Drinks & Nightlife
Veneto has fabulous bar tenders who make awesome cocktails and they also have a great happy hour with food.
We tend to meet friends here after work on a regular basis.
9 locals recommend
Veneto Tapa Lounge - Hotel Rialto
1450 Douglas StreetVeneto has fabulous bar tenders who make awesome cocktails and they also have a great happy hour with food.
We tend to meet friends here after work on a regular basis.
This is an English style neighborhood pub nearby in Oak Bay Village. It is very popular with the locals and has great pub foods and a good selection of drinks including Karen's favorite Gin, Victoria Gin!
53 locals recommend
Penny Farthing Public House
2228 Oak Bay AveThis is an English style neighborhood pub nearby in Oak Bay Village. It is very popular with the locals and has great pub foods and a good selection of drinks including Karen's favorite Gin, Victoria Gin!
Another English style pub nearby on Fort Street with many regulars. The original house was built in 1898 and their is a 1905 Rockway Coupe on display at the front entrance.
This is a good place to go if you want to watch a sports game on TV and enjoy some classic pub food.
Say Hi to Terry behind the bar - he was once a roommate and is really nice.
19 locals recommend
Christie's Carriage House Pub
1739 Fort StAnother English style pub nearby on Fort Street with many regulars. The original house was built in 1898 and their is a 1905 Rockway Coupe on display at the front entrance.
This is a good place to go if you want to watch a sports game on TV and enjoy some classic pub food.
Say Hi to Terry behind the bar - he was once a roommate and is really nice.
Food Scene
This is THE BEST French restaurant in town. The French Onion soup is always on the menu and never lets you down. The food is always fresh and of high quality. The wait staff are excellent and can recommend wine/beer pairings to go with your meal. They do not take reservations but are worth the wait in line. You can put your name down and they will text you when a table is free. In the meantime you can explore China Town or go have a drink at Veneto Tapa Lounge.
119 locals recommend
Brasserie L'Ecole
1715 Government StThis is THE BEST French restaurant in town. The French Onion soup is always on the menu and never lets you down. The food is always fresh and of high quality. The wait staff are excellent and can recommend wine/beer pairings to go with your meal. They do not take reservations but are worth the wait in line. You can put your name down and they will text you when a table is free. In the meantime you can explore China Town or go have a drink at Veneto Tapa Lounge.
I like this little coffee shop over the usual Starbucks.
They have limited food offerings however their homemade 'pop-tarts' are always yummy and fresh and the coffee is good!
13 locals recommend
Hide + Seek Coffee
2207 Oak Bay AveI like this little coffee shop over the usual Starbucks.
They have limited food offerings however their homemade 'pop-tarts' are always yummy and fresh and the coffee is good!
Ruth & Dean is more than a café, it is one of my favorite lunch spots downtown during the work week. It is a family owned business and they make absolutely delicious cakes, in fact they made our wedding cake! The food has never disappointed me - the menu is changed often and is not big (only a few choices). They only have a few small tables so be sure to get in before the lunch rush!
7 locals recommend
Ruth & Dean - Luncheonette & Bakery
2509 Estevan AvenueRuth & Dean is more than a café, it is one of my favorite lunch spots downtown during the work week. It is a family owned business and they make absolutely delicious cakes, in fact they made our wedding cake! The food has never disappointed me - the menu is changed often and is not big (only a few choices). They only have a few small tables so be sure to get in before the lunch rush!
Okay this coffee shop is really a 'Hipster' place but I love it and I am not ashamed to say it.
It has a great patio, coffee and donuts by Johnny, which a super delicious! Try the Pina Colada or Earl Grey donut with your coffee.
104 locals recommend
Discovery Coffee
281 Menzies StOkay this coffee shop is really a 'Hipster' place but I love it and I am not ashamed to say it.
It has a great patio, coffee and donuts by Johnny, which a super delicious! Try the Pina Colada or Earl Grey donut with your coffee.
Love this place, it is not really big but has a patio. So if the weather is good you can sit outside.
The restaurant is attached to Fol Epi Bakery another favorite of mine. You can also eat in the bakery.
Their baguette sandwiches are always fresh and the bread is awesome!
24 locals recommend
Agrius
732 Yates StLove this place, it is not really big but has a patio. So if the weather is good you can sit outside.
The restaurant is attached to Fol Epi Bakery another favorite of mine. You can also eat in the bakery.
Their baguette sandwiches are always fresh and the bread is awesome!
Best Authentic Italian restaurant in Victoria! Great place for a date night or sunday brunch.
The food and service never disappoint.
49 locals recommend
Zambri's
820 Yates StBest Authentic Italian restaurant in Victoria! Great place for a date night or sunday brunch.
The food and service never disappoint.
