My partner and I first found this place on our honeymoon in 2017, and we've made it a point to go back every time we visit Canada since then. The beer cheese is delightful, the staff is friendly, the views are lovely, and the rotating menu items are always worth checking out. read more

This was our first stop in Victoria. Our taxi driver actually recommended this place to us. We got seated and our view was amazing. Looking out over the water. Our server came and was very friendly. Asked us if we had any questions. It was such a chill atmosphere in there people were just hanging out eating and drinking. I had a chicken burger and crispy fries. It was so juicy and flavorful. We got beer cheese as an appetizer and it was very cheesy and had great flavor! read more

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What a great find this is. I loved everything about it! Service was great and food was delicious. ISO many beautiful views! I had wine and hubby had beer. If you're in the area don't hesitate to come here. read more

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Great scone and muffin! Friendly staff. Excellent in house mineral water and just felt the vibe! Loved that everything was baked fresh on-site, including in house chocolate! read more

A great time. The service was attentive and food great. Our large party of eight ordered a wide variety of things. Pizza, seafood pasta, fettuccine, burgers and grilled cheese and poutine. We enjoyed several different beverages. It happened to be music bingo which was very entertaining and we actually won $25. It was a good time. The DJ running the bingo game really made the game. read more

Our 1st night in Victoria and we were looking for some place to sit down for dinner. For those familiar, this felt very similar to a McMenamins from Oregon/Washington. We split the shrimp flatbread & Kale Caesar, and each tried a beer. All was lovely! read more

Be careful not to use cash at this restaurant. I went for a drink with a friend and paid cash. They didn't give me the right change and I didn't realize this until I got home. When I called them back they refused to take any responsibility for their waiter's mistake. I was very disappointed their service. read more

We came here for dinner two nights in a row, which I rarely do. Wednesday night we ate in the brew pub. Waitress was off the charts busy, but did a good job taking our order answering questions and giving recommendations. The kids got cocktails. I tried a soda pop flight. The purple tonic is unusual and has an apertif quality to it, although non-alcoholic. The spicy ginger ale is very spicy. Tuna loin salad with wasabi vinaigrette was fabulous. Pizza was good. Thin crust isn't my favorite, but it was chewy and the sauce was amazing and definitely had fennel. Second night we sat in the restaurant, a window seat overlooking the water. This is a great place to come for dinner or just drinks. They have a big parking lot and it is very charming that they built the lot around some beautiful old trees. This would be a great place to come with a group. read more

We stopped for lunch at Spinnakers while making our way around the Songhee Walkway. The restaurant has main and second level tables with a beautiful view overlooking the water. The pizza and clam chowder looked delicious, but we opted for sandwiches. My hubby ordered the pulled pork sandwich. It was moist and full of flavor with a decent amount of slaw on it. I had the salmon burger and was pleasantly surprised to see the it was a full piece of salmon rather than a patty. It was cooked perfectly and nicely seasoned. I highly recommend the fries too. There is a full bar, in fact one upstairs as well as on the main level. They have some really good looking cocktails, with and without alcohol as well as well as home brews and sodas. Service was a little slow, but that seems to be the case everywhere these days with places struggling to get enough employees. This was a great stop on our walk. read more

Spinnakers Brewpub - Outside - Brewpubs Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

It started when we were seen by the host and requested a table for 2. He took us to a 4-top jammed in a corner by another 4-top table in use. I looked and there were a string of open 2-tops along the windows overlooking the patio and water. He moved us and we were seated and greeted by a very friendly server. It took awhile for the wine to arrive and we ordered dinner. That took quite a long while. The salad came with the entrees so food got cold while eating the salad. My wife's entree was wrong. I ordered the burger. The house made bun was hard. Maybe it sat under a warming lamp for a while (the fries were warm not hot although they were very good). Another very long while for my wife to get her correct entree. Only on rare occasion will I not give a restaurant a second chance as there can be off nights. This is one of those occasions. We will not return. read more

