You don't walk into Big Bad John expecting refinement--but even by dive bar standards, this place feels less like a throwback and more like it's been left behind. There's no warmth waiting for you here. No charm to soften the edges. Just a small bar, guarded--literally--by a security presence, and a room filled with heavy, worn wooden booths that have seen better decades. Not years--decades. Look up, and you'll find the signature décor: a ceiling crowded with women's undergarments. Bras, mostly. Some scrawled with messages, others just hanging there, collecting time and dust in equal measure. The occasional pair of panties or something more adventurous makes an appearance, but the effect isn't quirky so much as... committed. Committed to a theme that's long overstayed its welcome. Dust is part of the aesthetic here, whether intentional or not. It clings to everything, including those ceiling relics, turning what might once have felt playful into something closer to a time capsule you're not sure should've been opened. And yet--there's life in the room. The ambiance, somehow, is still jovial. People are laughing, drinks are flowing, and there's a certain unspoken agreement among patrons to just go with it. The drinks are surprisingly cheap by Victoria standards, which certainly helps smooth over some of the rougher edges. And then there are the peanuts--toss the shells on the floor, no one's judging. In fact, it's encouraged. It's chaotic, a little grimy, and unapologetically itself. For me, it's a one-and-done. The kind of place you visit once, take in the spectacle, and check the box. But talk to the regulars, and you'll hear a different story. For them, this isn't a relic--it's a ritual. A place that hasn't changed, and that's exactly the point. Whether that's endearing or exhausting probably depends on how much nostalgia you're willing to drink with your beer. Cheers... read more

Fun dive bar. Atmosphere is great. They have a full menu able to order and can make just about any drink that you want. Free peanuts when you get there and you throw the husks on the floors. Definitely worth a stop. read more

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This is a great local bar in Victoria, BC. The Molsen was cold, unlimited peanuts and a great vibe! read more

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Drinks were cheep and good. The atmosphere was awesome. The service was outstanding. I came back the next night and was impressed again.

Maddie was great! Food was solid, and the space reminded us a lot of the dive bars back home which we loved! Maddie was on top of it and even remembered us after only have visited one time before. We will absolutely be back in the future! read more

The dive-iest of dives If women's undergarments as decor bothers you, don't waste your time dropping by. BBJs has a great selection of Canadian beer, and don't forget to ask for a "shaft"...these cocktail suicides are only served in Victoria!! read more

Big Bad John's - A Shaft - Dive Bars Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

What a quirky dive bar we happened upon! The decor is really something...fun pictures, bras on the wall, etc. it was very empty on a weekend evening so service was quick. Free bucket of peanuts as soon as you sit down, and lots of peanut shells on the floor too. read more

Big Bad John's is a Victoria dive bar experience with its laid-back atmosphere and unique features like peanuts, bras hanging from the ceiling, and cheap beer. The staff is friendly and the prices are reasonable. read more

Shit. Bar lady was rude as shit. Popped in for a couple of beers on the way out from the strathcona. The patrons were super friendly, but the bar lady made us feel as tho we were not welcomed. read more

Excellent place to sit & relax with friends, found it while working in the area. Interesting wall art read more

Big Bad John's is a particular lounge, where you can get plenty of drinks made by the bartender but also get ciders and other bottles or canned alcoholic drinks, and local beers on draft. Two other characteristics of Big Bad John's is the decoration and the shelled peanuts. The walls has stickers, hand written notes, pictures, and other artifacts, such as bottles and bras. As for the shelled peanuts, you can get a bucket full of them and throw the empty shells on the ground. Don't worry, it's allowed!! At the end of the evening, the floor is full of shells and the only sound you hear is "CRUNCH." The music is entirely country music!! read more

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One of a kind. Might be rough at first, but a cool spot all around. Peanuts, hockey, country music, bras on the wall... read more

