Alex + Matt's Victoria Guidebook
Drinks & Nightlife
Best selection of craft brews in the city - as well as really good pub fare. Casual atmosphere. Great spot for a pint and a bite of food. They have a patio out back that is part of Market Square. Really nice spot on a sunny afternoon.
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The Drake Eatery
517 Pandora AveBest selection of craft brews in the city - as well as really good pub fare. Casual atmosphere. Great spot for a pint and a bite of food. They have a patio out back that is part of Market Square. Really nice spot on a sunny afternoon.
Classic Victoria Brew Pub. Great for lunch, dinner or late-night.
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Swans Brewery, Pub & Hotel
506 Pandora AveClassic Victoria Brew Pub. Great for lunch, dinner or late-night.
Victoria's most famous beer exporters! Awesome tasting-room! They offer meat/cheese plates and large pretzels to go along with their beer. This is the cheapest place to buy their bottled/canned offerings, or fill a growler (there is an empty one in the kitchen). A must-visit if you are a beer fan.
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Phillips Brewing & Malting
2000 Government StVictoria's most famous beer exporters! Awesome tasting-room! They offer meat/cheese plates and large pretzels to go along with their beer. This is the cheapest place to buy their bottled/canned offerings, or fill a growler (there is an empty one in the kitchen). A must-visit if you are a beer fan.
Food Scene
Small but legendary local french bistro. Wonderful steak. They don't take reservations, often has a lineup. Arrive early for best chance at being seated quickly.
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Brasserie L'Ecole
1715 Government StSmall but legendary local french bistro. Wonderful steak. They don't take reservations, often has a lineup. Arrive early for best chance at being seated quickly.
Famous brunch spot, for good reason. Delicious, creative food. Has been featured on a few TV shows. Plan ahead as there are lineups almost all the time.
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Jam Cafe
542 Herald StFamous brunch spot, for good reason. Delicious, creative food. Has been featured on a few TV shows. Plan ahead as there are lineups almost all the time.
Great breakfast spot at a reasonable price. Can be busy, especially on weekends.
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Mo:Lé Restaurant
554 Pandora AveGreat breakfast spot at a reasonable price. Can be busy, especially on weekends.
Habit Coffee
808 Yates StIconic local coffee spot.
Very popular local coffee shop, in Chinatown. Our fav Americanos in the city.
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Bean Around The World
533 Fisgard StVery popular local coffee shop, in Chinatown. Our fav Americanos in the city.
Hey Happy
560 Johnson StMore coffee! Fun little shop on Lower Johnson.
Small little spot with great Indian food. Tasty lunch buffet.
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Sizzling Tandoor Downtown
637 Johnson StSmall little spot with great Indian food. Tasty lunch buffet.
Arguably the best patio in the city. Right on the water. Tasty food options. Stunning timber-frame heritage brick building. Live music on weekends. Great beer.
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Canoe Brewpub
450 Swift StArguably the best patio in the city. Right on the water. Tasty food options. Stunning timber-frame heritage brick building. Live music on weekends. Great beer.
Our favourite upscale dining option in Victoria. A local institution!
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Cafe Brio
944 Fort StOur favourite upscale dining option in Victoria. A local institution!
Local market hall, full of great lunch options and other local offerings. Definitely worth strolling through.
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I-Victoria Public Market ku-Hudson
1701 Douglas StLocal market hall, full of great lunch options and other local offerings. Definitely worth strolling through.
Very nice coffee spot in the Hudson Building. Local roaster/coffee shop - Bean roasting is done in-house.
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2% Jazz Coffee
1701 Douglas StVery nice coffee spot in the Hudson Building. Local roaster/coffee shop - Bean roasting is done in-house.
Discovery Coffee
281 Menzies StClassic Victoria coffee roaster/coffee shop.
II Terrazzo
555 Johnson StDelicious Italian fine dining.
A classic Victoria spot. Great food and drinks. Really cool garden patio in the back. They also have an upstairs location with a different menu.
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Ferris' Grill & Garden Patio
536 Yates StA classic Victoria spot. Great food and drinks. Really cool garden patio in the back. They also have an upstairs location with a different menu.
Fiamo Pizza & Wine Bar
515 Yates StMmmm Pizza. Done very well.
Fun little hole in the wall lunch spot and coffee bar. Best salad (Picnic Salad, add roasted chicken) in Victoria in our books! Very small spot, so it is tough to find seating for a group larger than 2.
