Did everyone survive the first stretch of heat last weekend? Real summer weather is here (hopefully to stay), but above-average heat might be overwhelming to truly enjoy the summer vibes in the daytime. Luckily, we can make up for it when the temperature goes down a bit at night! There is magic in summer nights – a time of wonder and adventure and creating memories with your loved ones!

From enjoying a brewery or two to watching live performances, to ending the day with sweet treats, Downtown Victoria offers so much during these long summer nights. If you are hunting for evening activities, we put together some ideas for you!

Enjoy the summer breeze and fine dinners at the following suggested patios!

Irish Times

832 Fort St | Website

When it comes to a nice patio, Irish Times is a great choice! It prides itself on providing its guests with a truly Irish experience, and traditions of Ireland have been extended to its menu, which has been developed by the philosophy of food for the body, offering Irish classics like bangers & mash, shepherd’s pie and our famous Irish stew. Enjoy the perfect patio atmosphere with classic Irish cuisine!

Bard & Banker

950 Yates St | Website

You know your dining experience will be great when you get to enjoy hearty, locally sourced, and made-from-scratch cuisine on a patio. Whether it is a date night with your love or a casual hang with friends, there is always a reason to visit The Bard and enjoy the beautiful scenery while sitting on the patio.

Friends of Dorothy

950 Yates St | Website

What’s better than having delicious meals and watching live performances at the same time? Friends of Dorothy is not only a place to enjoy gourmet plates but also a premier LGBT2Q+ restaurant featuring various amazing, entertaining performances. Check out their performance schedule and choose a beautiful summer night to go!

How classic it is to spend a night in brewery lounges!

Refuge Tap Room

832 Fort St | Website

It is always nice to find a refuge at the end of your day, especially in summer. Refuge Tap Room is the place you find this sense of peace and an inviting atmosphere while enjoying their high-quality selection of drinks. It offers a curated selection of BC craft spirits and wines on tap and selected 21 delicious BC craft beers and ciders. Enjoy them all by the glass or choose any three to craft a beer/cider/wine tasting flight!

Boomtown

950 Yates St | Website

If you ever passed by Yates St. and saw a small house with two levels patio, that is the fantastic beer garden and burrito bar spot “Boomtown”! Famous for its “killer margaritas”, Boomtown is a must-go place on summer nights. If you want some snacks beside the drinks, they also have burritos or share plates available in several varieties and loaded with  “boom” sauce. Take a seat on their ample patio with your loved ones and enjoy the drinks and burritos!

Clive’s Classic Lounge

740 Burdett Ave | Website

As one of the longest-standing cocktail bars in Victoria, Clive’s Classic Lounge can bring you a unique and magical cocktail experience! It also provides weekday programs like rum tasting or a speciality gin & tonics menu that you can even create your very own from the selection. Check out their Facebook page to see whether there is a special program before you visit. If not, you can still get cups of cocktails created by their talented bartender!

Grab some desserts and head to Inner Harbour to enjoy the sunset view!

QV Cafe & Bakery

1701 Government St | Website

You can never go wrong with classic flavours! Qv Cafe & Bakery has served downtown Victoria for over 30 years with a wide selection of salads, sandwiches and popular cheesecakes. Visit the shop earlier so that you can grab your favourite or new flavours of cheesecakes to share with your friends and families!

SH91 Dessert

759 Yates St | Website 

SH91 Dessert is a dessert shop offering a variety of sweet treats like crepe cakes and waffles. Taking out a box of desserts from this shop can be a good idea to share with your “sunset view partners” while waiting for the sun to go down. If it is a warm summer night, consider getting their teas as well to cool down the heat!

Cinnaholic

535 Yates St, Suite 102 | Website 

If you eat vegan, you cannot miss this plant-based bakery! Besides their signature cinnamon rolls, you can also find some new treats for summer like Jelly Roll topped with fresh strawberries, raspberry jam, strawberry jam, and powdered sugar. Before finding a great spot in Inner Harbour to wait for sunset, it’s worth checking out Cinnaholic’s menu and getting something you like!

Attend some events that make your night unique!

Virtual Rogues: A Fantasy Spectacle Tall-ship cirque theatre’s final tour

Rock Bay (Entrance at the north end of Store Street) | Multiple Dates, 10 p.m.

Caravan Stage Company Presents- Virtual Rogues: A Fantasy Spectacle Tall-ship cirque theatre’s final tour takes on the ethics of the digital future. Aerial acrobats swing from a ginormous old growth cedar tree, an albatross puppet graces the stage, singers move along a Highway of Extinction while a large digital God looms on the screens and scrim that wraps the ship. Limited presentation time this summer, so check out the date and appreciate the fantastic and magical show before it is gone!

Sunday Blues Services – Blues Jam Hosted by the Deb Rhymer Blues Band

Hermann’s Jazz Club | Every Sunday, 4 to 7:30 pm

The band hosts Sunday Blues Services, the longest running blues jam in the Pacific Northwest. The Deb Rhymer Band was nominated for the 2018 New Artist of the Year at the Canadian Maple Blues Awards. (https://northeastohiogastro.com) Deb Rhymer struts the Blues with a sultry, uptown West Coast sound. Drawing on the classics, from the heyday of the Chicago shouters to the strong song writing women of today’s North West blues scene, Deb delivers a funky, soulful and sophisticated blues brew. From Texas to Chicago, to Louisiana and the blues delta, this band covers it all.

Pete’s Variety Show

The Mint Restaurant | Every Monday, 8 p.m.

From guitar solos to classical piano, to spoken-word poetry to comedy sets, Pete’s Variety Show truly has it all! Every Monday 8 pm Signup, 9 pm Show.

Speakeasy

Victoria Event Centre | Every Tuesday, 7:30 to 11 pm

Join every Tuesday at the VEC for swing jazz and cocktail culture in a vintage, prohibition-era setting. Live jazz by the city’s favourite swing jazz musicians, with rotating bands each week and occasional pop-up features.