Alex + Matt's Victoria Guidebook

Matt
Alex + Matt's Victoria Guidebook

Drinks & Nightlife

Best selection of craft brews in the city - as well as really good pub fare. Casual atmosphere. Great spot for a pint and a bite of food. They have a patio out back that is part of Market Square. Really nice spot on a sunny afternoon.
119 locals recommend
The Drake Eatery
517 Pandora Ave
119 locals recommend
Best selection of craft brews in the city - as well as really good pub fare. Casual atmosphere. Great spot for a pint and a bite of food. They have a patio out back that is part of Market Square. Really nice spot on a sunny afternoon.
Classic Victoria Brew Pub. Great for lunch, dinner or late-night.
58 locals recommend
Swans Brewery, Pub & Hotel
506 Pandora Ave
58 locals recommend
Classic Victoria Brew Pub. Great for lunch, dinner or late-night.
Victoria's most famous beer exporters! Awesome tasting-room! They offer meat/cheese plates and large pretzels to go along with their beer. This is the cheapest place to buy their bottled/canned offerings, or fill a growler (there is an empty one in the kitchen). A must-visit if you are a beer fan.
63 locals recommend
Phillips Brewing & Malting
2000 Government St
63 locals recommend
Victoria's most famous beer exporters! Awesome tasting-room! They offer meat/cheese plates and large pretzels to go along with their beer. This is the cheapest place to buy their bottled/canned offerings, or fill a growler (there is an empty one in the kitchen). A must-visit if you are a beer fan.

