The Hotel

Not to be dramatic, but I literally felt as though the hotel staff would die for me. Every tiny request I had was fulfilled – from the smallest to the most annoying. Walking in through the entrance, a member of staff would prise the door open for me whilst another greeted me from reception, getting up to swipe their card for the elevator so that I wouldn’t have to wait a single second for it to arrive. When I would leave the hotel, I would be offered an umbrella for the rain, and could grab an extra pillow chocolate or two from the cleaners (who were so nice). Reception had daily weather forecasts on the front desk, and would give me flawless advice about how to spend the day, and I felt so incredibly taken care of.

The hotel is located in the very heart of Vancouver, a perfect distance away from downtown attractions, restaurants, and malls. Whilst the city life is bustling, the rooms are completely blocked off from outside noise which is a relief. Local transport is accessible from almost directly outside the hotel, conveniently connecting you to other areas of the city. 

The Suite

The suite itself is gorgeous, with patched jade faux-leather walls, two flat screen televisions, and the plumpest pillows I have ever come across. Every evening, I would return to the hotel to find little chocolates on the bed cushions – which tasted exactly like a bar I ate once as a child, making me want to abandon my lactose-free diet to indulge in mounds upon mounds of the stuff.

The bathroom was, in essence, a wet room, with a large marble seat to lounge upon in the shower, a plethora of L’occitane gels and lotions (my favourite skincare brand), and extremely thick towels and dressing gowns. The mirror was massive and very Hollywood-esque, which made applying make-up feel like I was prepping for the Oscars. Oh, and the walls were textured with little folds and ribbons. 

The small living room was incredibly comfy and cosy – and made it exceedingly difficult to leave to explore the city. Styled like a 50’s living room, it brought me a large amount of joy to merely lounge across the sofa, watch daytime TV, and brew copious amounts of coffee and tea (I’m British, after all). The complimentary Fiji water made me feel exceedingly suave, and the luxe throw rendered my binge sofa-eating into something more glamorous. 

Have you guys ever stayed at a hotel like this, or even the St. Regis itself? Or have I inspired you to venture out to Vancouver to check out this little haven? Let me know in the comments below!

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JOHN’S PLACE

Maybe I shouldn’t be starting this post on my favourite place in the whole city, but I really can’t help myself – and I could go on about how much I love John’s Place forever. Not only was the food gorgeous (I completely stuffed myself silly on pancakes, waffles, and chorizo) and the atmosphere buzzing, but the staff members were all so lovely. Debra was our server, and told us all about how she’d been here for a grand total of 34 years and loved it just as much today as she did then. She was super chatty and happy and instantly put a smile on everyone’s faces.

Elvis and James Blunt played in the background, and every single wall was thoroughly adorned with old photos and posters. After being recommended this place over and over again, and yet never finding the time to visit, I finally spent an afternoon here on my third month in the city. I fell in love instantly. After months of travel and not quite feeling at home, this was finally it. Never have I adored a place as much. Also, as a bonus – the food literally kept me fed until 9pm.

723 Pandora Ave, V8W 1N9

If you also like John’s place very much and are also attracted by the food, posters, and photos here, then you can save this wonderful memory with Custom Keychains.

You can choose various photos you took, poster pictures, favorite food cartoon pictures, and even the name of your favorite place as the material, add your favorite color and material, and design a special keychain.

Whenever you see these personalized and exquisite keychains, they will remind you of the good times of tasting food at John’s place.

FISHHOOK

The sort of place you’ll find yourself venturing to when the weather outside is cold and wet and you want something comforting and delicious to pick you back up. Especially good for seafood lovers (I guess the clue’s in the name), Fishhook specialises in food full of protein, personality, and love. I came here once on a date with an English guy and we split a chowder – and whilst the date went up in flames, the gorgeous food really did take the edge off.

 805 Fort St, V8W 1H6

BE LOVE

Rated one of the best places in Victoria for vegan cake, it has a lot to live up to – and it sure does! The cake is so rich and sweet and gorgeous, we probably spent around half an hour just taking our time with two slices of cake. It’s the sort of place where you savour each bite, rather than just throwing it all down you. I visited here with a guy whose mother is a wonderful chef, owning little bits of cafes here and there, and even he agreed that it was the best cake he’d ever had.

1019 Blanshard St, V8W 2H4

TACOFINO

When you walk into Tacofino, you’ll instantly be greeted by a plethora of people milling about, catching up over some gorgeous food, sharing burritos and tacos and salads. It’s styled like an old-school indoor eatery, and is ideal for taking someone on a first date. What could be better than getting super messy, sitting so close to them that your elbows touch, and having to get near to their face to speak to them over the hustle and bustle? Perfect, I say.

787 Fort St, V8W 1G9

COLD COMFORT

Oh my goodness. Honestly, I feel as though even words could not do this place justice. I came here with someone who would later become a close friend, and we bought a ridiculous amount of their vegan ice-creams and huddled over them together sharing them. Some of their flavours are super ambitious – but they definitely work! Considering the fact that I have Crohn’s Disease, I really struggle to find foods that don’t make me ill, and yet with all the dairy-free options here I was pretty spoiled for choice. It’s a really neat place.

