Things to do in Vancouver Island
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Mint
This loungey late-night hang-out is popular with bar staff winding down after their shifts. But they don't just come to bitch about their non-tipping customers; Mint offers an eclectic, finger-licking menu of Nepalese, Tibetan and fusion delicacies that runs from spicy lamb cooked with apricots to almond-and-cashew pesto fettuccine. There's an equally diverse menu of regular DJ performances.
reviewed
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Pagliacci’s
At Pagliacci’s, unlimited baskets of fresh focaccia bread are delivered to the marble-topped tables. Generous pasta servings from the cinema-themed menu almost defy devouring; try the Hemingway Short Story (beef-stuffed tortellini).
reviewed
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Butchart Gardens
With all the rugged natural beauty in British Columbia, it’s a bit ironic that one of the province’s top tourism draws is the 20 hectares of elaborate manicured foliage at Butchart Gardens, 21km north of Victoria in Brentwood Bay. With its year-round kaleidoscope of colors, the grounds are divided into separate garden areas – the tranquil Japanese Garden is a favorite. Summer can be crowded but the Saturday-night fireworks display (July and August) makes it all worthwhile.
reviewed
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Noodle Box
Southeast Asian cuisine with a strong Malaysian influence is the approach at this buzzing business that started out as a street vendor. A great place for takeout - served in those funky boxes - it's also a chatty eat-in spot. Popular stir-fries include Thai-style chow mein, and the Cambodian Jungle Curry is recommended for those who like their meals with a spicy kick.
reviewed
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Lotus Pond
Behind the unassuming, almost shabby exterior of this downtown Chinese restaurant is an extensive, all-vegan menu of delights created using Buddhist principles. Even meat eaters have been known to swoon here, as they tuck into surprisingly tasty spring rolls, dim sum and pot stickers. Combo meals are the best option, as they offer an array of different flavors.
reviewed
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ReBar
This place fuses colorful interiors with a clever, mostly vegetarian menu, but carnivores will be just as happy noshing here. It’s a good weekend brunch spot.
reviewed
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Piper's Lagoon Park
In a city filled with parks, waterfront treat Piper's Lagoon Park is a winner. It's a great spot for an afternoon picnic; you can check out the birds hanging around the lagoon, take a short hike through the gnarly Garry oak forest, sit on a beached log and watch the cruise ships slip by or give the climbing wall your best shot. Then head to Shack Island. It houses a straggle of storied old fishermen's sheds that are kept as unserviced cottages for those traveling with their own sleeping bags.
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Sticky Wicket
This cavernous complex is the place to head if you want a noisy night out with the locals. The Wicket's main bar serves popular (if slightly pricey) Irish beers, while its menu serves up heaping plates of pub grub, ranging from burgers all the way to chicken strips. Live sports are pumped through the TVs and there's a poolroom upstairs. The highlight bar is Big Bad John's, a tiny hillbilly nook with tree stump tables and a carpet of peanut shells.
reviewed
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Lighthouse Bistro
This popular white-linen bistro is located on the waterfront and features a selection of conventional but well-prepared favorites, ranging from blackened halibut to veal scallopine and wild mushroom ravioli. The wine list has an excellent BC selection. The pub upstairs has lower prices and a more casual atmosphere, but there's an excellent view of the harbor from either floor as well as a great patio to catch the sunset.
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Floyd's Diner
A funky eatery with an ultrafriendly vibe, Floyd's combines a sun-drenched patio, warming blood-red interior and a menu of serious comfort food - it's the spot to recover from a throbbing hangover. Along with the all-day breakfast menu (try the 'Elton', a heaping bowl of fruit, yogurt and honey), there are some bulging burgers and sandwiches and a great lunch deal: an around C$6 bottomless bowl of soup.