Food Scene

Small but legendary local french bistro. Wonderful steak. They don't take reservations, often has a lineup. Arrive early for best chance at being seated quickly.
119 locals recommend
Brasserie L'Ecole
1715 Government St
119 locals recommend
Small but legendary local french bistro. Wonderful steak. They don't take reservations, often has a lineup. Arrive early for best chance at being seated quickly.
Famous brunch spot, for good reason. Delicious, creative food. Has been featured on a few TV shows. Plan ahead as there are lineups almost all the time.
201 locals recommend
Jam Cafe
542 Herald St
201 locals recommend
Famous brunch spot, for good reason. Delicious, creative food. Has been featured on a few TV shows. Plan ahead as there are lineups almost all the time.
Great breakfast spot at a reasonable price. Can be busy, especially on weekends.
71 locals recommend
Mo:Lé Restaurant
554 Pandora Ave
71 locals recommend
Great breakfast spot at a reasonable price. Can be busy, especially on weekends.
Iconic local coffee spot.
99 locals recommend
Habit Coffee
808 Yates St
99 locals recommend
Iconic local coffee spot.
Very popular local coffee shop, in Chinatown. Our fav Americanos in the city.
63 locals recommend
Bean Around The World
533 Fisgard St
63 locals recommend
Very popular local coffee shop, in Chinatown. Our fav Americanos in the city.
More coffee! Fun little shop on Lower Johnson.
56 locals recommend
Hey Happy
560 Johnson St
56 locals recommend
More coffee! Fun little shop on Lower Johnson.
Small little spot with great Indian food. Tasty lunch buffet.
16 locals recommend
Sizzling Tandoor Downtown
637 Johnson St
16 locals recommend
Small little spot with great Indian food. Tasty lunch buffet.
Arguably the best patio in the city. Right on the water. Tasty food options. Stunning timber-frame heritage brick building. Live music on weekends. Great beer.
157 locals recommend
Canoe Brewpub
450 Swift St
157 locals recommend
Arguably the best patio in the city. Right on the water. Tasty food options. Stunning timber-frame heritage brick building. Live music on weekends. Great beer.
Our favourite upscale dining option in Victoria. A local institution!
36 locals recommend
Cafe Brio
944 Fort St
36 locals recommend
Our favourite upscale dining option in Victoria. A local institution!
Local market hall, full of great lunch options and other local offerings. Definitely worth strolling through.
71 locals recommend
Victoria Public Market at the Hudson
1701 Douglas St
71 locals recommend
Local market hall, full of great lunch options and other local offerings. Definitely worth strolling through.
Very nice coffee spot in the Hudson Building. Local roaster/coffee shop - Bean roasting is done in-house.
13 locals recommend
2% Jazz Coffee
1701 Douglas St
13 locals recommend
Very nice coffee spot in the Hudson Building. Local roaster/coffee shop - Bean roasting is done in-house.
Classic Victoria coffee roaster/coffee shop.
104 locals recommend
Discovery Coffee
281 Menzies St
104 locals recommend
Classic Victoria coffee roaster/coffee shop.
Delicious Italian fine dining.
244 locals recommend
II Terrazzo
555 Johnson St
244 locals recommend
Delicious Italian fine dining.
A classic Victoria spot. Great food and drinks. Really cool garden patio in the back. They also have an upstairs location with a different menu.
92 locals recommend
Ferris' Grill & Garden Patio
536 Yates St
92 locals recommend
A classic Victoria spot. Great food and drinks. Really cool garden patio in the back. They also have an upstairs location with a different menu.
Mmmm Pizza. Done very well.
55 locals recommend
Fiamo Pizza & Wine Bar
515 Yates St
55 locals recommend
Mmmm Pizza. Done very well.
Fun little hole in the wall lunch spot and coffee bar. Best salad (Picnic Salad, add roasted chicken) in Victoria in our books! Very small spot, so it is tough to find seating for a group larger than 2.
8 locals recommend
Picnic
506 Fort St
8 locals recommend
Fun little hole in the wall lunch spot and coffee bar. Best salad (Picnic Salad, add roasted chicken) in Victoria in our books! Very small spot, so it is tough to find seating for a group larger than 2.
Delicious west-coast inspired tacos in "taco alley".
78 locals recommend
Tacofino
760 Pandora Ave
78 locals recommend
Delicious west-coast inspired tacos in "taco alley".
More great Mexican food!
26 locals recommend
La Taquisa
176 Wilson St
26 locals recommend
More great Mexican food!
Victoria's most authentic Mexican tacos. Fun atmosphere, good beer selections and margaritas.
28 locals recommend
La Taqueria Pinche Taco Shop
766 Fort St
28 locals recommend
Victoria's most authentic Mexican tacos. Fun atmosphere, good beer selections and margaritas.
Wonderful, locally-sourced restaurant.
58 locals recommend
OLO Restaurant
509 Fisgard St
58 locals recommend
Wonderful, locally-sourced restaurant.
Korean-inspired lunch offerings.
6 locals recommend
Picnic Too
1019 Fort St
6 locals recommend
Korean-inspired lunch offerings.
A fresh take on fish n chips. In an up-cycled shipping container, on the boardwalk - what's not to like? Can be quite busy depending on time of day.
163 locals recommend
Red Fish Blue Fish
1006 Wharf St
163 locals recommend
A fresh take on fish n chips. In an up-cycled shipping container, on the boardwalk - what's not to like? Can be quite busy depending on time of day.
Located in FanTan Alley (which is worth strolling through all on its own). The coolest little Ice Cream shop in town! Small batch Ice Cream with locally sourced ingredients. If you like Ice Cream, go here.
20 locals recommend
Kid Sister Ice Cream
230 Cook Street
20 locals recommend
Located in FanTan Alley (which is worth strolling through all on its own). The coolest little Ice Cream shop in town! Small batch Ice Cream with locally sourced ingredients. If you like Ice Cream, go here.
Great underground spot (physically it is underground). Kitchen stays open very late. Lots of tasty food options, and an expansive drink menu.
47 locals recommend
The Mint Restaurant
1414 Douglas St
47 locals recommend
Great underground spot (physically it is underground). Kitchen stays open very late. Lots of tasty food options, and an expansive drink menu.