1115 N Park St #2, V8T 1C7

JONES BAR-B-QUE

A classic North American food place, it’s styled like every single roadside restaurant that’s ever been featured in a US movie. The ribs here are gorgeous (even for someone who is trying her best to be vegetarian…) and perfect for sharing with someone who has as much sauce around their mouth as you do. The atmosphere here is super live, and makes me feel as though someone with stirrups on their boots is going to jump upon a table at any time and do a two-step.

1725 Cook St, V8T 3P4

FERN CAFE AND BAKERY

Everything is vegan! They bake their cakes there, and I could have happily eaten every single bit of cooked goods they offered. Their coffees are strong, and the people are the loveliest – which are the two key things you need in a place, in my opinion. Not to be dramatic, but I think that this is the best off-the-beaten-track bakery in Victoria.

1-1115 N Park St, V8T 1C7

BARD AND BANKER

Apparently the Bard and Banker is styled like an “old Scottish bar” which is the most hilarious thing I’ve ever heard – not once have I visited a bar in Scotland that comes equipped with large glass chandeliers and waitresses in outfits I wouldn’t even wear for a night on the town. The food is gorgeous though, and they do live entertainment – although I don’t think I could ever say this place reminds me of a bar in the UK.

1022 Government St, V8W 1X7

WEST COAST WAFFLES

The best place to go after a lovely meal out for a massive dessert. You can have everything lactose- and gluten-free, which is perfect as it means that people with broken stomachs like yours truly don’t need to cut out and miss out on anything. Never have I had such an elaborate waffle in my life – let me tell you, that sugar rush lasted for hours. 

1235 Broad St, V8W 2A4

THE MARBLE SLAB CREAMERY

Absolutely my favourite ice-cream parlour. You can add any toppings you want and it’ll still be gorgeous (I tried fruit loops and sprinkles, which should not taste good together, and yet really, really did). This is just one of those places that you need to visit at least once during your time in the city. 

1150 Douglas St, V8W 3M9

BENTO SUSHI

I honestly ate nothing but Bento Sushi for the first week that I moved in, and it definitely worked to substitute a nightly cooked meal! I often find that the main problem when moving to a new place is that you spend weeks trying to figure out the best places to catch a snack – which is why I’m so thankful that I found Bento Sushi immediately after my move. Also, moving to the land of cheese and gravy (namely in the form of poutine), I found myself unable to eat a lot of the food that I stumbled across in Victoria – but luckily, the sushi served here is entirely devoid of my Crohn’s triggers. Pretty ideal.

670 Fort St, V8W 3V2

BEAVERTAILS

A staple of Canada – you can’t really say that you’ve visited the country if you don’t try one of these! Whilst pretty simple in concept, these inherent pitta breads with sugar are beautiful and super sweet and nice. Is an afternoon shopping in Victoria really complete without purchasing matching BeaverTails?

602 Broughton St, V8W 1C7

FRANKIE’S MODERN DINER

The best place for double dates! If you’ve ever wanted to re-create your Riverdale fantasies, then this is the place. Not only is it super cheap, but the food is beautiful – thick milkshakes and old-American style decor. The whole place is super pretty, and it’s just a pretty neat diner to spend a couple of hours.

910 Government St #38, V8W 1X3

BUTCHART GARDENS

Being British, I subconsciously found myself scouring out deeply British snacks such as scones – the best of which, I tasted at Butchart Gardens. I wrote about the gardens themselves in my first ever post about Victoria, and let me tell you, it quickly became one of my favourite places. I can’t wait until I go back to the city and visit it during the changes of summer (perhaps next year, when the Coronavirus is less of a threat?)

800 Benvenuto Avenue, V8M 1J8

ABKHAZI GARDENS

I cannot get over how wonderful my trip to Abkazi Gardens was. Not too many people know about this place, which is surprising as the food is delicious, the staff are the loveliest people ever, and the gardens are beautiful. I took a friend with me to sample their Chocolate Lovers’ Tea for Valentine’s Day, and let me tell you, it sure was an experience to remember. We walked in and were sat at a table with stunning mismatched china, and were told all about the glorious history of the place. Basically, these gorgeous gardens were built many years ago by a prince and princess, in order to turn their love for each other and the area into something physical. The princess, Peggy, died in 1994 – seven years after Nicholas – and a little sign over their scattered ashes instructs onlookers to celebrate her reunion with her beloved husband with a glass of champagne. It is a really beautiful backstory, and by the time we were told all about it, our afternoon tea had arrived.

