Beautiful. Gorgeous. Full of magic. It might seem odd to describe a stationery store with these…read morewords, but they're all true. The Regional Assembly of Text is an adorable shop with the perfect location for browsing and growing your collection for traditional correspondence. I stop into the shop every time I'm in Victoria, and I'm always surprised by what they have to offer. I love the unique cards and notepads they create. If you're into writing letters or journaling or if you know someone who is, this is your place.

This was my favorite shop during our day trip to Victoria. We used the typewriter to write a letter…read moreand used the well priced paper that was on hand. The typewriter was $2 for 20 minutes and made me fall in love with the typewriter again. Highly recommend this.

Fabulous selection of cards for any reason friendly staff…read morelocal artists and so much more Its been one of my go to places

Still love this place. It will turn a normal person into a stationary & pen person. Did some…read moregifting and bought a few things for myself.

To step inside Munro's Books is to leave the rush of the street behind and enter a world where time…read moreseems to move at the pace of a turning page. Victoria continues on outside, cars passing, footsteps moving along the pavement, but inside, everything softens. The air feels quieter. The light feels warmer. Even the minutes seem to stretch. This isn't simply a bookstore. It's a living, breathing neo-classical masterpiece, tucked inside a former Royal Bank building that somehow manages to feel both grand and deeply comforting. The kind of place that makes you instinctively lower your voice, not because anyone asks you to, but because the building itself seems to demand a little reverence. Modern chain bookstores can be convenient, but Munro's possesses something they can't manufacture. It has soul. The first thing that stops you in your tracks is the architecture. Look upward and the entire ceiling opens above you, a breathtaking expanse of coffered plasterwork rising nearly 24 feet overhead. Intricate patterns stretch across the ceiling like the pages of some enormous architectural manuscript, giving the room the grandeur of an old European library or a quiet cathedral. And yet, somehow, it never feels cold or imposing. The towering wooden bookshelves soften everything. Their warm, aged surfaces rise toward the ceiling, surrounding you on every side with rows upon rows of stories. The wood carries the patina of time, and there is something reassuring about standing among shelves that look as though they have been quietly watching generations of readers come and go. Then there is the sound. That gentle creak of polished wooden floors beneath your feet. The faint rustle of a page being turned somewhere nearby. The occasional murmur of conversation, kept deliberately low. A book closing softly. Another being pulled from a shelf. Together, these little sounds create a kind of auditory cocoon. It reminded me of the atmosphere you might experience listening to a Headspace sleep cast such as Rain Day Antiques, where the background sounds are so gentle that you stop noticing them individually and simply become surrounded by them. The lighting adds another layer to the mood. Nothing feels harsh or overly bright. Instead, soft pools of light fall across the shelves, catching the colours of book spines while leaving the spaces between them in gentle shadow. It encourages you to lean closer, run your eyes along the titles, pull something from the shelf, and stay awhile. Munro's feels less like a store and more like a maze built for curiosity. The shelves wind and curve, creating little corridors that seem to reveal themselves one after another. You might begin among local history, drift toward poetry, stumble upon art, and suddenly find yourself surrounded by children's books. There is always another corner to explore, another title waiting just slightly out of sight. And that's part of the magic. You don't always go looking for a particular book. Sometimes the bookstore seems to find something for you. The staff fit naturally into the atmosphere. Friendly, genuine, and clearly at home among the books, they never feel like they're simply working in a store. They feel like fellow travellers in the same literary labyrinth, quietly going about their day and ready to point you in the right direction when you need a little guidance. Visit on a stormy day and the experience becomes even more magical. Imagine rain sliding down the tall windows, the grey Victoria sky blurred beyond the glass, while inside, the air is warm and still. There is the faint scent of paper, wood, and old polish. The rain becomes part of the soundscape, drumming gently against the windows while the pages inside continue to turn. For a little while, the outside world can wait. That is what makes Munro's Books so special. It isn't simply somewhere to purchase a book. It is somewhere to disappear into one. A place where architecture, light, wood, paper, and quiet all come together to create something that feels increasingly rare. Munro's is an absolute must-visit, not simply for bibliophiles, but for anyone who appreciates places with a sense of history and heart. It is a reminder that an independent bookstore can be more than a shop. It can be a refuge. A sanctuary. A place where, for an hour or two, the rest of the world becomes wonderfully easy to forget.

A fantastic local book store in a beautiful historic building. The architecture alone is worth…read moreadmiring. They have an extensive selection of books, including many by local authors. They also carry a variety of gifts and souvenirs. We end up buying several pretty good quality magnets as gifts to friends, and they were actually cheaper than many of the stand alone souvenir stores in downtown area.

