We ended up just stopping her for a bite while visiting Fisheman's Wharf as part of our hop-on…read morehop-off bus tour. I really really wish we could have eaten more because everything looked amazing. We actually stopped twice, once for a coffee mainly just to justify my using their bathroom after getting off the bus, and then once to get pastries before getting back on the bus because we literally could not help ourselves. Our server was...quirky. And sitting at a table outside just chillin there was someone in a pirate costume with a cat on a leash and the general consensus seemed to be yeah, this is 100% normal. It's quirky. It's little. You go outside and thru a different door to use the bathroom, which they share with the fish and chips stand next door (also somewhere I lament not being able to try). They had pastry and baked goods varieties we had never heard of. Prices were decent. I cannot get over the rich color of the raspberries in my scone (visiting from the US, where our food supply is complete garbage, I was unable to stop marveling my entire trip about how much better the food quality is in Canada). Definitely worth a visit.

Stopped for a bannock cake with strawberries and sweet cream. It was very good. This was the first…read morestop on our food tour and we enjoyed it. We sat outside and the weather was beautiful.

I brought my husband here for his first time ever having a traditional tea experience…read more Unfortunately, at the time we had a bit of a crisis that was happening at home and it was hard for us to sit and just enjoy our meal because we were dealing with a crisis, however, the server was so sweet and genuine and understanding about us being somewhat distracted. Despite our side quest, my husband still told me he enjoyed every second of that tea lunch and had a great time. They do a really good job about decorating it making it feel very authentic, and the tea was delicious and they really went above and beyond to explain everything that we were receiving. I would definitely go back!

piggy and paisley is a small, charming local café in james bay that fits really naturally into the…read moreneighbourhood. it's located just across from thrifty foods and a short walk from victoria's inner harbour. james bay itself feels quite different from downtown. while the core of victoria is busy with tourists, government buildings, and constant movement around the harbour, james bay feels more residential and relaxed, with tree lined streets, older homes, independent shops, and a steady local rhythm. i stopped in for a matcha latte with oat milk and sat by the bay window. it's an easy place to slow down for a bit and watch the neighbourhood go by. natural light fills the space, softening the pink tones and cozy interior, and there's a quiet, comfortable hum of conversation in the background. during my visit, a few people were catching up over tea, others were working on laptops, and some were simply enjoying coffee and pastries. it has a very unhurried feel to it, like people naturally settle in. afternoon tea is available but needs to be booked in advance. there are also small curated displays throughout the café with teas, gifts, and artisan items available for purchase. it feels thoughtfully selected and woven into the space rather than presented as a separate shop, which adds to the overall charm without distracting from the café experience. what stands out most is the atmosphere. it feels genuinely local. regulars come in and out, conversations happen easily, and even as a visitor you feel comfortable settling into the space. it feels more like a neighbourhood café that naturally belongs where it is. if you're in victoria, it's worth stepping away from the inner harbour and downtown for a bit. wandering into james bay and spending time at piggy and paisley gives you a quieter, more local side of the city that many visitors miss, and it's a nice place to slow down for a while.

Good coffee. I loved the ginger scone!…read more Conveniently located in downtown Victoria. Heard that the scones are amazing house as well which surprise me given the size of the coffee shop itself. Again, I highly recommend recommended the scone!

Simple and pleasant coffee shop offering a surprisingly decent amount of seating indoors. Staff is…read morefriendly and helpful and the coffee (tried a cappuccino and flat white) were solid, though nothing out of this world. All in all a great place if you're nearby the area in Downtown Victoria.

Came in for a cup of coffee and to meet up with my daughter. I was greeted to Steely Dan playing on…read morethe sound system and by a nice staff member. The coffee wasn't hot, but it was tasty. The thing I love is a cafe where the sun shines in the winter. This is it. The mall where it is located is drab. Well, no, not drab. Actually it is a nice mall as far as malls go. I just don't like malls. This cafe doesn't have that mall feel. The sun changes everything. All is right with the world.

