BY JOANNE SASVARI
19 great places in Victoria to sip, savour, socialize — and even save a dollar or two.

These days when I get together with friends, often as not it’s for happy hour. It’s the perfect way to end the workday without cutting into family time, and it doesn’t disrupt business hours the way lunch does. We enjoy a couple of snacks, a couple of sips, the lively vibe of whatever room we’re in, and then go our (much more) merry ways.
Since the end of Prohibition in the United States, the idea of happy hour has largely been a marketing one, a way to fill bars and restaurants at what would normally be a slower time of day, usually between 4 and 6 p.m. The way to do this, of course, is by offering discounted food and drink. (British Columbia, long the land of archaic liquor laws, only legalized happy hours in 2014 — before that, the best we could hope for was cheap calamari at an “appy hour.”)
Budget booze aside, though, the tradition of unwinding with friends over a drink and snacks after work is a longstanding one in many cultures. Think of the Mediterranean aperitivo or apéro, which often features bittered drinks like vermouth that are designed to whet the appetite.
For consumers, happy hour offers bargains and a low-stakes way to socialize. For restaurants and bars, happy hour fills seats when they need it, but it does more than that, too. “It’s a good introduction to the restaurant … without the price tag of the tasting menu,” says Renée Lauzon, the food and beverage manager at The Courtney Room. “It’s a great window into what we can do without the full commitment.”
Since the pandemic, with so many of us working from home, happy hours haven’t been as much of a thing. But recently, Lauzon has noticed a change. “We are starting to get larger groups of office people coming in during the later part of the week. It’s coming back a little bit.”
And happy hour isn’t just for weekdays or after the close of office hours. Late-night happy hours are increasingly popular, especially among those who work in hospitality, and Sunday happy hours are simply hopping, perhaps as a way to stave off the Sunday scaries.
As for what makes a good happy hour, it should include a mix of discounted cocktails (easy-to-make classics are always a hit on both sides of the bar), wine by the glass, a beer or two and some non-alcoholic options as well as a few signature snacks. And, of course, Lauzon says, “You have to have fresh-shucked oysters for happy hour. In Victoria it’s a must.”
Besides, even at the fanciest restaurants, happy hour is just a chill and convivial time.
“Who doesn’t love happy hour?” Lauzon says. “It’s come as you are and enjoy.”

Happy Hour Around Victoria
To find the city’s best happy hours, YAM checked in with the pros, people who work in the hospitality industry and know what’s really cooking around town. Here are some of their — and our — favourite places for a post-work sip and snack. Note that prices, times and menu items are subject to change.
Block Kitchen + Bar
101–538 Yates Street
Happy hours: Daily, 3 to 5 p.m.
On the menu: Named YAM magazine’s best happy hour of 2024, Block Kitchen has a lively izakaya vibe and dishes up fusiony snacks (think bao buns, skewers and lettuce wraps), $7 pints and $13 classic cocktails on tap.
Lot 1 Pasta Bar
204–815 Cloverdale Avenue
Happy hours: Daily, 3 to 5:30 p.m.
On the menu: Tucked into a strip mall off Blanshard Street, Lot 1 dishes up generous portions of pasta and “a fantastic happy hour, with actually doable hours,” as one of our insiders said. It features several food choices ranging from $7 Parmesan polenta bites to $12 Wagyu meatballs to $15 chorizo mussels, as well as $6 draft beer, $7 glasses of wine and $27 pitchers of sangria. Plus a wide selection of wine is half price off all day on Wine Wednesdays.

Boom + Batten
2 Paul Kane Place
Happy hours: Daily, 2 to 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. to close.
On the menu: With an enviable location on the Inner Harbour, this elegant space offers $9 glasses of Prosecco, discounted bottles of wine, $11 cocktails and a better-than-average selection of food items. “I love the happy hour smash burger at Boom + Batten — doesn’t matter what drink special I get to go with it,” one industry member said. Also happy: Sister restaurant Glo.
Tora Tiki
714 Cormorant Street
Happy hours: Daily, 5 to 7 p.m.
On the menu: Dreaming of a tropical getaway? Then the $12 Piña Coladas and $8 Daiquiris at this classic tiki bar may just be what you need, and certainly a lot less pricey than a flight to the Caribbean.
The Sticky Wicket Bar & Restaurant
919 Douglas Street
Happy hours: Daily, 3 to 6 p.m.; Sunday to Thursday, 9 p.m. to close.
On the menu: This sprawling pub at the Strathcona Hotel has seen its share of boozy shenanigans, no doubt thanks in part to its beast of a happy hour. You’ll find $6 sleeves of beer, $7 shafts, $5 highballs, $6 glasses of wine and snacks like the $8 plate of nachos or mini-perogies. From Sunday through Thursday they also offer deeply discounted industry pricing for drinks like single highballs and picklebacks for under $4.

Dumpling Drop
556A Pandora Avenue
Happy hours: Monday to Friday, 2 to 5 p.m.
On the menu: This casual eatery in Chinatown offers hot, freshly fried and authentically made dumplings from a rotating menu, along with a beer, all for $12; on Wine Wednesdays you could instead enjoy a glass of natural wine alongside those dumplings for $14. “It’s definitely one of the best deals in town,” said one of the insiders.
Sooke Harbour House
1528 Whiffin Spit Road, Sooke
Happy hours: Buck a Shuck all day Tuesdays
On the menu: Yes, it’s a ways to drive, but it’s worth the trip to this beautifully refurbished inn for actual $1 oysters, not to mention that stunning view from a sweeping year-round patio.
Ferris’ Grill & Garden Patio
536 Yates Street
Happy hours: Daily, 2 to 5 p.m. and all day Wednesdays, plus 5 to 6 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday in the oyster bar upstairs.
On the menu: Several of our sources mentioned Ferris’, calling it “iconic” and raving, “Ferris’ happy hour is the best!!!!!!” Who are we to argue? They might be the last place to offer oysters for $1.50 a shuck as well other tantalizing bites, like the $5.75 mini fish ’n’ chips, and super bargains on beverages ($5.50 to $6 for beer, $5.50 for wine, $9.95 for sangria).

