Guidebook for Victoria
Food Scene
Sushi Matsuri
239 Menzies St Great sushi in a cozy setting
Enjoy locally roasted coffee and try a doughnut from Yonni's Doughnuts with it!
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Discovery Coffee
281 Menzies StEnjoy locally roasted coffee and try a doughnut from Yonni's Doughnuts with it!
Excellent for brunch, lunch, dinner, and drinks. Great beer and cocktail selection too.
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Heron Rock Bistro
435 Simcoe StExcellent for brunch, lunch, dinner, and drinks. Great beer and cocktail selection too.
Victoria's most well know tea shop, Murchie's also stocks amazing pastries and desserts! Great for rainy days and people-watching
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Murchie's Tea & Coffee
1110 Government StVictoria's most well know tea shop, Murchie's also stocks amazing pastries and desserts! Great for rainy days and people-watching
A lovely tea room in the heart of Victoria's Chinatown, Venus Sophia is vegetarian but you wouldn't even know it!
Venus Sophia Tea Room & Vegetarian Eatery
540 Fisgard StA lovely tea room in the heart of Victoria's Chinatown, Venus Sophia is vegetarian but you wouldn't even know it!
Arguably Victoria's favourite breakfast/brunch restaurant, prepare to wake up early and wait in line. We promise it is worth the wait though! Peak times are Saturdays and Sundays - during the week it is a bit slower.
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Jam Cafe
542 Herald StArguably Victoria's favourite breakfast/brunch restaurant, prepare to wake up early and wait in line. We promise it is worth the wait though! Peak times are Saturdays and Sundays - during the week it is a bit slower.
Acacia's favourite Victoria restaurant! Locally sourced meals are made in small batches and can be quite eclectic so if you prefer plain food this might not be your place. Come after 5pm to catch the "fresh sheet" (fresh specials for the day), and Wednesdays are Pub Quiz night so arrive early if you'd like to participate. Live music also occurs some nights so check their website for the schedule. NQ is also open for brunch on Saturdays and Sundays and comes highly recommended by Acacia.
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Northern Quarter
1724 Douglas StAcacia's favourite Victoria restaurant! Locally sourced meals are made in small batches and can be quite eclectic so if you prefer plain food this might not be your place. Come after 5pm to catch the "fresh sheet" (fresh specials for the day), and Wednesdays are Pub Quiz night so arrive early if you'd like to participate. Live music also occurs some nights so check their website for the schedule. NQ is also open for brunch on Saturdays and Sundays and comes highly recommended by Acacia.
Essentials
Liquor store owned by one of our local breweries; they stock their own beer as well as an excellent selection of other liquor and spirits. Open late
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Spinnakers Beer
435 Simcoe StLiquor store owned by one of our local breweries; they stock their own beer as well as an excellent selection of other liquor and spirits. Open late
Thrifty Foods
1495 Admirals RdLocal chain grocery store for all your essentials
Niagara Market
579 Niagara StSmall locally-owned grocery/convenience store. Stocks local and seasonal produce
Government run beer and liquor store; cheaper prices but most are not refrigerated so plan accordingly or visit Spinnaker's for their cold section
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BC Liquor Stores
1960 Foul Bay RdGovernment run beer and liquor store; cheaper prices but most are not refrigerated so plan accordingly or visit Spinnaker's for their cold section
Shopping
This is hands down our favourite thrift/second hand store! Every time you go in you find something neat and interesting, and you don't usually leave empty-handed
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Super Chance
435 Simcoe StThis is hands down our favourite thrift/second hand store! Every time you go in you find something neat and interesting, and you don't usually leave empty-handed
Every Saturday rain or shine 9am-3pm between May 6th and September 30th check out this excellent farmer's market! You will be amazed at the variety of products available at the James Bay Market including:
-handmade arts and crafts
-live music
-coffee, cold drinks and home baked treats
-fresh flowers
-locally grown fruit, vegetables
-hot and cold snacks
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James Bay Market - Saturdays (May To Sept)
494 Superior StEvery Saturday rain or shine 9am-3pm between May 6th and September 30th check out this excellent farmer's market! You will be amazed at the variety of products available at the James Bay Market including:
-handmade arts and crafts
-live music
-coffee, cold drinks and home baked treats
-fresh flowers
-locally grown fruit, vegetables
-hot and cold snacks
Local outdoor market running every Sunday starting May 4th through September (except June 1st) from 11 am – 4 pm.
Shop local artists as well as farmers selling locally grown produce, fruits, pastries, eggs, and more!
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The Bastion Square Public Market
26 Bastion SquareLocal outdoor market running every Sunday starting May 4th through September (except June 1st) from 11 am – 4 pm.
Shop local artists as well as farmers selling locally grown produce, fruits, pastries, eggs, and more!
Local farmer's market!
Regular Season: May through October, every Saturday, 10am to 2pm , rain or shine.
Winter Markets: November through April, every Saturday, 10am to noon.
--Indoors, in the Garry Oak Room (1335 Thurlow St) through March.
---Outdoors , rain or shine, in April.
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Moss Street Market
1330 Fairfield RdLocal farmer's market!
Regular Season: May through October, every Saturday, 10am to 2pm , rain or shine.
