Rhona's Guidebook
Food Scene
Outstanding bakery using organic Red Fife wheat. Fantastico Cafe adjoins. Open 7 days!
154 locals recommend
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 locals recommend
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 locals recommend
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 locals recommend
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 locals recommend
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 locals recommend
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 locals recommend
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 locals recommend
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 locals recommend
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 locals recommend
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 locals recommend
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 locals recommend
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 locals recommend
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 locals recommend
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 locals recommend
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 locals recommend
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 locals recommend
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 locals recommend
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 locals recommend
Macaulay Point Park
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 locals recommend
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 locals recommend
Goldstream Provincial Park
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.
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.