3 Best Bars in Victoria, British Columbia

Background Illustration for Nightlife

Victoria's nightlife is low-key and casual, with many wonderful pubs, but a limited choice of other nightlife. Pubs offer a casual vibe for lunch, dinner, or an afternoon pint, often with a view and an excellent selection of beer. The pubs listed here all serve food, and many brew their own beer. Patrons must be 19 or older to enter a bar or pub in British Columbia, but many pubs have a separate restaurant section open to all ages. The city is enjoying a resurgence of cocktail culture, with several of Victoria's trendier restaurants doubling as lounges, offering cocktails and small plates well into the night. Dance clubs attract a young crowd and most close by 2 am. A dress code (no jeans or sneakers) may be enforced, but otherwise, attire is casual. Smoking is not allowed in Victoria's pubs, bars, and nightclubs—this applies both indoors and on patios.

Citrus and Cane

Downtown Fodor's Choice

Whether you're a colada aficionado or some who goes for the classics like daiquiris or a Manhattan, this cocktails-only late night spot delivers a top-notch selection. All syrups are made in-house and nearly all juices are freshly squeezed. Drinks are on the pricey side but with over 40 rums alone, some might even suggest it's a tropical paradise of Mai Tais and Mojitos.

Little Jumbo

Downtown
Well-executed farm-to-fork small plates and possibly the city's longest list of spirits are draws at this welcoming little spot, tucked away off Fort Street. Authenticity and the eco-ethos is serious business here: even the water served with the single malts is imported from the Highlands and cocktails come with glass straws.
506 Fort St., Victoria, BC, V8W 1E6, Canada
778-433–5535

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The Palms Lounge

Downtown
Signature cocktails (the bartenders get bylines on the menu), tapas, and charcuterie plates makes the Hotel Rialto's hip cocktail lounge a chic after-work gathering venue. In addition to craft beers on tap, drinks include creative custom orders, vintage spirits, spin-the-wheel choices, and a lot of mixology showmanship.

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