Guidebook for Victoria
Food Scene
Awesome fish tacos etc. served out of a converted shipping container right on the water!
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Red Fish Blue Fish
1006 Wharf StAwesome fish tacos etc. served out of a converted shipping container right on the water!
Awesome breakfasts...worth the wait! Personal favorite is the chicken and waffles...and their bacon is excellent if you're a carnivore.
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Jam Cafe
542 Herald StAwesome breakfasts...worth the wait! Personal favorite is the chicken and waffles...and their bacon is excellent if you're a carnivore.
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.
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Fishhook
805 Fort StTartines are excellent and cheap. The Biryani of the Day is always fantastic too. Same owner as Red Fish Blue Fish down on the wharf.
Excellent French bakery with a nice outdoor seating area right on Yates.
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Fol Epi
398 Harbour RdExcellent French bakery with a nice outdoor seating area right on Yates.
If you want a nice little walk over the old Johnson St bridge and along the Galloping Goose trail check out this location of Fol Epi.
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Fol Epi
398 Harbour RdIf you want a nice little walk over the old Johnson St bridge and along the Galloping Goose trail check out this location of Fol Epi.
Habit Coffee
808 Yates StExcellent alternative to coffee chains!
This is a great little place for breakfast or brunch. It's worth the stroll since Cook St village area is a must wander.
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Bubby Rose's Bakery & Cafe
1022 Cook StThis is a great little place for breakfast or brunch. It's worth the stroll since Cook St village area is a must wander.
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.
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Moss Street Market
1330 Fairfield RdTHE 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.
I 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.
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IL Covo Trattoria
106 Superior StI 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.
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 (untested).
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Pizzeria Prima Strada
230 Cook StFantastic 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 (untested).
This place looks like nothing from the street but their Cafe Mocha is legit!!
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Discovery Coffee
281 Menzies StThis place looks like nothing from the street but their Cafe Mocha is legit!!
A wonderful vegetarian option...too busy on theatre nights but a perfect place any other time! Nice vibe and everything is good.
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Be Love
1019 Blanshard StA wonderful vegetarian option...too busy on theatre nights but a perfect place any other time! Nice vibe and everything is good.
Excellent Pad Thai and noodle bowls etc. Step up to the counter, grab some takeout and head to the beach!
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Foo Asian Street Food
769 Yates StExcellent Pad Thai and noodle bowls etc. Step up to the counter, grab some takeout and head to the beach!
Because Tacofino!
The very definition of a hole-in-the wall place in the burgeoning little Mexico on Yates at Douglas. Communal tables, nice and grungy, great (and filling!) tacos with real Queso. One Yam taco and some chips and a huge beer and you're set.
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Tacofino
760 Pandora AveBecause Tacofino!
The very definition of a hole-in-the wall place in the burgeoning little Mexico on Yates at Douglas. Communal tables, nice and grungy, great (and filling!) tacos with real Queso. One Yam taco and some chips and a huge beer and you're set.
Simple, local, healthy food beautifully cooked and presented. Usually lots of vegetarian options. I nice location and a nice walk from the loft around the harbour past the Gov't buildings.
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Nourish Kitchen & Cafe
225 Quebec StreetSimple, local, healthy food beautifully cooked and presented. Usually lots of vegetarian options. I nice location and a nice walk from the loft around the harbour past the Gov't buildings.
In our humble opinion the best (and maybe the most understated) sushi place in Victoria. In a little strip mall near a Mac's...but a casual place to sit or do what we usually do and grab some beer or cider from the liquor store next to the Thrifty's nearby and walk down 4 blocks to eat your sushi on the beach!
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Sushi Matsuri
239 Menzies StIn our humble opinion the best (and maybe the most understated) sushi place in Victoria. In a little strip mall near a Mac's...but a casual place to sit or do what we usually do and grab some beer or cider from the liquor store next to the Thrifty's nearby and walk down 4 blocks to eat your sushi on the beach!
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!
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The Hot and Cold Cafe
313 Cook StreetNice 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!
Great, great selection of really good pastries and nice looking (untested) bread. Just a short walk up Fort.
