Guidebook for Victoria
Food Scene
Casual place, can be busy, one of our definite favorites!
The 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.
51 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Fishhook
805 Fort StCasual place, can be busy, one of our definite favorites!
The 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.
Awesome fish tacos etc. served out of a converted shipping container right on the water!
163 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Red Fish Blue Fish
1006 Wharf StAwesome fish tacos etc. served out of a converted shipping container right on the water!
Just a couple of doors from the loft...excellent NY style pizza slices all day...and half price with drink purchase after 9pm. Grab a slice and take it up to the roof deck of our building!
7 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Famous Original
538 Yates StJust a couple of doors from the loft...excellent NY style pizza slices all day...and half price with drink purchase after 9pm. Grab a slice and take it up to the roof deck of our building!
Awesome breakfasts...worth the wait! Personal favorite is the chicken and waffles...and their bacon is excellent if you're a carnivore.
201 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
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.
A wonderful vegetarian option...too busy on theatre nights but a perfect place any other time! Nice vibe and everything is really really good. The Green Bowl and Mac & Cheese are both personal favorites!
73 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
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 really really good. The Green Bowl and Mac & Cheese are both personal favorites!
Simple, local, healthy food beautifully cooked and presented. Usually lots of vegetarian options. A great location and a nice walk from the loft around the harbour past the Gov't buildings. Brunch is excellent!
56 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Nourish Kitchen & Cafe
225 Quebec StreetSimple, local, healthy food beautifully cooked and presented. Usually lots of vegetarian options. A great location and a nice walk from the loft around the harbour past the Gov't buildings. Brunch is excellent!
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. Legit pie.
145 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
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. Legit pie.
We 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.
29 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
IL Covo Trattoria
106 Superior StWe 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.
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.
68 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
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.
Habit Coffee
808 Yates StExcellent alternative to coffee chains!
Excellent French bakery with a nice outdoor seating area right on Yates.
154 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Fol Epi
398 Harbour RdExcellent French bakery with a nice outdoor seating area right on Yates.
Right across the street...super funky decor, $5 food items (but $12 Margaritas!). Everything we've tried has been excellent...and we've eaten lunch here a lot!
16 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
El Furniture Warehouse
533 Yates StRight across the street...super funky decor, $5 food items (but $12 Margaritas!). Everything we've tried has been excellent...and we've eaten lunch here a lot!
Another chill independent coffee shop just one block over.
56 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Hey Happy
560 Johnson StAnother chill independent coffee shop just one block over.
This is our backup when our favorite spots (Fishhook and belove) are packed! Our Thai friend says this is the best Thai in Victoria...so who's to argue!
26 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Baan Thai Wok & Bar
1117 Blanshard StThis is our backup when our favorite spots (Fishhook and belove) are packed! Our Thai friend says this is the best Thai in Victoria...so who's to argue!
Casual counter spot for inexpensive asian-inspired dishes....great curries, good (by sometimes spicy!) pad thai. The seating area is a bit noisy from traffic, but grab a takeout container and head to the water...or back to the rooftop deck at the loft!
45 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Foo Asian Street Food
769 Yates StCasual counter spot for inexpensive asian-inspired dishes....great curries, good (by sometimes spicy!) pad thai. The seating area is a bit noisy from traffic, but grab a takeout container and head to the water...or back to the rooftop deck at the loft!
Sushi can be pretty hit or miss in Victoria for some reason...and some of the big joints right downtown I've heard bad reports on. But this little place in a strip mall in James Bay is the best we've found. Relaxed, friendly, good prices and "real crab" options on the California Rolls.
8 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Sushi Matsuri
239 Menzies StSushi can be pretty hit or miss in Victoria for some reason...and some of the big joints right downtown I've heard bad reports on. But this little place in a strip mall in James Bay is the best we've found. Relaxed, friendly, good prices and "real crab" options on the California Rolls.
A bit of a trek...but really. really good ice cream!
51 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Can Canteen (Cold Comfort Ice Cream)
1115 N Park StA bit of a trek...but really. really good ice cream!
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!
16 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
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!
Parks & Nature
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!
103 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
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!
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...
45 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Iphakamisa yaseClover Point
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...
Our own little Central Park. Duck ponds, planted areas, private picnic spots, a petting zoo!
503 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Beacon Hill Park
100 Cook StOur own little Central Park. Duck ponds, planted areas, private picnic spots, a petting zoo!
Essentials
Swans Wine & Beer Shop
514 Pandora AveThe closest liquor.
Excellent all around market, plus nice deli and bakery sections.
185 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Market On Yates
903 Yates StExcellent all around market, plus nice deli and bakery sections.
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.
255 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
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.
Drinks & Nightlife
Our "local" pub with a great range of local beers on tap and a nice south facing patio. Can be busy but not as touristy a spot as the Irish pubs downtown.
36 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Beagle Pub The
301 Cook StOur "local" pub with a great range of local beers on tap and a nice south facing patio. Can be busy but not as touristy a spot as the Irish pubs downtown.