Guidebook for Victoria
Food Scene
Unbelievably good bakery. Sit outside on the patio and watch Victoria's working harbour. The shop is a great brief layover as you head down the Galloping Goose Trail to downtown. Best in town coissants.
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Fol Epi
398 Harbour RdUnbelievably good bakery. Sit outside on the patio and watch Victoria's working harbour. The shop is a great brief layover as you head down the Galloping Goose Trail to downtown. Best in town coissants.
A local gem. Exceptional value, fresh and delicious. Pretty much open every day from 11am-9pm and a saviour when you don't want to cook. It's our go-to for take-out. Try the vietnamese coffee.
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Vietnam House Restaurant
3189 Quadra StA local gem. Exceptional value, fresh and delicious. Pretty much open every day from 11am-9pm and a saviour when you don't want to cook. It's our go-to for take-out. Try the vietnamese coffee.
Fantastic breakfast place. You'll be taken care of and the food will be great.
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The Ruby on Douglas
3110 Douglas StFantastic breakfast place. You'll be taken care of and the food will be great.
Best patio in town. There simply is not one that is closer to the water. The views of the gorge waterway and Selkirk Trestle are beautiful.
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Glo Restaurant + Lounge
2940 Jutland RdBest patio in town. There simply is not one that is closer to the water. The views of the gorge waterway and Selkirk Trestle are beautiful.
Part and Parcel
2656 Quadra StTasty, fresh and unique. Great for lunch.
Another great coffee place on lower Johnston St (aka - LoJo). I recommend.
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Hey Happy
560 Johnson StAnother great coffee place on lower Johnston St (aka - LoJo). I recommend.
Fresh italian food. The wine list is very complimentary. It's a winner every time.
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Zambri's
820 Yates StFresh italian food. The wine list is very complimentary. It's a winner every time.
It's run out of a shipping container on the wharf. Super fresh seafood. The line up will be crazy, but it's worth the wait. There is no seating except for chairs around the wharf. People eat, then move on, so most of the time you can get a bench or something to eat at.
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Red Fish Blue Fish
1006 Wharf StIt's run out of a shipping container on the wharf. Super fresh seafood. The line up will be crazy, but it's worth the wait. There is no seating except for chairs around the wharf. People eat, then move on, so most of the time you can get a bench or something to eat at.
Lunch seafood. The fish taco's are epic. The original restaurant is still in operation in Tofino run out of a bus.
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Tacofino
760 Pandora AveLunch seafood. The fish taco's are epic. The original restaurant is still in operation in Tofino run out of a bus.
Another of our favourites - Every single thing at this bistro is delicious. The chorizo sandwich with a spanish coffee is simply a divine combination. Johnny the chef is magic in the kitchen.
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Chorizo & Co.
807 Fort StreetAnother of our favourites - Every single thing at this bistro is delicious. The chorizo sandwich with a spanish coffee is simply a divine combination. Johnny the chef is magic in the kitchen.
Yet another brilliant lunch place. The fish is fresh, tasty and sustainable. What's great is the amount of fish, perfectly seasoned on the dishes. The fish always stands out as the main attraction that does not get buried or overpowered by other ingredients. Really really good value. Highly recommend.
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Fishhook
805 Fort StYet another brilliant lunch place. The fish is fresh, tasty and sustainable. What's great is the amount of fish, perfectly seasoned on the dishes. The fish always stands out as the main attraction that does not get buried or overpowered by other ingredients. Really really good value. Highly recommend.
Best. Sushi. Ever. Lunch is unbelievable value for the sushi plate. Hands down tops in the city for quality and price.
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Sen Zushi
940 Fort StBest. Sushi. Ever. Lunch is unbelievable value for the sushi plate. Hands down tops in the city for quality and price.
Parks & Nature
Peak-a-boo views of the city, Garry Oak meadow, and plenty of ducks on the reservoir. It's a good spot to run to and do a few laps of the reservoir in the 4-5k range... depending on how many times you lap the reservoir.
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Summit Park
1245 Summit AvePeak-a-boo views of the city, Garry Oak meadow, and plenty of ducks on the reservoir. It's a good spot to run to and do a few laps of the reservoir in the 4-5k range... depending on how many times you lap the reservoir.
The park is really pretty. Lots of birds. The nature house has an interpretive centre. One of the highlights is the floating boardwalk.
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Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary
3873 Swan Lake RdThe park is really pretty. Lots of birds. The nature house has an interpretive centre. One of the highlights is the floating boardwalk.
Sand, sand and sand. Low tide reveals lots of beach. It draws a funky crowd. The bay is nicely protected, so it really cooks there when the sun is out. I put down "Live Music", because someone will be strumming away on a guitar.
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Gonzales Beach
Sand, sand and sand. Low tide reveals lots of beach. It draws a funky crowd. The bay is nicely protected, so it really cooks there when the sun is out. I put down "Live Music", because someone will be strumming away on a guitar.
It's a pretty big park and lots going on. The flowers are beautiful. Kids love the petting zoo and water playground.
Also, the Dallas Road beaches in front of the park are always a great place to chill out. Watch the para-gliders if the wind comes off the bluff just right. The views of the Olympic Mountains are legendary.
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Beacon Hill Park
100 Cook StIt's a pretty big park and lots going on. The flowers are beautiful. Kids love the petting zoo and water playground.
Also, the Dallas Road beaches in front of the park are always a great place to chill out. Watch the para-gliders if the wind comes off the bluff just right. The views of the Olympic Mountains are legendary.
Arts & Culture
World class. Old town, Wooly Mammoth, coast line, rain forest, mining. Check out an IMAX while you're there.
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Royal BC Museum
675 Belleville StWorld class. Old town, Wooly Mammoth, coast line, rain forest, mining. Check out an IMAX while you're there.
Shopping
Mayfair Shopping Centre
3147 Douglas StDo some retail therapy.
Used and new books. It's located perfectly near coffee shops and bakeries on Fort St. Avoid the corporate conglomerate book stores and start with this one. So much variety. They've also got a lesser known rare book collection at another location a block away. Truly a gem in the city.
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Russell Books
747 Fort StUsed and new books. It's located perfectly near coffee shops and bakeries on Fort St. Avoid the corporate conglomerate book stores and start with this one. So much variety. They've also got a lesser known rare book collection at another location a block away. Truly a gem in the city.
A great book store downtown. Lots of local literature. I could spend hours in there.
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Munro's Books
1108 Government StA great book store downtown. Lots of local literature. I could spend hours in there.
Essentials
Good prices, nice selection. They've also got a cafe take-out sort of thing going on in there that's quite reasonable for eating in or on the go.
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Fairway Market
1521 McKenzie AveGood prices, nice selection. They've also got a cafe take-out sort of thing going on in there that's quite reasonable for eating in or on the go.
Shoppers Drug Mart
1212 Douglas StOpen 24/7. Pharmacist on 24/7.
Lifestyle Markets
343 Cook StIt's a good size health food store.
Drinks & Nightlife
Every night something is going on in there. It's really fun. Across the street is Bard and Banker, similar sort of deal, but less Irish.
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Irish Times Pub
1200 Government StEvery night something is going on in there. It's really fun. Across the street is Bard and Banker, similar sort of deal, but less Irish.
Not really a "bar" bar, as much as a classy martini chill out joint. It's a good one. So many drinks...
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Clive's Classic Lounge
740 Burdett AveNot really a "bar" bar, as much as a classy martini chill out joint. It's a good one. So many drinks...
Getting Around
Our place is in the sweet spot to catch a bus to anywhere in the city. Either walk the block to the mall, or catch one 30 large steps from the house.
Quadra at Finlayson
Our place is in the sweet spot to catch a bus to anywhere in the city. Either walk the block to the mall, or catch one 30 large steps from the house.
This is the closest entry spot to the Galloping Goose Trail from our house. It's a great bike/walk path to downtown - beautiful and relaxing. It used to be a railway that was converted to a regional trail. One could take it all the way to the ferry terminal, or out to Sooke. We just take it to downtown.
Tolmie Lane
Tolmie LaneThis is the closest entry spot to the Galloping Goose Trail from our house. It's a great bike/walk path to downtown - beautiful and relaxing. It used to be a railway that was converted to a regional trail. One could take it all the way to the ferry terminal, or out to Sooke. We just take it to downtown.