Good coffee but expensive, and the WiFi is capped at less than 0.30 Mbps, what a cheap joke what is…read morethis, 1999 dial-up? I'm going to Starbucks

Great vibes and good drinks! Beer and wine were delish. Nicola was the best…read more Highly recommend

Cannot recommend enough, so absolutely delicious and the vibes of the restaurant are so perfect!read more

Service was fairly fast! A cute little shop. we ordered a chai latte and of course had to try to…read morebao buns in which they were very delish. A must try if you're in the area

Clean little shop with lots of teas, coffee, cold drinks and baos! Quick service and Italian soda,…read morefruit tea and sparkling tea was delicious.

I've been to Heron Rock a handful of times now over several years and it's always been such a…read morestaple brunch spot! The bennys are my fave. Today we had the smoked salmon benny half order with a fresh salad and my hubby on the Dungeness crab and prawn benny with the roasted potato's and onions. We were very pleased with both. What I love most about the Benny is their hollandaise sauce - so lemony and light and they put the perfect amount on each - ie not drenched but nicely poured. The staff is super nice and overall the place feels homey. You also aren't waiting in lines to get good brunch which is always a bonus especially coming from Vancouver where everyone and their dog is going for brunch and lining up. This spot is very unassuming and kind of hidden behind the building. Highly recommend! They also have a cute patio if you're feeling some sunshine!

This evening, we went to Heron Rock for the second time. Our dinner was fabulous. We each ordered…read morethe starter Caesar Salad with two crab cakes. The crab cakes were crab and shrimp and no filler. They were amazing, the best I've ever had. For dessert we split an order of the Nanaimo bar. Neither one of us had ever had one before. This was simply incredible...very large, about an inch thick, if not thicker, sitting in a pool of mildly butterscotch pudding. More than enough for two, but we ate it all. I highly recommend this restaurant.

Located next to Chinatown, we stopped by this local bakery while exploring the area. They offer a…read moregreat selections of desserts, cheesecakes, pies etc, but we decided to try the Nanaimo bar, a classic no-bake Canadian dessert. It was delicious and definitely worth trying if you never had these before. On the side note, I found it pretty funny the cafe has a surprisingly high-tech restroom lock where they buzz you in from behind the counter.

Quaint neighborhood bakery next to Chinatown. We tried the local Nanaimo bar and it was pretty…read moretasty!

I read an earlier review from a fellow Seattleite who griped about the lack of wifi here, and my…read morefirst thought was "Sweet, no laptops hogging all the tables!" (I view this all-too-common situation as one of the downsides to the shift away from working at the office. I'm am staunchly in favor of working from home, but not from the cafe. I have spoken. /grumpy old man rant) The weather was shite outside, so I went with a cozy salted caramel latte and a cheddar & sundried tomato scone. Both were fab. The service was prompt and pleasant, and the music (not something I typically notice) is groovy enough that I am loath to leave. I don't come to Victoria often, but I hope this place is still here next time.

Disappointing experience at Tre fantastic, located just outside the Paradise Hotel and Spa. What…read moreshould have been a straightforward morning coffee run turned into an exercise in frustration due to their surprisingly rigid policies and poor quality. The most baffling issue is their refusal to customize drinks. When ordering their smallest coffee, I was informed it automatically comes with two espresso shots. When I politely asked for a single shot instead, the staff flat-out refused, stating it was two shots or nothing unless I upgraded to a large size. Forcing customers into a higher caffeine content and a more expensive tier just because of a fixed-recipe policy is customer-hostile and strange. Unfortunately, the coffee itself doesn't justify the stubbornness. The brew is very basic, lacking any depth or distinct flavor profile, and simply not worth the money they charge. To top it off, the food was just as disappointing; the croissants were clearly old, stale, and unpleasantly hard. Skipping this spot and finding a cafe with better quality and a bit of flexibility for its customers is strongly recommended.

This is a place that sells beer and wine and a small selection of hard stuff after the regular…read moreliquor stores are closed. What could be better?