Roger's Chocolates was a new chocolate brand to me and certainly the reason why is that it's a…read moreCanadian brand and even though it's very close to us our trips up there are quite infrequent. We got a regular milk chocolate bar and that sucker is rich and dense. One row of chocolate squares after a meal and I'm good. The chocolate bar definitely isn't American corporate chocolate and actually tastes like chocolate as opposed to anything else. If you're like Steve and me and just want a little bit of richness and a tad of sweet then this chocolate bar is right up your alley. If you have the stamina and metabolism to eat one of these in one sitting I'd love to record the experience (just kidding, I probably wouldn't actually). Roger's Chocolates also has truffles in which in this case I actually would like to try one or two.

The quality of their chocolates really surprised us. I think my husband said it best. I mean, who…read moreknew that Canada had such great chocolate? The Heritage Store was closed when we arrived during our BC Bites & Sights tour. Fortunately, we were able to see some of it through the window. It's an architecturally historic building & shop. It was a treat just to see the old wooden built-in shelves, leaded glass decor, and stained glass half dome entryway that appears to be a Queen Anne Revival style of Victorian architecture. I don't know, it could be a mixture of different styles. All I know is that we saw a lot of this during our tour. They saved us a rather large, and individually wrapped, vanilla cream chocolate as part of the tour. I'm not usually a fan of flavored cream chocolates. I remember getting stuck with that one piece of Russel Stover chocolate that nobody wanted. Well, this vanilla cream one was nothing like that. It's on a totally different quality level. Let's just say that we loved it so much that we placed a mail order of various flavors. My BYO 5 pack included flavors such as maraschino cherry, rum, coffee, blueberry, and dark peanut butter. I also bought a cute tin full of various types of chocolates. This assortment had a few of their signature Empress Squares as well. Everything is (or was) delicious! We're still going through the box. So far, we love all of them. The "Whale Song" by Dana Statham is a great keepsake. We saw whales when our cruise ship was entering Victoria Harbour. It's what I would have bought if the store had been open on that very late Friday evening. Heck, I probably would have bought more had it been open after 10:30pm. Maybe it's a good thing that it was closed. I saved the best for last. The prices are actually pretty decent. Get them while you're there. I can't say the same about their shipping fees to Florida (hot climate). They did arrive in great condition via FedEx. I'd order again, but it would only be once a year due to shipping costs. It's worth a visit when in Victoria.

This chocolate store is so yummy! They even have ice cream too! My boyfriend and I stopped in to…read morelook at getting some chocolate gifts for family back home and we ended up getting the creamy chocolate hedgehogs. The hedgehogs are a big favorite back home in Washington. The employees were also super nice and super helpful with finding the hedgehogs and trying other chocolates. I love chocolate and this is definitely going to be my go to chocolate store whenever I come back to Victoria.

Tasty chocolate. Tried the matcha green tea and it was delicious. Friendly staff and they even…read morehave chocolate packaged to celebrate Pride month!

BEST FRIGGIN' ICE CREAM BAR IN THE WORLD:…read more Imagine: First, start with a real vanilla ice creambar on a stick. Second you can either have it dipped in Purdy's own rich chocolate. Choose from regular dark or white chocolate. SINGLE dip, DOUBLE dip, or TRIPLE dip (additional costs for extra dips) or even mix the two!!! Second, the guy will take that chocolate plated deliciousness and roll it into toasted and crushed almonds. Third, you pay the guy with the quickness as your drool is creating wet pools on the counter. You snatch the god forbidden dessert from his hand and savor the bites of heaven on earth. Skeptical? Look at my photo and you too will fall deeply in love..

Overrated and on the cheaper side of premium. They used to be far better in the 80s/90s. If you…read morewant good chocolate there are much better options in Victoria. Comparing their original flavours to their new ones, the newer ones are so much smaller. Plus you don't even know what's in the box until you buy and open it.

The salted skor was nummy! So good. Great service. I didn't try the flavor with water buffalo milk…read more(is that real!?) but it was intriguing. Tasted the Vietnamese coffee flavor and it was delicious too.

Truly, I love Parachute! It's my must stop when visiting Victoria. I've gone to the Bridge St and…read moreOak Bay location - ice creams are a hit at both! I like the variances in flavours and the attention to dietary restrictions. The service is hit and miss depending on the locations but as a whole, there's nothing negative to say about Parachute... maaayybe just that I wish they'd keep the cookies more stocked!!

