Travel Information

Our guide to Victoria, Vancouver Island and BC

We put together the most comprehensive travelers' guide to Victoria BC, which is the best source of information on where to have fun, pick up essentials, and mingle with the locals.

Shops and Services near the Ocean Island Suites

We’ve compiled a list of shops and services in the local area to help you along in your stay. These are all only a short walk away from the Suites.

For all your basic needs, try James Bay Square. They’ll likely have just about anything you’re looking for. Located just about 500 meters away from the Suites, simply head north towards town on Government St, turn left at Simcoe St and continue on for 4 blocks. If you’re driving you’ll have to pass Simcoe and turn left on Toronto St. since Simcoe is One-Way. Niagara Foods, the nearest convenience store, is located only 1 block away. Also don’t forget that the services at Ocean Island Backpackers Inn is available to you as well!

All the address links go to Google maps!

Banks & Bank Machines

• Bank of Montréal & ATM - 230 Menzies St., in James Bay Square. 389-2441.
  Open Mon-Thurs 9:30am-4pm, Fri 9:30am-4:30pm. ATM available daily 24hrs. (a)
• CIBC ATM - 265 Menzies St., in Mac’s Convenience Store. 382-0912. Open daily 24hrs. (b)
  
• Coast Capital Savings Bank & ATM - 239 Menzies St. 483-7000.
  Open Tues-Thurs 9:30-5pm, Fri 9:30am-6pm, Sat 9:30am-3pm. ATM available daily 24hrs. (c)

Coffee Shops

• Cup of Joe Café - #1-230 Menzies Street. 380-2563. Open daily 8am-3pm. (a)
• James Bay Coffee & Books - 143 Menzies St. 386-4700. Open daily 7:30am-9pm. (d)
• Starbucks - 425 Simcoe St., in James Bay Square. 361-4884. Open Mon-Sat 6am-10pm, Sun 7am-10pm. (e)
• Shoal Point Moka House - #110-19 Dallas Rd., at Fisherman’s Wharf. 386-1313.
  Open Mon-Sat 6:30am-9pm, Sun 7am-9pm. (f)

Convenience Stores

• Don’s Food Market - 99 Menzies St. 386-1915. Open daily 9am-9:30pm. (g)
  
• Mac’s Convenience Store - 265 Menzies St. 382-0912. Open daily 24hrs. (b)
  
• Niagara Grocery - 579 Niagara St. 383-1223. Open daily 9am-8pm. (h)

Entertainment

• Oswego Video - 300 Beckley Ave. 384-9982.
  Open Mon-Thurs 10am-11pm, Fri & Sat 10am-midnight, Sun 11am-10pm. (i)
  
• Prime Time Video - #3-230 Menzies St. 384-2254. Open Mon-Sat 10am-10pm, Sun 11am-10pm. (a)
  
• The James Bay Coffee House and The Bent Mast often have live evening performances of one kind or another. Give them a call to find out about their upcoming events!

Gas Station

• James Bay Esso Station - 308 Menzies St. 383-3612. This station also has an in-house auto mechanic (daily 8am-5pm). Open Mon-Sat 7am-10pm, Sun 8am-9pm. (j)

Groceries

• Thrifty Foods - 475 Simcoe St., in James Bay Square. Open daily 8am-10pm. (e)

Health & Drug Stores

• James Bay Medical Treatment Centre - #100-230 Menzies St. 388-9934.
  Open Mon-Fri 9am-5:30pm, Sat 10am-3:30pm. (a)
• James Bay Pharmasave - #113-230 Menzies St. 383-7196. Open Mon-Fri 8am-8pm, Sat 9am-6pm. (a)

Laundry

• James Bay Quality Cleaners - #16-435 Simcoe St., in James Bay Square. 388-7514.
  Open Mon-Fri 8am-6pm, Sat 9:30am-5:30pm. (e)
• Prestine Drycleaners & Laundromat - 255 Menzies St. 386-2220.
  Open Mon-Fri 7am-9pm, Sat 7am-6pm, Sun 9am-6pm. (k)

Liquor

• BC Government Liquor Store - #22-230 Menzies St., in James Bay Square. 356-2883.
  Open Mon-Thurs 9:30am-6pm, Fri 9:30am-9pm. (a)

Post Office

• House of Varieties - #2-455 Simcoe St., in James Bay Square. 1-800-267-1177.
  Open Mon-Thurs 9:30am-5:30pm, Fri 9:30am-8pm, Sat 9:30am-5:30pm, Sun 11am-5pm. (e)

Pubs & Restaurants

• Barb’s Place Fish & Chips - Fisherman’s Wharf. 384-6515.
  Open March - October, daily 10am-dark. Menu available online at: www.barbsplace.ca (l)
• Beacon Hill Drive In - 126 Douglas St. 385-7521. Open daily 7am-10pm. (m)
• The Bent Mast - 512 Simcoe St. 383-6000. Open Mon-Sat 11am-2am, Sun 11am-midnight. (n)
• Blue Crab Bar & Grill - 146 Kingston St., in the Coast Harbourside Hotel and Marina. 480-1999.
  Open daily for breakfast 6:30am-11:30am, lunch 11:30am-3pm, dinner 5pm-10pm. (o)
• Colonial Café - 270 Government St., in the James Bay Inn. 1-800-836-2649 or 384-7151.
  Open daily 7am-9pm. (p)
• James Bay Fish & Chips - 211 Menzies St. 383-5333.
  Open Tues-Thurs 9am-2:30pm then 4:30pm-9pm, Fri, Sat & Sun 9am-9pm. (q)
• James Bay Pub - 270 Government St., in the James Bay Inn. 1-800-836-2649 or 384-7151.
  Open daily 11am-11pm. (p)
• James Bay Tearoom & Restaurant - 332 Menzies St. 382-8282. Open Mon-Sat 7am-5pm, Sun 8am-5pm.
  Menu available online at: www.jamesbaytearoomandrestaurant.com (r)
• Santiago’s Café - 660 Oswego St. 388-7376. Open Mon-Thurs 8am-9pm, Fri & Sat 8am-10pm. (s)
• Subway Sandwiches - 239 Menzies St. 480-7724. Mon-Fri 7am-11pm, Sat & Sun 8am-11pm. (c)
• The Superior - 106 Superior St. 380.9515. Open Tues-Sun 11am-10:30pm.
  Menu available online at: www.thesuperior.ca (t)
• Villages Pizza - 475 Simcoe St., inside Thrifty’s Foods in James Bay Square. 418-8889.
  Open Fri-Sat 10:45am-10:30pm, Sun-Thurs 11am-10pm. (e)
• Also every Saturday from 9am-3pm from May 6th, 2006 - October 7th, 2006, there’s an outdoor public market on the corner of Menzies & Superior. For more information, check out their web site: www.jamesbaymarket.com

Taxi

• Blue Bird Cabs Ltd. - 2612 Quadra St., 382-4235 or 1-800-665-7055; Airport Service: 384-1155

Other online guides

The Ocean Island Victoria Guide is our master guide to downtown Victoria, the beautiful surroundings, and awesome up-island adventures.

The Gay Yellow Pages is a directory of gay/bisexual/lesbian friendly businesses all over Canada and the states.

Bed and Breakfasts.net is a huge, worldwide directoy of bed and breakfasts, hotels and inns.