James Bay Food & History Self-Guided Tour
Discover hidden gardens and local gastronomy on a self-guided tour of Victoria's oldest neighbourhood. All you need is your cell phone and appetite! Purchase Tour
Price
$30 CAD
DistanCE
3 km
1.8 miles
Mode of transport
Walk
Discover gardens, gastronomy, and history:
Spending a day walking around James Bay is a must-do activity when visiting Victoria. This historic neighbourhood hugs the coastline on the most Southern tip of Vancouver Island and is full of lush temperate-rainforest gardens, Victorian-era heritage houses, and numerous bustling cafes, gourmet restaurants, and quaint foodie shops.
Not to mention it is home to some of the biggest tourist attractions in Victoria including the Legislature Building, Fisherman’s Wharf, The Emily Carr house, and the Ogden Point Cruise Ship Terminal. Our James Bay Food & History Self-Guided Tour is a fun and informative way to explore this popular neighbourhood on your own time and at our own pace using our foodie passport and free GPS-guided app.
Discover gardens, gastronomy, and history:
Spending a day walking around James Bay is a must-do activity when visiting Victoria. This historic neighbourhood hugs the coastline on the most Southern tip of Vancouver Island and is full of lush temperate-rainforest gardens, Victorian-era heritage houses, and numerous bustling cafes, gourmet restaurants, and quaint foodie shops.
Not to mention it is home to some of the biggest tourist attractions in Victoria including the Legislature Building, Fisherman’s Wharf, The Emily Carr house, and the Ogden Point Cruise Ship Terminal. Our Self-Guided James Bay Food & History Tour is a fun and informative way to explore this popular neighbourhood on your own time and at our own pace using our foodie passport and free GPS-guided app.
Passport Foodie Stops:
Imagine Studio Cafe
31 Erie St, Victoria, BC V8V 1P8
Monday    Closed
Tuesday   9a.m.–4p.m.
Wednesday 9a.m.–4p.m.
Thursday   9a.m.–7p.m.
Friday     9am-7pm
Saturday   10a.m.–7p.m.
Sunday    10a.m.–4p.m.
Learn More
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Vegetarian Options: No
Business Website: https://imaginestudio.cafe/
This beautiful café has a lot to offer, and it functions as a great learning tool for youth and people with barriers to employment. The sample is called Bannock. The recipe comes from the Cultural Teachings by Joseph Thomas Family at Esquimalt Nation (offered by permission). Gilbert Thomas and Zach Horne, our Coast Salish team
Ingredients: Organic Flour, Baking Powder, Butter (sometimes use Lard), cream, water.
Passport Sample
One traditional Indigenous bannock
Barb's Fish & Chips
1 Dallas Rd, Victoria, BC V8V 0B2
Monday   11a.m.–8p.m.
Tuesday   11a.m.–8p.m.
Wednesday 11a.m.–8p.m.
Thursday   11a.m.–8p.m.
Friday     11a.m.–8p.m.
Saturday   11a.m.–8p.m.
Sunday    11a.m.–8p.m.
Learn More
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Vegetarian Options: Yes
Business Website: https://www.barbsfishandchips.com/
Sampling seafood is a must when visiting Victoria and the very best chowder in the city is from Barb's. They are most famous for their fish & chips but we think the chowder is a secret hidden gem that most tourists don't know about!
Ingredient List: flour, cream, butter, fish stock, bacon, clams, fish bites (cod/halibut), salmon, vegetables and seasonings
Passport Sample
One small bowl of seafood chowder
Off The Eaten Track James Bay
470 Belleville Street
Monday - Closed
Tuesday 10a.m.–4p.m.
Wednesday 10a.m.–4p.m.
Thursday 10a.m.–4p.m.
Friday 10a.m.–4p.m.
Saturday 10a.m.–4p.m.
Sunday Closed
Learn More
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Vegetarian Options: No
Business Website: https://imaginestudio.cafe/
This beautiful café has a lot to offer, and it functions as a great learning tool for youth and people with barriers to employment. The sample is called Bannock. The recipe comes from the Cultural Teachings by Joseph Thomas Family at Esquimalt Nation (offered by permission). Gilbert Thomas and Zach Horne, our Coast Salish team
Ingredients: Organic Flour, Baking Powder, Butter (sometimes use Lard), cream, water.
