Best Restaurants, Must Try Places in Victoria

"Best For – The Quintessential Luxury Victoria hotel experience. The ‘Grande Dame’ of Victoria’s hotels and certainly her most iconic, if you’re looking for luxury hotels in Victoria you won’t want to miss the Fairmont Empress. Owned by Canadian chain Fairmont hotels (although recently acquired by the Accor group), the Empress hotel is a slice of Victoria’s history – in fact this is the famous hotel in Victoria, BC. This Edwardian era Chateau is set right on the edge of the inner harbour with views out across Victoria’s waterfront."

"When most people think afternoon-tea, they think fine china, scones, tiny-cucumber sandwiches, and decadent desserts. With butter-filled pastries, this age-old British-tradition might seem far from vegan-friendly, but surprisingly, the Fairmont Empress Hotel is able to accommodate 32 different dietary restrictions (sugar-free, gluten-free, vegan, whatever your heart desires). I highly recommend the Afternoon Tea at the Empress for a special occasion or a girls day out!"

"No need to conduct an opinion poll: the perennial lines in the street outside Jam suggest that this is the best breakfast spot in Victoria."

"If you are after your classic breakfast diner, look no further than John’s Place. This eclectic locale has floor-to-ceiling covered walls with old school posters and celebrity headshots. Its been operating for 34 years and if that doesn’t speak for itself, then its delicious breakfast dishes made from scratch will be sure to win you over."

"John's Place has been one of the best brunch spots in Victoria for over 35 years. It can definitely call itself a local favorite and has even been featured on The Food Network. This well-known restaurant makes a lot of their ingredients from scratch."

"Yukon pan-fries take center stage at Yukon pan-fries take center stage at Hawk and Hen, found in or alongside almost every delicious dish. Credit: Hawk and Hen. Honing in on tried and true recipes and local ingredients, dishes at Hawk and Hen are simple but thoughtful and utterly delicious!"

"As a sustainable alternative to traditional afternoon tea at the Fairmont Empress Hotel, Venus Sophia stands out in Victoria’s Chinatown. You can enjoy freshly baked scones and raspberry jam cookies made with organic flour, and choose from more than 20 organic, fair-trade loose leaf tea flavours at this elegant tea room. Venus Sophia also offers vegetarian dishes paired with tea, from zucchini feta quiche to foccaccia panini with Brie and artichokes."

"Located in Chinatown, Venus Sophia is Victoria’s only vegetarian tea room and it’s family-run. Most people who come into Venus Sophia would have no idea it’s a vegetarian tea room. You don’t miss the smoked salmon or tuna sandwiches when you have amazing mushroom and caramelized fig sandwiches."

"Venus Sophia features a European-styled tea room experience. Put on your Sunday best and head down for afternoon tea and some vegetarian light bites."

"Colonizing part of the Inner Harbour's landmark Steamship Terminal building, this gallery showcases the photo-realistic work of Canada's most celebrated nature painter, the eponymous Bateman, along with a..."

"Opened in 2013 in a historic waterfront structure, this small but impressive gallery displays more than 100 works—from etchings to…"

"Just a 2-minute walk from Alexander’s, and you will arrive at Sidney Museum where you can discover the natural history of the area. There are over 8,000 artifacts and a rotating monthly display in the museum. Admission is by donation and you can book your visit on their website as entries are by timed admission only."

"One of our summer students has been hard at work transforming our parlour exhibit. The final product... Treat your eyes and mind with some local and brand new information while you walk around exploring the artifacts at Sidney Museum."

"​Become inspired and visit the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria—British Columbia’s largest public collection of art. Located in the historic Rockland neighbourhood, and nearby the famous Craigdarroch Castle, the Gallery houses over 20,000 pieces of historical and contemporary art and contains a renowned collection of Asian art and artifacts. Just as stunning as the artwork is the 1889 Spencer Mansion that serves as an exhibition space and mini-museum for the Spencer family’s former home."

"One of Canada’s finest art galleries is home to nationally important Oriental, European, Canadian and Inuit art collectors. The Gallery has a permanent display of works by Victoria’s renowned artist, Emily Carr. Opened in 1951 as a result of Sara Spencer’s donation of the Spencer Mansion, the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria offers exhibits of all sorts, year round."

"Granted, it's not the Louvre, or even Vancouver Art Gallery for that matter, but this east-of-downtown art nook does harbor one of Canada's best Emily Carr collections. Aside from the Victoria-born painter's..."

"Enter the world of Chiba Sushi and find friendly staff and the best place in Victoria to get reasonably priced quality sashimi, sushi and cooked dishes. Chiba Sushi, located in downtown Victoria (corner of Government and Hillside) and features our Sushi bar and Tatami room with 65 seats. We have been in operation since 2007 under new a new chef and owners."