Shuck Taylor’s
1324 Blanshard Street
Happy hours: Daily, 2 to 5 p.m.
On the menu: The industry folks we checked in with love Shuck Taylor’s happy hour and so do we. As one person noted, “The staff is very kind and fun to chat with if you sit at the bar.” It helps that they also serve $2 West Coast oysters, $3 East Coast ones, $7 caviar bumps, “cheap bubbles” for $9, beer for $6 and generous pours of really interesting wines in a bright and cheerful room.
Bartholomew’s Public House
777 Douglas Street
Happy hours: Daily, 3 to 6 p.m.
On the menu: This traditional(ish) downtown pub serves classic bar snacks (deep-fried pickles, potato skins), premium G&Ts for $12, plus $7 pints and $6.75 glasses of wine in a cozy and welcoming ambience.
Fathom Victoria
463 Belleville Street
Happy hours: Daily, 2 to 5 p.m.
On the menu: The stylish bar and restaurant in Hotel Grand Pacific keeps what they call “social hour” simple: half-off beer, cider, highballs and select wine and cocktails. Plus there’s a nice selection of sophisticated appies including prawn toast or spicy tuna ssambap.

E:Né Raw Food & Sake Bar
737 Pandora Avenue
Happy hours: Daily, 3 to 5 p.m. and 9:30 to 11:30 p.m.
On the menu: Moody, atmospheric and boasting one of the best sake selections in Canada, E:Né offers an exceptional selection of happy-hour food items including salmon oshi ($13) and fried chicken karaage ($10). Plus there’s whisky or sake and soda ($9 to $10), beer ($6 to $8), somm’s choice sake and cocktails like the Matcha Shaft ($8). Also happy: Sister restaurant Nubo Kitchen + Bar.
Spinnakers
308 Catherine Street
Happy hours: Monday to Friday, 3 to 5 p.m.
On the menu: Over in Vic West, Canada’s oldest brew pub serves up an excellent “hoppy hour” along with a great patio and even better view. Come for the $6 pints, $7 shafts and $6 highballs; stay for the $8 truffle fries and $14 house-smoked chicken wings.
City Centre Grille
1097 Langford Parkway, Langford
Happy hours: Monday to Friday, 2 to 5 p.m.; Monday to Wednesday, 9 p.m. to close.
On the menu: This sports bar, located in the same complex as Langford Lanes and Starlight Stadium, is a great place to take in a game and enjoy $5 draft beer, $5 glasses of wine and $5 well highballs, as well as a selection of cheesy bites.

Clive’s Classic Lounge
740 Burdett Avenue
Happy hours: Daily, first and last hour of opening (5 to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; 10 to 11 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 11 p.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday).
On the menu: As you might expect, Victoria’s most award-winning cocktail lounge serves up excellent handcrafted cocktails (most for $12) as well as bargains on beer, wine and Champagne. Ask about the late-night snack menu, too. Also happy: Vista 18, which offers stellar views from Chateau Victoria’s top floor.
Fiamo Italian Kitchen
515 Yates Street
Happy hours: Daily, 4 to 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. to midnight.
On the menu: Friendly and fun, Fiamo offers great drink specials (among them, $8 glasses of Prosecco and late-night $10 bottles of Peroni with a shot of Jameson). “Plus you’re almost always going to find a friend in the room,” one commenter noted.
Stage
1307 Gladstone Avenue
Happy hours: Daily, 5 to 6:30 p.m.
On the menu: The menu is always changing at this charming Fernwood wine bar, but you can expect to find interesting wines by the glass for $9, Martinis and G&Ts for $10, discounted bottles of wine and well-priced savoury snacks like the burger one person described as “the stuff of dreams.”
The Courtney Room
623 Courtney Street
Happy hours: Daily, 2 to 5 p.m.
On the menu: This airy and elegant dining room at the Magnolia Hotel was YAM’s Restaurant of the Year in 2024 and offers an exceptional happy-hour experience. A talented bar team serves up a generous selection of $12 classic cocktails as well as $11 glasses of fine wine and $6.50 pints of beer. Just as tempting are the bar snacks, which include the more-ish buttermilk-fried mushrooms and a terrific dry-aged burger.
The Tapa Bar Restaurant
620 Trounce Alley
Happy hours: Daily, 3 to 5 p.m.; Sunday to Thursday, 9 to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 10 to 11 p.m.
On the menu: Tapas are the whole point here, savoury snacks that lend themselves to sharing and are perfect for happy hour. Enjoy generous portions of $7 papas bravas, $8 croquetas or $20 mussels, along with $7 house wines, $6.50 pints and $24 pitchers of sangria. But that’s not all! There are weekly features like the $12 paella on Spanish Sundays and 20 per cent off bottles on Wine Wednesdays. Also happy: Sister restaurant Bodega around the corner also has intriguing wine and other happy-hour specials.