With Victoria deemed as Canada’s most romantic city year after year, there are plenty of activities you and your better-half can partake in to celebrate your love! Read on for a perfectly planned couple’s getaway in Greater Victoria.
MORNING – NOON: Your Victoria trip begins with a beautiful coastal exploration of the city – but first, we fuel. Grab brunch or lunch from Breakwater Café, renown for their stunning views of the Olympic Mountain range and their proximity to Ogden Point. The Breakwater features locally sourced, fresh and foraged ingredients and is a cozy spot to nestle in with your partner before seizing the rest of the day.
AFTERNOON: Start your trip by soaking in the splendor of the salted Pacific air, stretching sun rays, and crashing ocean waves that our city is known for. A walk down Ogden Point Breakwater to reach the lighthouse, or alongside Dallas Road is a romantic way to take it all in.
Just a 10 minute walk away from the Breakwater, the picturesque Fisherman’s Wharf is nearby as your second stop. This unique neighbourhood is comprised of an eclectic float home moorage, commercial fishing vessels, unique shops, whale and wildlife watching kiosks, and fresh seafood restaurants. Keep your cameras charged, as you’ll want to hold on to these memories for years to come.
After all this walking, you must be ready to relax your limbs. Victoria’s many horse-drawn carriage tours transport you back to the Victorian era, by seating you upon a romantic vis-à-vis carriage equipped with majestic draft horses and charming tour-guides. You will meander through beautiful garden displays, around Beacon Hill Park, and the refreshing Salish Sea waterfront learning about each as you go. Because what could be more romantic than riding in a horse-drawn carriage with your sweetheart?
If you find yourselves with time and energy to spare, an art gallery tour fits in nicely before dinner. The Mark Loria Gallery and West End Gallery are each within one block of each-other, and all both allow you to admire different realms of Canadian art. The Mark Loria Gallery is one of the leading indigenous art galleries in the world, specializing in contemporary fine-art from the Pacific Northwest, and the West End Gallery features work from over 100 Canadian artists. Strolling hand-in-hand, stopping to admire the beauty of artwork is time well-spent!
EVENING: The way to someone’s heart is through their stomach. Dine at the candle-lit, warm and rustic Wind Cries Mary for West Coast-inspired, locally supplied and carefully curated dishes. After a day of festivities, finish the day off with cocktails with your special-someone from the award-winning Little Jumbo Restaurant & Bar, consistently deemed as Victoria’s top setting to dine and drink at. Cheers to you two!
MORNING – NOON: Rise and shine, love birds! Go for a delicious brunch at Bear & Joey to gain energy for the day ahead. Specializing in providing fresh, local, and seasonally focused ingredients, Bear & Joey's’s all day breakfast and brunch menus are sure to get your day started on a lovely note. Good for the heart, and the soul!
A wonderful morning activity is a visit to the Royal BC Museum. Learning is all the more and merry with your loved one – dive into an exploration of British Columbia’s history and the rich diversity in the First People’s Gallery together or take-in one of their extraordinary rotating exhibits. If time permits, enjoy a screening of any IMAX Canada film feature on-site, where you and your special-someone can feel immersed and transported to another world.
AFTERNOON: For your afternoon plans, why not indulge in the organic, crisp tastes offered at the Sea Cider Farm & Ciderhouse. With their ciders brewed on-site of their 10-acre heritage apple orchard, the authenticity of Sea Cider will change the way you two think about cider! The Sea Cider farmgrounds are also one of the most popular wedding venues in Greater Victoria, offering a stylish, peaceful, rural-yet-polished environment to celebrate love.
If there is still room for more drinks, dessert, and other tastes – why not treat yourselves to an experience that Victoria is known for: afternoon tea. A high tea experience is offered at the Fairmont Empress Victoria, a perfect blend of indulgence, tradition and comfort. To fall head-over-heels for the city, and each other, book ahead of time and request a seat next to a window for mesmerizing harbour views.
EVENING: The way to someone’s heart is through their stomach. Fine Italian dining is featured at Il Terazzo, one of the city’s most celebrated restaurants. Dining by candle light is paired with wood-oven roasted meats and pizzas, homemade pastas, and fresh west coast seafood to deliver a date-night venture like no other. Later, grab cocktails at Clive’s Classic Lounge, a high-quality cocktail bar that has been consistently nominated as the World’s Best Hotel Bar, year after year by Tales of the Cocktail. Staying on the forefront of global cocktail culture, your final night caps in Victoria will surely sweep you two off your feet.
Local Tip: For a tasty Victorian souvenir, pick up a box of Rogers’ Chocolates for your loved one, located on Government Street! Their sweet notes and authentic approach to crafting their chocolates makes for a memorable, heartwarming gift.
Get a room! To turn up the romance, we recommend two nights at the elegant Magnolia Hotel & Spa. Hotel amenities include the Spa Magnolia, fine-dining at the award-winning fine-dining restaurant The Courtney Room, and timelessly luxurious rooms, many featuring deep soaker tubs and fireplaces.
Tip: Book a Signature Corner Room for postcard views of the BC Parliament Buildings.
Located in a grand English country-style manor, The Pendray Inn and Tea House is considered one of the most romantic wedding venues in Victoria. With 9 unique rooms each featuring its own heritage design and furniture, the Pendray promises highly personalized service and authentic Victorian charm. The Pendray Tea House, on-site, is also a lovely option for those interested in an afternoon tea experience.
