Rhona's Guidebook
Food Scene
Outstanding bakery using organic Red Fife wheat. Fantastico Cafe adjoins. Open 7 days!
154 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Fol Epi
398 Harbour RdOutstanding bakery using organic Red Fife wheat. Fantastico Cafe adjoins. Open 7 days!
Popular local place serving Greek/Italian food... I'm told the baked oysters are excellent (still need to try them myself!)
16 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Il Greco Restaurant
300 Tillicum RdPopular local place serving Greek/Italian food... I'm told the baked oysters are excellent (still need to try them myself!)
Laid-back, great coffee and goodies - across the street from a community garden. Victoria's first allotment garden out back. Often has live music in the evenings.
32 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Spiral Cafe
418 Craigflower RdLaid-back, great coffee and goodies - across the street from a community garden. Victoria's first allotment garden out back. Often has live music in the evenings.
Pub and restaurant, serving very good and interesting pub food with attention to local and sustainable ingredients.
36 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Six Mile Pub
494 Island HwyPub and restaurant, serving very good and interesting pub food with attention to local and sustainable ingredients.
Excellent food in a heritage home in James Bay. Healthy food can taste amazing! Local liquor in the cocktails, fermented foods and gluten-free breads and crackers all pass the taste test. (Sister cafe Charlotte & the Quail offers good eating at the Horticulture Centre of the Pacific)
56 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Nourish Kitchen & Cafe
225 Quebec StreetExcellent food in a heritage home in James Bay. Healthy food can taste amazing! Local liquor in the cocktails, fermented foods and gluten-free breads and crackers all pass the taste test. (Sister cafe Charlotte & the Quail offers good eating at the Horticulture Centre of the Pacific)
The nearest of many local farmers markets; runs Mondays at Gorge Park; Thursdays in Memorial Park - afternoons from Spring until Autumn; indoor market in winter. Many different farmers, food and drink producers, food trucks and more.
16 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Esquimalt Farmers Market
1200 Park PlThe nearest of many local farmers markets; runs Mondays at Gorge Park; Thursdays in Memorial Park - afternoons from Spring until Autumn; indoor market in winter. Many different farmers, food and drink producers, food trucks and more.
A favourite local bakery offering excellent breads, pastries and seasonal treats, open Wednesday through Sunday.
45 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Fry's Red Wheat Bread Bakery
416 Craigflower RdA favourite local bakery offering excellent breads, pastries and seasonal treats, open Wednesday through Sunday.
The biggest and best established farmers market in town. Farmers are all certified organic; plus artisanal food and drink producers, crafts and more. A year round market but at its best over the summer months. Open Saturdays.
68 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Moss Street Market
1330 Fairfield RdThe biggest and best established farmers market in town. Farmers are all certified organic; plus artisanal food and drink producers, crafts and more. A year round market but at its best over the summer months. Open Saturdays.
Arts & Culture
Natural and human history; check out the Becoming BC galleries which let visitors walk through local history. Closing Sept/2022 for a rebuild.
534 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
I-Royal BC Museum
675 Belleville StNatural and human history; check out the Becoming BC galleries which let visitors walk through local history. Closing Sept/2022 for a rebuild.
Long running local jazz club with a funky upstairs venue as well. Comfortable venue with great food.
36 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Hermann's Jazz Club
753 View StLong running local jazz club with a funky upstairs venue as well. Comfortable venue with great food.
Awesome used & discount bookstore; weekly poetry readings (Friday nights) September through June.
28 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Russell Books
747 Fort StAwesome used & discount bookstore; weekly poetry readings (Friday nights) September through June.
Beloved local bookstore - excellent selection of books and cards (best poetry selection in town!). Readings and events both live and hybrid.
31 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Munro's Books
1108 Government StBeloved local bookstore - excellent selection of books and cards (best poetry selection in town!). Readings and events both live and hybrid.
Everything Else
A 37 km bike trail: absolutely gorgeous and mostly level (built on a trainline bed). Convenient access less than 10 mins cycling from my place.
49 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Galloping Goose Trail
Galloping Goose TrailA 37 km bike trail: absolutely gorgeous and mostly level (built on a trainline bed). Convenient access less than 10 mins cycling from my place.
This beautifully landscaped walk runs along the Gorge waterfront, in front of my house, from Admirals to just past Tillicum road. A pleasant 25 minute walk each way, or a great running path.
15 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Gorge Waterway Park
301 Gorge Rd WThis beautifully landscaped walk runs along the Gorge waterfront, in front of my house, from Admirals to just past Tillicum road. A pleasant 25 minute walk each way, or a great running path.
Essentials
Handy supermarket - locally owned with a deli, lots of produce and staples, some organic foods - and well supplied with Chinese ingredients.
100 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Fairway Market
1521 McKenzie AveHandy supermarket - locally owned with a deli, lots of produce and staples, some organic foods - and well supplied with Chinese ingredients.
Another nearby supermarket - well stocked and a few minutes' drive or a twenty minute walk away.
194 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Thrifty Foods
1495 Admirals RdAnother nearby supermarket - well stocked and a few minutes' drive or a twenty minute walk away.
Rexall
230 Cook StNearest pharmacy and post office.
iluka espresso
101 Island HwyNearest coffee shop, just across the bridge
Shopping
Local mall includes an Odeon cinema complex, library, sports centre, ice rink, medical centre, chain restaurants, bank (credit union) and a retail complex (Old Navy, Rona Hardware, London Drugs, Winners & more)
11 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Tillicum Centre
3170 Tillicum RdLocal mall includes an Odeon cinema complex, library, sports centre, ice rink, medical centre, chain restaurants, bank (credit union) and a retail complex (Old Navy, Rona Hardware, London Drugs, Winners & more)
Health Essentials
300 Gorge Rd WNearby health food store. Friendly, well stocked and convenient.
Parks & Nature
Great walking and running trails. Gets pretty busy on weekends and summer days on the main trails. Picnic areas and swimming in the summer.
98 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Thetis Lake Regional Park
Great walking and running trails. Gets pretty busy on weekends and summer days on the main trails. Picnic areas and swimming in the summer.
A waterfront park with military history, climbing rocks, picnic area and fabulous water views across the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Cool and refreshing on a hot day!
30 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Iphakamisa yeMacaulay Point
304 Clifton TerraceA waterfront park with military history, climbing rocks, picnic area and fabulous water views across the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Cool and refreshing on a hot day!
Cuthbert Holmes Park
Trans-Canada HighwaySmall local park, nice gentle woodland walks.
A wonderfully varied park offering swimming, boating, horseback riding and walks. The trail around the lake is 10k and popular with runners and walkers.
38 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park
5267 Patricia Bay HighwayA wonderfully varied park offering swimming, boating, horseback riding and walks. The trail around the lake is 10k and popular with runners and walkers.
Beautiful walks with great signposting and visitor information. Picnic areas and a salmon stream running through which attracts many visitors, both human and avian, during the spawning season.
242 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Goldstream Provincial Park
Finlayson Arm RoadBeautiful walks with great signposting and visitor information. Picnic areas and a salmon stream running through which attracts many visitors, both human and avian, during the spawning season.
Beautiful rural setting with winding pathways - includes pollinator gardens, food gardens, Japanese garden, and indigenous garden. Summer events, workshops, gift shop and cafe.
Horticulture Centre Of The Pacific
Beautiful rural setting with winding pathways - includes pollinator gardens, food gardens, Japanese garden, and indigenous garden. Summer events, workshops, gift shop and cafe.