Shopping

Independently owned. Best in town. Wonderfully curated used/new bookstore.
28 locals recommend
Russell Books
747 Fort St
28 locals recommend
Independently owned. Best in town. Wonderfully curated used/new bookstore.
Great art supply shop. Fun place to poke around.
Opus Art Supplies
512 Herald St
Great art supply shop. Fun place to poke around.
Vintage furniture, trinkets and collectibles.
Trig Vintage
546 Herald St
Vintage furniture, trinkets and collectibles.
Hardware and so much more! This place has everything! A Victoria classic. Fun for browsing.
19 locals recommend
Capital Iron
1900 Store St
19 locals recommend
Hardware and so much more! This place has everything! A Victoria classic. Fun for browsing.
Connecting Pandora Ave with Chinatown, a stroll through Fan Tan Alley is a must when visiting Victoria! It's a tight little brick corridor brimming with unique shops selling all sorts of interesting things.
101 locals recommend
Fan Tan Alley
549 Fisgard St
101 locals recommend
Connecting Pandora Ave with Chinatown, a stroll through Fan Tan Alley is a must when visiting Victoria! It's a tight little brick corridor brimming with unique shops selling all sorts of interesting things.

Sightseeing

194 locals recommend
Hotel Fairmont Empress
721 Government St
194 locals recommend
218 locals recommend
Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
501 Belleville St
218 locals recommend
16 locals recommend
David Foster Way
David Foster Way
16 locals recommend
Victoria's shopping district.
38 locals recommend
Johnson Street
Johnson Street
38 locals recommend
Victoria's shopping district.
A wonderful drive or bike-ride to take in the ocean-side beauty of Victoria.
115 locals recommend
Dallas Road
Dallas Road
115 locals recommend
A wonderful drive or bike-ride to take in the ocean-side beauty of Victoria.
Canada's oldest Chinatown, 1 block from the loft! The markets are always bustling. Lots of interesting shops and restaurants to check out.
124 locals recommend
Victoria's Chinatown
500 Fisgard St
124 locals recommend
Canada's oldest Chinatown, 1 block from the loft! The markets are always bustling. Lots of interesting shops and restaurants to check out.
Victoria's floating neighborhood! Take a strong on the docks to see many unique and funky floating homes. There is also a nice park for lounging on a sunny day, complete with children's playground.
255 locals recommend
Fisherman's Wharf Park
12 Erie St
255 locals recommend
Victoria's floating neighborhood! Take a strong on the docks to see many unique and funky floating homes. There is also a nice park for lounging on a sunny day, complete with children's playground.
Stunning views in the evening light. Stroll out the lighthouse at the end on this long, concrete breakwater.
46 locals recommend
The Breakwater
The Breakwater
46 locals recommend
Stunning views in the evening light. Stroll out the lighthouse at the end on this long, concrete breakwater.
If you want to hit the beach from downtown Victoria, this is the closest spot. Beautiful views to Olympic National Park in the U.S. Wonderful pebble beach for strolling or lounging on driftwood. A nice option is to pick up some take-out food and picnic on the beach.
Spiral Beach
1119 Dallas Road
If you want to hit the beach from downtown Victoria, this is the closest spot. Beautiful views to Olympic National Park in the U.S. Wonderful pebble beach for strolling or lounging on driftwood. A nice option is to pick up some take-out food and picnic on the beach.
Take a stroll along the Inner Harbour Causeway. Lots going on here in the summer. There will often be buskers performing, food/drink stands etc. Usually there are some interesting vintage boats and/or tall ships moored in the marina here.
13 locals recommend
Inner Harbour Causeway
790 Government St
13 locals recommend
Take a stroll along the Inner Harbour Causeway. Lots going on here in the summer. There will often be buskers performing, food/drink stands etc. Usually there are some interesting vintage boats and/or tall ships moored in the marina here.

