A Shoppers’ Paradise!

Walk down any street in downtown Victoria and be wowed by shops both large and small selling everything from traditional Chinese medicine to high fashion clothing and shoes to gourmet coffee and pastries!

Here are some highlights and some of MY favorite places to shop!  See MAP for locations of all listed.

‘LO-JO’

Lo-Jo shopping district

Brightly painted Victorian-era shop-fronts flank both sides of busy Lower Johnson Street between Wharf and Government Streets. Once home to hotels and stores supporting the gold rushes of the 1850s and 1890s, today the area is known for its local and independent boutiques and restaurants.

Market Square

Market Square

Located in the ‘Lo-Jo’ area at 560 Johnson St, Market Square offers a wonderful shopping experience! Browse your way through unique, local boutiques in heritage brick-and-beam buildings surrounding an open air courtyard – a great place to take a break and enjoy a take-out lunch.

Chinatown

Lots of little shops selling all sorts of intriguing asian food, trinkets & clothing as well as a number of Chinese restaurants are all crammed together in a one block shopping delight! Located on Fisgard St. between Government & Wharf streets – you’ll find the entrance on Government St. easily as there’s a beautifully decorated ‘archway’ over the street entrance. And don’t miss Fan Tan Alley … a little walkway with some funky shops to explore!

Government Street

A stroll down Gov’t St.

All along this street are shops, shops and more shops! Most are unique and selling everything from native art/jewellry, toys, clothing, hats and more!  Be sure to stop in at my favorites:  Murchies for tea/coffee/munchies/lunch, & Munro’s books for a book browsers heaven!

Store Street

Not a lot of shops, but some unique ones for sure! My favorites are Capital Iron (everything from soup to nuts as they say … hardware, clothing, housewares, camping equipment, fishing equipment … you name it!), Chintz & Co. (lovely and unique housewares, home decor, fabric … all gorgeous stuff!), and the Value Village for a real change of pace!

If you keep on heading towards the centre of the city, Store Street magically becomes Wharf Street with more shopping and restaurants and will eventually lead back up to Government Street, the Inner Harbour & The Empress.

The Royal BC Museum Gift Shop

Located on the bottom floor of the museum and adjacent to the cafe, this shop is open to the public and you don’t need to pay an admission for the museum to shop in it. It has some of the most beautiful and unique things … books … clothing … jewellry … toys … and all quite reasonably priced. I love this place!

The Bay Centre

This is a multi-level mall with the Bay (Hudson’s Bay) as it’s anchor tenant. It is bordered by Government St., Fort St., View St. & Douglas St. There is a parkade in the lower (street) level for easy access.  It has all the ‘usual’ mall-type stores and a food court on the top level.

Bastion Square Market

Bastion Square Sunday Market

DATE: May 1 – September 30 (Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays) | 11 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

 Victoria Public Market at The Hudson

Public Market at the Hudson

LOCATION: The Hudson, 1701 Douglas Street

FOR MORE INFO: www.victoriapublicmarket.com

Going back to the old-world style of shopping where you know your butcher, your baker, the person who grows your vegetables and the chickens that lay your eggs is what the Victoria Public Market at the Hudson is all about. The 18,000 square-foot Market is brimming with ingredients to match your kitchen and dining wish lists, meals made to order, picnics to go, a community kitchen featuring demonstrations by local chefs, a changing line-up of farmers and producers, plus a year-round farmers’ market every Wednesday. Educational and entertainment events, such as cooking, tasting and urban agriculture workshops will whet your intellectual appetite. Fork-friendly fun for the whole family, kids can participate in their own culinary classes, join local-food treasure hunts, or enjoy an ice cream cone and other tasty treats. We can’t wait to see you here. Bring your appetite!

Antique Row

Antique Row on Fort St.

Fort Street has long been known as “Antique Row” for its many auction houses and antique shops, but the arrivals of several international restaurants, fashion boutiques, coffee shops, bakeries, book stores and jewelers have given the area a fresh feel. The area of Fort Street near the intersection with Cook Street has recently been rebranded as “Mosaic Village” – a testament to its newfound diversity and identity. The area’s specialty antique shops offering rare china, silverware, toys and furniture are now interspersed with an array of fitness, fashion, food and sustainability-orientated independent businesses as well.

Trounce Alley

Trounce Alley

Four blocks along Government Street, on the right hand side, is Trounce Alley, one of Victoria’s best-kept secrets. European fashions and gift shops await as well as a tasty restaurant called the Tapa Bar.

Government Street Public Market

The former Government Street Sunday Market — and its Farmers’ Market — has moved to Bastion Square and Langley Street on Sundays.  (see above for more info.)

 

Here’s a map to all of the above listed places:
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