Walkable City: From Market Square to Chinatown

So, you’ve arrived in Victoria, checked in at the Victoria Regent, and dropped all your stuff off in your room – now what?

That’s a big question, and one that offers so many answers it can be difficult to begin, so let’s focus on what’s amazing and within short walking distance, 3 to 5 minutes, from our lobby.

Stepping outside the doors to the Victoria Regent, you are already surrounded by places to eat and drink in abundance. Head across Wharf Street and then across Yates and you’ll find Waddington Alley, home to one of our favourite places to eat, Il’Terrazo.

Out the other end of the alley you’ll find Market Square, a city block wrapped around a courtyard offering shopping as well as dining and great places for going out for a drink like The Drake Eatery.

Once you come out the other side of Market Square onto Pandora, you can cross the street and head into Fan Tan Alley. Fan Tan Alley features an array of shops, galleries, and services all within the comfortable confines of an 18th century red brick alley.

After emerging from Fan Tan Alley you’ll find yourself in Victoria’s Chinatown, the second oldest Chinatown in North America, offers markets and restaurants both with authentic Chinese and local coastal cuisines.

You could walk directly from the Regent to Chinatown in 5 to 10 minutes, depending on your pace, but if you want to check out some of the food and shopping along the way – and there are dozens of places we didn’t even mention – you can take a whole afternoon or even a day!

Happy walking 🙂