Li’s guidebook
City/town information
Victoria
An island city that blends old-world charm with modern experiences
Neighbourhoods
Our downtown is a vibrant urban neighborhood, a walkable shopping area, and a thriving entertainment district.
58 locals recommend
Downtown
Our downtown is a vibrant urban neighborhood, a walkable shopping area, and a thriving entertainment district.
Food scene
Market On Yates
903 Yates StA great grocery shop just 5 minutes walk east of the building
Fol Epi
398 Harbour RdAn artisan Cafe & Bakery
A classic Victoria experience! Enjoy a traditional Victorian High Tea, with delicious dainties, sandwiches, and scones.
23 locals recommend
Tea at The Empress
721 Government StA classic Victoria experience! Enjoy a traditional Victorian High Tea, with delicious dainties, sandwiches, and scones.
Vibrant, colourful cafe known for all-day breakfast & imaginative takes on Canadian comfort food.
106 locals recommend
Blue Fox Cafe
919 Fort StVibrant, colourful cafe known for all-day breakfast & imaginative takes on Canadian comfort food.
This restaurant & cafe serves simple farm-fresh mains & snacks in an airy, bright Victorian house.
56 locals recommend
Nourish Kitchen & Cafe
225 Quebec StreetThis restaurant & cafe serves simple farm-fresh mains & snacks in an airy, bright Victorian house.
Dockside seafood restaurant known for its creative, hand-roll-style tacos. Open seasonally.
163 locals recommend
Red Fish Blue Fish
1006 Wharf StDockside seafood restaurant known for its creative, hand-roll-style tacos. Open seasonally.
Casual restaurant focusing on traditional specialties from the Chinese province of Yunnan.
过桥米线。位于唐人街的一家云南餐馆，必点的当然就是过桥米线。
Little Yunnan Restaurant
546 Fisgard StreetCasual restaurant focusing on traditional specialties from the Chinese province of Yunnan.
过桥米线。位于唐人街的一家云南餐馆，必点的当然就是过桥米线。
Small, comfy standby with a patio showcasing local seafood with Indonesian & French flair.
51 locals recommend
Fishhook
805 Fort StSmall, comfy standby with a patio showcasing local seafood with Indonesian & French flair.
Informal, easygoing place specializing in Asian street food such as baos plus cocktails & beers.
推荐菜品：Pork belly ramen（日式猪肉拉面）、Chinese BBQ（肉夹馍）。
17 locals recommend
Bao
626 Fisgard StInformal, easygoing place specializing in Asian street food such as baos plus cocktails & beers.
推荐菜品：Pork belly ramen（日式猪肉拉面）、Chinese BBQ（肉夹馍）。
Casual, narrow venue for modern Japanese izakaya-style dishes, bowls & tapas, plus sake.
65 locals recommend
Nubo Japanese Tapas
739 Pandora AveCasual, narrow venue for modern Japanese izakaya-style dishes, bowls & tapas, plus sake.
Easygoing place serving varied Asian street food, beer & cider in a contemporary space with a patio.
45 locals recommend
Foo Asian Street Food
769 Yates StEasygoing place serving varied Asian street food, beer & cider in a contemporary space with a patio.
All-day breakfast, including eggs Benedict & pancakes, plus updated comfort food amid rustic decor.
201 locals recommend
Jam Cafe
542 Herald StAll-day breakfast, including eggs Benedict & pancakes, plus updated comfort food amid rustic decor.
Cross street from the apartment building - an Informal spot for South Indian specialties such as dosas & idlis, plus other familiar Indian eats.
Dosa Paragon
735 Yates StreetCross street from the apartment building - an Informal spot for South Indian specialties such as dosas & idlis, plus other familiar Indian eats.
Warm counter-serve bakery offering an array of baked goods, pastries & lunch fare, plus coffee.
42 locals recommend
Crust Bakery
730 Fort StWarm counter-serve bakery offering an array of baked goods, pastries & lunch fare, plus coffee.
Sightseeing
The oldest Chinatown in Canada and the second oldest in North America after San Francisco.