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Picnic
506 Fort StFun little hole in the wall lunch spot and coffee bar. Best salad (Picnic Salad, add roasted chicken) in Victoria in our books! Very small spot, so it is tough to find seating for a group larger than 2.
Tacofino
760 Pandora AveDelicious west-coast inspired tacos in "taco alley".
La Taquisa
176 Wilson StMore great Mexican food!
Victoria's most authentic Mexican tacos. Fun atmosphere, good beer selections and margaritas.
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La Taqueria Pinche Taco Shop
766 Fort StVictoria's most authentic Mexican tacos. Fun atmosphere, good beer selections and margaritas.
OLO Restaurant
509 Fisgard StWonderful, locally-sourced restaurant.
Picnic Too
1019 Fort StKorean-inspired lunch offerings.
A fresh take on fish n chips. In an up-cycled shipping container, on the boardwalk - what's not to like? Can be quite busy depending on time of day.
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Red Fish Blue Fish
1006 Wharf StA fresh take on fish n chips. In an up-cycled shipping container, on the boardwalk - what's not to like? Can be quite busy depending on time of day.
Located in FanTan Alley (which is worth strolling through all on its own). The coolest little Ice Cream shop in town! Small batch Ice Cream with locally sourced ingredients. If you like Ice Cream, go here.
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Kid Sister Ice Cream
230 Cook StreetLocated in FanTan Alley (which is worth strolling through all on its own). The coolest little Ice Cream shop in town! Small batch Ice Cream with locally sourced ingredients. If you like Ice Cream, go here.
Great underground spot (physically it is underground). Kitchen stays open very late. Lots of tasty food options, and an expansive drink menu.
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The Mint Restaurant
1414 Douglas StGreat underground spot (physically it is underground). Kitchen stays open very late. Lots of tasty food options, and an expansive drink menu.
Shopping
Independently owned. Best in town. Wonderfully curated used/new bookstore.
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Russell Books
747 Fort StIndependently owned. Best in town. Wonderfully curated used/new bookstore.
Opus Art Supplies
512 Herald StGreat art supply shop. Fun place to poke around.
Trig Vintage
546 Herald StVintage furniture, trinkets and collectibles.
Hardware and so much more! This place has everything! A Victoria classic. Fun for browsing.
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Capital Iron
1900 Store StHardware and so much more! This place has everything! A Victoria classic. Fun for browsing.
Connecting Pandora Ave with Chinatown, a stroll through Fan Tan Alley is a must when visiting Victoria! It's a tight little brick corridor brimming with unique shops selling all sorts of interesting things.
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Fan Tan Alley
549 Fisgard StConnecting Pandora Ave with Chinatown, a stroll through Fan Tan Alley is a must when visiting Victoria! It's a tight little brick corridor brimming with unique shops selling all sorts of interesting things.
Sightseeing
Hotel Fairmont Empress
721 Government StLegislative Assembly of British Columbia
501 Belleville StDavid Foster Way
David Foster WayJohnson Street
Johnson StreetVictoria's shopping district.
A wonderful drive or bike-ride to take in the ocean-side beauty of Victoria.
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Dallas Road
Dallas RoadA wonderful drive or bike-ride to take in the ocean-side beauty of Victoria.
Canada's oldest Chinatown, 1 block from the loft! The markets are always bustling. Lots of interesting shops and restaurants to check out.
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Victoria Chinatown
500 Fisgard StCanada's oldest Chinatown, 1 block from the loft! The markets are always bustling. Lots of interesting shops and restaurants to check out.
Victoria's floating neighborhood! Take a strong on the docks to see many unique and funky floating homes. There is also a nice park for lounging on a sunny day, complete with children's playground.
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Iphakamisa Fisherman's Wharf
12 Erie StVictoria's floating neighborhood! Take a strong on the docks to see many unique and funky floating homes. There is also a nice park for lounging on a sunny day, complete with children's playground.
Stunning views in the evening light. Stroll out the lighthouse at the end on this long, concrete breakwater.
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The Breakwater
The BreakwaterStunning views in the evening light. Stroll out the lighthouse at the end on this long, concrete breakwater.
