Canada Guide
Vancouver Island
Bars and pubs
1 Bartholomew's Bar and Rockefeller Grill At Executive House Hotel, 777 Douglas St This is an upbeat pub with a steady diet of local bands.
2 Steamers 570 Yates St Catch enthusiastic local bands most nights, and most types of music from reggae to Celtic.
3 Big Bad John's 919 Douglas St Next to the Strathcona Hotel this is Victoria's most atmospheric bar by far with bare boards, a fog of smoke, and authentic old banknotes and IOUs pasted to the walls. It also hosts occasional live bands and singers, usually of a country-music persuasion.
4 D'Arcy McGee's 1127 Wharf St It was only a matter of time before Victoria acquired an "Irish pub". This one has a prime site on the edge of Bastion Square, offers predictable food and beer, and has excellent occasional live Irish music.
5 Spinnakers Gastro Brew Pub 308 Catherine St near Esquimalt Rd Thirty-eight beers, including several home-brewed options, a restaurant, live music, occasional tours of the brewery and good harbour views draw a mixed and relaxed clientele. Bus #23 to Esquimalt Rd.
6 Swans Brewpub 506 Pandora Ave at Store St This pretty and highly popular hotel-café-brewery, housed in a 1913 warehouse, is the place to watch Victoria's young professionals at play. Several foreign and six home-brewed beers on tap, with the Neptune Soundbar nightclub in the basement.