Great outdoor seating and views. Dog-friendly. Really good pizza and beers and EXCELLENT service. Gendered bathrooms :( 5/10 comfort rating for outside chairs. read more

Spinnakers Brewpub - Great views and dog-friendly seating! - Brewpubs Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

It's really unfortunate that when 2 people go to a place for lunch that one dish is outstanding (Mac & Cheese with pulled pork add-on) and the other is disappointing (House Made Kielbasa Baguette). Anyone who has had a `hot dog' doesn't expect that the seller is going to cut the sausage in half and put that on a big bun and smother it with greenery! That is the case here and it was really disappointing that they decided that their sausage can't be delivered as a whole item on a bun/baguette like the rest of the world who consume sausages on buns! The proportions here are wrong. The place has been around for a long time so I would expect better consistency. The kielbasa was also not that great either when compared to real Ukrainian sausage (very bland). The pulled pork add-on to the Mac & Cheese was very tasty, not too much BBQ sauce, and I believe there was some heat added to the Mac that made the dish very `more-ish'. Kudos to the Chef on this one! read more

Spinnakers Brewpub - Mac & Cheese with Pulled Pork - excellent! - Brewpubs Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

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Weird expensive menu. Thought it would be more "pub" food but it sure wasn't. It's pricey too!! I went with a group (so not my choice) but wouldn't choose to go back on my own. Our server was busy for sure, we were a large group, but we didn't just show up, we had a reservation, so they knew we were coming. She was terse and curt and we felt like we were inconveniencing her. I'd be looking for somewhere else!! read more

The views and the building are the best thing to recommend about it, and it's right on the Songhees Walkway, so it's a convenient place to stop if you're on a walk. It's always pricier than I remember, and the food and drinks are always just fine. Their beers are okay, their seafood chowder, fish and chips, and mac & cheese are totally edible. But if you're gonna spend $20 on a burger or $25 on a pizza there are so many better options in town. read more

Great view, even if I got sunburnt. Figuring I should go West Coast local, I had the smoked salmon pizza. While the cheese and shrimp were nice, the smoked salmon was dried out enough that it wasn't especially flavorful for a house smoked meat, so I wasn't all that impressed. read more

I went to Spinnaker's when it first opened in the 1980s and I've come back every time I visit Victoria. it remains an excellent place for food and beverages. I don't agree with anybody not giving it a five-star review; I was there on a Wednesday night and it was packed with locals. The locals seem to know it's an excellent place, and I've noticed that some of the negative reviews are because sometimes there are long waiting times. of course, a bad restaurant has no long wait times. read more

Excellent choices of draft beers! We ordered Fish & Chips. Halibut fish was tender and very good but truffle fries were just okay. Waitress and service was excellent! Friendly, knowledgeable and flexible. read more

This is a super restaurant. Service staff is very friendly. My first time and I arrived with a very large party. A co-worker and I ordered both the duck confit pizza and shepherd's pie and split them. Both were very good. Shepherd's Pie had a nice mild kick of spice, but the duck pizza had a great flavor. I would recommend either. Another co-worker ordered the spicy chicken sandwich, she said it was amazing. She tried my pizza but said her sandwich was way better, so idk lol We'll definitely be back next year! read more

We went for dinner last night in the main restaurant and were very disappointed. We live in area and this is not the first time we have had a poor service experience at Spinnakers. We received our first drink order only to be ignored until our meals arrived and our glassware had to be removed before placing our dinner. The servers walked away not offering us anything else, no wine, no water, no condiments??When a server finally returned to ask about our meals and was told by my guests that her salmon was not great, the server smiled and walk away and never returned again. We sat with finished plates in front of us for awhile until I waved our server down and again we were not ask if we needed anything else. I'm sorry to say as a local I will not be back. What has happened to our local Pub? read more

