What to say about this fabulous place...The bartender was so wonderful. Both of them. This was my…read morefirst and last stop of the night. Holy brazier! My friend from Chicago told me this was the place to stop. He's my dive bar guru. What a win! I didn't eat there and I don't know that they have food but they have braziers! And amazing bartenders, and live music, and it's frikkin awesome! GO!

A very cool bar to check out while in Victoria. They have cider, beer, and full bar for cocktails…read more The aesthetics inside were nice and ladies if you feel compelled you can leave your bar behind! Overall a cool dive bar spot

Copper Owl is an absolutely sweet place to hang out. I've only been here the one time for a show…read morethat some friends were playing but I absolutely loved the environment. Yes, it is absolutely a hipster spot and I felt like I wasn't cool enough to be there, but when has that ever stopped me before? They feature sweet local artists all the time (I swear, I'm always seeing some cool shows taking place here!) and they have some killer acoustics in the place. I had some tasty, cheap beers on tap and danced like a total fool, exactly the things that I need to live a fun-filled, funk-filled life! Also, one thing that totally threw me off was the padding around the bar. You can lean forward and it's like you're drinking on a cloud. 10/10, every bar ever should have this, I will make sure that they do when I become Supreme Chancellor of the Universe!

Super divey and super cool. We stumbled upon the Wednesday karaoke and had a good old time. Cheap…read moredrinks, great bartenders, and a huge list of songs. We stayed until almost midnight and shut the place down. Great spot to relax and meet new friends.

Loved the Zombie last time I was in, a bit pricey but ambiance was worth it. Hope to come back…read moreagain. Any happy hour specials??

TL;DR: Yes, it's a tiki bar. That's about as far as it goes…read more Drinks: Coming from someone with a rum shelf and a closet of tiki mugs, this was thin. Very limited rum selection, nothing distinctive. The menu reads like flashcards: Trade Winds, Trader Vic's Grog, Saturn. Correct, competent. Vibe: The ambiance is fun and well done. It checks the boxes, but it doesn't push past them. What could be better: Depth. The rum program feels bare, and there's no sense of curiosity. Bottom line: If you don't know tiki, you'll probably have a good time. If you do, have a daiquiri and move on. My review matches what the locals say - Yup, it's a tiki bar.

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 has been my husband and I's spot for New Year's Eve for the past two years and it never…read moredisappoints. For lack of a better word, the food here is made with love and you can taste it. We shared the bbq brisket tonight which was heavenly, along with the baked beans and potato salad. And for dessert? Their Sans Rival cake which was like having a swingers party in my mouth and I ended up with the hot chick. An absolute dream of butter cream confectionary perfection. I could not have asked for a better dinner or better staff or a better drag performance to ring in the New Year.

TL;DR: Chaotic, fun, and not for everyone. Go for a show,…read morestay longer than planned. If you're nearby and there's a drag show, it's worth going. It's fun, different, and a welcome disruption to the usual Victoria vibe. Vibe: Wizard of Oz-themed gay bar with zero subtlety. Loud, campy, and a sharp contrast to the rest of Victoria's generally polite energy. Not really a place straight couples need to linger unless there's a show. Drinks: Strong and fast. These are drinks, not cocktails, and that's exactly right for the room. Entertainment: We caught a Taylor Swift-themed drag show. I'm very much not a Swift fan, my girlfriend is, and we both had a good time. The performers carried the night. What could be better: If there's no show, the appeal drops fast unless this is already your scene.

ERROR is the most incredible cocktail I've ever had. Also, the alien bubbles gave me the shits…read more Worth it.

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!

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.

Great pub. Great food. Would recommend!!!…read more Tasty dishes and good service. I would recommend this place to anyone.

After starving to death (by choice-that ferry food looked and smelled nasty) on the1 1/2 hour ferry…read moreride from the mainland we were ready for some good food. It's in a gas station parking lot attached to the Howard Johnson. Do not let that deter you, it was really solid pub food, definitely better and sustansibly more affordable than any pub I've eaten at in downtown Victoria. Clearly all of the other diners were locals, at 2pm on a Saturday. We sat in a cozy booth in the bar after being greeted by a very friendly bartender. We ordered two pints of Magners, the shepherd's pie with salad and the beef dip with frites. The shepherd's pie was beef, so technically a cottage pie, which I prefer. It came piping hot, with little scoops of mash on top and a dark colored gravy. Perfection, meaty, creamy, cheesy deliciousness. The salad was quite nice with field greens, cherry tomato halves, carrot, cucumber and green onion with housemade basalmic vinaigrette. The frites were of the super crispy possibly breaded variety, really excellent dipped in the au jus that came with the roast beef dip. I'd definitely come back on my next visit to get really good Irish pub grub without all the touristy prices.