Three tiers were filled with the most mouth-watering food – my favourites include the blini with smoked salmon, crème fraîche and caviar, Dungeness crab profiterole, beef and stilton petit croissant, arugula and goat cheese quiche, chocolate cherry scones, dark chocolate pavé, and the velvet Madelaine. The quality of the food really rivals the standards at the Fairmont, especially as it is available for a more affordable price, and much better surroundings. When we visited it was snowing, and the large glass windows offered the most beautiful Christmas-card-esque views of the snow-covered gardens. I wanted to get a few photographs in the place and as the rest of the guests had just filtered out, my travel partner and I had it all to ourselves. The staff was super helpful in setting out a table to photograph at, and stood with beaming great smiles, offering comments about how good it looked. Never have I met such wonderful and accommodating staff. Before we left, we had some more tea – with my travel partner choosing the “Philosopher’s Brew” – lemongrass, citrus peel, rosehips, and lavender blossoms – and myself going for “Chocolate Panda” – peppermint, rooibos, chamomile, anise, cocoa powder, chocolate & vanilla essence, steeped in steamed milk. It truly was one of the best experiences of the year. 

1964 Fairfield Rd, V8S 1H4

FIRESIDE GRILL

Easily the best place to go for both business meetings and long-awaited reunions with family members. The Fireside Grill is a large and welcoming place full of the nicest staff members ever, the most filling dinner food you can get, and gorgeous wooden-beamed ceilings. Massive chandeliers keep the place lit, and the price is real good for the sheer amount of flavour and substance that you get. 

4509 W Saanich Rd, V8Z 3G1

MURCHIE’S

I have no idea as to where to even begin talking about this place, I loved it so much. For those of you who aren’t aware, I’m a massive fan of tea – I drink about 12 cups a day, give or take. I spend weekends at tea festivals, holidays visiting temples to celebrate tea ceremonies, and business days spending my breaks attending talks on tea. So yeah, I guess you could say that I’m pretty into tea. Murchie’s is the nicest place to go for a hot beverage and cake in the city, as their selection of teas are gorgeous, and their cakes complement them perfectly. The shop itself is super pretty, and has a little gift store where you can buy some of your own tins to take home. Everything about this place is perfect for fanatics like yours truly.

1110 Government Street, V8W 1Y2

CRUST BAKERY

You know when you have a really good bit of bread, that crunches when you press it and flakes off into your month when you bite into it? Every single baked good from Crust Bakery lives up to these quality-assured standards, and everything is warm and tasty and divine. It’s located on Fort Street, which is pretty convenient for exploring the rest of the city, slice of bread in hand.

730 Fort St, V8W 1H2

THE DUTCH BAKERY

The bakery is run by the nicest people ever, offering a gorgeous little taste of the Netherlands. My favourite product here is by far the stroopwafels, which I was told are best eaten after being placed over a steaming cup of tea until the caramel middle is gooey. As a heads up – don’t leave it on there for a full hour whilst you forget that you have said hot beverage, as you will return to find that it has turned into a pool of sugar and goo that has bled all over your table. There’s no need to thank me.

718 Fort St, V8W 1H2

ROGER’S CHOCOLATES

Established in 1885, my second favourite thing about this place is that it’s haunted. We took a ghost tour around the city one evening and were informed that not only is it the oldest shop in the city, but it’s also home to the ghosts of Charles and Leah Rogers, who are rumoured to still wander the shop floor. My favourite thing about this place, however, has to be their mouth-wateringly good chocolates – which the Royal Family also likes to indulge in.

913 Government Street, V8W 1X5

LA TAQUERIA

Literally the best place to go on a first date, the food at La Taqueria is gorgeous and messy, and a flawless way to break the ice. Sit opposite each other as customers stream around you, being forced to move so close that you’re touching elbows. It’s pretty ideal.

766 Fort St, V8W 1H2

MILANO COFFEE

My favourite place to stop at before or after a whale watching tour, it’s warm and welcoming and smells of freshly-brewed coffee. They sell the most divine baked goods to go with the drinks, and it’s generally just a great place to hang out in the city. Dare I say the best coffee on the island?

817 Government Street, V8W 1W8

BLUE FOX CAFE

One of the highest-rated brunch places in the city – and for good reason. They sell everything you could ever want for a late lunch, making it perfect for dates, hangovers, and seeing your parents for the first time in months. The food is gorgeous, and will absolutely keep you fed for days. The staff are super lovely, too.

919 Fort St, V8V 3K3

THE CHURCHILL

If you like beer, then go no further than the Churchill. I’m not a large beer fan, and yet even I found myself trying all sorts of their drinks, eventually settling on some of the sweeter ones and falling for those entirely. The staff were great at advising us of what to order based on our preferences, and dare I say, they made beer taste good. 

1140 Government St, V8W 1Y2

ROAST MEAT + SANDWICH SHOP

It really says it all in the name. Regarded as Sandwich Heaven, you’re sure to find a lunch that you love. I tried one of their beef and salad bowls, and despite not knowing anything about the place prior to visiting, fell in love with everything about it. I highly recommend it for a very filling snack stop. 