Spinnakers is an old, historic brewpub that people should not be surprised that it lasted this long! This is a great place to quench multiple types of thirst for beer: from sampling 5oz glasses to 64oz loads for sharing. That day I just had high tea at The Empress Hotel, so I opted for the 5oz lager... In the spirit of Britain, I ordered Sockeye Salmon and Chips (the British call fries chips... ok ) Before it came, I was provided a small jar of salt and a tall bottle of malt vinegar, which built some nice suspense. The very taste of the dish brought me back to my study abroad days in London two years ago! Paired with the lager, the fried shell of the salmon tasted extra decadent. Usually I fear that the salmon is over cooked and too dry, but it turned out completely fine! The meat was soft, juicy, and aromatic and the Tartar sauce complement was on point! Later, I decided to go for the rose cider and I was glad I did. It was not only fruity, but also dry and not sickly sweet. What a perfect last dinner in Victoria, with the sunset and harbor view! There is nothing like eating decadent seafood along the water with a picturesque vista! read more

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We took the water taxi over and walked to Spinnakers for a little nosh and a pint. What a beautiful building and they have a nice view. Our server was cordial and attentive. We missed happy hour (oh well) but grabbed a couple beers and a cider) then had a few appetizers and they were ok. We shared a crunchy chicken sandwich which had really nice flavor but the highlight of that sandwich were all the pickled "things" like the pickled onions on the sandwich or the pickled green beans in the side! The bun was also delicious. Then an order of smoked chicken wings which were a bit dry and some fries. The highlight was their sauce for the fries! Oh my delicious! It's good bar food. And the pool tables are fun also. It's a nice spot I will say their in house made chocolates were amazing!! I would also grab a loaf of bread too it looked insane! read more

Nice view. Lively setting where people can relax and enjoy conversation. Good breakfast options (frittatas, eggs/potatoes). Friendly and kind servers (ours was Jenna). They also took good care of our 1-yr old (high-chair, even crayons and worksheets!). We really appreciated it. read more

My wife and I travel to Victoria, BC regularly. Personally, I've been going there most of my life on vacations. When you know an area well, you start to figure out the "must go to spots". Every trip, we hit Spinnakers at least once. The restaurant build out is kind of cool, but the best place to sit is on one of the two patios. Their property sits right on the edge of the Inner Harbor (Harbour?) and is a really nice place to grab a bite to eat and enjoy one of their micro brews. I wouldn't say it's the most amazing restaurant that I've eaten at, but I always get a cup of their excellent seafood chowder and fish and chips. You have three choices: cod, halibut and, my favorite, salmon. The fish is always fresh, the portions are satisfying and the batter is just right. They are served with a tartar sauce, but I use the malt vinegar that is always on the table. They have a nice little dessert menu. It changes up with the seasons, and is a nice way to finish off a lunch or dinner. I'd recommend it at least once. Who knows...you might become a traveling regular, like we are. read more

My husband and I drove down from Nanaimo to enjoy a day in Victoria. Decided to have a nice "to go" dinner because that's what we do these days. (Thanks COVID!) Anyway...I remembered I enjoyed the bangers and mash the last time I was at Spinnakers so I called and placed my order. The menu had changed and the sausage was a turkey and cranberry banger with roasted root veg mash and stuffing. It was DELICIOUS! I couldn't have asked for better. The stuffing was rich and buttery with lots of flavour...gravy was peppery and smooth and the mash had lots of texture and mouth appeal. Presentation was a bit messy but that was my fault for ordering extra gravy. It wasn't needed...it would have been perfect with whatever they had planned for it. They know how to cook! Hubby enjoyed his burger and fries ...I didn't give him much talk time over all my mmmmm's! Upon picking up the order I also grabbed a fresh focaccia and a couple of lavender shortbreads. I'm too full to eat them now but I'm sure we will enjoy them later. Thank You Spinnakers for the great dining experience...in our truck... overlooking the harbour. Very happy! read more

Poorly trained staff, worst experience ever in any establishment. Management needs to do a better job at training staff.