Passport Sample
One traditional Indigenous bannock
Terrible Truffles
501 Government St, Victoria, BC V8V 2L6
Monday     9a.m.–5:30p.m.
Tuesday     9a.m.–5:30p.m.
Wednesday  9a.m.–5:30p.m.
Thursday    9a.m.–5:30p.m.
Friday      9a.m.–6p.m.
Saturday    9a.m.–5:30p.m.
Sunday     9a.m.–5p.m.
Learn More
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Vegetarian Options: Yes
Business Website: https://www.barbsfishandchips.com/
Sampling seafood is a must when visiting Victoria and the very best chowder in the city is from Barb's. They are most famous for their fish & chips but we think the chowder is a secret hidden gem that most tourists don't know about!
Ingredient List: flour, cream, butter, fish stock, bacon, clams, fish bites (cod/halibut), salmon, vegetables and seasonings
Passport Sample
One small bowl of seafood chowder
For Good Measure
579 Niagara St, Victoria, BC V8V 1H8
Monday   8a.m.–6p.m.
Tuesday   8a.m.–6p.m.
Wednesday 8a.m.–6p.m.
Thursday  8a.m.–6p.m.
Friday   8a.m.–6p.m.
Saturday  8a.m.–6p.m.
Sunday   9a.m.–5p.m.
Learn More
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Vegetarian Options: Yes
Business Website: https://www.forgoodmeasure.ca/
Owner Max makes amazing nut butters and snack mixes and the One Sailing Wait is the most popular snack mix they have.
Ingredients: Almonds*, raisins, dried cranberries, diced pineapple, chopped apricots, pecans*, sugar, sunflower oil, non-GMO canola oil, sulphur dioxide, citric acid, rice flour. *roasted with non-GMO canola oil. This product is manufactured in a facility that processes foods containing wheat, milk, soy, tree nuts, peanuts and seeds. This product is manufactured in a facility that processes foods containing wheat, milk, soy, tree nuts, peanuts, and seeds.
Passport Sample
One 100g bag of One Sailing Wait snack mix
Important Information
- Keep your foodie passport safe like you would a real one. We can’t replace lost passports and this is the only way to acquire your tasting samples.
- The most ideal time to do the tour is Tuesday-Saturday 10.30am-12.30pm. Please note that many of the restaurants included are very busy at lunch hour especially Barb’s Fish & Chips. You will have to wait in line if you decide to go at lunch.
- The passport is valid for 2 weeks once you pick-it up from our kiosk so use it up! After the expiration date the foodie samples are no longer valid.
- If you choose to complete the tour in one-day, plan for at least 2-3 hours of walking and tasting. Please note that many businesses are closed on Mondays.
- You will need headphones to listen to the commentary on your phone. Bring your own or we sell them for $7. You could also play the tour on your phone speaker.
- You will need a fully charged cell phone to run the app. Please charge your cell phone before starting the tour, you are welcome to charge it at the kiosk.
- Please note that you will need to know your Apple ID in order to download the APP. You may want to have this information handy before you come to pick-up the passport at the kiosk.
- Hours and times of food businesses change, especially on holidays. For the most up-to-date information please contact the business directly.
- There is roughly 3 KM (1.8 Miles) of light walking. We suggest wearing appropriate footwear.
- This is not a VIP access card that lets you jump the queue. You may have to wait in line or wait for a table at certain spots. We recommend visiting during non-peak times. Sorry, even we have to wait sometimes!
- The answer is yes, you should definitely leave a gratuity. These are small businesses working incredibly hard and it is our local custom to tip wait staff, counter staff, and really anyone that flashes a smile and serves you food + drinks. A Toonie or Loonie will do.
Dietary Concerns
We are unable to make substitutions for any dietary allergies or vegetarian requests. This tour is not suitable for those with a seafood, gluten, or dairy allergy. A few things to consider:
- While the food is a very important aspect of the tour you will still enjoy the commentary and stories that come with the tour so if there is one or two stops you may skip we still think the tour is worth it!
- We have more control over dietary requests on our guided tours. If you have allergies we would suggest joining us on our guided tours.Â
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