1701 Douglas St, V8W 0C1

LA ROUX PATISSERIE

Quite literally the sweetest shop around. From their rich chocolate cakes to their meringue macarons, everything is super delicious and moorish. I first visited the place on a food tour, but found myself coming back every week to sample yet another one of their macaron flavours. They have every single flavour you could ever want, and more – and their shop is a super cute place to sit back and chill for an hour or two.

519 Fisgard St, V8W 1R3

LA TANA BAKERY

Home of the beautiful Italian bread that made me miss Italy. One of the coolest things about this place is that the owner started the whole business by riding his bike across the city, selling his breads directly from the bike basket. Each day he makes the baked goods fresh (apart from cookies because they have a much longer shelf life) and anything that’s left over he gives to the homeless. He’s a super cool guy.

3 Fan Tan Alley #101, V8W 1W3

JUST MATCHA TEA SHOP

Not to be dramatic, but this place literally changed my life. I visited the shop so, so many times, and each time I was reminded why I liked it so much. Their specialty is matcha lattes, which are made with the bright green matcha powder famous for making people feel good by removing toxins and reducing inflammation. The lattes are absolutely gorgeous and inspired me to make my own – which, frankly, tasted nowhere near as good as theirs, resulting in me coming back here all the time. They also sell these gorgeous matcha mini-chocolates, which are perfect for when you’re sitting here studying with friends and you want a little something sweet to snack on. They have dairy-free options for the hot beverages, and their products are suitable for the Keto Diet – meaning that it’s pretty much perfect to make everyone on earth feel better. The owners are also some of the nicest people ever, and are always more than happy to give you advice on making your own matcha, or show you in detail how they make theirs. A pretty incredible place, if I’m honest. 

2021 Oak Bay Ave, V8R 1E2;
544 Pandora Avenue, V8W 1N6

SHANZEE’S BISCUIT CAFE

When I first heard the words ‘biscuit cafe’ I assumed that Shanzee’s would be a small shop where only a handful of biscuit lovers would gather. As it turned out, I was incredibly wrong. You walk into the store and it’s this wide open place, filled to the brim with people keen to try their dishes. I tried several of their sweet and savoury biscuits, and let me tell you, I’ve never had a biscuit like them – and I’m British, so I should know. The atmosphere is buzzing, and it’s just a nice place to chill back and really focus on giving your sweet tooth some love. They serve so many things, but the biscuits are definitely the best.

529 Pandora Avenue, V8W 1N5

EARL’S KITCHEN AND BAR

The perfect place to spend happy hour (helloooo margaritas!), Earl’s is one of the most suave bars in town. Not only do they sell gorgeous alcohol for equally as gorgeous prices, but they also serve some pretty sweet cheesy nachos with meat and tomato bits. Honestly, it’s like an upside down lasagna, but with more potato chips and – dare I say it – flavour.

1199 Government St, V8W 3M9

MACCHIATO CAFFE + PANINOTECA

Such a laid-back, chill place – it’s ideal for kicking back with a book, or having a conversational business meeting. It’s located in one of the prettiest neighbourhoods in Victoria, a couple blocks down from the ocean, and is overall just a nice place to spend a few hours.

1002 Broad Street, V8W 1Z9

OPA! OF GREECE

Because what could be better in Canada than Greek food? Located in the middle of the Bay Centre shopping mall, it’s a great place to hang out with friends and do some shopping. The servers are all super friendly, and the food is so flavoursome and cheap that it’s perfect for a filling student lunch. They have several locations, but this one is my favourite.

1150 Douglas St #435, V8W 3M9

BON MACARON PATISSERIE

Honestly, stepping into Bon Macaron makes you feel as though you’ve wandered right into Willy Wonka’s Factory. All around you are macarons made of flavours you never would have thought could be rendered into such a tiny snack – from bacon to lavender, curry to yuzu, white truffle and sea salt to pear and praline. The owner is the loveliest guy ever, and really took his time to explain all of his creations to us, along with the best way to consume them. One box lasted me about three days, where at the end of each evening I would take out a couple of macarons and really take my time to experience each flavour, letting the combination hit me slowly. It’s a new kind of luxury, and I loved every second.

1012 Broad Street, V8W 2A1

A TASTE OF VICTORIA FOOD TOURS

“All you need is a little courage and capital” is how our guide explained to us how he had started his business from scratch. He was a super cool dude, who had started the whole business himself and brought it up to the success that it is today. He seemed to know everything about the city, and had the sort of charisma that really made the tour fun. A Taste of Victoria quickly became my favourite food tour in the city, solely because it features everything I love – good food, a chatty and laid-back guide, and the opportunity to see the real side of the city. The people we met at the cafes and restaurants were all very friendly and loved talking about their businesses, and were more than happy to share their own stories about Victoria and its relationship with food. After the tour, our guide emailed me a copy of the places we had visited, so that I would recall their names and be able to visit them again later – which I did, several times. This food tour is one that you absolutely cannot afford to miss during your trip to the city – I can promise you that it will quickly become one of your highlights.

