Guidebook for Victoria
Food Scene
The best coffee in town is locally roasted at this location...a 20 min walk from our house. They serve a locally focused menu for breakfast and lunch, accompanied by BC beer, wine and cider. The Roastery also hosts live music events and features gallery space.
43 locals recommend
Caffe Fantastico
965 Kings RdThe best coffee in town is locally roasted at this location...a 20 min walk from our house. They serve a locally focused menu for breakfast and lunch, accompanied by BC beer, wine and cider. The Roastery also hosts live music events and features gallery space.
Fish Hook’s rotating menu of tartines, salads, house pickled seasonal organic veggies, a daily fish curry and a chowder and bisque maintains Ocean Wise, local and organic standards, while offering dairy-free, wheat-free and mayo-free alternatives. Best seafood in Victoria!
51 locals recommend
Fishhook
805 Fort StFish Hook’s rotating menu of tartines, salads, house pickled seasonal organic veggies, a daily fish curry and a chowder and bisque maintains Ocean Wise, local and organic standards, while offering dairy-free, wheat-free and mayo-free alternatives. Best seafood in Victoria!
Small restaurant in the heart of Quadra Village with seasonal, local menu, ethically raised meat and sustainably sourced seafood.
45 locals recommend
Part and Parcel
2656 Quadra StSmall restaurant in the heart of Quadra Village with seasonal, local menu, ethically raised meat and sustainably sourced seafood.
Serving up Caffe Fantastico cofee with croissants and pastries were of exceptional quality, handmade with care by the owner and his team. Great place to start a bike trip along the Galloping Goose trailhead, and bike rentals are right nextdoor!
154 locals recommend
Fol Epi
398 Harbour RdServing up Caffe Fantastico cofee with croissants and pastries were of exceptional quality, handmade with care by the owner and his team. Great place to start a bike trip along the Galloping Goose trailhead, and bike rentals are right nextdoor!
The best homemade icecream in town. Icecream sandwiches or scoops in inventive flavours are served in bright, retro digs. All icecream is organic and there are also many vegan options available!
51 locals recommend
Can Canteen (Cold Comfort Ice Cream)
1115 N Park StThe best homemade icecream in town. Icecream sandwiches or scoops in inventive flavours are served in bright, retro digs. All icecream is organic and there are also many vegan options available!
Upscale & modern, this restaurant specializes in farm-to-table vegan cuisine & superfood cocktails. A bonus...Gavin may be your server!
73 locals recommend
Be Love
1019 Blanshard StUpscale & modern, this restaurant specializes in farm-to-table vegan cuisine & superfood cocktails. A bonus...Gavin may be your server!
Raw organic vegetarian cafe fare served with smoothies, juices & coffee and raw vegan desserts in a relaxed environment.
26 locals recommend
Cafe Bliss
556 Pandora AveRaw organic vegetarian cafe fare served with smoothies, juices & coffee and raw vegan desserts in a relaxed environment.
Busy, modern burger joint offering inventive locally sourced burgers, handcut fries & draft brews. A peaceful walk or 5min drive from our house!
144 locals recommend
Bin 4 Burger Lounge
Busy, modern burger joint offering inventive locally sourced burgers, handcut fries & draft brews. A peaceful walk or 5min drive from our house!
Great food, ambiance, price, and service. An 8 min walk from our home!
12 locals recommend
Vietnam House Restaurant
3189 Quadra StGreat food, ambiance, price, and service. An 8 min walk from our home!
Drinks & Nightlife
Great location and views of the harbour, fresh local seasonal ingredients create a spin on pub classics, craft beer and cosy atmosphere! Irish traditional music on Monday nights and amazing chocolate on the way out...
148 locals recommend
Spinnakers Gastro Brewpub & GuestHouses
308 Catherine StGreat location and views of the harbour, fresh local seasonal ingredients create a spin on pub classics, craft beer and cosy atmosphere! Irish traditional music on Monday nights and amazing chocolate on the way out...
