Tag: Restaurants

So … you don’t want to eat breakfast at your Victoria hotel, and you want an authentic experience but, you’ve slept in a bit to enjoy the 11 AM checkout, and you realize (now that you have checked out of the hotel) that you are hungry. After a few internet searches, you decide to narrow our choices to these only because they are within driving distance of downtown and are not brand name places and had a website. Jam Cafe www.jamcafevictoria.com 542 Herald Street Shine Cafe www.shinecafe.ca 1548 Fort Street Blue Fox Cafe www.thebluefoxcafe.com 919 Fort Street John’s Place www.johnsplace.ca […]

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Hotel choices in Victoria can be a dilemma because to be downtown can lead you to tired hotels or the wildly overpriced. I’m a fan of the more boutique hotel option. As a result of a pleasant intersection of personal connection and chance my family had the opportunity to stay at the Oswego, which is a 1.5 block walk from Bellville Street, which leads you easily to the Inner Harbour and the BC Parliament buildings. We stayed on the top floor with stunning views, even on a grey day (see the photos) it’s a lovely view. You could really just […]

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This past weekend saw my kid brother fly in from Edmonton with his girlfriend in an attempt to wine and dine Vancouver into her heart in a bid to persuade her to move ‘out west’. Arriving Thursday evening, I met them at the Yaletown Roundhouse Canada Line stop at 7:55pm, and immediately ventured (bags in tow) a block further into Yaletown for an 8:00 PM reservation at Minami , one of Vancouver’s more innovative Japanese restaurants. An extended fine dining experience ensued until the one hour time change served notice and it was time to retire, our bellies full and […]

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Personally, I always try to support independent businesses. Independent Vancouver restaurants offer local and regional cuisine that reflects the surrounding culture and landscape. Plus, they have ambiance that differs from chains. Independents often feature local art on the walls and local musicians on the stereo. You often get to meet the owners, who go out of their way to deliver exactly what you’re looking for. I’ve done the dirty and expensive work for you and I’m here to share my favourite new-to-the-scene, independent restaurants in the mid-range category ($15-$25 entrées – similar to the cost of a main at Cactus […]

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My experiences with Field, BC have been mostly limited to driving by it. Normally by that point in my voyages east, I was road-weary and just wanting to get to Banff or Calgary. There are however, a few reasons to exit the highway and enjoy your self. Burgess Shale. About 1/2 a billion years ago, this part of BC was an ocean. The Burgess Shale is the largest fossil collection. Emerald Lake Lodge. The view of the mountains and lake is to die for. (Worth the 20 minute drive from Field.) Truffle Pigs Bistro. Just the name makes me want […]

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Deep Cove is technically in the District of North Vancouver, but don’t tell any locals that. Deep Cove has the feel of a small village at the end of the road. In this case, the road is Dollarton Highway, which is slightly east of the Second Narrows Bridge as it leads into North Vancouver. You follow the highway until you can go no further. The village has a series of shops, bistros, ice cream Parlours and so forth. The real reason for going is Panorama Park, which is not naming hyperbole. The view onto Indian Arm is spectacular. From there […]

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A brief trip to Bowen Island found me in a ferry line up at breakfast time waiting to head back to the mainland. The BC Ferry comes into Snug Harbour Bowen Island and on the Bowen Island Trunk Road, there are establishments meant to service those hanging around for a ferry back to Vancouver. (Horseshoe Bay, West Vancouver to be precise.) Bowen Island is odd in that, once you’re there, you feel very far away from Vancouver. However, an 8:35 AM ferry allowed me to be at my desk at 9:30 in downtown Vancouver. But, I had time to kill […]

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It can be a challenge to find a good lunch spot that serves a nice cup of coffee that compliments a good meal. I was strolling the streets of Kitsilano one afternoon looking for a place like this, when I spied a little cafe called Pane from Heaven. It was located on a nice, quiet street away from the main traffic, and there were tables outside you could sit at to enjoy the pleasant weather as you had your lunch. The lunch and coffee specials listed on the sign outside looked promising, and the prices looked reasonable, so I decided […]

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Cowichan Bay is a village north of Victoria and south of Duncan that is wonderfully off the beaten path. We chose to stay at Oceanfront Suites at Cowichan Bay because it was really the only hotel in town. And with a couple of children, the suite with a kitchenette was helpful as it’s just too expensive to eat out all the time. The kids also enjoyed the pool, even though the change area does need an upgrade. Perhaps the best part was the view from the restaurant. We had a great breakfast there and it was quiet and everyone was […]

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Robert Bateman is essentially the Canadian elder statesman of wildlife art. New as of 2013, at 470 Belleville Street, Victoria, I was pleased to find (at the former location of the Wax Museum) a gallery of Bateman’s works. The entire building was reno’d within an inch of its life. The facilities (super clean bathrooms) were completely updated. The gallery itself is on the 2nd floor. It’s worth watching the introductory 5-minute video. On film, Bateman himself talks about his environmental views. Subsequently when you step into the gallery you see some of his message in the paintings. For example, there’s […]

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