This place is extremely cool. You're not going to top it for cool ambiance. We sat at the bar to grab beers while we were killing time before a dinner reservation elsewhere. Beer selection was nice. Beer prices were reasonable and appreciated having different size options. Our bartender was great. He was happy to give samples and he found a charger for my phone and charged it behind the bar for me and he was friendly and knowledgeable about the Beer selection. We ordered one appetizer. It was good, but the reason I give this place 4 stars instead of 5 is that the food prices were high for what is essentially a pub, albeit a fancy downtown one in a historical bank. After dinner we decided to walk around and get ice cream and then I needed to use a bathroom so we wandered back in to go do that before getting a ride back to our hotel. They were checning ID with an electronic facial recognition system. I have never seen that before in the US and do not know if that is a normal thing in BC or if this bar is just insanely high tech about it. A little jarring. But also there was a live band playing and they were good and the vibes were incredible inside. If we hadn't been so exhausted we probably would have stuck around and had another beer just because it was so fun in there. No cover, either. Definitely recommend, particularly as a place to have a beer at the bar or to come for late night ambiance. read more

A beautiful stop with history in Victoria. We had gorgeous weather during our spring visit and got to enjoy the patio alongside several tourists, locals, and cute pups. My mom is a big fan of the restaurants namesake and had easily the most fun. We enjoyed win, excellent food, and some great conversation with our waitress. I visit Victoria often and this is one spot I'll definitely be a repeat customer at. read more

Bard and Banker - Pubs Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

This was are first bar we went to when we first got to Canada everyone was so welcoming. Like we were regulars and they knew us. We got a few of their local beers , cider , and their local drink was some shot. Had some of that too a few apps. Two cups of chowder Honestly, I left a bit tipsy great service. The vibe was chill. It was a great way to start the day. It's 5 o'clock somewhere. read more

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Cool spot. Guiness on tap... bar food, Guiness on tap... caring servers. Guiness on tap... good place to hang out. It's big but was there for a corporate function so it was perfect. read more

My first order of business after disembarking from the Coho is making a beeline to the B&B for a tray of fresh oysters and a beer. I was saddened to learn they removed their famous scotch egg from the menu, but this place remains a favorite spot in Victoria. read more

Nice atmosphere and great service, but the food was just okay, especially for the price. Nothing was necessarily bad, but for what we paid, I expected the food to be more memorable. Probably wouldn't return. read more

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We stopped here for an appetizer and a cocktail before continuing on our way while we are walking around Victoria. The restaurant itself is beautiful the inside and original decor is quite exquisite as it used to be a bank. The food was OK. I felt like it was overpriced for portion served and lacked a little bit of flair for something that is normally smaller portions. The oysters were good and a cocktail was decent, but since we weren't super impressed with the other appetizer, we decided not to have dinner there. The service was OK, but they were very busy so we had to go up and get our check when it was time to leave. read more

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This is one of our favorite places to stop for a beer when in Victoria. Realized my first review was 10 years ago. The architecture of the building is beautiful and staff are amazing. We sat at the bar for some food and drinks. The bartender was very attentive and answered our questions. We ordered a couple of beers and the Bahn Mi sandwiches and fresh oysters. The food was brought out quickly. Both were delicious and hit the spot. Ordered another beer and cider to relax a little longer. It can be busy when cruise ships are in port but we came later in the afternoon. They have tvs for sports and plenty of tables and a long bar. They have a good selection on their menu so there is something for everyone. read more

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9/12/2025 - The ambience is excellent and vibe. Two bartenders are very nice. The IPA, VAN ISLE HAZY, is very good. The restaurant offers free WiFi access, although it is very slow, e.g., uploading three photos took some time to be shown in Yelp. read more

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Bard & Banker was such a fun stop. The atmosphere is incredibly cool, especially with all of the lamps and the warm, lively feel of the space. Everyone seemed to be in a great mood, and the whole place had such an upbeat energy. For food, we only had the charcuterie board and bread, but both were enjoyable. For drinks, the Poetic Justice was delicious, and they also apparently have a bourbon made specifically for them, which made for an excellent Old Fashioned. The service was friendly, attentive, and genuinely cheerful, definitely service with a smile. Such a great vibe all around and a place we'd happily go back to. read more