OFF THE EATEN TRACK

Never have I been on a food tour so thoroughly devoted to, well, food. All the history that we learnt about the area was directly correlated to a certain dish. I tried my first ever sip of kombucha at a place called 2% Jazz Coffee, and then the tour took us to Vij’s Sutra (gorgeous buttered chicken which is cooked raw in the sauce). It was a real fun experience, and the guide was super friendly and upbeat. After the tour, one of the ladies offered to drive me to the shopping centre – resulting in one of the most interesting encounters of my life (she was from Malaysia and boy, did she have some stories to tell!). Definitely a fun way to spend a day.

And so, after reading officially the longest food post on Victoria, I hope that you’ve learnt a thing or two. This is only a small number of the places that I visited in the city (I told you I’d been busy!), as I want to recommend only the best.

Have you guys ever checked out the food culture in Victoria, or feel inspired to after reading this post? Let me know in the comments below!

*Allie Mackin suggested that I turn this post into a PDF – and it was such a great idea that I just had to! To get your own downloadable PDF, click HERE!

BUT BEFORE YOU DO – WHY NOT SHARE THE LOVE AND PIN THIS POST?

For the culture-seekers

FERNWOOD

Fernwood is quite possibly the most beautiful area in Victoria, with each house looking like some quirky derivative of the home in Up. When I undoubtably come back to the city to move here forever, I 100% plan on emigrating into one of the houses here – they’re all full of so much character, you might even believe that they’ll stand up and introduce themselves as being called Storm or April at any moment. My absolute favourite part about Fernwood, however, is that book bins seem to be placed at every corner of the neighbourhood – places for you to drop off your old beloved books and trade them for someone else’s. The fact that they’re all neatly painted and are never raided or set on fire really shows what a lovely little vandal-free area Fernwood is (something like this could never be set up in Swansea, let me tell you). 

Hatley Castle

Hatley Castle has the strongest European vibes in the whole of Western Canada, featuring the old stonework and manicured castle gardens (namely the gorgeous Italian, Croquet, and Rose gardens) that you often stumble upon in Coventry or Vienna. The castle is absolutely breathtaking, with an Edwardian design and an interesting history in film – it was used in several X-Men movies as Professor Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters. Frankly, I’ve never seen the X-Men before in my life, but the fact that I’ve visited the filming location is something that I plan on bragging about for approximately the next 82 years of my life.

Craigdarroch Castle

Bring on the absolute best place in the whole of Victoria to learn about how life back on the island used to be like. Nicknamed “Canada’s Castle,” Craigdarroch is filled to the brim with history, with the building itself prior serving as a home-cum-military hospital-cum-school, featuring views looking out to the Olympic Mountain range in Washington. It’s a super interesting place, and a great way to spend a few hours. 

Fishermans’ Wharf

Ideal for cute walks with friends, you’ll be surrounded by pretty house boats, quirky little shops, and a plethora of vibrant rainbow-coloured kiosks. If you’re looking for lovingly handmade jewellery crafted by the locals, or unique little gifts to take home (namely, moose-shaped maple syrup bottles flavoured by unexpected things such as pink salt, brie, and old custard creams), then you’ve come to the right place. Also, when you realise that you absolutely must go on a boat trip to see some whales, this is the place to come to search for tour guides.

The Robert Bateman Centre

The Robert Bateman Centre is arguably the most accessible, interactive, and overall best gallery in Victoria – and yet, not too many people even know about it. Dedicated to the famous landscape and wildlife painter, a large collection of Bateman’s artwork from the past century is on display. He recently celebrated his 89th birthday, and still travels and captures the world around him in his paintings. This is the sort of place that you can spend hours exploring, laughing at the anecdotes of his childhood mishaps, and getting goosebumps around the more humbling exhibitions which depict the influence of humankind on nature. It’s a really cool place, and one that you can’t miss checking out.

The Maritime Museum of BC

Due to Victoria being an island surrounded by vast expanses of ocean, it comes as no surprise that it features a small maritime museum depicting the nautical history of the past few centuries. The Maritime Museum offers weekly events and talks on the unknown history of the island, and also sells some of the cheapest souvenirs in the whole city for you to take back home. I once accidentally sat in on their weekly speech event thing which was pretty interesting, and ended up sneaking out to impulse buy a hat with the words CABIN BOY plastered across the front. It was a fun time.

Art Gallery of Greater Victoria

Filled with works from famous Canadian painters such as Emily Carr, this gallery is a nice place to wander around for an hour or two. They have a very cute garden where you can hang out by the shinto shrine in the sun, and various exhibits which are often updated – so be sure to research their current exhibitions to make sure that you get to see your favourite things. 

Legislative Assembly of BC

Definitely a place you’ll feel underdressed in, the Legislative Assembly of BC is the first parliament that I personally have ever visited. The architecture is gorgeous, and the fact that you might just bump into a multi-millionaire politician also has its appeal. They offer daily free tours of the building, which is a great way to learn more about the history of the place. 