124 locals recommend
Victoria's Chinatown
500 Fisgard StThe oldest Chinatown in Canada and the second oldest in North America after San Francisco.
Inner Harbour Centre
950 Wharf Stone of the most beautiful harbours in the world.
Victoria offers an excellent shopping scene and one of the best spots for window shopping is on historic Government Street between Johnson and Humboldt streets
52 locals recommend
Government Street
Government StreetVictoria offers an excellent shopping scene and one of the best spots for window shopping is on historic Government Street between Johnson and Humboldt streets
named as Canada’s very best museum and one of Victoria’s premier attractions
534 locals recommend
Royal BC Museum
675 Belleville Stnamed as Canada’s very best museum and one of Victoria’s premier attractions
Picturesque Fisherman’s Wharf sits along the waterfront and offers the chance to take part in all sorts of activities
255 locals recommend
Fisherman's Wharf Park
12 Erie StPicturesque Fisherman’s Wharf sits along the waterfront and offers the chance to take part in all sorts of activities
the reason Victoria is often referred to as the “City of Gardens.”
388 locals recommend
The Butchart Gardens
800 Benvenuto Avethe reason Victoria is often referred to as the “City of Gardens.”
popular for both its romantic, colonial setting on the banks of the Inner Harbour, boasting spectacular bay views as well as its interesting history
194 locals recommend
Hotel Fairmont Empress
721 Government Stpopular for both its romantic, colonial setting on the banks of the Inner Harbour, boasting spectacular bay views as well as its interesting history
located on the Inner Harbour are a sight to see, with their stained glass, domes and turrets.
218 locals recommend
Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
501 Belleville Stlocated on the Inner Harbour are a sight to see, with their stained glass, domes and turrets.
Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse NHS
603 Fort Rodd Hill RdEsquimalt Lagoon
Massive white lighthouse, built in 1916, with scenic views at the end of a long breakwater walkway.
35 locals recommend
Breakwater Lighthouse
The BreakwaterMassive white lighthouse, built in 1916, with scenic views at the end of a long breakwater walkway.
Beacon Hill Park
100 Cook StCross the street from "The Era" and you can see the Cathedral from the balcony
St. Andrew's Cathedral
740 View StCross the street from "The Era" and you can see the Cathedral from the balcony
It is located at Hatley Park National Historic Site on Vancouver Island.
61 locals recommend
Royal Roads University
2005 Sooke RdIt is located at Hatley Park National Historic Site on Vancouver Island.
The largest park in the Saanich area, Mount Douglas offers a spectacular 360-degree view of the area around Victoria, including east to Haro Strait, north and west through Saanich, and south towards downtown Victoria.
37 locals recommend
Mount Douglas
4500 Cedar Hill RdThe largest park in the Saanich area, Mount Douglas offers a spectacular 360-degree view of the area around Victoria, including east to Haro Strait, north and west through Saanich, and south towards downtown Victoria.
Craigdarroch Castle is a definitively Victorian experience. It is a shining example of a “bonanza castle” — massive houses built for entrepreneurs who became wealthy during the industrial age. In this case, the industrialist was Robert Dunsmuir, a Scottish immigrant who made his fortune from Vancouver Island coal.
234 locals recommend
Craigdarroch Castle
1050 Joan CrescentCraigdarroch Castle is a definitively Victorian experience. It is a shining example of a “bonanza castle” — massive houses built for entrepreneurs who became wealthy during the industrial age. In this case, the industrialist was Robert Dunsmuir, a Scottish immigrant who made his fortune from Vancouver Island coal.
Apartment Building
Era is situated on the north side of Yates Street midblock between Blanshard and Douglas.
Incredible building amenities include: spacious social lounge with garden terrace, BBQ & fire pit, bike storage, & caretaker.
Era Building
Era is situated on the north side of Yates Street midblock between Blanshard and Douglas.
Incredible building amenities include: spacious social lounge with garden terrace, BBQ & fire pit, bike storage, & caretaker.
Traveler advice
Customs and culture
FUN FACTS ABOUT VICTORIA
A FEW FUN FACTS AND FIGURES ABOUT VICTORIA:
With a perfect growing climate, Victoria is known internationally as the City of Gardens.
The city has an annual flower count dating back to the 1970s. The total blooms counted in 2018 was over 3.4 billion.
Victoria’s Chinatown is the oldest in Canada and Fan Tan Alley is the narrowest street in Canada.
Friendly is an understatement: Victoria has been named both the Most Romantic City in Canada and one of the top 15 Friendliest Cities in the World.
Other accolades include: Canada’s Best City to Live in for Women, and both the Seventh Best City and Se
Don't miss
ALLEYS & SQUARES
Stroll back through the centuries. Victoria’s rich history is on full display in many downtown alleys, squares and important landmarks. They’re all well preserved and add a unique and distinguished sense of enchantment to Victoria’s modern, vibrant character.
- BASTION SQUARE
- CENTENNIAL SQUARE
- MARKET SQUARE
- PIONEER SQUARE
- FAN TAN ALLEY
- DRAGON ALLEY
- WADDINGTON ALLEY