Modern brewpub offering housemade seasonal brews & bar eats, with a waterview patio.
157 locals recommend
Canoe Brewpub
450 Swift StModern brewpub offering housemade seasonal brews & bar eats, with a waterview patio.
Essentials
Thrifty Foods
1495 Admirals RdLocal 24hr. grocery store, 3 blocks away!
10,000 square foot store including a full service butcher and deli, bulk department, a flower bar and garden centre, and the Island’s largest selection of local produce, this grocery store is our favourite place to buy produce and meat as the store works with over 250 local, Island and BC suppliers.
74 locals recommend
The Root Cellar Village Green Grocer
1286 McKenzie Ave10,000 square foot store including a full service butcher and deli, bulk department, a flower bar and garden centre, and the Island’s largest selection of local produce, this grocery store is our favourite place to buy produce and meat as the store works with over 250 local, Island and BC suppliers.
Convenient local grocery store in Quadra Village with an additional huge selection of Asian food items!
100 locals recommend
Fairway Market
1521 McKenzie AveConvenient local grocery store in Quadra Village with an additional huge selection of Asian food items!
Parks & Nature
A 75 ha park located in central Victoria along the shore of Juan de Fuca Strait. Popular with tourists and locals, contains woodland and shoreline trails, 2 playgrounds, a waterpark, playing fields, a petting zoo, tennis courts, ponds with many ducks, and landscaped gardens as well as the world's 4th largest totem pole.
503 locals recommend
Beacon Hill Park
100 Cook StA 75 ha park located in central Victoria along the shore of Juan de Fuca Strait. Popular with tourists and locals, contains woodland and shoreline trails, 2 playgrounds, a waterpark, playing fields, a petting zoo, tennis courts, ponds with many ducks, and landscaped gardens as well as the world's 4th largest totem pole.
Beautiful beach in Oak Bay, amazing place to spread a blanket amid the driftwood, enjoy Willows Park, or go for a long walk along the shoreline.
170 locals recommend
Willows Beach
EsplanadeBeautiful beach in Oak Bay, amazing place to spread a blanket amid the driftwood, enjoy Willows Park, or go for a long walk along the shoreline.
Secret sloping 1.4-acre garden, begun in 1946, with rhododendrons, native rocks, ponds & a teahouse.
56 locals recommend
The Teahouse at Abkhazi Garden
1964 Fairfield RdSecret sloping 1.4-acre garden, begun in 1946, with rhododendrons, native rocks, ponds & a teahouse.
The beautiful iconic Butchart Gardens is a group of floral display gardens in Brentwood Bay, British Columbia, Canada, and is one of Victoria's top tourist attractions and a world heritage site.
388 locals recommend
The Butchart Gardens
800 Benvenuto AveThe beautiful iconic Butchart Gardens is a group of floral display gardens in Brentwood Bay, British Columbia, Canada, and is one of Victoria's top tourist attractions and a world heritage site.
Swan Lake
Beautiful nature reserve with a floating footpath over the lake.
The chip trail around the cedar hill golf course is a great run or walk. It is 3.7 km, very scenic and hilly!
8 locals recommend
Cedar Hill Golf Course Chip Trail Loop
Cedar Hill Golf Course Chip Trail LoopThe chip trail around the cedar hill golf course is a great run or walk. It is 3.7 km, very scenic and hilly!
The largest park in the Saanich area, Mount Douglas offers a spectacular 360-degree view of the area around Victoria.
Mount Doug has a network of trails along its slopes and down to the beach area across Cedar Hill Road.
180 locals recommend
Mount Douglas Park
4500 Cedar Hill RoadThe largest park in the Saanich area, Mount Douglas offers a spectacular 360-degree view of the area around Victoria.
Mount Doug has a network of trails along its slopes and down to the beach area across Cedar Hill Road.
Exceptional views from the summit at Mount Tolmie Park, some call it 'the best place to view the city.' There are more than 1500 metres of trails within the park.