Discover the Past Walking Tour 

I have never been on a ghost tour before, and yet when I found out that this company offers “Ghostly Walks,” I realised that I didn’t want to do anything more. It turned out to be one of the most fun experiences of my time in Vic, as my travel partner and I spent a couple hours walking after dark in this beautiful city, taking in the views and being told grizzly tales of times gone by. It’s pretty awesome and very fun, and also a little bit terrifying. A highlight was definitely supposedly bumping into Jack the Ripper in a hallway just before we left. 

Royal BC Museum

Hands down my favourite museum in the whole world, their exhibitions are always super enticing and interesting. This should definitely be one of your first stops in the city, as it will tell you so much about the heart of the place. Not to be dramatic, but it’s the sort of place that you could easily spend days in, learning about each aspect of local geology and anthropology and zoology and everything in between. They also have this incredible life-sized mammoth installation which is pretty cool to take selfies with. 

BC Aviation Museum

If you’ve ever wanted to scramble inside an old war vessel or purchase a hat which will mark you as a walking advertisement for the aviation industry, then you’ve really come to the right place. The staff here are all super friendly and offer personal tours around the place, adding an extra depth to the hunks of steel. For someone that has never been particularly interested in the industry or the mechanics, I was surprised to find myself hanging onto every word that our guide told us – and now know several facts about aviation off by heart. 

The Belfry Theatre

After spending night after night watching shows at the Belfry, I am now utterly convinced that it is one of the best ways to spend an evening in Vic. The staff members are all super lovely, with the shows themselves being mega entertaining, and the building being very pretty. Overall, it’s the sort of place where you’ll spend your night either laughing your head off or crying your eyes out, or having some other limb-related injury occur by watching a well-written theatre show play out. 

Shaw centre for the Salish sea

First thing’s first – this place houses the best gift shop on the whole island, selling all kinds of aqua-related adventure stuff (I personally purchased the most incredible pack of cards here). The aquarium itself is also super cool, and the ideal place to spend a couple hours. It is based in Sidney, which is located to the north of Victoria (technically, it’s a separate municipality), and is one of the most laid-back and pretty places on the island. The centre is real interactive, with a cool entrance door replicating the act of going below sea level in this old submarine, pulling back after several minutes to open up into the aquarium itself. V cool.

For the adrenaline junkies

AdrenaLINE Zipline Adventure

Absolutely incredible – one of my favourite things to do in Victoria. It is so much fun, albeit a little nerve-wracking at times. I had never really been ziplining before this, but it’d been on my bucket list for years – so to finally be able to tick it off my list at a place like this was pretty memorable. The surroundings are beautiful, and you get to whiz through gaps in trees and over some of the most beautiful views. I loved every second, and I genuinely feel as though my time in Victoria would have been lacking had I not visited here. I now have the most beautiful Instagram photos of me hanging upside down and staring up at the trees around me in wonder – and it got a grand total of 288 likes, which really makes the whole experience worth it.

South Island SUP

I had never been paddleboarding before now, but had been recommended it several times. As it turns out, it really is one of the most fun ways to explore less aggressive parts of the ocean. Our guide and instructor was the friendliest guy ever, taking photos of us out on the water because I was too anxious to bring my camera with me in case I dropped it (which I quickly realised was an unjustified fear, as he gave us waterproof storage bags to take out with us). As the sun began to set around us and otters swam up to our boards, it became one of the most beautiful moments ever. I loved every second of it, and cannot recommend it enough. It’s one of the most memorable experiences of my whole time in Victoria.

Wildplay

The adventure course at Wildplay is surprisingly difficult (for my travel partner at least, who has a slight fear of heights that he refuses to recognise), but definitely one of the most fun and rewarding things to do. I felt my heart flutter at the thought of going through some of the sections, but enjoyed every second doing so. I had never gone on an adventure course before, and found every part of it exciting and enjoyable. The guides are all super friendly and helpful, and the fact that you go out in small personal groups means that the whole experience is just that much better. 

FOR THE OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS

Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary

I’m a little biased when it comes to this nature sanctuary – mainly because of the fact that in my spare time, I volunteered here. It’s such a pretty place, but tourists never seem to know that it even exists. There is so much to learn here, and they have a classroom as well as endless learning facilities, a coffee shop (featuring the cheapest hot beverages in Victoria), trails and paths, and several small animals you can gawp at through a glass tank. It’s a gorgeous place to go for a walk, and they house several opportunities to get involved in the local community – such a birdwatching, or, say, volunteering. 

james bay to ogden point

Easily the most relaxing wander in Victoria, the walk to the breakwater is breathtaking. You start off in arguably the prettiest bay in Vic, and walk all the way down to a kitsch little lighthouse which overlooks the city. The angry wind that will whip at your hair at the end of the point is sure to make you feel alive, and when you step back from the jetty onto solid land, the severe contrast in air turbulency will make you feel as though you’ve left all of your stresses and anxieties at the end of the point. I love it.

brentwood bay

I was only made aware of the fact that Brentwood Bay existed when I went there to visit a friend – and let me tell you, I fell in love instantly. The place is a whole lot smaller than the actual city bit of Victoria, meaning that it has a more laid-back and welcoming vibe. The views are all stunning, and entirely unencumbered by hoards of tourists. My absolute favourite thing to do in Brentwood Bay, however, is visit Brentwood Bay Resort and go for lengths in the swimming pool. Why not go for a dip in the hot tub, taking in the beauty around you as you sip on an alcoholic iced tea?

