Extremely dirty bathroom, can't be up to code. Open mike, unorganized, no sign up sheet, started…read moretoo late. Great idea, but make a few improvements.

Under new management. Brian and great staff deliver superior customer service in this small bar…read morein the heart of Nanaimo. Lovely place to rest and enjoy a beverage. No food sold yet but you can bring in your own or order from a great kiosk a couple doors down. Give them a try - you won't be disappointed.

Could not be happier that the Arbutus Lounge exists (and the distillery) in our town. This place…read morerivals the best quality cocktails I've had in major cities, and when you factor in the INCREDIBLY low price, it truly can't be beat. From the classic martini to the weird and wonderful Where the Wild Things Are, and everything in between, the drink list is unique and exciting with something for everyone. The mixologists are amazing, and they even have board games and snacks available. They also do a happy hour, but I can never get there in time so can't speak to it. By far the best kept secret in Nanaimo!

Just discovered this place! Awesome craft cocktails from a serious mixologist. Never even knew this…read moreplace was here, as it's kinda hiding out of sight on a bit of an industrial park road. Nice cozy eclectic atmosphere with herbs and flowers drying all around. The cocktail menu is lengthy and def has something for everyone. Each drink has a chart letting you know sweet, herbal, boozy, etc. Not very busy on a Friday night, I imagine people haven't discovered it just like we didn't! Check it out!

Just went to the bar for some drinks and listen to some live music. Had 3 different whiskey drinks…read more Bartender, wish I remembered his name, nice dude, recommended the Winters Calling. Love it. Then had a Whiskey Sour and finally The Grand Desire. Nothing came close to that Winters Calling though. Very unique drink. Also got to sit and listen to some of the most angelic voices I've heard in a long time. It was a nice, chill place where I could escape for a bit. Definite highlight on my trip from Seattle.

The Pacific Lounge is a great place to meet friends and coworkers near the heart of Victoria. The…read morelounge is replete with tons of cozy loungers and is illuminated as such that u may carry on discrete conversations while enjoying a beer or single malt. Despite the convenience of this being primarily a hotel bar, I would recommend this for locals seeking a waypoint as they make their way to the abundant local culture - be it the parliament building, bay, or BC museum.

TL;DR: A worthwhile cocktail bar with the right mood and…read moresolid execution. Setting your expectations correctly is key here. Drinks: We had four cocktails between the two of us. All were good and well made, but a couple felt slightly out of balance, keeping them from hitting the excellent tier. Service: Attentive, professional, and engaged. The bartender knew what they were doing and kept things moving smoothly. Vibe: Dark, old-school, and moody in the best way. You quickly forget you're in a hotel once inside. Comfortable and easy to settle into. What could be better: Tighter balance and consistency in the cocktails. A small refinement would make a noticeable difference here.

A cozy cocktail bar with great drinks and appetizers. The service was outstanding. We enjoyed the…read moreSpanish Croquettes with a Cottage and a Negroni.

This venue is truly a different experience. Not only was it my first time trying yerba mate, but…read morethe live music was great! The lighting really adds a nice, mysterious ambiance to the venue. For drinks, we tried the kombucha, the yerba mate kombucha fusion, and the nitro horchata mocktail. The horchata was really good; refreshing, creamy, and light, at all the same time! I would highly recommend. I also tried the garrapinadas, which were excellently seasoned and caramelized. The lime gave the caramel a really nice kick! We were able to catch the Alec Shaw performance that night, and the performance was absolutely amazing. The energy in the room, the acoustics, and obviously the performers themselves, provided an amazing experience for everyone. I would highly recommend visiting Mateada if you are looking for some authentic South American food, tasty drinks, and great music!

Amazing service, truly inspiring drinks, excellent ambiance and a staff who really takes pride in…read moretheir work. Miss this experience at your own expense.

Got a little thirsty so decided to drop by at the lounge. I ordered the Fruit Shrub which consists…read moreof seasonal fruit, sugar, vinegar and soda. Very refreshing. Very courteous service and a lovely place to rest my feet after the museum.

We love coming here every time we come to the island. Which has been a few times a month these last…read moreseveral months! We love sitting on the couch by the fire or in the lounge by the windows overlooking the bay. I love the appetizers...especially the oysters and the lettuce wraps. They also have a couple of lively barrel aged beverages. They normally have a barrel aged Manhattan (The Manhattan project) and a barrel aged Sazerac. So good! The burger is great too. Juicy and delicious. Also the steak salad. Really good! Have a great time and tell them Tim sent ya! ;)

Super cool speakeasy with hidden entrance and really nice vibe. Warming, it is VERY dimly lit,…read morebring your glasses! At $20+ a drink though, not a place you'll be spending all night at but cool to stop by. Very attentive servers!

We visited Artemis last weekend (8/16) and loved the whole vibe. There was plenty of comfortable…read moreseating, they had an awesome whiskey selection and the pricing was legit. The service was outstanding, the owners were really cool and we will definitely go back the next time we are in Victoria!

love this place great staff…read more fun place to go for a cocktail atmosphere is perfect not too loud definitely will be returning

From the owner: Crossroads Lounge prides itself on friendly service and a comfortable and inviting atmosphere to…read moresocialize in. We have open mic on Thursdays and live entertainment every Friday night for your enjoyment, we also have a piano at the lounge available for those interested in playing. Happy Hour is daily from 4-6pm and we feature great beer, wine and highball specials for $4.25 taxes in. We also show all sports on our big screen tv's and are available for rentals for party's, meetings or events for up to 50 people!

It was pretty good I'm sad they changed the setup in the…read moreplace. over all I give it 3 stars! I guess I would recommend to come here to chill with friends, family or even cousins. Because we hung out with them today.

We had a great experience there. Staff were friendly. Typical bowling alley with arcade and bar foodread more

The selection of tasty, gluten free pastries was great. Customer service was very friendly and…read moreaccommodating.

Very nice and clean, popular for certain. Staff was knowledgeable and helpful and brought ordered…read moredrinks to our table. The ice cream shop was open next door and connected for seating but idk if that is a constant or just an occasional thing. Not a ton of orderable food options but lots of packaged ready-to-go items and a few bakery goods. I got a raspberry cheesecake fir around $6 and enjoyed throughly. Water in reusable cups was provided, everything seemed to be reusable or compostable aside from saran wrap which is a nice touch and always appreciated. Nice to pop into and look around at the local goods (lake cowichan milk and Shanti chai for example sold here).