There were a number of ice cream places in the area and we happened to stop by this shop as our…read morechild wanted some chocolate ice cream. Service was fast and straightforward. Prices were average for a touristy area.

Great candy store with tons of choices including fresh fudge and gelato. Frozen bananas and…read morecheesecake also. The people behind the counter helped us to know what things were and checked us out nicely. Chocolate, chips, candy and all toes of snacks. Great full candy store atmosphere.

This was first time in 49 Below and I'll admit that I only tried two flavours, so my experience is…read morelimited. I ordered 2 scoops in a cup, strawberry chocolate swirl and vanilla bean for $8.66. Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure I received neither. The "strawberry chocolate swirl" showed no sign of strawberries, and the "vanilla bean" showed no sign of vanilla bean grains. So I got chocolate and vanilla by mistake? Not a great start. Anyway, the actual product was fine, more watery than creamy. It tasted like ice cream, but honestly nothing special at that price.

This place has amazing ice cream flavors! Try the hot shakes if you can. I had a pear chai flavored…read morehot shake and it was delicious, perfect for a cold day. The owners are super friendly. Can't wait to come back!

Staff is very friendly and accommodating. Nice modern looking bake shop. Bread pudding is very…read moreyummy. Must be served warm!

i really wanted to like this café, and honestly, i'd still recommend it for the aesthetics alone…read more the interior is beautiful, with glossy black and white checkered floors, soft white paneling, and a chandelier that adds a touch of elegance above the counter. natural light pours in from the tall front windows, illuminating the pastry case and giving the whole space a serene, gallery like feel. it's a calming spot to step into, and would be an ideal setting for a proper afternoon tea service. i ordered an almond croissant, french bread pudding, and the gateau du jour, green tea and vanilla, along with a yuzu maccha (sourced from jagasilk), all to go. the drink was the biggest disappointment, the yuzu flavour was absent, and the matcha itself was weak. on top of that, there's a small surcharge for ice (.50, which i did not expect) and oat milk (.50). the almond croissant looked promising with its golden shell and slivered almonds, though the nuts themselves weren't fully toasted, which made the topping feel a little underwhelming. the interior leaned more dense than the airy, flaky layers i'd been hoping for. this sometimes happens when the lamination doesn't quite hold or the proofing isn't ideal, not unusual with croissants, but still a letdown in contrast to its appearance. the green tea cake was beautifully presented, with neat layers of sponge and green tinted buttercream, but leaned on the sweeter side, with only a subtle whisper of green tea. the bread pudding, reheated at home, was the highlight, soft, custardy, and lifted by the vanilla cream sauce it came with. seating is limited but cozy, with a handful of small tables inside and a couple more out on the sidewalk. their selection is broad: whole cakes, slices, macarons, crème brûlée, tarts, cookies, all arranged neatly in the front window to tempt passersby. the café's charm lies in its design and atmosphere. it's worth a visit if you're nearby and want a chic spot to sit and relax, and i'd go back to try their other cakes, the display alone makes it hard not to.

Tried a bunch of pastries from Goodside Pastry and honestly... everything was such a treat…read more I had the cannelé, carrot cake, cream puffs (the Earl Grey was my absolute favourite), plus the croissant and pain au chocolat; both perfectly flaky, buttery, and just really well done. I also tried the classic focaccia and a hazelnut cookie, and nothing disappointed. You can really tell there's care and quality in everything they make. Definitely one of those spots where you go in planning to try one thing and leave wanting to try the entire menu. The service was nice and so was the ambiance, parking was a score too Highly recommend if you're in the mood for something indulgent and beautifully made.

This is a grab and go type of bakery. Be prepared to line up. The line moves pretty quickly as…read morestaff are fast and efficient, while still being welcoming and friendly. They took the time to help me decide what items would be best shared with young children. I ordered the below items to share with a few friends. Passionfruit Brioche Bomb Poppyseed Bites Almond Double Bake Cinn Apple Pullapart Guava-Coconut Cheesecake Mousse Stone Salted Caramel Puff My favorite was hands-down the cheesecake. At first bite the guava was mild, but the flavor intensified. The passionfruit brioche had a nice flavor and wasn't too tart. I was a bit disappointed in the almond double bake. The almond flavor wasn't as strong as I would have liked it. Also, I think it would have been better if I toasted it before eating it. I was pleasantly surprised by the Salted Caramel Puff. I'm not normally into caramel, but this had a perfect balance of sweet and savory.