reviewed
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Pirate Chips
Locals originally came here for the best fries in town but they keep coming back for the funky ambience - the quirky pirate-themed decor makes it a great late-night hang-out after some beers. You'd have to be fairly drunk to down a large order of poutine (french fries topped with cheese and gravy) or a deep-fried chocolate bar but it's hard to beat the fries served with toppings such as curry or garlic.
reviewed
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Tina's Diner
Still known by its former name (Flo's) by many locals, this popular 1950s-style spot is the best place in town for breakfast. The massive menu runs from eggs Benedict to breakfast wraps, and there are plenty of burgers, sandwiches and salads for those who don't make it here until lunchtime. There are some special live music events, when dinner and singer-songwriters share the menu.
reviewed
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Royal BC Museum
The excellent Royal BC Museum is the best in the province and should be a highlight of any visit here. It’s an evocative introduction to the prehistoric and human history of the region – the old woolly mammoth diorama still packs a punch. Don’t miss the museum’s stirring First Nations gallery and pioneer town re-creation.
reviewed
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Javawocky
It's a Nanaimo tradition to get a coffee here and sit outside to watch the ships roll in and out of the harbor. A great place to rub shoulders with the locals, this is also your big chance to try a Nanaimo bar, the ultrarich brownie treat made from thick layers of custard and chocolate.
reviewed
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Penny's Palapa
This tiny, flower-decked floating hut and patio in the harbor is a lovely spot for a meal among the jostling boats. An inventive, well-priced menu of Mexican delights includes seasonal seafood specials - the signature halibut tacos are recommended - and some good vegetarian options.
reviewed
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Fort Café
Warm and welcoming subterranean hipster haunt with heaping fresh-made nosh – turkey avocado wraps and hot pepper beef sandwiches recommended – plus Salt Spring Brewing drafts. Check out the Atari game system at the back.
reviewed
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John’s Place
A diner-esque legend with wood floors, high ceilings and funky memorabilia lining the walls. Weekend brunch is an institution, but the heaping comfort-food dinners are also great – don’t miss a giant slab o’ fruit pie.
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Legislative Dining Room
This is the Parliament Buildings’ subsidized restaurant, where anyone can drop by for dishes such as shrimp quesadillas and smoked tofu salad. Enter via the security desk at the building’s entrance.
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Belfry Theatre
The excellent Belfry Theatre is a showcase for contemporary, especially Canadian, plays and is one of the country's most respected independent theatre companies. It's housed in a converted 1890s Baptist church.
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Camille’s
A charming subterranean dining room with a lively, ever-changing menu reflecting great local ingredients. With its smashing wine list, this spot invites adventurous foodies.
reviewed
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Cinecenta
UVic's Cinecenta is where old classics and curiosities rub shoulders on a nightly changing schedule.
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Point Ellis House and Gardens
The colonial elite used to hobnob at the beautiful 1860s-era mansion that is Point Ellis House and Gardens, which now houses one of Canada's finest collections of trinkety Victoriana. The house has 5000 artefacts, ranging from flowery teapots to intricate needlepoint artworks. Fascinating photos show how the upper-echelon O'Reilly family adapted to life on the fringes of the far-flung British Empire - apparently Mrs O'Reilly had a couple of affairs to salve her homesickness. Tea and fresh-baked scones are served in the fragrant gardens. If you have a monocle, this is the time to wear it.
Ask staff about the mansion's ghost stories, and save time for the fragrant gardens.
reviewed
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Fan Tan Alley
Small but perfectly formed, Fisgard St is the center of Victoria's compact Chinatown. One of Canada's oldest Asian districts, it's fronted by a towering red gate that looms over sprawling fruit and vegetable stores and the po-faced ancients meditating outside family-run restaurants. Twinkling neon signs add a dash of nighttime excitement, while Fan Tan Alley - a narrow passageway between Fisgard St and Pandora Ave - draws daytime explorers.
Once the best spot in town to pick up your opium supplies, the slender thoroughfare is a miniwarren of traditional and trendy stores hawking cheap and cheerful trinkets, cool used records and funky mod fashions.
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