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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.
This sumptuously decorated Scottish pub, which occupies a historic bank building on Victoria's main shopping street, has bangers and mash and shepherd's pie on the menu, as well as a great selection of ales and live music every night. Plus, there's no cover charge.
Tourists and locals flock here for the stout on tap, live music nightly, the summertime patio, and a menu of traditional (think Irish stew) and modern pub fare. Located inside a former bank building on Victoria's main shopping strip adds grandeur to the fun, and very Irish, setting.