It is as promised and expected! Connected with the rest of the block and delivers every bing you want from a dive bar. Dark, peanuts, food if you want it, reasonable drinks. Friendly staff and locals/regulars, happy hour. For my American friends, there are some differences before you start complaining! We can't free pour here - you can lose your liquor license. You're not gonna get a four ounce pour for $3 like some US dive bars. Booze costs a lot more money here and is taxed higher, so suck it up and enjoy the current exchange rate you have. Tips - $1 a drink is not ok :-) You can traverse a few bars without going outside which is a plus. read more

I love beer. I love peanuts. I love Bras. Fun people in a crappy dive. If you are a sucker for a dive bar, stop in at Big Bad Johns! read more

Big Bad John's - Ceiling - Dive Bars Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

Big Bad John's is the perfect watering hole. Dark and dimly lit, walls covered in random decor including women's bras and floors covered in peanut shells. It's a small bar that had a surprising amount of tables and seating space. Drinks were good and cheap, and the service was friendly. Country music played constantly and the folks in the bar were good for people watching when we were looking at the stuff on the walls. It's a must stop, even if it's to check it out for a minute. read more

This place is like a dive bar in the mall. Definitely has the most character out of any bar I went to in Victoria by far. -Buckets with peanut shells on every table -Fake spiders drop on people -bras hanging from the ceilings -an older/western looking decor I liked the place, friendly staff, and the bar might be cash only. Not the best for watching sports, but this bar is a hokey place to get drunk for sure read more

Big Bad John's - Beer - Dive Bars Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

Been once or twice with my cousin and friends I LOVE IT!!! want to go back over and over, great vibe amazing decor, eating peanuts that come in whatever container they may have handy throwing the shells, good people better than all the other bars in the area! you must go check it out!! read more

Big Bad John's - ceiling - Dive Bars Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

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If you ever visit victoria. That's the place to go . Where peanut shell goes on the floor, Bra's hanging off the ceiling. Kenny Rogers records rocking the house. You might want to get the best ever moonlight signature burger with salad and he'll yeah Rabt blue ribbon bear. Damn good cowboy ! read more

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Smaller venue yet way large on charector an good spirits .. enjoying conversation from locals.. "why didn't the ghost go to the dance??..had no body to go with!" .. Haaaaa read more

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The best dive I've ever been in. Let me tell you, I've been in an inordinate number of them. I have a bra of mine on the ceiling here. Been going there for years. Great drinks, awesome bartender, and probably the most unique atmosphere ever. A place not to miss! P.s. Thanks John for understanding that I was the DD the other night. He kept the diet cokes flowing with out even asking! read more

What a great little underground pub. We grabbed a couple beers and were astounded by the amount of items that have made there way into these walls. If you are looking for a place that'll be a conversation starter, you've found it here! It's snug seating but it's all about atmosphere here. Service was okay and the food was higher priced and not very much served up to make this a destination for a meal. read more

They're a little bit cramped and cozy, their bartender seems like he'd always be ornery, and it does feel like the basement of a five star hotel, but Big Bad Johns has it's charms. Namely those left behind by patrons over many years of service. The music is country, the menu is peanuts, the beer is cheaper than Victoria standards, and they don't clean too often which, in this case, is a good thing. I could write several more paragraphs simply describing sitting around and drinking beer at Big Bad John's and still have difficulty conveying the details. The tabletops are stuffed with ID's, business cards, flyers, and anything else typically found in a wallet - a deactivated bank card with my name is in a table in the back corner right now. I stole someone's student go card to fit it in. There were plenty of student ID's on display, it's likely they make up much of the regular patronage. The walls are covered in bras, panties, pictures, engraved hearts with initials and a + sign. If you're short on a souvenir to bring home, try a white laced double D bra autographed with a sharpie. Other posters of note include touching epitaphs to former customers and staff. The floors are a bit sticky and covered in peanut shells, which were as likely to come from your table's bucket as the one you're sitting next to. Old country music plays quietly from the speakers, but nobody gives a damn whether you know the songs or not. I've heard the bartender, who's not named John, likes to sleep in the cellar when it's quiet. He doesn't talk when he can rasp loudly, in a amusing "wise" prose. This place came highly recommended, and I don't feel it fell short of my expectations. If you feel like Victoria is too clean, too polite, or just boring, try coming here instead of the sports bar. read more

