gallery but charming and houses special collections including a special collection by Emily Carr, an early artist who grew up in Victoria and is considered an Canadian icon.
111 locals recommend
Art Gallery of Greater Victoria
1040 Moss StRelatively small art gallery but charming and houses special collections including a special collection by Emily Carr, an early artist who grew up in Victoria and is considered an Canadian icon.
Emily Carr House
207 Government StThis is the home of Emily Carr
Entertainment & Activities
If you haven't seen a movie or film in an Imax theatre, it is worth the breathtaking experience and the queues in Victoria are not too long.
56 locals recommend
IMAX
675 Belleville StIf you haven't seen a movie or film in an Imax theatre, it is worth the breathtaking experience and the queues in Victoria are not too long.
Our local Pacific Opera company has 3 productions a year in November, February and April. High quality performances. The Victoria Symphony Orchestra also performs here. Check their website for the schedule of performances and concerts.
39 locals recommend
Royal Theatre
805 Broughton StOur local Pacific Opera company has 3 productions a year in November, February and April. High quality performances. The Victoria Symphony Orchestra also performs here. Check their website for the schedule of performances and concerts.
There are quality plays at this charming and intimate theatre which is very close by. Look on the Belfry website for performances. There is usually something playing here. There are often options for last minute cheap tickets.
61 locals recommend
Belfry Theatre
1291 Gladstone AveThere are quality plays at this charming and intimate theatre which is very close by. Look on the Belfry website for performances. There is usually something playing here. There are often options for last minute cheap tickets.
This little, charming theatre is close by off Rockland Avenue, and features interesting plays performed by amateur actors. Tickets are reasonable, particularly during the Fringe Festival in August.
7 locals recommend
Langham Court Theatre
805 Langham CtThis little, charming theatre is close by off Rockland Avenue, and features interesting plays performed by amateur actors. Tickets are reasonable, particularly during the Fringe Festival in August.
McPherson Playhouse
3 Centennial SquareLarge theatre with various events and concerts.
Parks & Nature
This huge park, as big as Central Park in NYC, has vast lawn areas, duck ponds, a putting green, beautiful plants, a large variety of mature trees, a petting zoo containing farm animals that adults who have always lived in a city might enjoy, as well as the children. There are peacocks and squirrels wandering around. Find a peaceful spot and skygaze!
503 locals recommend
Beacon Hill Park
100 Cook StThis huge park, as big as Central Park in NYC, has vast lawn areas, duck ponds, a putting green, beautiful plants, a large variety of mature trees, a petting zoo containing farm animals that adults who have always lived in a city might enjoy, as well as the children. There are peacocks and squirrels wandering around. Find a peaceful spot and skygaze!
Essentials
BC Liquor Stores
1960 Foul Bay RdOpen Sundays as well.
Starbucks
Starbucks coffee. 10 minute walk.
10 minute walk. Pharmacy/drug store with a good selection of cosmetics and toiletries, first aid items etc. Not open late.
9 locals recommend
Heart Pharmacy IDA - Fairfield
1594 Fairfield Rd10 minute walk. Pharmacy/drug store with a good selection of cosmetics and toiletries, first aid items etc. Not open late.
10 minute walk. Good selection of groceries, fresh fruit, vegetables, fish, meat, cheese, bread, ready made food. Open until midnight. Thrifty Foods is one of the major supermarket chains in the Province.
138 locals recommend
Thrifty Foods
1580 Hillside Ave10 minute walk. Good selection of groceries, fresh fruit, vegetables, fish, meat, cheese, bread, ready made food. Open until midnight. Thrifty Foods is one of the major supermarket chains in the Province.
TD Canada Trust Branch and ATM
1568 Fairfield Rd10 minute walk. Bank with external ATM machines
Getting Around
When approaching Fort Street from my house, cross over to the other side of the road to go downtown. Stay on closer side to go to the university or Oak Bay.
14 locals recommend
Fort Street
Fort StreetWhen approaching Fort Street from my house, cross over to the other side of the road to go downtown. Stay on closer side to go to the university or Oak Bay.