Coffee - Victoria has some of the best coffee culture north of Seattle. There are a dozen or more local companies roasting and serving their own beans, leading to some really spectacular brews. Check out Habit, 2% Jazz, Discovery Coffee or Fernwood Coffee for award-winning locally roasted beans. An insider's tip: try Caffe Artigianocafe on Government St. for the best espresso in the city. Of course, you can't visit Canada without hitting Tim Hortons - try the Maple Glazed donut with a double-double for a truly Canadian experience.
Beer - Sleepy little Victoria is also one of the biggest beer cities in the country. There are more than a dozen craft breweries making a host of delicious frothy beverages. Take a free brewery tour at Vancouver Island Brewery, and try some of their best sellers in their sampling room afterwards. The Beer Garden at the Victoria Dragon Boat Festival serves up their top beers. Other local brands include Hoyne, Phillips, Swan's, Canoe, and Moon Under Water.
Food - In Victoria, you can find everything from a killer Eggs Benedict to fresh oysters and scallops all inside the downtown area. For brunch, the Blue Fox Cafe, Jam Cafe, and Shine Cafe are all worth the wait. For amazing local seafood, we recommend Pescatore's, or for fish and chips with a unique West Coast flair, Red Fish Blue Fish. Don Mee Chinese Seafood Restaurant in Chinatown is hard to beat for traditional Dim Sum, or try the Noodle Cart for street food-style Thai.
We've assembled some of our favourite local restaurants and food carts at the Victoria Dragon Boat Festival in the Forbidden City Food Court. Check out dishes from Mama Rosie's Kitchen, Puerto Vallarta Amigos, The Reef Restaurant, and more right from the Victoria Dragon Boat Festival site. Can't decide between them? Try the Paddlers' Dinner on Saturday, August 17 and sample a little of everything. Our food vendors will be dishing up some of their most popular items. Tickets are limited, purchase yours online to avoid missing out! We'll bundle your tickets in your team's package and they'll be waiting for you when you arrive at the Victoria Dragon Boat Festival this August.