Winter Markets: November through April, every Saturday, 10am to noon.
--Indoors, in the Garry Oak Room (1335 Thurlow St) through March.
---Outdoors , rain or shine, in April.
Parks & Nature
Just a 5-minute walk from Wide Skies AirBNB is Victoria's favourite park. Enjoy the scenic walking trails, gardens, and petting zoo (admission by donation and adults love it too!). In the summer the band shell hosts live music as well as outdoor movie screenings
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Beacon Hill Park
100 Cook StJust a 5-minute walk from Wide Skies AirBNB is Victoria's favourite park. Enjoy the scenic walking trails, gardens, and petting zoo (admission by donation and adults love it too!). In the summer the band shell hosts live music as well as outdoor movie screenings
Walk the length of the Dallas Road Walking Trail and you will truly understand why people love to live in Victoria. With multiple beach access points, it is perfect for spending the day relaxing and taking in the sights while stopping for a picnic or taking a dip in the Pacific. In the winter, storm watching is exhilarating from this vantage point!
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Dallas Road Waterfront Trail
Dallas Road Waterfront TrailWalk the length of the Dallas Road Walking Trail and you will truly understand why people love to live in Victoria. With multiple beach access points, it is perfect for spending the day relaxing and taking in the sights while stopping for a picnic or taking a dip in the Pacific. In the winter, storm watching is exhilarating from this vantage point!
The best way to get a view of all of the Greater Victoria area; you can drive straight to the top, or hike up from the parking lot at the bottom - your choice!
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Mount Douglas Park
4500 Cedar Hill RoadThe best way to get a view of all of the Greater Victoria area; you can drive straight to the top, or hike up from the parking lot at the bottom - your choice!
Closer to the downtown core than Mount Douglas, a quick drive up this "mountain" will afford you great views of Victoria
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Mount Tolmie Park
3492 Mayfair DrCloser to the downtown core than Mount Douglas, a quick drive up this "mountain" will afford you great views of Victoria
Drinks & Nightlife
Excellent selection of beer that is constantly changing, good for a simple bite but mostly come here for the beer!
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The Churchill
1140 Government StExcellent selection of beer that is constantly changing, good for a simple bite but mostly come here for the beer!
Right beside the Churchill (and owned by the same folks), the Garrick's Head offers standard pub fare and more standard beers than its counterpart. Large screen TVs make this a great place to watch the Game while enjoying lunch or dinner.
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Garricks Head Pub
69 Bastion SquareRight beside the Churchill (and owned by the same folks), the Garrick's Head offers standard pub fare and more standard beers than its counterpart. Large screen TVs make this a great place to watch the Game while enjoying lunch or dinner.
Victoria's most well-known pub, the Irish Times boasts drinks and fare inspired by the emerald isle. Catch some live fiddle music here most evenings, and sit on the patio and people watch in the summer.
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Irish Times Pub
1200 Government StVictoria's most well-known pub, the Irish Times boasts drinks and fare inspired by the emerald isle. Catch some live fiddle music here most evenings, and sit on the patio and people watch in the summer.
Scottish themed pub, with live music most nights. This pub is a former bank, hence the name! Our favourite is to eat your meal in one of the small rooms at the back; these used to be the offices of the accounts and bank managers!
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Bard & Banker
1022 Government StScottish themed pub, with live music most nights. This pub is a former bank, hence the name! Our favourite is to eat your meal in one of the small rooms at the back; these used to be the offices of the accounts and bank managers!
Little Jumbo is one of Mike's favourites. Come here for great cocktails and appetizers
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Little Jumbo Restaurant and Bar
506 Fort StLittle Jumbo is one of Mike's favourites. Come here for great cocktails and appetizers
Arts & Culture
The seat of our Provincial Government and one of the oldest government buildings in Canada; offers tours most days.
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Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
501 Belleville StThe seat of our Provincial Government and one of the oldest government buildings in Canada; offers tours most days.
A National Historic Site, this castle was built in 1890 and is a definitively Victorian experience. It is a shining example of a “bonanza castle” — massive houses built for entrepreneurs who became wealthy during the industrial age. Visit and learn more about this beautiful building and it's former inhabitants
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Craigdarroch Castle
1050 Joan CrescentA National Historic Site, this castle was built in 1890 and is a definitively Victorian experience. It is a shining example of a “bonanza castle” — massive houses built for entrepreneurs who became wealthy during the industrial age. Visit and learn more about this beautiful building and it's former inhabitants
Victoria's largest and most popular museum which hosts changing exhibits as well as a few permanent ones. Inside also boasts an IMAX movie theatre!
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Royal BC Museum
675 Belleville StVictoria's largest and most popular museum which hosts changing exhibits as well as a few permanent ones. Inside also boasts an IMAX movie theatre!
Entertainment & Activities
If you wish to go on a whale watching tour we highly recommend Orca Spirit! They follow ethical practices to ensure whales are not harassed while still allowing guests to experience their beauty
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Orca Spirit Whale Watching Adventures
950 Wharf StIf you wish to go on a whale watching tour we highly recommend Orca Spirit! They follow ethical practices to ensure whales are not harassed while still allowing guests to experience their beauty