| TASTE |
For visitors and locals alike, a feast of new and entertaining options to discover
Love Spanish cuisine? Try a bocadillo (Spanish sandwich), Tortilla Espanola, salt cod croquettes and chunks of spicy grilled chorizo bathed in honey at Chorizo & Co., a deli that morphs into an evening tapas bar.
807 Fort Street
250-590-6393
Nearby, The Tapa Bar tempts with dishes like Papas Bravas, fried Fanny Bay oysters and Bistek al Ajillo. Next door its sister spot, Bodega, offers flights of Spanish sherry, each with a tiny tapa, for a mere $12.
1210 Broad Street
778-406-1210
bodegabar.ca
Perro Negro, a new addition to Ferris' Oyster Bar & Grill, is a lively Spanish experience. Pair a side of octopus and chorizo with an Anticuado cocktail – almond-infused bourbon, sherry and orange bitters, muddled with fresh oranges.
538 Yates Street
250-360-1824
ferrisoysterbar.com
Green and local, carbon neutral and farm-to-fork restaurants also abound. Visit Canada's first carbon-neutral dining zone – the Food Eco District (FED). Its members include Zambri's, Canoe Brewpub, The Guild and Be Love, where the organic wine list and cocktails complement the natural, raw and vegan menu. Grab a vegan tahini yam wrap from AJ's Organic Café, a latte from Habit Coffee, and relax in the sunshine at Fort Common in the new FED courtyard.
250-383-7412
get-fed.ca
Foo Ramen Bar, from chef Peter Lynch of Foo Asian Street Food, is popular for its locally made noodles topped with crispy pork belly, rare seared Albacore tuna and other locally sourced island ingredients.
778-432-4366
fooramenbar.ca
Explore inventive farm-to-table snacks like lacto pickles with smoked yogurt and fried oysters in cabbage wraps at OLO (formerly Ulla). Shawn Soole's bar menu features rare gems like Wylie Howell Whole Grain Corn Whiskey and Laird of Fintry Single Malt, straight from the Okanagan.
509 Fisgard Street
250-590-8795
olorestaurant.com
| ENJOY |
Victoria is game central. Challenge your pals to a game of Risk, Railroad Tycoon or Carcassonne at Interactivity Board Game Café. Play as many games as you like for just $5, or purchase your favourites from a collection of more than 700 games.
723 Yates Street
250-480-3979
ibgcafe.com
Afterwards, hit the "comic book block" on Johnson Street. Check out Curious Comics, Yellowjacket and Legends Comics & Books. The latter is co-owned by Victoria's Gareth Gaudin, the award-winning cartoonist behind Perogy Cat, a local cult character. Named Canada's top comic book store in 2009, Legends caters to modern comic and graphic novel fans. At Gaudin's new Comic City, collectors can see some of his 800,000 vintage books, by appointment.
633 Johnson Street
250-388-3696
legendscomics.ca
Start your morning at Second Crack Coffee Lab, renowned for its full-flavoured coffee and fruity espressos. Indulge in a handmade blueberry lemon-glazed donut from Empire Donuts, available only at select locations, including this Second Crack outlet.
2612 Bridge Street
250-634-2680
secondcrack.ca
Later, head to Wheelies Motorcycle Café, an organic café and vintage motorcycle shop. Try chef Kai Musseau's pulled pork with spicy chimichurri aioli, made from meat braised for 15 hours in Phillips' Root Beer. On Sundays, savour the Cast Iron Skillet Hash.
2630 Rock Bay Avenue
250-995-9359
wheeliesmotorcycles.ca
Up for a walk? Stroll Victoria's up-and-coming Rock Bay area. On Bay Street, check out the real estate between Rock Bay and Bridge streets. You'll also find three craft breweries (Hoyne, Driftwood and Moon Under Water), traditional Neapolitan pizza at Pizzeria Prima Strada, local coffee roasters and contemporary home interior stores (think Parc Modern, Gabrielle Ross and Design Source Warehouse).
| DRINK |
A G&T crafted from island ingredients is a summer sipper of choice in B.C.'s historic capital. Start with gin from a micro-distiller – think silky Victoria Gin with the city's namesake queen on the label, or flavourful new Ampersand Gin, made in Duncan from organic B.C. wheat and botanicals. Little Jumbo, Victoria's hip secret speakeasy, has both on its inventive martini and cocktail menu.
506 Fort Street
778-433-5535
littlejumbo.ca
Try the new fir-infused Stump Coastal Forest Gin from Phillips Fermentorium at Phillips Brewery. Top it up with a Phillips' hand-crafted tonic water – there are four flavours, from refreshing cucumber to "Botanical Brew," infused with rose petals, hibiscus and heather.
2010 Government St.
250-380-1912
fermentorium.ca
This content was produced by Randall Anthony Communications, in partnership with The Globe and Mail's advertising department. The Globe's editorial department was not involved in its creation.