For any Vancouverites out there, you will understand this reference: this store is very similar to…read morethe "Circle Craft" store in Granville Island, and a bit like the "Make It" store there, too. This is a higher-end boutique that showcases the handmade works of local artisans: jewelry, paper goods (greeting cards, stationery), lotions and potions, candles, soaps, gourmet foods, some textile goods (knitted works, scarves, etc.), prints, household gift ideas (ceramic trays, small pottery pieces), and more, much much more. I always loved shopping local and supporting local artisans, so stores like this really speak to me. I really liked how there were posted informational cards throughout the store, talking about all the artists who created the pieces. When you shop here, you know you aren't getting a mass-produced item. It feels more "personal" when you get something made by hand by an artist you know something about. As is usually the case, one pays a premium for hand-made artistic pieces. The prices here are high, as they always are for artisan works. But I think it's worth it.

Love this store! So many cute things from local makers that I had a difficult time choosing what to…read morebuy. There was everything from art, ceramics, jewelry, etc, etc, etc. You will pay a little more but you're supporting small businesses!! The gal at the counter was super nice and made me feel welcome. Will be stopping by again later today as I love this store that much!

This may be my favorite store in all of Victoria. For real…read more Whoever does the buying for this store needs some recognition. The selection of gift ideas and greeting cards and jewelry and kitchen gadgets and house accessories is bloody amazing. My friend who lives in Victoria visits this store regularly and when I visit, we come here and literally, we could spend hours here. There's so many unique and curated items, stuff I've not seen elsewhere, and the staff are super nice to boot. I personally love stationery stores, and I can attest, this store has a vast, vast selection of greeting cards - some traditional but many witty and/or twisted (which I appreciate!). There are fancy soaps and lotions, and gourmet chocolates, and jewelry made by local artisans, ands much more. I spent a ton of money on cards here (note: it's always a good sign when you hear people laughing aloud in the card aisles!), and I also got a few chocolate and fruit logs that were packaged to look exactly like salami (I thought these would be awesome on a dessert "charcuterie" board, and as a gift to a foodie friend too). I found colorful silicone twist ties and baggie clips, and some unique gifts for my kids (one who is a falconer and a "birder", the other who's into jewelry) and for some gourmand friends, too. Seriously, you'd be hard-pressed not to find something for everyone on your Christmas list, or as a hostess or birthday gift here. Oh, and their doormats are great, too. My friend found the perfect mat for her new home here.

had a lovely time at The Bungalow. So many nice things. Great selection of gifts, home decor,…read morejewellery etc. bought a dozen linen napkins that I haven't seen in other stores and they gave me a great bag with kitties on it to take home with my purchase. will definitely make it a destination next time I'm in Victoria.

over night delivery, ha, its been one week, two phone calls to follow up, nothing has arrived and…read morethey tell me they can not return it as the status says out for delivery, dumb, Never again

Bought an Apple iMac but received very poor advice. When we got it home the box had only a monitor…read morewithout keyboard, mouse or charging cable. Phoned back to enquire only to find out these are not included. Obviously that should have been mentioned when we were buying in the store. Now must take it back as the deal is off for the price that we paid was full and the on-line package clearly states that all accessories are included. The sales person should be knowledgeable about these matters.

Great selection of new and used books and lovely sales person who helped us. Friendly and fun place…read moreto browse and buy.

This is a neighbourhood bookstore. It looks small from the street, but is a decent size inside…read more There's a mix of books here, but they have a good selection of and feature local publications. The kid's section could be a bit bigger, but it has toys and some books I have not seen before, like a scratch and sniff book. There's stationary, like journals, and an entire aisle dedicated to cards, as well as a puzzle section. Out front, they had a display of clearance books and some that were free. The store had a steady stream of customers, and the staff were friendly. Cute shop.

I had the most enchanting experience at Zingaro! It's beautifully curated and makes browsing feel…read morelike a luxurious ritual! Beautiful Vienna was the most lovely employee, and completely makes this beautiful store over the top fab! She is so knowledgeable about all the inventory (especially the beautiful perfumes), and was able to assist me in choosing just the right one! I shall return again! Do not miss this special, special shop!!

Incredible, artisan aromatics, curated by charismatic and knowledgeable staff with world-class…read moreexperience, in an intimate, boutique setting. My wife was given an olfactory tour of the entire collection by a charming attendant with an adorable Irish accent, and eventually settled on a particularly alluring lotion and oil combo set to take home with her, labeling it the aroma that will forever remind her of our visit to Victoria. They say that scent is the most powerful sense tied to memory, so I am sure this will prove to be true, for the both of us, for years to come!