If you want to hit the beach from downtown Victoria, this is the closest spot. Beautiful views to Olympic National Park in the U.S. Wonderful pebble beach for strolling or lounging on driftwood. A nice option is to pick up some take-out food and picnic on the beach.
Spiral Beach
1119 Dallas RoadIf you want to hit the beach from downtown Victoria, this is the closest spot. Beautiful views to Olympic National Park in the U.S. Wonderful pebble beach for strolling or lounging on driftwood. A nice option is to pick up some take-out food and picnic on the beach.
Take a stroll along the Inner Harbour Causeway. Lots going on here in the summer. There will often be buskers performing, food/drink stands etc. Usually there are some interesting vintage boats and/or tall ships moored in the marina here.
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Inner Harbour Causeway
790 Government StTake a stroll along the Inner Harbour Causeway. Lots going on here in the summer. There will often be buskers performing, food/drink stands etc. Usually there are some interesting vintage boats and/or tall ships moored in the marina here.
Arts & Culture
I-Royal BC Museum
675 Belleville StThe Bateman Gallery
470 Belleville StCanada's largest collection of Asian art. Emily Carr always on display.
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Art Gallery of Greater Victoria
1040 Moss StCanada's largest collection of Asian art. Emily Carr always on display.
Madrona Gallery
606 View StWell-curated, frequently-changing contemporary exhibits.
Always something going on at the Mac. Across the road from the condo. Check their website for current shows. http://www.rmts.bc.ca/tickets-and-events/calendar
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McPherson Playhouse
3 Centennial SquareAlways something going on at the Mac. Across the road from the condo. Check their website for current shows. http://www.rmts.bc.ca/tickets-and-events/calendar
Historic Victoria Performance Hall. Check website for current shows. http://www.rmts.bc.ca/tickets-and-events/calendar
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Royal Theatre
805 Broughton StHistoric Victoria Performance Hall. Check website for current shows. http://www.rmts.bc.ca/tickets-and-events/calendar
Stunning community colour mural on Cormorant Street (between Blanshard and Quadra) by Victoria artist-in-residence, Luke Ramsey.
Cormorant Street
Cormorant StreetStunning community colour mural on Cormorant Street (between Blanshard and Quadra) by Victoria artist-in-residence, Luke Ramsey.
Parks & Nature
Our favourite place to run & hike. Approx. 15 minute drive from downtown. Beautiful trails and great views of the city from the top. You can also drive to the summit in the evening to catch a gorgeous sunset over the city. Parking can be busy both at the base and at the summit, especially on weekends.
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Ipharki yaseMount Douglas
4500 Cedar Hill RoadOur favourite place to run & hike. Approx. 15 minute drive from downtown. Beautiful trails and great views of the city from the top. You can also drive to the summit in the evening to catch a gorgeous sunset over the city. Parking can be busy both at the base and at the summit, especially on weekends.
Beautiful hiking trails. Great swimming hole in the summer. Can be quite busy in summer months.
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Thetis Lake Regional Park
Beautiful hiking trails. Great swimming hole in the summer. Can be quite busy in summer months.
Beautiful Old-Growth forest, just outside the city. Great walking/hiking/running trails. For the adventurous. Hike up Mt. Finlayson (not for those with a fear of heights) from this starting point.
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Goldstream Provincial Park
Beautiful Old-Growth forest, just outside the city. Great walking/hiking/running trails. For the adventurous. Hike up Mt. Finlayson (not for those with a fear of heights) from this starting point.
Quick drive or hike to the summit will reward you with beautiful views of the city. Some nice trails, but not as expansive or lush as Mt Douglas Park.
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Mount Tolmie
Quick drive or hike to the summit will reward you with beautiful views of the city. Some nice trails, but not as expansive or lush as Mt Douglas Park.
Scenic 10km walking/running trail around the lake. Fairly flat. Also home to the Canadian National Rowing Team.
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Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park
5267 Patricia Bay HighwayScenic 10km walking/running trail around the lake. Fairly flat. Also home to the Canadian National Rowing Team.
Essentials
Great, reasonably-priced produce and hard-to-find Asian ingredients.
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Fisgard Market Ltd
550 Fisgard StGreat, reasonably-priced produce and hard-to-find Asian ingredients.
Closest full-sized grocery store to the loft. Approx. 5 block walk.
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Market On Yates
903 Yates StClosest full-sized grocery store to the loft. Approx. 5 block walk.