Bring your lady friends... not your mom!! My good friend told me to, "go to big bad johns - it's real memorable" ... and then I bumped into an 75 year old man in Victoria that told my mom and I, "if you want to misbehave, go to big bad johns" So there we went, Mom and I, wandering down the street, mid-day to kick-back with a casual beer and put our feet up to relax. Well some important things to note: 1) Don't go here during the day... the sunlight makes it totally noticeable that the place has not been cleaned since it opened 51 years ago [True Stat: it opened 51 years ago] 2) Drinks are cheap beers (and they have some tasty classics on tap) - so use your extra bills to staple to the walls instead. The more you drink, the more clever the message you write on your dollars will be.... I think that last they they need in there is another "Call ____ at 555-555-555 for a good time". 3) If you don't have a dollar bill to leave on the wall, this is the type of part that gladly accepts you to leave your bra instead..... Add it to the collection of boulder-holders that dangle above the bar! --- Go there at night, when it's busy and it distracts your eyes, go for the cheap drinks, overly salty peanuts in shells, and for the drunken memories you'll never remember. read more

If, for nothing else, visit Big Bad John's (adjacent to/attached to The Stickey Whicket) just to oggle the wall and ceiling 'appointments'. No, John's didn't hire Ralph Lauren or Laura Ashley do to the decor......WE all did........memorabilia (of innumerable mention) is tacked or taped to every inch of wall space and the ceiling....and then some. Bar seating (limited) and cozy (so to speak) booths and nooks offer opportunities for convo with your fav bev (full bar). Taps include numerous local micros. Prices are very affordable. Tupper-ware bowls of peanuts are offered without charge. Shuck your own, leave the shells anywhere you like....adds to the interior decorating! C&W tunes are played through hidden speakers throughout the joint. A curious, and longstanding, pub in an otherwise very provincial community. read more

You never to disappoint. I used to go to Big Bad Johns 20 years ago and even left a bra there once. No more bras but still a fun time. We went on a Friday night and it was packed. read more

Big Bad John's is just one of those places you just smile about when you write your reviews. A place where you go........ damn this is not what I expected in this town. A unique place you would expect in the back woods of West Virginia instead of the city streets of Victoria. But hey, the element of surprise is what makes this dive bar unique. From the bartenders in overalls to the decor on the wall the bar completes the "Southern" feel. One of my highlights of the trip is when the song "Big, Bad John" plays in the bar with a cold can beer in my hand......Definitely a must go experience if you're in the cozy town of Victoria. Like the lyrics of the song....... "And like a giant oak tree he just stood there alone, Big John. . . Big John.. . . Big John. . . Big bad John ..Big John" read more

All the right fixin's for a dive bar: Low key location, low maintenance, small, tacky, outdated. Ventured in here for a beer and felt like I was in the right place. Nothing like a nice dive to toss pretension out the window and just have a good time. read more

This place as all the dive-bar charm that it's going for, and then some. Its two defining characteristics- Bras on the ceiling and peanuts in plastic buckets- are a nice touch. Chris, the overall-clad bartender, is awesome. Definitely not ideal for a first date, but Big Bad John's is the perfect spot to down one last drink at the end of a pub crawl. read more

I can honestly say this is one of my favorite bars ever! It is a combination of a deep dive bar, a carnival haunted house and an episode of 'Hee Haw'. The owner, Big Bad John, is a real character. He plays pranks on the tables with an intricate series of creepy objects and fishing lure. There are bras on the ceiling and peanuts on the floor (you get a basket and toss the shells). The drinks are stout and reasonably priced. And you'll get them with a sassy comment, which is just the way I like it from my bartender. Oh, and the music is the best.....let's just say it really sets the tone for the rest of the shenanigans that go on! You cannot miss this place if you're in Victoria! We had the best time! read more