Getting Around
Oak Bay Bicycles rents variety of bicycles and is just a few blocks away from our house. If you rent bicycles from them during your stay with us you can keep the locked up in our backyard.
Oak Bay Bicycles
1990 Oak Bay AveOak Bay Bicycles rents variety of bicycles and is just a few blocks away from our house. If you rent bicycles from them during your stay with us you can keep the locked up in our backyard.
Essentials
Save-On-Foods is a large grocery store chain that has everything you may need for your food shopping needs.
It is located just 2 blocks away.
Be sure to bring a recyclable shopping bag to save a few cent's as they now charge customers for plastic bags.
43 locals recommend
Save-On-Foods
1950 Foul Bay RdSave-On-Foods is a large grocery store chain that has everything you may need for your food shopping needs.
It is located just 2 blocks away.
Be sure to bring a recyclable shopping bag to save a few cent's as they now charge customers for plastic bags.
This is a local grocery store that has an excellent butcher and makes great sandwiches. Food items are a bit pricier here than Save-On-Foods.
42 locals recommend
Red Barn Market
1933 Oak Bay AveThis is a local grocery store that has an excellent butcher and makes great sandwiches. Food items are a bit pricier here than Save-On-Foods.
This is a Signature BC Liquor store which means it has a larger selection of alcohol than the regular BC Liquor stores. These stores a government run and usually a bit less expensive than other private stores.
41 locals recommend
BC Liquor Stores
1960 Foul Bay RdThis is a Signature BC Liquor store which means it has a larger selection of alcohol than the regular BC Liquor stores. These stores a government run and usually a bit less expensive than other private stores.
Parks & Nature
Willows Beach is a beautiful sandy city beach where you will see people playing beach volleyball and enjoying the water and sunshine. There is a washroom, playground, and Kiwanis food stand where you can dine in or get take away to enjoy on a bench nearby or the grassy field. This park is also home to the Oak Bay Tea Party in June.
170 locals recommend
Willows Beach
EsplanadeWillows Beach is a beautiful sandy city beach where you will see people playing beach volleyball and enjoying the water and sunshine. There is a washroom, playground, and Kiwanis food stand where you can dine in or get take away to enjoy on a bench nearby or the grassy field. This park is also home to the Oak Bay Tea Party in June.
A heritage garden property in Victoria, BC. Created by Prince and Princess Abkhazi in the mid to late-1940s and maintained and improved by them throughout their life together. Currently being restored to its former glory.
56 locals recommend
The Teahouse at Abkhazi Garden
1964 Fairfield RdA heritage garden property in Victoria, BC. Created by Prince and Princess Abkhazi in the mid to late-1940s and maintained and improved by them throughout their life together. Currently being restored to its former glory.
The Government House grounds embrace 14.6 hectares (36 acres), including 8.9 hectares (22 acres) of a rare Garry Oak ecosystem, and 5.7 hectares (14 acres) of formal gardens.
The gardens are free to walk around from dawn until dusk.
103 locals recommend
Government House
1401 Rockland AveThe Government House grounds embrace 14.6 hectares (36 acres), including 8.9 hectares (22 acres) of a rare Garry Oak ecosystem, and 5.7 hectares (14 acres) of formal gardens.
The gardens are free to walk around from dawn until dusk.
This Japanese Inspired Park is a ways out of town (30 minutes) in Metchosin and includes a Pottery Gallery. It is owned and operated by award-winning, internationally known ceramic artists Robin Hopper and Judi Dyelle.
The garden is open to the public by donation. Guided tours for groups of no fewer than six people can be arranged and generally take one to one and a half hours.
Contact # 250-474-2676
CHOSIN POTTERY INC.
4283 Metchosin RdThis Japanese Inspired Park is a ways out of town (30 minutes) in Metchosin and includes a Pottery Gallery. It is owned and operated by award-winning, internationally known ceramic artists Robin Hopper and Judi Dyelle.
The garden is open to the public by donation. Guided tours for groups of no fewer than six people can be arranged and generally take one to one and a half hours.
Contact # 250-474-2676
Beacon Hill Park
100 Cook StArts & Culture
I may be biased because I am a local but the Museum is not something to be missed.
You can also catch an IMAX movie here.
534 locals recommend
Royal BC Museum
675 Belleville StI may be biased because I am a local but the Museum is not something to be missed.
You can also catch an IMAX movie here.
Shopping
This is one of my favorite shops in Victoria for knick knacks, gifts, jewelry, luxury homewares, clothing and accessories....
It is located in the Oak Bay Village about a 10 minute walk from our house.
7 locals recommend
Nicholas Randall Ltd
2180 Oak Bay AveThis is one of my favorite shops in Victoria for knick knacks, gifts, jewelry, luxury homewares, clothing and accessories....
It is located in the Oak Bay Village about a 10 minute walk from our house.