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Crust Bakery
730 Fort StGreat, great selection of really good pastries and nice looking (untested) bread. Just a short walk up Fort.
Really one of the best little coffee shops on the island! Non-descript and hidden off the main drag but great coffee, beans, iced coffee etc. Total favorite!
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The Stick In The Mud Coffee House
6711 Eustace RdReally one of the best little coffee shops on the island! Non-descript and hidden off the main drag but great coffee, beans, iced coffee etc. Total favorite!
Fantastic stop for lunch or baked goods on your way west! Phillip the owner is a madman...and his food is awesome!
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Shirley Delicious
2794 Sheringham Point RdFantastic stop for lunch or baked goods on your way west! Phillip the owner is a madman...and his food is awesome!
This is a really special place...truly fine dining in a beautiful location. The harvest a lot of produce from the gardens on the premises and take great care with everything. This is one of our "special occasion" spots when budget is not so much a factor...worth every penny!
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Sooke Harbour House Hotel & Resort
1528 Whiffin Spit RdThis is a really special place...truly fine dining in a beautiful location. The harvest a lot of produce from the gardens on the premises and take great care with everything. This is one of our "special occasion" spots when budget is not so much a factor...worth every penny!
Along with Sooke Harbour House a favorite of ours for that special, once a year dinner! Beautiful view over the water (ask if you can book a window table) and always excellent food. Their lunches are less pricey if you're passing by...definitely worth the trip!
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Point No Point Resort
10829 W Coast RdAlong with Sooke Harbour House a favorite of ours for that special, once a year dinner! Beautiful view over the water (ask if you can book a window table) and always excellent food. Their lunches are less pricey if you're passing by...definitely worth the trip!
OK...I can't map Cold Shoulder Cafe for some reason...but you have to stop! Super cool little cafe with awesome home baked goods and very laid back surfer vibe. This was my oasis on lots of long bike rides out west!
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Jordan River
OK...I can't map Cold Shoulder Cafe for some reason...but you have to stop! Super cool little cafe with awesome home baked goods and very laid back surfer vibe. This was my oasis on lots of long bike rides out west!
Cheap and tasty Thai food. This is our go-to when our other places nearby (belove and Fishhook) are too packed. Plus, a Thai friend says this is the best Thai food in town...so that's good enough for us!
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Baan Thai Wok & Bar
1117 Blanshard StCheap and tasty Thai food. This is our go-to when our other places nearby (belove and Fishhook) are too packed. Plus, a Thai friend says this is the best Thai food in town...so that's good enough for us!
Very chill local coffee spot..from the loft just down historic Waddington alley on Johnson St.
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Hey Happy
560 Johnson StVery chill local coffee spot..from the loft just down historic Waddington alley on Johnson St.
Saint Cecilia
535 Yates StVery stylish european coffee house.
Get a local brew and sit in the Market square courtyard.
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Whistle Buoy Brewing Company
560 Johnson StGet a local brew and sit in the Market square courtyard.
Sizzling Tandoor Downtown
637 Johnson StThe best Indian food in town!
The Drake Eatery
517 Pandora AveBeer flights. Hipster beard recommended but not required.
Parks & Nature
Moss Rock Park
Our own little Central Park. Duck ponds, planted areas, private picnic spots, a petting zoo!
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Beacon Hill Park
100 Cook StOur own little Central Park. Duck ponds, planted areas, private picnic spots, a petting zoo!
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...
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Clover Point Park
1250 Dallas RdFor 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...
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!
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Government House
1401 Rockland AveA 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!
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.
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Iphakamisa Fisherman's Wharf
12 Erie StSee 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.
Essentials
Excellent all around market, plus nice deli and bakery sections.
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Market On Yates
903 Yates StExcellent all around market, plus nice deli and bakery sections.
Swans Wine & Beer Shop
514 Pandora AveClosest liquor store.
Drinks & Nightlife
Our "local" with an excellent range of local beers on tap. Low key, usually pretty busy...with a nice new outdoor patio on the south side.
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Beagle Pub The
301 Cook StOur "local" with an excellent range of local beers on tap. Low key, usually pretty busy...with a nice new outdoor patio on the south side.