Mount Douglas

In my humble opinion, Mount Doug (also referred to as PKOLS [pq̕áls]) is a million times better than Mount Tolmie (it’s docile neighbour), as not only are the views prettier, but the history is richer. I took a Saanich History class when in Victoria, where I was taught all about the dialect of SENĆOŦEN and what the First People who lived in this area had endured. The top of PKOLS houses so many stories and memories for the First Nations, and it really is a beautiful place.

Arbutus Cove

One of the places that only locals seem to know about, Arbutus Cove is super fun to climb up, leaving your legs to dangle over the edge of the Void. It’s extremely relaxing to visit here and listen to the waves beneath your feet, surrounded by nothing but pure and effortless natural beauty. My only recommendation, however, is that you don’t visit at night, as it has no lights brightening it up – meaning that it quickly transforms into a death trap with blind drops and sharp rocks jutting out at unholy angles towards your head. My skull is definitely still pierced with dents – but it was worth it.

Willows Beach

Another place that I wouldn’t have known about had it not been for essentially becoming a fake local, Willows Beach is one of the prettiest beaches on Vancouver Island (which is really saying something, because as you can imagine, there’s a lot of beaches on an island), with pristine white sand and gorgeous rolling waves. It’s the sort of place where people go to forget everything, just blending into the breathtaking background. It’s almost meditative to walk up and down the stretch of sand.

Goldstream 

Goldstream Provincial Park is hands down one of the most stunning places in Victoria, made up of an old-growth temperate rainforest. It’s all absolutely beautiful, and a great place to test out your walking boots. Somewhere about half an hour into hiking (depending on where you’ve started), you will come across the Trestle Bridge – the Number One place that tourists visit to take their photos for the #Gram. You walk out onto the middle of the bridge, concentrating on standing on the wooden slats and not slipping between, lest you lose a leg (or even worse – drop your phone), and can peer out at mountains wearing their fog toques. It’s really something.

Abkhazi Gardens

The Abkhazi Gardens are not only beautiful, but they also have the cutest backstory ever. These gorgeous gardens were built many years ago by a prince and princess, in order to turn their love for each other and the area into something physical. The princess, Peggy, died in 1994, seven years after Nicholas, and a little sign over their scattered ashes instructs onlookers to celebrate her reunion with her beloved husband with a glass of champagne. Not only are the surroundings beautiful and the history deep, but the afternoon tea that you can get at the gardens is divine; served on mismatched china, with standards to rival the Fairmont, and big glass windows to look out to the gardens. I promise to delve further into my love for this place in my upcoming food guide of the city.

Eagle Wing Whale and Wildlife watching

Easily one of the best things to do in Victoria, you’ll have so much fun looking out from the boat at an abundance of whales as they do all that Good Stuff, like bobbing their heads up out of the water and doing lil’ backflips and tearing seals apart. If you find yourself on one of the larger vessels, be sure to wander up to the top of the deck and take in the view from the captain’s quarters, where you will be able to see nothing but sky, sea, and porpoise.

Butchart Gardens

The Butchart Gardens are an internationally renowned 55-acre display, created in 1904 by a lovely lass called Jennie Butchart (hence the name). Designated a National Historic Site of Canada, the gardens see over 300k bulbs of hyacinths, daffodils, and tulips, and over 250 varieties of roses a year. They host many facilities at the gardens, featuring boat tours, evening entertainment, firework shows, seasonal showstopper events, and Night Illumination. My personal favourite section is the Japanese Garden, which is pruned and cared for to perfection, with the Italian Garden coming a close second. If the weather is too cold to stay outside for too long, then you can make a stop to the Spring Prelude Indoor Garden, which houses many variations of flower breeds and a pretty little Koi pond, where you should throw coins into the water and rub the golden frog (which I was told was a Thing, but cannot bet on not being pranked). After exploring the grounds, why not stop at the cafe for a hot coco and scone?

Prince of Whales Whale & Marine Wildlife Adventures

The best way to see whales on this tour is on one of the small Zodiac boats, as it all feels so much closer and more personal. Dressing up in the bright orange safety suits adds another dimension of fun and excitement, and will be perfect for capturing that flawless Instagram-worthy photograph. The first time I went out with this company, it was unfortunate that we didn’t spot any actual whales (but plenty of sea lions, seals, eagles, otters, and porpoise) – but with Prince of Whales it is guaranteed that if you don’t spot any whales then you can go back with the company a second time, essentially scoring yourself a free boat trip. On my second trip, the weather was sunnier and the whales were out in their pods, and it was a lovely, perfect day.

