Highlights of where we call home... Victoria, BC!

The 3 of us are all so in love with our home sweet home... Victoria, BC. There is something about island life that is so unique, it has a flavour all of its own.

This week Design Sponge did a city guide for our little city, and they definitely captured a lot of our favourite spots so we thought we would share! 

Though they did mention some of our favourite highlights, we do have some additions to their guide. With Hayley's upcoming wedding, we also thought it would be good to put together a little summary for all the out of town guests that are heading out!  

Eats:
Hernande'z Cocina - This small casual Mexican joint is a staple. All the ingredients are fresh, and the price is right. 

Prima Strada - Authentic Italian pizza without having to make a trip to Italy! This is the best thin crust pizza around... it is SO GOOD. A must try is their meatball appetizer. 

Chorizo and Co - Paella, churos with chocolate sauce... need we say more? This is a newer place, but will definitely become one of our top spots. Food is amazing, as is the atmosphere and the cafe con leche.

Red Fish Blue Fish - It's always incredibly busy, but definitely worth the wait for some of the best seafood in town. We highly recommend the scallop burger or salmon tacones!

Aura - In the Laurel Point Inn, this is the perfect place for a date night to enjoy some unreal West Coast/Pacific Rim fine dining. The patio in the summer is one of the best views in the city. Steph's husband MAY also be the Executive Sous Chef for the hotel... :P

Bubby's Kitchen - A local's favorite where you'll find casual West Coast dining at it's best! Catering to an array of palettes using local products, this place also offers tasty options for gluten-free and vegetarian guests. Don't forget to say hello to Josh, Cindy's husband who is the Head Chef! :)

Ca Va - A newer, cozy, place in Fernwood perfect for a wine and dine evening. The intimate atmosphere and tasty food will definitely have us as repeat customers.

Breweries/Cideries:
This is a section not mentioned on the Design Sponge guide, but there are so many amazing Victoria based micro-breweries we had to mention them! Victoria seriously is home to some of the best beer in North America. We are super spoiled. This does not capture all of them, but these are our favourites:

Phillips Brewing Company

Hoyne Brewing Co.

Lighthouse Brewing

Vancouver Island Brewery

A great place to try almost every beer around is Garrick's Head Pub.... recently expanded and renovated, they also have a huge list of local beers on tap!

Merridale Ciderworks

Sea Cider

Coffee/Tea Shops: 
There really are a ton of amazing local places to sit and relax and enjoy a coffee. In addition to the Design Sponge choices, here are some of our other picks.
Wild Coffee

Moka House at Fishermans Wharf or Cook Street

James Bay Tea House

Venus Sophia Tea Room
Yarn Shops:
Victoria has some great options for specialty yarn, and since we spend so much time with knitting needles and crochet hooks we thought we would mention it!

Beehive Wool Shop

The Button and Needlework Boutique

Places to Shop:
Lower Johnson street has a collection of great shops to browse through, and make sure to  take a stop by nearby Chinatown as well. A couple stops worth mentioning outside this area:

Lark and Sparrow - Cook Street..... lots of beautiful dresses and unique outfits to be found!

Koko Boutique - In the Bay Centre downtown, this locally owned shop has a wide variety of great finds.

Munro's Books - Government Street.... its easy to loose track of time in this beautiful book store! 

Spas:
There are a TON of places to pamper yourself in Victoria... our favourites:

Sapphire Day Spa

Le Spa Seriene

Camping:
Well... we aren't going to tell you our favourite camping locations, because we want to keep them secret so they don't fill up! But seriously, there are so many incredible locations. Anywhere you choose will be great! 

We could go on and on... We love sharing tips and exciting finds in our city so just may have to do a part 2! 

Have you been to Victoria? What are some of your top spots?