Guidebook for Victoria
Food Scene
Good healthy food, good variety, reasonable prices. They have at least one salad that's filling and vegan but lots of other options plus a full juice menu. Right in Bastion Square, lots of little tables cozied up or bigger for group of 4 or 5.
55 lokalkjente anbefaler
Rebar
50 Bastion SquareGood healthy food, good variety, reasonable prices. They have at least one salad that's filling and vegan but lots of other options plus a full juice menu. Right in Bastion Square, lots of little tables cozied up or bigger for group of 4 or 5.
It's a deli-style (self-serve) restaurant with all things healthy, but good. Gluten free and vegan, can do. For kids there are maximum sized fries (not greasy at all) and sushi, falafels and any veggie they care to scoop and for everyone else, soup, all salad bits you could want, and cookies, muffins and other treats like mudpie bars, sugar free brownies and all manner of irresistible cakes and even their own ice cream. Location is great - on a warm day you can sit out inside the Market Square, a really old courtyard surrounded by really old market building, red brick.
34 lokalkjente anbefaler
Green Cuisine Vegetarian Restaurant
It's a deli-style (self-serve) restaurant with all things healthy, but good. Gluten free and vegan, can do. For kids there are maximum sized fries (not greasy at all) and sushi, falafels and any veggie they care to scoop and for everyone else, soup, all salad bits you could want, and cookies, muffins and other treats like mudpie bars, sugar free brownies and all manner of irresistible cakes and even their own ice cream. Location is great - on a warm day you can sit out inside the Market Square, a really old courtyard surrounded by really old market building, red brick.
Only a block from the house..In an old building with patched-up floors, often local live music including open mic Thursdays - my musician friends play this venue - great talent! Squish in to one of the tables, have a tea or latte and an oversized cookie, clap and sing along.
32 lokalkjente anbefaler
Spiral Cafe
418 Craigflower RdOnly a block from the house..In an old building with patched-up floors, often local live music including open mic Thursdays - my musician friends play this venue - great talent! Squish in to one of the tables, have a tea or latte and an oversized cookie, clap and sing along.
It's close, just across the blue bridge (Johnson Street bridge), opens at 7am for breakfast and is cute inside. The food is good. They say "Canadian comfort fare including housemade breads & pies & creative breakfast in a relaxed space". They do get busy so show up early. There can be a line-up by 9am on a weekend..
70 lokalkjente anbefaler
J.J. Morgan Restaurant
1520 McKenzie AveIt's close, just across the blue bridge (Johnson Street bridge), opens at 7am for breakfast and is cute inside. The food is good. They say "Canadian comfort fare including housemade breads & pies & creative breakfast in a relaxed space". They do get busy so show up early. There can be a line-up by 9am on a weekend..
Drinks & Nightlife
Locals go here for the live bands with dance floor that fills up even on a Monday - especially if you are into swing dancing. Weekends the dance floor is full too - regular rock music usually. It's a brew pub, restaurant, warm atmosphere, historic building right downtown near the bridge.
58 lokalkjente anbefaler
Swans Brewery, Pub & Hotel
506 Pandora AveLocals go here for the live bands with dance floor that fills up even on a Monday - especially if you are into swing dancing. Weekends the dance floor is full too - regular rock music usually. It's a brew pub, restaurant, warm atmosphere, historic building right downtown near the bridge.
Really close to our house, with fantastic full view of the harbour - night time there are blankets and heaters outside on the patio, overlooking the lights on the water. Daytime the sun shines in. There's a fireplace, pool tables, sometimes a small band and good pub food with a couple of good healthy options. Walk home!
148 lokalkjente anbefaler
Spinnakers Gastro Brewpub & GuestHouses
308 Catherine StReally close to our house, with fantastic full view of the harbour - night time there are blankets and heaters outside on the patio, overlooking the lights on the water. Daytime the sun shines in. There's a fireplace, pool tables, sometimes a small band and good pub food with a couple of good healthy options. Walk home!