This place is nice. The space is clean and full of history. Pictures all around definitely take a walk. Service was so so. The hostess wasn't very welcoming however our server was friendly while not very engaging. Food was good a little overpriced for what it was. I would skip the fish and chips got for the poutine though. The fish was a little overpriced cooked and falling apart made it hard to eat. The tartar sauce lacked flavor. The pork belly on the poutine was great tender with a little crisp to it. The gravy was nice and the fries managed to keep a crisp to them. read more

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Food - just ok. i had the seafood risotto which was a lot thicker & drier than i thought it was going to be. the shrimp was the best part, although i am not normally a huge fan of scallops or clams (mussels?) im not a shell creature kind of person. service - sat right away. ordered right away. food came out quickly. they brought a bowl of water for our pup. always a plus. ambiance - didn't check out the inside, but the patio area was BUSY! its on the busiest part of the main strip so tons of people passing by. ice cream spot right across the way. lots of cutesy touristy shops next door. overall, not a horrible place to stop but nothing amazing either. read more

Bard and Banker - Seafood risotto - Pubs Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

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Due to time constraints I was not able to try any of the food items listed on the menu. I would have loved to have tasted them all, truly. Oh well, I'll have to plan to go back soon in the near future. I must mention the great service and smiles from the greeter and both bartenders.. . Last, but not least I adored the architecture, the history, the charm, the character and definitely the welcoming vibe. Yes! Aloha & Mahalo read more

Gorgeous restaurant located in downtown Victoria. There is plenty of indoor dining, as well as alfresco dining. The outdoor dining does have some separation from the street so you won't be heckled by some of the transients. We came on a June evening, and opted to sit outside. The weather was absolutely gorgeous. Since it was later in the evening, the sun was completely blocked. There was quite a bit of a wait around 7 PM to eat outside and no wait to eat outside. The restaurant was pretty busy and we did wait a while for our food and drinks. I assume we might have waited a little bit longer since we were outside. We started off with the nachos which were huge. We had a party of six and we did not finish them. I would recommend actually getting this for a meal to split between a few people. My spouse had the bangers and mash which he loved. I had the pasta which was very good. The restaurant is a very old bank building. Even if it's just for a cocktail step inside because it is absolutely gorgeous. read more

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Gorgeous interior and great service. Local brews and a huge liquor list. Just another great Victoria pub. read more

Bard and Banker - The bar - Pubs Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

We stopped in for a drink while exploring the city. I was impressed by the building interior and the beautiful holiday decorations they had up. It was such an inviting space. We sat at the bar but there is a lot of seating throughout: high tables, low tops, booths, and some private nooks towards the back. They had live music that was really good! We had drinks (lots of beers on tap and a full bar) and the hummus. They had a happy hour menu. The hummus was really tasty and a large portion. We had great service at the bar, friendly and attentive. read more

Absolutely beautiful bar and restaurant! It is huge inside with upstairs and downstairs seating, window seating over the bar and a live band. They also have a small outdoor seating area. From the time you walk through the gorgeous wooden doors and under the chandelier, you are transported to a historical location that has been incredibly preserved. The food looked amazing, but we only tried a standard flight of beers and two hazy IPA's The service was fast and friendly and the beers were very good. They have the history of the location on the menus and it's definitely a good read! The next time we are in Victoria, we will be back to try the food! read more

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Came in for lunch on first day in Victoria. Friendly service, beautiful decor and good food. Specials can be a little confusing. It was half price wing day but that starts at 2. Overall it was great read more

Stopped in for a drink while exploring the area service was great ambience was amazing and the drink was amazing. If I'm ever back in this area, I will definitely try some food in this restaurant. read more

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Ambiance: gorgeous! The decor and architecture is absolutely stunning, so many beautiful things to look at. Service was okay, came here on a Tuesday evening, wasnt too busy but we were stuck in a table literally next to the stairs. I should have asked to move, it was really uncomfortable. We both ordered steaks, both tasted great... however we were given no steak knives. Luckily the butter knife was okay, for such a small piece. Alas, I would recommend this place ... for a beer. read more