I'm not sure if this place is authentic or a well disguised tourist haunt. No matter, Big Bad John's (BBJ) is a dirty, tacky little place in the tourist area of Victoria. I was there in mid afternoon and the three other customers were locals. BBJ's is the definition of "dive", but the bartender was nice, the rockabilly music was refreshing, and the beer prices were cheap. Near the end of my stay a drunk female local came in and provided me with some entertainment (not gratis, as I bought her a cheap beer). Eventually she dumped all of the nearby containers of free peanuts in her bag and was told to leave and not come back. Her visit was more entertaining than the weird-ass fishing line tricks the bartender pulls. (If you want to know more about them, you'll need to visit BBJ's) read more

We went by this afternoon. The posted pictures depict the inside accurately (US dollar bills posted everywhere and dust too). Seating is limited but the bartender was friendly. The salty peanuts do make you crave your next drink. read more

Big Bad John's - as seen from the sidewalk - Dive Bars Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

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We were staying in the Strathcona Hotel connected to this bar and were excited to try it out. It didn't disappoint. This place was full of unpretentious people of all ages having a hugely fun Saturday night. The drinks were cheap/reasonably priced. $4.50 for lager sleeves or rum and cokes on a Saturday night. You are greeted by an overall-clad 'hillbilly' on your arrival, who slaps down a sizeable bucket of peanuts on your table and asks what he can get you. He was a nice guy and was quick and friendly serving us every time. If you're sitting at a table, you'll need to pay with cash, or go up to the bar to order if you want to pay with card. The decor of this place is fascinating - kind of like a Disneyland western set gone dirty. It's pretty cosy and good fun to look at all the junk left on the walls by those who have passed through over the 50 years its been in business. The music is country, the people are fun, the drinks are cheap. Perfect. read more

Of the many bars in Victoria I visited last weekend, this was my favorite. I loved the dark, seedy vibe with colored lights, the adorable attentive "beer fairy" behind the bar making sure we were properly hydrated and aptly entertained, and of course, the brassieres that hung from the ceiling and walls like Spanish moss. The bras inspired me and my gal pals to send a rather spicy birthday photo to our friend on the east coast, and if that isn't winning, I don't know what is. read more

Bras and other stuff stapled to the walls. It's an attempt at a forced dive bar, cool spot. Shit beer on tap, service was good, free peanuts read more

This bar was so much fun! However we were told it's only great on weekends. It was wild! The atmosphere is fantastic, great drinks and lots of fun people to meet! Had a wonderful Friday night in Victoria! read more

This bar is straight out of a country redneck movie! It is definitely an experience but if you are allergic to peanuts do not go! They have peanuts everywhere all over the floor ceiling and tables! Nothing like cracking a brew while chatting about farm life in this new old dive bar! Check it out for the entertainment and the bartenders outfit! read more

Good service. Wish the cowboy guy who always sits at the bar would take it easy. Staff are very kind to put up with him. True mark of a great bar that takes all kinds. read more

This place is great for any country fan whose not allergic to nuts. It's a hole in the wall with crap all over the walls but in the best way. The bartenders are friendly to (somewhat obvious) tourists and even happy to play a song request (Booze Cruise). Get a girl in your group to wear an old bra to trade for a t-shirt. Bonus: There's rubber spiders and bats hanging at various points of the bar's ceiling... all hooked up to pulley strings that lead behind the bar. Enjoy. read more

Fun dive bar atmosphere. It is a very small little place so seating is limited, but I guess that's part of it. Free peanuts!

The rudest and worst bartender, ever. Celebrating the first drink for my daughter and the poor lady behind the bar could not do math and figure out how old she was. Learn basic math. She then proceeded to tell us we did not need to drink there and we left. Sadly a poor representative for Big Bad John's. read more