Arts & Culture

534 locals recommend
Royal BC Museum
675 Belleville St
534 locals recommend
22 locals recommend
The Bateman Gallery
470 Belleville St
22 locals recommend
Canada's largest collection of Asian art. Emily Carr always on display.
111 locals recommend
Art Gallery of Greater Victoria
1040 Moss St
111 locals recommend
Canada's largest collection of Asian art. Emily Carr always on display.
Well-curated, frequently-changing contemporary exhibits.
Madrona Gallery
606 View St
Well-curated, frequently-changing contemporary exhibits.
Always something going on at the Mac. Across the road from the condo. Check their website for current shows. http://www.rmts.bc.ca/tickets-and-events/calendar
28 locals recommend
McPherson Playhouse
3 Centennial Square
28 locals recommend
Always something going on at the Mac. Across the road from the condo. Check their website for current shows. http://www.rmts.bc.ca/tickets-and-events/calendar
Historic Victoria Performance Hall. Check website for current shows. http://www.rmts.bc.ca/tickets-and-events/calendar
39 locals recommend
Royal Theatre
805 Broughton St
39 locals recommend
Historic Victoria Performance Hall. Check website for current shows. http://www.rmts.bc.ca/tickets-and-events/calendar
Stunning community colour mural on Cormorant Street (between Blanshard and Quadra) by Victoria artist-in-residence, Luke Ramsey.
Cormorant Street
Cormorant Street
Stunning community colour mural on Cormorant Street (between Blanshard and Quadra) by Victoria artist-in-residence, Luke Ramsey.

Parks & Nature

Our favourite place to run & hike. Approx. 15 minute drive from downtown. Beautiful trails and great views of the city from the top. You can also drive to the summit in the evening to catch a gorgeous sunset over the city. Parking can be busy both at the base and at the summit, especially on weekends.
180 locals recommend
Mount Douglas Park
4500 Cedar Hill Road
180 locals recommend
Our favourite place to run & hike. Approx. 15 minute drive from downtown. Beautiful trails and great views of the city from the top. You can also drive to the summit in the evening to catch a gorgeous sunset over the city. Parking can be busy both at the base and at the summit, especially on weekends.
Beautiful hiking trails. Great swimming hole in the summer. Can be quite busy in summer months.
98 locals recommend
Thetis Lake Regional Park
98 locals recommend
Beautiful hiking trails. Great swimming hole in the summer. Can be quite busy in summer months.
Beautiful Old-Growth forest, just outside the city. Great walking/hiking/running trails. For the adventurous. Hike up Mt. Finlayson (not for those with a fear of heights) from this starting point.
242 locals recommend
Goldstream Provincial Park
242 locals recommend
Beautiful Old-Growth forest, just outside the city. Great walking/hiking/running trails. For the adventurous. Hike up Mt. Finlayson (not for those with a fear of heights) from this starting point.
Quick drive or hike to the summit will reward you with beautiful views of the city. Some nice trails, but not as expansive or lush as Mt Douglas Park.
65 locals recommend
Mount Tolmie
65 locals recommend
Quick drive or hike to the summit will reward you with beautiful views of the city. Some nice trails, but not as expansive or lush as Mt Douglas Park.
Scenic 10km walking/running trail around the lake. Fairly flat. Also home to the Canadian National Rowing Team.
38 locals recommend
Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park
5267 Patricia Bay Highway
38 locals recommend
Scenic 10km walking/running trail around the lake. Fairly flat. Also home to the Canadian National Rowing Team.

Essentials

Great, reasonably-priced produce and hard-to-find Asian ingredients.
15 locals recommend
Fisgard Market Ltd
550 Fisgard St
15 locals recommend
Great, reasonably-priced produce and hard-to-find Asian ingredients.
Closest full-sized grocery store to the loft. Approx. 5 block walk.
185 locals recommend
Market On Yates
903 Yates St
185 locals recommend
Closest full-sized grocery store to the loft. Approx. 5 block walk.