Came here at Happy Hour. Our food and drinks were delicious; oysters were fresh and smooth. Service was friendly and fast. It was great vibes sitting in their outdoor dining area in a nice sunny weather. Their seats have good shades so it was very comfortable. read more

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We had a lovely evening out with friends at Bard & Banker. We dined inside. The room is beautiful with high ceilings and lovely light fixtures. It is not your standard pub. Upscale but not stuffy. The service was very good but dishes were slow coming out of the kitchen. They were also out of a few items. Our friend was very disappointed because he wanted pizza and they were out of pizza. Our other friend wanted salmon and she was told they were out of salmon as well. Our waitress checked again and was able to find 1 order of salmon left. For drinks 3 or us shared a bottle of wine and one drank beer. We shared an order of ginger beef for an appetizer and it was very good. The entrees consisted of salmon, beef dip, carbonara and prawn pesto linguine. Our friends seemed to enjoy their entrees. My husband said that his prawn pesto linguine was very good and my carbonara was one of the best that I've had. They use seared pork belly that is nice and crispy to make the carbonara and it really enhances the taste and texture. For dessert we shared 2 plates of chocolate chip cookies. They were hot out of the oven and they were delicious. It was a great evening shared with friends over good food and good service in a lovely convivial setting. read more

The service was fantastic. The atmosphere on a Friday was lively with an excellent band who provided a fantastic cover band performance. Sat upstairs and our server was attentive and checked in on us often. We had the poutine and hummus - delicious! read more

Nice outdoor seating area, plus a classic old-school bar and tables inside. Service was very efficient, considering how busy it was. The grilled tuna club was delicious and requires multiple napkins! Definitely recommend! read more

Bard and Banker - Grilled tuna club - Pubs Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

Service was great, but...... clam chowder had no flavor. We both left at least half - didn't see any clams nor clam flavor. Fried Chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy was good. read more

Always enjoy the environment here. Usually just grab a drink but decided on dinner as well this time. As a plant based eater it can be tricky to find food on pub menus but the staff was eager to help me modify a dish to meet my dietary needs. Very pleased with the meal and service! read more

Bard and Banker - Pubs Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

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Outstanding service: our waitperson was outstanding. She gave us good recommendations, she always had a smile on her face and she was engaging. Great atmosphere, great food, good value for this outstanding restaurant and a great time! read more

Our waitress Shay was friendly and welcoming We started by ordering a few glasses of wine, a double scotch, and an old fashioned The place is trending, it has a youthful clientele, we left around 9:00 pm and the place was completely full. If you want a happening place this is the one for beer, libations and bar food. read more

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Bard & Banker is an awesome pub in Victoria's Inner Harbor area and a great spot for food & drinks with a group. Located in a historic bank building, they offer a pub atmosphere that is both elegant and inviting - truly a cool space to spend some time. They offer a good variety of standards - I would call it the nicer side of pub food. We had the calamari, fried cauliflower, and pork belly poutine, which was a highlight. I had a half-rack of the ribs, which were good, if not exceptional. The crispy mashed potatoes as a side were bursting with flavor and the real highlight of the dish. Service was friendly, although a bit disorganized (entrees came out at the same time are our apps) read more

Bard and Banker - Exterior - Pubs Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

Our party of four have been checking out pubs in Victoria during this trip. So, we decided to check this place out for dinner. The first point is the food was well presented and very tasty. It was Monday and the special was fish and chips but we had that yesterday so we picked other things. The spicy chicken sandwich was very good. My wife commented that the yam fries were great. The tomato soup was top notch as well. The service was excellent. We ended up having two different servers. Second time we were switched out during our trip. Kind of funny but it gave us an opportunity to meet a couple servers. Both were excellent and took good care of us. I don't usually comment beyond good service but both ladies were funny, playful, and just plain awesome. The original server checked back as well to do nothing other than make sure we were having a good time and to share some laughs. The folks that ran the food were also engaging and genuinely wanting to provide good a great experience. All in all, the best place we have dined at to date in Victoria! read more