Victoria Butterfly Gardens

The butterfly gardens are one of the most multi-generational-suitable places to visit, being super pretty, super warm (a great mix), and super accessible. If you’ve ever wanted to be swathed in a plethora of butterfly breeds then this is the place for you. Unexpectedly, they also have a clan of bright pink flamingoes, a herd of tortoise, and a whole bunch of poison dart frogs, large iguanas, and tropical ducks. This is definitely the best place to transport you from a small Canadian city into the heart of Borneo, where you will also be surrounded by almost three basketball courts- sized lush gardens filled with tropical flowers, carnivorous plants and self-proclaimed “fruits of the world.”

ENTERTAINMENT for THE #GRAM

Blenkinsop Adventure Mini Golf

If you’ve never been to mini golf before, then this is the perfect place to start. If you’re a mini-golf pro and have been to hundreds of mini golf courses over the years, then this is the perfect place to point out how absolutely sub-par (see what I did there) everywhere else is. It’s a lot of fun, and a great place to hang out with a group of friends.

Quazar’s Arcade

After recently bingeing shows like Stranger Things and That 70’s Show, I have been craving nothing more than the opportunity to spend my time at an arcade with old-timey games from the late 20th Century – and Quazar’s Arcade is the perfect place to do just this. An ideal location to spend hours slotting tokens into machines under the guise of bonding with friends (when really you just want to beat them and grab that high score), I can promise that you will absolutely not be able to stop yourself from falling in love with how quirky this place is.

Interactivity board game cafe

If you’ve ever wanted to go on a date where you can snack on candy and beat the future love of your life at Monopoly, then look no further. With over 800 games in store to play, you can bet that you won’t run out of options. One of the most chill places in the city, I can promise that you will be surrounded by other fun-loving, laid-back people that love spending their Saturdays drinking gin and tonics at this (unexpectedly) licensed board game cafe.

IMAX victoria

Having never visited an IMAX before, I was dubious about the level of incredibleness that everyone else had assured me is evident in this cinema. However, after turning up to watch a nail-biting movie about a dude that goes rock-climbing to the top of the world’s highest peaks – without any safety gear – I was visibly sweating from how intense the large screen and apparently even larger audio set made everything. Watching movies at the IMAX seems to amplify any emotion that you could possibly have, and the fact that the seats recline so that you’re almost face-to-face with the action makes that all so much more extreme. I ended up spending approximately two hours every week at the IMAX, determined to see every single movie showing in impossibly dramatic situations. 

Quest reality games

I never knew that there was such a place that could replicate the feeling of being an explorer in 332BC, but Quest Reality Games seemed to do just that. They have several escape rooms that you can sign up for, but their best is by far the Secrets of the Great Pyramid. It’s definitely challenging, but it’s a lot of fun trying to use the clues to work out exactly how to escape with your brainiest friends (unless you are the brainy friend, in which case, good luck). I am ashamed to admit that we didn’t actually manage to escape in time, but regardless, had a blast pretending to be long deceased explorers. We now have a great photo of us holding up signs illustrating the fact that we didn’t manage to escape and that we are, inherently, failures – I will be sure to treasure it forever.

the victoria Bug zoo

A really interesting experience, even though looking at the little insects will be sure to make your skin itch. Who knew that a day out gawping at insects behind glass could be one of the best day activities to undertake in the city? It’s pretty amazing to see all these critters close up – with my personal highlight being that of the ants, who would meander up and down the chutes after cutting up petals and leaves to take back to share with the rest of the colony. Let me tell you, if my university group projects featured as much teamwork and dedication as the ants in this bug zoo, life would be so much easier. 

Food tours

Whilst you may be tempted to go on a simple bus tour to learn the history and see the sights of Victoria, there’s always the option for a much more in-depth way to learn about the city – with a food tour! Several foodie companies run throughout the summertime, and each of them offer alternative unique insights about Victoria – along with taking you to the local bakeries, breweries, and restaurants. Is there a better way to learn about a new place than through its stomach? Get excited for my upcoming post about gluttony in the city.

I have done every single thing that you could possibly do in Victoria – and I hope that I’ve made it more clear about exactly what’s worth your sweet time. Any Victorian that lives here knows the places that are worth – and not worth – going to. They know the secret places that are sheltered from the outside world, places that are hidden gems glimmering amongst the plethora of souvenir tat. It’s not hard to stay off the beaten track if you know where to look. These places are Victoria’s best kept secrets – and I think I’ve done a not-so-secret job of spilling them.

Victoria is easily accessible via the Clipper from Seattle, or the BC Ferry from mainland Canada.

HAVE YOU GUYS EVER VISITED VICTORIA, OR PLAN ON DOING SO USING MY VERY DETAILED AND TIME-CONSUMING GUIDE? LET ME KNOW IN THE COMMENTS BELOW! 

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