23 locals recommend
Mount Tolmie Park
3492 Mayfair DrExceptional views from the summit at Mount Tolmie Park, some call it 'the best place to view the city.' There are more than 1500 metres of trails within the park.
Oceanfront park with a sandy beach, picnic areas, playground & tennis courts, plus a boat launch.
89 locals recommend
Cadboro-Gyro Park
Sinclair RoadOceanfront park with a sandy beach, picnic areas, playground & tennis courts, plus a boat launch.
Two freshwater lakes connected by a narrow culvert in the 834-hectare Thetis Lake Regional Park outside Victoria, British Columbia, about 12 km from the city centre. Very popular beaches where families go to fish, kayak, float and sunbath.
98 locals recommend
Thetis Lake Regional Park
Two freshwater lakes connected by a narrow culvert in the 834-hectare Thetis Lake Regional Park outside Victoria, British Columbia, about 12 km from the city centre. Very popular beaches where families go to fish, kayak, float and sunbath.
A 1,072 acres park in Saanich, British Columbia, containing Elk Lake and Beaver Lake. Amazing place to relax amid weeping willows, have a picnic and a swim, or walk around the lakeside perimeter where you may encouter horses.
38 locals recommend
Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park
5267 Patricia Bay HighwayA 1,072 acres park in Saanich, British Columbia, containing Elk Lake and Beaver Lake. Amazing place to relax amid weeping willows, have a picnic and a swim, or walk around the lakeside perimeter where you may encouter horses.
The Francis/King Regional Park hosts the finest stand of protected ancient Douglas firs in the Victoria area and has 11 kilometers of trails within its 107 hectares.
13 locals recommend
Francis King Regional Park
Munn RoadThe Francis/King Regional Park hosts the finest stand of protected ancient Douglas firs in the Victoria area and has 11 kilometers of trails within its 107 hectares.
Sightseeing
Historic, Victorian-era Scottish Baronial mansion designated a National Historic Site of Canada.
234 locals recommend
Craigdarroch Castle
1050 Joan CrescentHistoric, Victorian-era Scottish Baronial mansion designated a National Historic Site of Canada.
Hatley Park National Historic Site is located in Colwood, Greater Victoria. Hatley Castle is a Classified Federal Heritage Building. 565 oceanfront acres with an amazing view of the majestic Olympic Mountains in the USA. The castle has been featured in two series of X-Men related media as Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters.
87 locals recommend
Hatley Castle
2005 Sooke RdHatley Park National Historic Site is located in Colwood, Greater Victoria. Hatley Castle is a Classified Federal Heritage Building. 565 oceanfront acres with an amazing view of the majestic Olympic Mountains in the USA. The castle has been featured in two series of X-Men related media as Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters.
Entertainment & Activities
Modern multiplex cinema chain screening the latest Hollywood films, plus new independent releases with the most comfortable recliner seats ever!
76 locals recommend
Cineplex Odeon Victoria Cinemas
780 Yates StModern multiplex cinema chain screening the latest Hollywood films, plus new independent releases with the most comfortable recliner seats ever!
One of the last DVD rental shops in the city! Massive collection including many independent and foreign films, convenient location, free parking, and friendly staff.
Pic A Flic Video
1519 Pandora AveOne of the last DVD rental shops in the city! Massive collection including many independent and foreign films, convenient location, free parking, and friendly staff.
Rutledge Park
Closest tennis courts to our home are a 15 min walk away!
Getting Around
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
2507 Government StBudget Car & Truck Rental
724 Douglas StDiDi Car Rental & Sales Ltd
643 David StThe Lochside Regional Trail is a 29-kilometre trail that runs from the Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal to Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. The trail is a popular route both for commuting and recreation. Our favourite bike route heading north!
10 locals recommend
Lochside Regional Trail
Lochside Regional TrailThe Lochside Regional Trail is a 29-kilometre trail that runs from the Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal to Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. The trail is a popular route both for commuting and recreation. Our favourite bike route heading north!