Beautiful interior, decent food! We visited Bard and Banker for dinner on a Sunday night and got seated right away. I loved the old-school ambiance with the beautiful chandeliers, polished wood, etc. They didn't have live music that night, but I'm sure that would've added to the charm, as well. They had a small selection of mocktails, so we both ordered the Sparkmouth Moscow Mule. I didn't realize this was a canned beverage, but our server brought out copper mugs to pour them into. Unfortunately, these just didn't taste like a mule to me at all, which was unsurprising because they didn't contain any ginger beer for some reason. For food, we ordered the Crispy Calamari to share. I really liked the dipping sauce, but the calamari itself was a bit doughier than expected. Still good though! I also got the West Coast Paella, which they were able to make without chorizo for me. It was very filling and tasty (but not mind blowing). I did appreciate the generous portion size and had plenty left over. My friend got the Steak and Guinness Pie, which he said was very good. Overall, the ambiance definitely outshined the food, but still a nice spot for dinner! read more

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Another fantastic culinary experience at Bard and Banker! Service, lunch and drinks hit the spot, for sure! Ambiance was semi-busy, super clean and hospitable. I enjoyed the clam chowder with pulled pork sliders! Hubs had the pork and beef burger with yam fries. Empress martini for him and a local IPA for me...so good! Our 3rd time here and we'll definitely return soon. Each visit we try something new and are never disappointed. Worth the walk from our hotel! read more

The Bard and Banker offers tasty food, excellent cocktails, and friendly service all in a beautiful old bank building setting. We made a reservation and were seated in a booth across from the bar. They have live music starting at 9 each evening. Note: we tend to share an entree and when we mentioned that to our server, she let us know that the kitchen could divide and plate our dinners for a small charge; something we always appreciate. read more

I would describe the service and food as adequate. The food was not what I was expecting based on the site nor the 4 stars it had

After a morning traveling by sea plan to Victoria, we were ready for a pint and some lunch. This place did not disappoint. My husband and I both had salads, which were very good. I had a sparkling rose and then beer. They had a nice beer selection and the atmosphere is very "old-school" pup. We enjoyed ourselves. read more

I love reading and hearing the phrase "Buy 1 Get 1 Free"...I love it, LOVE IT! Monday was my 3rd and final day in beautiful Victoria, at this point I had blown lots and lots of money on food and fun. By the grace of Gawd, the Bard and Banker has an incredible Monday Special...Buy 1 Get 1 Free on their large Fish & Chips meal, fantastic! It seemed so too good to be true, so I even messaged them on facebook just to make sure. $26 CAD for large Fish & Chip plate...lovely! Two large hot crispy chunk of cod perfectly breaded with that pleasant crunch on each bite. The tarter sauce paired perfectly, as well as the generous mound of chips, and just the right amount of coleslaw. Best of all, my wife's plate was free! $9 CAD for large imperial pint of draft beer, fabulous! The interior was is grand, gorgeous and elegant, but its still a friendly relaxed pub atmosphere, so no snobbery or pretentiousness. The host and waitress were both friendly. $35 CAD, or $26 in USD, made this the cheapest meal we had on our holiday, thank you Bard and Banker! read more

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Hyped up by cruise line. Go further from port for better experience. Service was great & food good

Stopped by for the long weekend and yes there was live music here. We got here at 10:15 pm and though the place closes at 1am their kitchen apparently shuts down at 10pm (bummer) so we went to grab a bite else and then got here to enjoy some live music and drinks! The live music was too loud to be honest for our liking almost deafening if you are seated in the front tables. We moved to a booth at the back of the restaurant. The service was terrible and there was nobody coming to take our orders. Finally we walked and placed our orfer for a canadian whisky flight. The flight was okay. Overall it is a nice place to hang out with loud live music but dont expect to have any convos with your folks. One of the very few places open till 1am in Victoria. read more

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Had great meals more than once. The building was an old bank and holds much of its original construction. Live music on weekends. Service was wonderful! Worth a stop for sure! read more

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Delicious fish and chips! Large portions! We really enjoyed the cole slaw as well, with a hint of dill and lemon. The ambience was beautiful with the beautiful light fixtures adding a warm glow. read more