This review is long overdue given that I went here during Dine Around, so thank goodness for the notes saved on my phone! First things first, we were initially given the dinner menu despite coming in for lunch and for Dine Around. When the Dine Around menu ($20) did come, it was slightly different than what was online (e.g. some dishes were not listed or were in a different section). Though this caught my friend and I by surprise, it didn't affect our decision too much as the dishes we wanted were still on the menu. WILD PACIFIC FISH CAKE: I found the tarragon hollandaise sauce too tarte, and the fish cake a bit overcooked and dry. I was also hopeful that the fish cake would be nestled atop a celeriac remoulade (as seen on their Facebook page), but staying true to the Dine Around menu, it only had the sauce to accompany it. Had the celeriac remoulade been there, its fattiness may have helped to balance the flavour of the dish more. WILD MUSHROOM RAGOUT HASH: Though on the smaller side, I enjoyed how each element came together in this dish. The egg was beautifully poached, with its orange yolk coating each potato, mushroom, and green. The potatoes were bite-sized, and along with the mushrooms, were both tender and well-seasoned. CARAMEL FRENCH TOAST: You would think that a dish with caramel, french toast, and a poached pear would be a cavity waiting to happen, but I surprisingly did not find this dish to be overly sweet. I think the espresso whipped cream and the granola streusel played a role in downplaying the sweeter elements of the dish. The poached pear was divine and added a nice fruity flavour overall. Between the entree and the dessert, I might have to hand it off to the dessert this time because I was fairly impressed. (And this says a lot, coming from someone who doesn't have much of a sweet tooth!) Although I was inclined to give Spinnakers a 3/5, I think that the value, service, and oceanside view (absolutely gorgeous!) are enough to edge it into the 4/5 category. read more

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I really wanted to love this pub, especially after meeting a WW2 vet just outside who told me some of his life stories, and also some stories about Spinnakers. But, it just didn't work out. These 2 stars are for the location and view. Cool old brewpub, with some nice decor elements and a fantastic view of the bay. But, I tend to agree with some of the other comments on the food. I went in for a look on a Tuesday afternoon and it was almost empty, perhaps to be expected for a Tuesday. Because of the poor reviews on food, I dipped my toes in by trying 2 of the happy hour items (and also since it was happy hour, ha): 1. Smoked Brisket Ends with horseradish aioli. 0/5, it was almost inedible unless you like deep fried beef fat - because that was exactly what it was. No smoke at all, and literally 90% fat, some pieces 100%. When I think of smoked brisket ends, I think of charred and chewy bits of caramelized smokey goodness. That it was not. It was almost as if they took the fat trimmings from the brisket, cut them into cubes and deep fried them. Completely lacking of flavour or discernible smoke, seasoning was off too. Horseradish aioli was not very horseradish-ey. I had to send it back, which I almost never do on happy hour items....Just don't do it. 2. The Brickoven baked focaccia, with malt vinegar, sea salt, rosemary and olive oil, (1/5). Decent flavours here, but the focaccia was underwhelming. Was like plain store-bought, and not warm at all. You would think it would be warm and toasty based on the description on menu. **** I will say both my servers were attentive and lovely to deal with (4/5). A few years back I had these delicious smoked / grilled wings here, and they were great, but not enough to get me to visit this place again. Bye Spinnakers read more

Spinnakers Brewpub - Brewpubs Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

Delishious apple rhubarb cider! Fresh salad, butternut squash and bacon on a flatbread - yummy! Really cool older building with lots of hardwood charm. Loved the deck looking toward the water - easy walking distance from the marina. Great lunch on a perfect fall day. read more

