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Victoria and its environs offer a 
plethora of shopping destinations, 
several in the downtown core within 
walking distance of the Clipper 
terminal, others on the edge of 
the city center, and many more in 
neighboring municipalities.
“Shopping downtown in Victoria 
is really experience-driven,” says 
Madison Sutcliffe, member 
engagement manager for the 
Downtown Victoria Business 
Association. “And while it may 
sound cliche, there really is 
something for everyone.”
For sure Victoria has its share of 
chain merchants, but visitors are 
likely to discover independent shops 
“that really reflects the creativity and 
values of the city,” Sutcliffe says.
They include makers of handmade 
and locally designed goods as well 
as “thoughtfully curated” second-
hand and vintage shops.
Downtown shopping districts 
include Government Street, Lower 
Johnson Street, and Upper Fort Street.
Go For It on Government
On Government Street, 
Victoria Market Collective 
(victoriamarketcollective.com) in the 
Bay Centre is “a must-stop,” Sutcliffe 
says. It represents more than 200 
artisans and also has a location at 
Mattick’s Farm At Cordova Bay.
Vancouver-based Shop Makers, 
909 Government St. (shopmakers.
ca), “is a really good one too, 
with all local artists where all the 
money goes back to them,” says 
Emily Henchey, owner of Hidden 
Victoria Tours.
Another favorite of Henchey’s 
is Sabayon’s, a European style 
specialty market that recently 
opened in the Bay Centre.  
“They import a lot of deli meats 
and cheeses from all over Europe,” 
Henchey says. “It’s just a quirky, 
really cool experience of a  
market downtown.”
Puzzle Lab, 1233 Government, 
(puzzlelab.com) offers unique 
puzzles crafted from designs 
by local artists. “That’s a really 
cool place to go,” says Bernard 
Rechico, assistant manager of 
Ocean River Sports.
Munro’s Books, 1108 Government, 
was rated as one of the world’s 
top 10 bookstores by National 
Geographic in 2015. 
About a block south is Chocolats 
Favoris, 1010 Government, famous 
for its dipped cones. The first 
Chocolats Favoris in western 
Canada, the local shop has the 
same Willy Wonka vibe as the 
Experience Victoria’s 
Curated Shopping 
Delights
Rogers’ Chocolates has a sweet legacy in Victoria dating to 1885. (Keith Norbury)
Chocolats Favoris is a recent addition to the Government Street scene. (Keith Norbury)
Munro’s Books occupies a former bank building on 
Government Street. (Keith Norbury)

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