Everybody I've referred to the Irish Times has reported that they had a good time. They have a small music group most nights of the week, local talent and a large range of food and spirits. It is right downtown, catch a cab there and back is a great plan - probably $10 each way. Very lively on the weekends- locals go here and so do tourists so a good mix.
108 lokalkjente anbefaler
Irish Times Pub
1200 Government StEverybody I've referred to the Irish Times has reported that they had a good time. They have a small music group most nights of the week, local talent and a large range of food and spirits. It is right downtown, catch a cab there and back is a great plan - probably $10 each way. Very lively on the weekends- locals go here and so do tourists so a good mix.
If you want to see a really unique decorating scheme in a cozy bar that's almost always busy and filled with people, retro music and peanuts-shelled-unshelled-that-you-can-throw-on-the-floor, go here. You can go next door to the "Strath" to dance after ($10 cover on weekends). They have a DJ, mixed age crowd, full dance floor.
24 lokalkjente anbefaler
Big Bad Johns
919 Douglas StIf you want to see a really unique decorating scheme in a cozy bar that's almost always busy and filled with people, retro music and peanuts-shelled-unshelled-that-you-can-throw-on-the-floor, go here. You can go next door to the "Strath" to dance after ($10 cover on weekends). They have a DJ, mixed age crowd, full dance floor.
Entertainment & Activities
For just a few dollars per person ($4 I think) you can install yourselves at a table, even a really big table if you've got a bunch of people) and choose either your favourite game or something you've never tried before. They actually make the BEST milkshakes - huge, thick with ice cream made right there on-site! about 15 kinds. Also sandwiches, and bowls of chips or other snacks. Great for adults and kids. Some people spend all day there. Great for rainy days. Some couples find this really fun too. Friendly, local place.
33 lokalkjente anbefaler
Interactivity Board Game Cafe
723 Yates StFor just a few dollars per person ($4 I think) you can install yourselves at a table, even a really big table if you've got a bunch of people) and choose either your favourite game or something you've never tried before. They actually make the BEST milkshakes - huge, thick with ice cream made right there on-site! about 15 kinds. Also sandwiches, and bowls of chips or other snacks. Great for adults and kids. Some people spend all day there. Great for rainy days. Some couples find this really fun too. Friendly, local place.
The Goose is the local's choice for cycling and walking (although observe regular road rules) and you can walk through nature all the way to Sydney or Sooke! From the house you can walk around the block next to us, cross the street and you are at a nice neighbourhood fenced garden that you can enter and enjoy, tennis courts (free) and going on further past the playground, find yourself at the Gorge Waterway. Now you're walking a path with trees and bush on one side and a few rogue boats harboured on the other. You'll come to an old wooden tressle bridge and it crosses over the Gorge. Keep going and you're on the Goose - it continues for kilometres all the way out to Sydney near the ferries.
49 lokalkjente anbefaler
Galloping Goose Trail
Galloping Goose TrailThe Goose is the local's choice for cycling and walking (although observe regular road rules) and you can walk through nature all the way to Sydney or Sooke! From the house you can walk around the block next to us, cross the street and you are at a nice neighbourhood fenced garden that you can enter and enjoy, tennis courts (free) and going on further past the playground, find yourself at the Gorge Waterway. Now you're walking a path with trees and bush on one side and a few rogue boats harboured on the other. You'll come to an old wooden tressle bridge and it crosses over the Gorge. Keep going and you're on the Goose - it continues for kilometres all the way out to Sydney near the ferries.
Parks & Nature
Locals - and tourists - love to walk the breakwater on a sunny day! There's the Breakwater Café right there, to grab a hearty snack/lunch or latte (my favourite is the almond milk latte or green tea) to go or to sit in at the fireplace (they also have a bar and sometimes live band at night). Take your coffee to go, and walk the breakwater, a stone pier curving out into the outer harbour (these days walkers are protected by a glass railing). Walk out to the beacon, take a photo - or get someone to do it for you - watch the Pilot (who escorts ships in and out), get a closer look at the huge cruise ships, check out the fishermen or divers who brave the stones below, have a sit on the benches and snuggle up with your date! The walk is about 40 minutes at a leisurely pace, if you just go and return. But it's really worth a bit of a stop at the beacon - may be some sailboats coming by or when the sun sets, especially nice.
62 lokalkjente anbefaler
Breakwater Cafe . Bistro . Bar
199 Dallas RdLocals - and tourists - love to walk the breakwater on a sunny day! There's the Breakwater Café right there, to grab a hearty snack/lunch or latte (my favourite is the almond milk latte or green tea) to go or to sit in at the fireplace (they also have a bar and sometimes live band at night). Take your coffee to go, and walk the breakwater, a stone pier curving out into the outer harbour (these days walkers are protected by a glass railing). Walk out to the beacon, take a photo - or get someone to do it for you - watch the Pilot (who escorts ships in and out), get a closer look at the huge cruise ships, check out the fishermen or divers who brave the stones below, have a sit on the benches and snuggle up with your date! The walk is about 40 minutes at a leisurely pace, if you just go and return. But it's really worth a bit of a stop at the beacon - may be some sailboats coming by or when the sun sets, especially nice.
Arts & Culture
Well, it's a great museum. Always great exhibits. Especially great First Nations exhibit. IMAX theatre too. Olde Towne built inside with 19th century exhibits on hotel, railway station, Chinatown. BC History exhibits. Great for families, rainy day. Right downtown across from the harbour so you can park in the back of the museum and afterwards, if you still have energy after 4 or 5 floors of exhibits, wander across to the harbourfront where in the summer there'll be street performers, the marina and harbour taxis coming and going.
534 lokalkjente anbefaler
Royal BC Museum
675 Belleville StWell, it's a great museum. Always great exhibits. Especially great First Nations exhibit. IMAX theatre too. Olde Towne built inside with 19th century exhibits on hotel, railway station, Chinatown. BC History exhibits. Great for families, rainy day. Right downtown across from the harbour so you can park in the back of the museum and afterwards, if you still have energy after 4 or 5 floors of exhibits, wander across to the harbourfront where in the summer there'll be street performers, the marina and harbour taxis coming and going.
Essentials
5 blocks from the house - you can walk there in 15 minutes and buy everything foody there. Pre-made sushi (not great but ok), a deli to pick up some lunch. There's also a pharmacy with daytime hours. In the same complex there are a pizza, Mexican and healthy wrap take out places.
74 lokalkjente anbefaler
Save-On-Foods
172 Wilson St5 blocks from the house - you can walk there in 15 minutes and buy everything foody there. Pre-made sushi (not great but ok), a deli to pick up some lunch. There's also a pharmacy with daytime hours. In the same complex there are a pizza, Mexican and healthy wrap take out places.
Everything Else
It's a deli-style (self-serve) restaurant with all things healthy, but good. Gluten free and vegan, can do. For kids there are maximum sized fries (not greasy at all) and sushi, falafels and any veggie they care to scoop and for everyone else, soup, all salad bits you could want, and cookies, muffins and other treats like mudpie bars, sugar free brownies and all manner of irresistible cakes and even their own ice cream. Location is great - on a warm day you can sit out inside the Market Square, a really old courtyard surrounded by really old market building, red brick.
34 lokalkjente anbefaler
Green Cuisine Vegetarian Restaurant
It's a deli-style (self-serve) restaurant with all things healthy, but good. Gluten free and vegan, can do. For kids there are maximum sized fries (not greasy at all) and sushi, falafels and any veggie they care to scoop and for everyone else, soup, all salad bits you could want, and cookies, muffins and other treats like mudpie bars, sugar free brownies and all manner of irresistible cakes and even their own ice cream. Location is great - on a warm day you can sit out inside the Market Square, a really old courtyard surrounded by really old market building, red brick.