So hard to give Spinnakers this review. My wife and I have been going here for 11 years and have a lot of history with this place. The building, beer and food are amazing- but the service has gone down hill to the point that we had to walk out three out of the seven times before Covid happened. It was a raining fall day so we thought it'd be nice to walk down to spinnakers and give it another shot. This is now in the Covid swing of things. When we placed our order I thought things would have changed in the last year, guess not.... the service was as cold as the food that came out 45 min later. This wasn't a fillet mignon in duck - it was bacon and eggs. Spinnakers use to be a local pub that Victoria was proud of and one of the first brewpubs around and maybe it's new owners, or something happening between the servers. Wish it was like it use to be. Props to the kitchen and brewers, you guys have always been on point - spinnakers you're nose diving and you got to pull up. Hate on this review all you want - these are just facts Covid or not. read more

I went there with 3 friends who all ordered chicken wings which where quite small and very dry. I ordered the salmon and cream cheese bagel which was awful. Scant amount of salmon, 4 very thin small slices and the bagel was dry, stale and hard to swallow. Eat somewhere else read more

Really, just OK. Food and beer, very average. Good service. Would not return.... Got the seafood chowder...not thick at all...very thin & brothy....green salad had Pesto....not mentioned on menu... wouldn't have ordered. read more

An all around excellent meal. First, our service was impeccable, our server didn't miss a beat, water right away, drink order taken right away, drinks arrived within minutes, appetizer and meal order right away. We started with the cold fish plate. it was to die for, excellent tuna, smoked oysters and smoked salmon with bread, crackers and a coleslaw that was the best I've ever had. I had the smoked oyster and fish fettuccine, it was heavenly, fresh oysters and fish, the penne sauce was scrumptious, my friends had the Salisbury steak and the Poke bowl, both excellent, fresh ingredients, it was the best meal in a long time. read more

I went for brunch there last week and it was one of the worst meals I have had in the city. My friend and I ordered pretty traditional breakfasts but I could only finish half of what I was served. The scrambled eggs were a mere drop on the plate...this was one egg not two as advertised. The sausage was like a brick..so hard I could not even cut it...tasteless as well. Three quarters of the plate was covered with stone cold, tasteless potatoes. The white bread was too hard to bite into and was cold as well. This place might be a good pub to drop in for a beer or a glass of wine but the food was awful. The chef seemed to have thrown together a plate of leftovers that were too hard to chew, stone cold and completely devoid of taste. The coffee was bitter and stale. This place is not known for its food but some effort put into their meals would have been nice. Never again!!!!! read more

I loved Spinnakers! We walked here from downtown and while it seemed like a long walk it was probably only 20 minutes or so. We arrived tired and thirsty and found seating right away on the upstairs patio. It was chilly but the heaters made the outdoor seating pleasant. The view from the deck was amazing! See my pictures which I uploaded for proof. The Olympic Mountains which we usually don't see from the north side in Seattle, were right in front of us and just beautiful. Now onto the beer. We had a hard time choosing which beers to enjoy and luckily the beer and chocolate pairing was just what I needed. It allowed me to enjoy a few beers and then have a little treat to go with them on the side. How sweet. We didn't order any food here since we had previously eaten, but everything on the menu looked amazing. The food that was bussed by us looked even more amazing. The service we received along with the beer is certainly enough to bring me back here. I'm glad we made the trek over! read more

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Great brewpub! We went on a Friday night so it was busy! It's an old house style Pub with two floors, bottom floor is more of a restaurant vibe. Upstairs is more of the pub feel with pool tables and tvs. We sat upstairs. They have games like trivial pursuit etc if you're so inclined, and we were. It's a fun atmosphere. Their beer is pretty good. We tried a pale ale and a lager and liked both. My boyfriend and I both ordered the pub burger with beet and goat cheese salad. It was higher quality pub fare for sure. The burger was made fresh, very juicy and lots of flavour. Beet salad was new to me and I loved it....mmmm creamy goat cheese! Oh and our server was great. We didn't feel abandoned even though it was busy. She always made sure we had a drink. We also took one of their lager growlers to go. Only 10 bucks for one, good deal! All in all its a nice little spot for a Friday evening out. You have to find parking on the street though. I didn't notice much of a parking lot. read more

Spinnakers Brewpub - Our delicious cheeseburgers with beet and goat cheese salad. - Brewpubs Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

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Great blue cheese flat bread and smoked salmon pizza provided a lovely evening at this consistently reliable venue .

Holy crap everything here was awesome. We walked over from around the Clipper ferry dock. Nice riverfront scapes. Maybe an hour walk? Maybe only a 1/2 hour. We didn't make a reservation but seems like we should have. We lucked into a table right at opening. And it was full when we left. It was Super Bowl Sunday. Alright. One negative to remark on first then I'll commence gushing. I had my phone on the table and my server spilled some water on the table pouring water. Some splashed and spilled on to the table and phone. Nothing damaged. No harm done. But then she said "That's the worst possible place for that." It wasn't like "Oh, clumsy me" or any laughing, it seemed 100% serious. The table had a lovely view of the bay and we arrived right at opening (noon I believe) on Sunday. They had a nice cafe that served cold brew. Almost ordered one but held back. So the table enjoyed: Appetizer clams Irish Coffee Caesar's (like a bloody Mary) Wee Scotch Egg Seafood chowder Everything was spectacular. It all came out together. The clams were served with a mini baguette that was buttered and melty. The soup came with a slice of white bread and the egg came with stone mustard and a few slices of bread. Irish coffee was served in a clear espresso type cup with a biscotti/scone nibbler. Cute touch. The chowder was really hearty and savory without being too creamy or bland or too salty or thick. It was perfect. I hope it didn't come from a premixed bag. My drink was savory and crisp and I really enjoyed the Sunday $7 special! Save a few bucks! The stand out for me was the clam appetizer. It's entree size for one and def fed two. The loaf is so buttery and melty and perfect for sopping up the onion bacon salty broth. The clams were tender, not rubbery or gritty. If you're in town briefly, this is a definite thought for a meal. Really nice vistas and a healthy tap list. Cocktails looked tasty. Oh! And because Victoria was one of the most friendly places I've visited, an elderly gentleman stopped us while we half studied our map like tourists. "Can I help you folks?" We asked how far it was and if it was good. He said him and his wife never go despite its popularity because she's allergic to garlic and they are a garlicky place. FACT. EVERY SINGLE THING I HAD, HAD garlic in it. That's a plus for me though but still worth mentioning. read more

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Waited 30 mins for a table in the evening - no problem, except the hostess seated 2 other tables who arrived after us first. Explanation - sorry, your name seems to have disappeared from my list. Good beer and food, but the hostess put a damper on it read more

5 stars more for the guesthouse- I would 100% stay here again. Pizza was good and my partners burger was as well- but this was our birthday dinner so the selection left much to be desired. Beer was ok. If you are here, don't forget the chocolate. We loved that we spent the night in Downtown, ate here and walked a short ways to our guesthouse. Quiet area with beautiful views. Guesthouse had a jacuzzi tub, patio, beautiful bed and lots of character. Breakfast brought to the room included. I wish I had pics but our camera battery's died. the place had a chef, chocolatier and beer master. Pretty good and pretty views. read more

The first couple times I came here, the food was good. Interesting locally sourced ingredients, and good flavour. But the last several times I've been sorely disappointed; I had the baba ghanouj recently and it was so unbelievably bland I was more inclined to eat the flatbread on its own. There was no brightness to it at all. The green salad which I had last time is also insipid. It relies too heavily on the cheese for the flavour. Breakfast is all right here, nothing special. The saving grace was the beer and truffle pairing--the chocolatier is doing some wizardry! Won't be back for the food, sadly, for a Victoria "institution" they could be doing soooo much better. read more

Spinnakers Brewpub - What is this, a scone for ANTS? - Brewpubs Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia