Sooke Harbour House

Wow, wow, wow! Our food was sooo good. I am so impressed. Since moving to Sooke 11 years ago, we have gone through the machinations of the crazy changes at the Harbour house. We were never really impressed. Tonight changed everything for us. Weston, the server was exceptional. And truly, the ambience, the food was the best of the best in our experience. We are old, we have had many culinary experiences. I can’t say enough about how delicious every bite of our food was. We live in Sooke. An out of the way place, as out of the way as you can get in our world on our coastline, but, this was spectacular. The whole experience. Thank you Sooke Harbour House and thank you Weston.

Review for the restaurant : everything was good, just not great. We came for Valentine’s Day dinner and they only allowed us to do free from the price fixed menu for Valentine’s Day which means it was a minimum of $125 per person without a drink. Normally that would be fine but the food was just meh for that price. Presentation was 10/10 and the dishes LOOKED good but the taste was definitely a 6/10. I got the octopus, salmon and halibut and all of it lacked flavour… needed salt. I just don’t understand why the priority would be presentation over flavour? The service was good though and the ambience was great. I just think for the price your paying you can find way better food where in my opinion

Driving out to Sooke is one of those magical West Coast experiences that reminds you why people fall in love with Vancouver Island. The road slowly leaves the city behind and opens up to forest, ocean views, and that unmistakable salty Pacific air. By the time you arrive at Sooke Harbour House, it already feels like you’ve discovered a little hidden gem. Perched right on the water overlooking the breathtaking Strait of Juan de Fuca with views toward the Olympic Mountains, the setting alone is worth the drive. The atmosphere inside is warm, comfortable, and inviting, the kind of place where you instantly relax and want to stay awhile. Brunch was absolutely incredible. The chef is AMAZING, and the quality of the dishes truly stands out. Every plate felt thoughtful, beautifully prepared, and packed with flavour. My husband ordered the Dungeness Crab Benny with poached eggs, house-made English muffins, hollandaise, crispy hashbrowns, and a small salad. It was rich, fresh, and perfectly balanced. I had the Tomato and Avocado Benny with roasted cherry tomatoes, avocado, poached eggs, hollandaise, and the same fantastic house-made muffin and crispy hashbrowns. It was vibrant, comforting, and honestly one of the best brunch dishes I’ve had. We also shared a half order of the Apple Cinnamon Pancakes, and they were unforgettable. Think apple crumble transformed into pancakes, topped with toasted vanilla meringue, caramelized apples, brown sugar butter, maple syrup, and granola. Absolutely delicious. Our server, Becky, was incredibly friendly, helpful, and welcoming. Service like that makes the experience feel even more special. I can honestly say this is the best brunch I’ve enjoyed since we landed on the west coast of Canada. I would happily come back tomorrow for brunch, lunch, dinner, drinks, or happy hour. I’m especially excited to visit again in the summer. Sitting in the garden café with a hot coffee or well-steeped tea, enjoying flaky pastries while watching the flowers open in the morning sun sounds like a dream. Afterward, a wander along Whiffin Spit to take in the ocean views would make the perfect slow West Coast day. If you’re anywhere near Sooke, the drive and the destination are both absolutely worth it. This place is something special.

Just recently relocated to the Sooke neighbourhood and decided to check out the Sooke Harbour House (we regularly walk the spit and always admire the beautiful location and gardens at the Harbour House). We did brunch and also sampled the awesome baked goods (the bread is to die for, as are the pastries). The service was excellent and the food was very high quality. You can always tell a top notch chef by the ability to poach an egg and they did not disappoint..., and finally a place that serves a hot tea that stays hot in the pot till the last cup! This will be our regular brunch stop from now on and we are looking forward to trying out the restaurant soon. Our server in the cafe was excellent, as was the food server. They deserve a bonus!!! Thanks, marc & nancy

We stayed here for a valentine getaway weekend and I really appreciate the hospitality from the resort staff. They’ve been very accommodating from the front desk to the managers and would recommend to stay here. Despite of a separate incident with the restaurant, this review is for their professionalism and hospitality. The location is great and the units are bright with a great lookout to the ocean. Lovely little resort.

Our arrival at the Sooke Harbour House dining room was a bit of a shock; it was brightly lit, empty except for one table, and felt less like a nice restaurant and more like a hospital waiting room. We were assured the lights would be dimmed, but they remained the same. We quickly decided to be seated in the cozier Copper Room instead. The service was peculiar from the start. A server said a brief "hi, welcome," poured water, and left the glasses inches from the table corner—very strange. Our drink order was smooth, but we had to prompt staff to take our food orders later on. The biggest issue was the wait time. It took 1 hour and 20 minutes for our entrees to arrive, which felt excessive given how few tables (6) were occupied. Interestingly, another table managed to get burgers after the menu's 3 pm cutoff time. We were celebrating a birthday, as noted on the reservation, but the server didn't mention it at all. The Christmas atmosphere was missing too—just one lonely Presto log in a huge fireplace, no holiday greens on the table and a Christmas tree with the metal base showing. The food itself was incredible and high quality, which made the rest of the experience even more disappointing. The ambiance and service really let the place down. For a truly special occasion, you might want to look elsewhere.

We visited the restaurant for the first time to celebrate our anniversary and my birthday, and unfortunately, we were underwhelmed. It was a Sunday evening and we were the only guests in the restaurant for most of the night (one table arrived later). The atmosphere felt lacking—no tablecloths, just bare, stained wooden tables, which didn’t feel inviting for a special occasion. Service was polite and well-intentioned, but very slow. Our oysters arrived after about 30 minutes. Our meal took another 45 . I also had to send my wine back as it was corked. Our main courses were fine, but nothing memorable or special. The waiter enthusiastically recommended the chocolate cake, only to return about 10 minutes later to say they were out of it. To his credit, he did try to make things right by offering a complimentary dessert, and the chef prepared a plate decorated with “Happy Anniversary,” which was a kind gesture. Overall, the waiter was clearly trying, but the entire experience felt underwhelming. We really wanted to love this place, but we can’t recommend it—especially for a special occasion, where expectations are understandably higher.

We had supper here, and the service was very good. Food was tasty and well presented. It was expensive, but within reason for the quality. We ate at night, but daytime views would add additional style points to a dinner here.

We just returned from having Brunch at the Sooke Harbour for my Sister's Birthday. Very attentive staff and the food was very good. We are definitely returning soon.

This restaurant was outstanding. Staff was very welcoming and helpful. It was my spouse's birthday and they gave us complimentary mimosas, a nice touch. I asked for a harbour view and we certainly had that. There isn't a bad view in this restaurant. We had brunch consisting of Eggs Benedict for my spouse and West coast continental for me. We both loved our meals. We will definitely be back again

just newly renovated! lovely and amazing. was there for a wedding recently, food was amazing, staff was enthusiastic and kind. rooms are spacious and comfortable. i like.

Had a bad experience here, emailed the business to inform them of what happened 2 weeks ago and they have ignored my email. So, rather than me type out a review on here, figured I'd just post my email. Good Morning, I am emailing to share with you the experience my wife and I had at your restaurant last night. We had booked a table on Open Table at the main dining room and were really looking forward to our dinner for quite some time after reading all the reviews.  Unfortunately, my wife has some allergies and dietary restrictions so a few of the items on the set menu were not going to work for her, so we asked if we could move into the Copper Room which had a more friendly menu for her.  The switch was made, quickly and we were seated in the Copper Room. I ordered the Chef's Trio Surprise (can't remember the name) for $55 and enjoyed all 3 of my dishes.   Unfortunately, the two dishes my wife ordered were completely made a mess of and left her to pick at my main.   The first dish my wife ordered was the Wiffen Spit Greens, which was described in the menu as Sprouts, Shoots, seeds, harbour house herb vinaigrette.   What came to the table was a bed of Romaine lettuce with a couple pickled mushrooms, tiny sour berries and berry vinaigrette dressing.  Nothing on the main menu nor the ever-changing menu resembled what came to the table, very disappointing. We sent it back. Her second dish was the Mushroom Fricassee off the ever-changing menu which also came out not even close to what was described in the menu.   What arrived was a bowl of sauteed veggies with a puck of polenta on top in what looked like some beet juice. No mushrooms, no creamy leek sauce, no green beans as stated in the nenu.....in fact not even close to a Mushroom Fricassee (not a mushroom in sight).  In order to try to save the situation I swapped dishes with my wife so she would be able to eat something, but by this point the dining experience was ruined. Our server was clearly embarrassed, and was as confused as we were on how such an enormous mistake could happen not once, but twice at what is described as a fine dining restaurant with a good reputation. Same kitchen, same chefs, sending out stuff not even close to what is on the menu.  We had both items removed from the bill, which is to be expected.   We are disappointed there was no offer or attempt to remake the dishes according to what we ordered and what was described on the menu. An apology came from the server, the dishes were whisked away, but no offer to remake.   We are also disappointed no one from the kitchen nor a manager came out to apologize for what happened and left the server to face this absolute disaster on her own.  Does no one check dishes for consistency and accuracy in the kitchen before they get served to the customer?   A hungry couple, looking forward to celebrating an important event in their lives together at your restaurant left feeling hungry, unsatisfied and bewildered at the events that took place at your restaurant.  How on earth was this allowed to happen? Service was good, she was pleasant, kind, personable and was absolutely embarrassed by this horrible mess as well. Looking forward to your reply,

Absolutely fantastic food and view, easily the best fine dining on Vancouver island, maybe one of the best in BC. As even the amuse bouche of salmon tartar was very well made, I enjoyed this meal from the very start. The first course of halibut and ceviche was extremely refreshing, while the second of smoked duck and peas was full of flavour. Though I'm not usually one to order vegetarian courses, I had to try the tortellini for my entrée, which was great too. But then came the only annoyance of the night. There was an extremeeeely long wait between the entrée and dessert. Luckily an otter came by the window, which entertained my party for a bit, and when the dessert came it was actually fantastic (rhubarb strudel and lavender sorbet), however the wait was still uncomfortably long. I also spent the night here in one of the rooms with gorgeous bathtub, fireplace and view. The room was generously sized, super cozy and tastefully decorated. I also noticed they have raincoats out in the hallway for guests to borrow- didn't need them but they were a nice touch. The hotel grounds are very pretty too. Oh yeah, and score-wise it's really a 4.5 for me! Highly, highly recommend booking a few nights here. :) *Review migrated from another platform*

The setting/location, the decor, the staff, the food - everything is, well - PERFECT! I was a groomsmaid (yes, you read that correctly, a groomsmaid - a female who walked down on the grooms side) this summer in a wedding at the Sooke Harbour House. Guests flew from all four corners of the US to Victoria, BC - for many of us, it was our first time to the island. The bride and groom had vacationed at the Sooke Harbour house on one of their vacations over the last few years and when they got engaged, they instantly knew this was the spot for the wedding. It took mere seconds to know why when we all walked in. The views are simply breath-taking, being surrounded by that much beauty and nature has this way of being humbling yet also magnifying all at once. The staff was so great - as every wedding day, there were last minute items and chaos but they handled it with calm and grace that comforted the entire wedding party. The food was spectacular - everything that touched our palates was done perfectly. The menu items were unique and had a history, a story closely tied to the Sooke Harbour House - it was amazing. Each room has a theme. We of course only got to see one, the Wild Flower room (I believe, although I am not sure if I have the name right). It was used as the bridal suite while we were getting ready and then decorating it for the wedding night - but it was gorgeous as I am sure each room is. After leaving Victoria and heading back to Boston, MA - I quickly knew that I will have to take a trip back to BC and will be planning a stay at the Sooke Harbour House. It is the perfect location for a wedding and an amazing, relaxing place for a vacation!

Honestly a true gem in the small town of Sooke. Came in for a late lunch while exploring the area on a trip to Victoria, and our expectations were blown away. The view is spectacular and they use edible flowers from the surrounding garden. I had the special sockeye salmon with gnocchi and a strawberry butter sauce. The presentation was beautiful and the taste delicious. The salmon skin was crispy while the meat was tender and flaky. I was pleasantly surprised at the flavor of the sauce, which complimented the rest of the dish well. I was skeptical of the gnocchi at first, but they were pillowy and tasted great. Overall, a great and surprising find.

Just absolutely stunned by how nice and accommodating the staff at Sooke Harbour House were. Thank you, Karen and everyone!

We stayed there and ate there and had great experiences from both. As far as a place to stay, the staff was fantastic and helpful. The rooms were comfortable and had amazing views across the water. We loved the wood burning fireplace in the room that was set up every day as well. The rooms have gotten a little dated, but still a fantastic experience. The food was divine. For food there are two options, the Copper Room and the main dining room. The Copper Room was packed for dinner, but the brunch there was pretty good. The main dining room, however, was sensational. It is pricey, so be prepared for that, but the food and service are well worth it. The menu changes daily, so going into the exact dishes isn't worth it, but our party had a variety of dishes and every one of them was absolutely worth the price and more. Also, if you're feeling a little chilly you should definitely try the hot chocolate.

The staff were fantastic. The food was delicious. I wish I lived here so I could eat here every day. The atmosphere was just casual enough for my liking, and the food was very high quality. Everything seemed to be locally sourced. I had a Bison burger, the octopus, and an iced tea. All were the best I've ever had. The friendliness of the staff was unmatched. I interacted with 4 different staff members and they all went above and beyond my expectations. They went out of their ways to make sure we had everything we needed. I dined here on a Wednesday around 6 PM with a party of 4.

Relaxed and sophisticated dining with beautiful views of Sooke Harbour. Service is careful and attentive; a bit on the slow side, so come prepared to relax and savor. A four course meal can easily take 90 minutes or longer, so don't come if you're in a hurry or impatient. The menu changes frequently to feature local foods; you won't find things like oranges or lemons, which aren't grown on Vancouver Island. Many of the herbs, greens and edible flowers are grown right at the hotel. Dishes are often inventive, and always beautifully plated. I've eaten here several times, and while a few dishes have missed the mark, most have been really wonderful. I do recommend reservations; in season, it gets busy, and off season they may run out of some things if they're not expecting you. Local wines are nicely paired with the dishes. There's also a newly opened pub with more casual fare.

We ate in Copper Room. I think the "chowder " (really a full main dish) might have been one of the best things I've ever eaten! Great menu, ambiance, service and food. Our #1 in BC

It had been MANY years since we went here....decided to go back for a 25 anniversary dinner. Have to say was very disappointed should have gone to their new restaurant Copper Room. The selection of menu had two whitefish entrees - both a little meh - especially for the price. The room itself was VERY DATED. I don't think it changed in 25 years (laughable) .also they sat us at table in which the chairs were not across our dinning partner..they were beside (on a four top) looking out a window in the dark! I spent a dinning experience looking at my own reflection which believe me was not desirable.. The food itself and the presentation was soooooo late 80's and early 90's .. Service itself was solid enough - however for the price it is not something that I would EVER do again....

Mrs Cheesemonger and I stayed here several years ago. This world class hotel, tucked by the sea on beautiful Whiffen Spit in Sooke on Vancouver Island has breathtaking views of the Olympic Mountains in Washington, Sooke Harbour and the Pacific. Our weekend there was beatific. We strolled, hiked (saw bald eagles), had a great in-room massage, and ate well at the fabulous restaurant. Everything here is understated luxe, with the exception of the world class local art on dispaly, which is over the top. This place is a splurge, but a lovely splurge.

*Wow, what more can I add that hasn't, this place is at the very least a once in a lifetime visit *Top rooms are to die for, make sure to get an outdoor hot tub, worth the price *Go in the off season, much slower and laid back and you can really get into the property with fewer people

One of the most beautiful and comfortable places I've ever stayed in my life, hotel or no. From our Ocean Queen room, we looked out over a small lawn to stand-up surfers catching waves in the outer Sooke Harbour. The room was bright and airy, and every wall had actually interesting art. We also enjoyed a bottle of port out in our private hot tub, and warmed ourselves by the fireplace afterward. In the morning, hot (absolutely delicious) breakfast was brought to our room. Every detail was perfect, and the staff was so lovely. A true destination spot. Now, the restaurant is another story...but I wrote a separate review all about that.

This rating is for the hotel, not the restaurant which I would give 10 stars to if possible. The SHH restaurant is among my favorite in the world and I was rather let down by the hotel rooms. The Ocean Orchard room looked like a hippy grandma garage sale with cheap IKEA lamps from 1982 and had a mystery noise that sounded like sea lions mating in an air duct. We asked to be moved to the second floor and found a much better room, although it was a bit too 'well loved' for my taste. I will say the staff are very accommodating. We were on a weekend package that included dinner, breakfast room service and the room. Once we worked out meal costs we figured our room was $300+ per night. At that price there are better options in the area and you can still enjoy the fantastic food in the restaurant. I have stayed at many B&Bs, funky art hotels and love a unique experience but at $300+ per night I am sad to say I would give the hotel a miss next time I am in this beautiful area.

We recently stayed at this once lovely motel. It has seen its better days. Our room smelled of pet urine and the grounds were overgrown and beyond their prime. When we checked out we mentioned the pet smell in the room and the nice lady at the front desk said she was appalled and would see that management would contact us about an adjustment to our charges. We never heard from anyone and I just received my credit charge showing a full charge. This place is living on their past. Be careful when booking this realize the photos are of the past glory. The "ocean view" room was obstructed by trees so unless you sat outside you saw very little water. I would never recommend this motel to anyone.

Why are there two Yelps for the same restaurant? http://www.yelp.com/biz/sooke-harbour-house-restaurant-sooke The one above gives a lot more negative reviews. The service was terrible. The wine guy was full of himself and my wife actually knew more about some of the stuff he tried to serve us. For what you get, it's overpriced hype. We were in Vancouver a week and ate a lot better for a lot cheaper.

Service was spot on, but the cook forgot to taste the tart, so it needed to be salted. Other than that, it was fantastic!

I completely agree with prior reviewers Kat and Jeff that this is a 5 star place. We've stayed here for our 10th, 20th, and 25th wedding anniversaries and am sure we will be back again. Just stepping out of the car when we arrived I found myself completely relaxing. We stayed in the Emily Carr room (22) as we did last visit - the view from our second floor balcony was across the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The sky changes constantly - we both kept taking pictures and each time it looks different. The garden is beautiful and is the source of herbs and flowers and lettuces used in the restaurant, which is top notch. Had the best Dungeness Crab ever. Delicious breakfasts delivered to your room. Incredible works from BC artists all over the place (it doubles as a gallery). Fireplace in room, with real wood. Nice people work here. Family totem pole out by the water front. Short walk to the Whiffen Spit - which provides a lovely place to walk and enjoy birds and people walking their dogs (I missed mine so enjoyed meeting others). As a bonus - on the actual night of our anniversary as we were just starting the incredible 7 course gastro meal, someone pointed out a family of river otters that had come up from the water, through the gardens, to frolic in a fountain. Thank you, thank you!

This is one of the most romantic spots on the planet, in any month, bar none. I may be a bit biased - we just got married here, and everything went smoothly, right down to the two bald eagles which buzzed the wedding 30 seconds before my lovely bride began walking down the aisle. How they arranged that, and 65 degree sunny weather in the first week of October, I'll never know. At times it appears the entire property is edible, and it just might be - we ate the chefs tasting menu, which was not only one of the best meals of my life, it was the best service as well. So much of the food is grown on the property or nearby on Vancouver Island that it's difficult to properly describe. It is delicious. If you are a foodie, you know about this place. Go. You won't regret it. We had in room massages and manicures, in room food and wine served on the property - we had breakfast served several mornings and dealt with many members of the staff as well as the owner and her family. The catering menu was prepared to the same extremely high standards as the restaurant menu, and we thought the focus at our wedding should be the food. And it was. Perfectly prepared, presented, and it was delicious. Perfect. Some of the best food I've eaten in my life (best salmon sandwich, best apple - yes, just an apple) were here, and I remember it. Best rooms, best views, the list goes on.

Went in for a snack at Sunday brunch time. The table was not set and we never got any napkins, had to pinch some from the next table. Ordered the snack plate and asked if the smoked salmon was lox type or the candied type which I do not like. Waitress assured me it was lox. It was not. My husband ordered Earl Grey tea and was brought pekoe instead. I complained about the salmon and was assured I could have charcuterie with prosciutto. The plate arrived.. no prosciutto, but two kinds of salami, one of which was okay. The snack plate contained no fresh vegetables except sprigs of lettuce: instead of the promised bread, Melba toast drenched in oild and tons of pepper. Minute bits of cheese, and carrots in vinegar so strong it choked me. Ugh.

Really cute and romantic. Food was mind-blowingly delicious and if you're romantically inclined, this is an awesome spot to take that special someone for an Island getaway. If you've heard of Alice Waters (of Chez Panisse, Berkeley fame) and her 100 mile menu concept, then know that Sooke Harbour House's restaurant takes that to heart and runs with it. The hotel is also host to a large vegetable garden that also grows flowers that are so pretty you could just eat them up -- and if you dine here, you will! Their menu prides itself of being locally sourced, and they do a very good job of choosing their ingredients. Every course on the tasting menu was a new treat! The rooms are individually decorated and have their own charm to them. Although we only stayed for one night, our trip was capped off with in-room breakfast...a delicious french toast topped with more edible flowers. This tip of the island was so relaxing and a perfect weekend getaway. I will definitely be back!

Waited half hour to be seated Ten minutes, five minutes - not really Requested water three times No wine list delivered Sparkling wine bucket placed on the floor We refilled ourselves except for once Slow/no service We returned here for our 20th anniversary... Sometimes you can't go back. This place has gotten top many awards... It's gone to their heads...they simply don't care.

Our family ate lunch at the harbor house because my folks went there 33 years ago while they were in victoria for their honeymoon. We had a wonderful lunch experience. The experience started by walking around the garden and checking out their vegetables. The restaurant is farm to table and proud of featuring responsibly sourced ingredients. Our waiter was a very nice man - great sense of humor, informative about the menu, etc. We got the beet salad to start, lamb stew in a Yorkshire pudding, deconstructed halibut ravioli, and the chocolate lasagna. Also worth noting they had some great local beers on tap - I got the stout and it was wonderful with the stew. My wife got the rose and it complimented the ravioli nicely. I have to admit (much to my dismay - our experience as a whole was so great) that the ravioli was just slightly bland. We requested some cracked pepper and that added the kick we were looking for. The beet salad was out of this world and the candied (or otherwise spiced) nuts were very nice. You could tell it all came from the garden and the flavors were amazing (p.s. I'm not a salad guy). The stew was VERY good as well, the yorkshire pudding was light and crisp and the lamb stew was everything I was in a stew and more. Veggies were cooked perfect and so full of flavor. They added fresh peppers and a few potato chips to add a fresh flavor and crunch. Flawless. Other things worth noting - the entire establishment is very artsy and very "pacific northwest". The sold local art such as painting, woodwork, and other crafts in their gift shop and everything they had on the walls looked like it could tell a story. We spent a good half an hour simply walking around their garden and soaking up the sun at the beach before our meal. We spent about 2 hours eating and it was a food "experience". We must have talked about how much we enjoyed the food half the time we were there.

We spent our honeymoon at the Sooke Harbour House and went back for our 20 year anniversary last week. When making the reservation, they were made aware of both this special occasion and my birthday. Either was acknowledged in any way by staff, leaving a token in our room, or in the restaurant where we dined a few times. We noticed a change in the level of service in every department. Wet towels left in tub to be changed out were hung again; loud and obnoxious service staff during breakfast yelling across the dining room to find a table; changing rooms and not having staff help us move; not replenishing bath salts and condiments in room; and unclipped bushes obstructing potential clear views from lower rooms. The growth and popularity of this Inn has changed its quaint feel since our last visit. We weren't made to feel special at all. During our check out, we weren't thanked for staying and there was no opportunity to give feedback as we weren't asked nor sent an email for feedback. Given this, we are posting this. On a positive note, room was very nice and wood-burning fireplace was fun. Restaurant food was outstanding as well.

I am a local wedding photographer , I do lots of weddings there and deal with all aspects of the business. Location is definitely one of the best on the Island, you can easily get a variety of shots and angles without leaving the property which is very convenient. In al types of weather there is something beautifull to photograph. The staff there is great, friendly, accommodating, and the whole place has a feel that you can go everywhere I don't think I have ever seen a sign like "employees only", fantastically open and easy going. Restaurant is one of the best around, I love simple philosophy of fresh local, seasonal, it may not be exotic enough for some, but I feel it is best way to do it and it supports local economy and environmentally sound. Rooms are spacious, comfortable, and feature original art and very cool little theme oriented pieces of furniture and knickknacks that add to the whimsical feel but do not make it tacky. In fact decore is very stylish but very approachable. You don't feel afraid to touch things. We come for our anniversary almost every year. This place is most romantic, since there are little distractions and little technology you can really focus on being together and enjoy nature, food, art, and just do nothing. I will try to post some less commercial looking photos, to see weddings there visit http://www.victoriaweddingphotographer.com

Huge disappointment. Booked online for NYs eve afternoon for our anniversary thinking we would be in the dining room. Arrived to be told the online bookings don't work well and the dining room was closed. Were told to sit wherever. We asked later to move to a table with a nice view. Rude server said we couldn't which led to another rude diatribe from her. She later brought our food out and practically threw our food at us. Other girl serving us was great but it didn't make up for the bad experience. Food was bland and had nothing special about it. Seared tuna was over cooked and presented in a bowl of weird broth. Catch of the day was cooked nicely but bland and uninteresting. All over priced for what it was.

The Sooke Harbour House is one of a kind amazing!! The guest rooms are artistically and uniquely designed, I love the mermaid room. Incredible ocean front views. The gardens are also spectacular which naturally lends itself to a world glass restaurant. Pioneers of the organic food movement from years back and nationally recognized for it, impressive! Go check it out if you ever get the chance.

We stayed two nights last weekend (3rd week in June) and ate both nights at the restaurant. The room was shabby to say the least. The attention to detail was not up to par in relation to the cost and expectations (example: we found moldy green dried up coffee filter in the coffee maker-GROSS). The staff was disinterested, the carpets were not vacuumed properly, the deck was covered in bird poop and dirt, the outdoor "jetted tub" was cracked, and dirty and had no jets. So disappointed! The food was decent but not outstanding and like the hotel itself-completely overpriced!! The beds had poor quality bedding, lumpy cheap mattresses and the most uncomfortable cheap pillows I have ever slept on! The hotel is for sale and it's pretty obvious it's a sinking ship. Past its prime and you're better off at the Best Western down the block. When you pay that much your experience should meet or exceed your expectations.

Interesting place. My experience was a contrast of both good and bad. The Hotel itself is enchanting, with gardens to explore and paths along the sea. Everywhere you find unique sculptures, benches, signs etc. In the clean and well maintained rooms you will find the same whimsical attention to detail. Stayed in the hummingbird room. lots of hummingbird designs. Nice and big, outside hot tub, great view. Had dinner at the hotel- absolutely fantastic food. Expensive but you are paying for the skill of a great chef. Now here is where SHH fell down. Customer service. Everyone was very nice and polite, but they did not follow through very well. Examples: Booked on the phone and told I would get a confirmation email. -it did not come. Sent an email regarding the missing Confirmation ten days later. -never received a response. Called ten days after that to verify my reservation. They confirmed on the phone, but I never did received any confirmation email. Had asked specifically for a ground floor room, they booked me a second floor room. Eventually got a Ground floor room, but found the Maid had not cleaned out the fridge. Someone's leftovers inside. This was very unappealing. Asked to book a specific table for dinner,was assured it was no problem. Given a completely different table at dinner. Hotel - 5 Room -4.5 Service -3 Food - 5 Location -5 Cleanliness 4.5 Expect better service for the price

This is my idea of a romantic hotel. The room was large, with a big, comfy bed and steps down to a couch and breakfast table set up with a fireplace. The west facing wall of windows had blackout curtains, which, when pulled back, looked outside onto a covered patio with deep soaking tub, a couple of comfy chairs and a table, all protected by large, edible plants (a HUGE rosemary bush). The protected patio opened onto a public patio with couch etc, if we wanted to get some sun (not us, not ever), that looked out onto the harbor and the wooded hills beyond. The bathroom was huge, with a large shower to share and plenty of space to get dressed. The door to the room was 2 doors (like an airlock), so the room was super quiet - no hallway noise. We rarely get to eat the breakfast at a B&B, because we rarely get up in time. Here, they brought our breakfast tray at 10 am (latest time they had), knocked on the door, brought the tray inside and left it. We ate it when we got up. We visited in July, in berry season. We got the breakfast pastries with fruit compote and yogurt one day. The pastries included a perfect plain croissant, soft raspberry scone and raspberry filled flaky tart. SO delicious. The next day we got the pastries again (for one) which has a raspberry and chocolate muffin, instead of the scone, in addition to 2 other pastries. I can't usually eat 3 full size pastries for breakfast. I made an exception.... My husband got the fritatta, which he loved. My only issue was that the coffee got a thermos and the tea, in a cute tea pot, didn't hold its warmth (cute isn't cute unless it is also functional). There were cookie jars strategically placed at check in and in the hallways with fresh cookies each day (I took the data - and the cookies - yum). We ordered a packed lunch for my husband to take as he rode his bike back to Victoria on the Galloping Goose trail. Tasty smoked salmon sandwich, apple and bottle of water for him. I ate the cookies (yum!) All of Sooke Harbor House's landscaping is edible, which is my current obsession, so I woke up at 10 am one morning to take the 2.5 hour edible landscaping tour. Learned a ton - all of those salvia flowers are edible (went home and tasted all my salvias - spicy!) I have dreamed about this trip and can't wait to go back.

One of the best places we've stayed; wished we had stayed much longer. Can't wait to get back; an outstanding customer experience, in a very beautiful setting.

This review is about a year late but have been thinking about the wonderful meal we had there and the perfect wine pairing that went with it. This is one of those places that you just can't wait to go back to and next time we'll do more damage to those great wines.

We had stayed at SHH 3 summers in a row back in the early 2000's an absolutely loved it. Some of our fondest family memories are from the summers there with our kids. This year for Christmas my husband and I decided to take a vacation together now that our kids are grown and were super excited to return to SHH. Wow were we disappointed. The room was about $400 a night and there was mold in the shower, bedding that was probably less soft than what you would find in prison, dusty baseboards, and a rusty shower caddy (seriously they are $15 at Target). We stayed at an equally priced hotel in a different area of Vancouver island the 2 nights prior and it was exceptional so it made this one look like a Motel 6. We will not return again.

I totally totally loved staying here. It was expensive but is good value for money. Definitely romantic. Love the packed bagged lunch on departure. I would stay here again and recommend it to anyone I know who is in love :) We stayed in an artist suite that had a great deck and art supplies in the room :) Very cool place.

Sooke Harbour House delivers an amazing romantic and relaxing weekend. I surprised my wife with a weekend away for our first wedding anniversary. A friend had recommended Sooke Harbour House. After reading the online reviews I had high expectations--all of which were met. Our room was spacious, with private bathtub, fireplace, and balcony--where we enjoyed our breakfast each morning. The food and wine were delicious, fresh, local--an incredibly inventive white salmon with red Chimmichurri sauce, amazing scallops with homemade smoked bacon, and hands down the BEST breakfast I have ever had--a soufflé pancake with fresh fruit. We lucked out with PERFECT weather (literally the warmest, sunniest weekend of the summer) which certainly added to our experience, but the inn has enough charm with beautiful paintings and décor to occupy you on cloudy day. Make no mistake, this place is PRICEY. But if you're looking for a special experience, Sooke delivers.

Stayed for three nights. The room was beautiful. We had an indoor soaking tub which was great for us. Some of the rooms have it indoor and some out on the patio so be sure to ask when reserving. Every room is different and none of them feel like cookie cutter dorms with the bathroom in the corner and the bed facing the TV. In fact the TV is not even in the room unless you ask for it (we didn't) which really helps with unplugging and enjoying the quiet. Breakfast (included) is of the same quality as the rest of the food here, that is to say fresh, local, and amazing. Not at all cheap but absolutely worth it if you want to get away and travel back to when personal, people based service was what made a place special.

Chef quality dishes, moderate prices, friendly service, uncommon, warm atmosphere. Unexpected on that country-like location.

Recently attended a wedding here. As a wedding venue, it was absolutely lovely. We lucked out and the weather cooperated. It's not a large site, I don't know if they could accommodate a large wedding; the one that I attended was about 40 or so people, and it was the right size for us. The snacks from the restaurant were great, the staff were professional, unobtrusive and efficient, the venue clean and inviting. If I were to have an event of some kind, I would definitely come here.

The restaurant is totally over-rated and our group was sadly disappointed on our first (and only!) visit to this establishment. Service was slow, inattentive, uncaring. Very limited menu choices, and more flowers than flavor on the plate. Fabulous view, but can't recommend the food or the experience. Times must have been better to get all the past accolades.

I just completed a 2 night stay at this wonderful place. Yes it is a major splurge, very pricey. But every detail felt worth it. The rooms vary in this grand old hotel; I stayed in the Blue Heron room which has a commanding view of the bay and channel beyond it, a beautiful spacious balcony with patio furniture, a lovely sleeping area and separate sitting room, a jetted soaking tub indoors with a view of the water, and gorgeous light streaming through multiple windows wrapping around its corner location. It was sparkling clean. This wonderful room is also pet friendly. The hotel of course has specific rooms designated for guests with pets; and the pet friendly rooms are just as wonderful as those that are reserved for guests who cannot be in a room where pets have been. Every single staff member I encountered was genuinely helpful, welcoming, and pleasant to talk to. My TV needed a minor repair and even the gentleman who came very quickly to fix it was a delight. They all were quite friendly to my little pet too, which was fun. Food at the Sooke Harbour House restaurant was outstanding. They grow much of what goes into the food and the creativity of the chefs both in the dishes they create and in the beautiful presentation of the food is genuinely wonderful. I took advantage of the free guided tour of their garden and to my surprise the gardener gave me leaves and petals and berries to taste as she led me through the beautiful space. Learning which organic herbs the chefs were using to create certain tastes genuinely enhanced my second meal there, where I could recognize the unusual things they had used to create the delightful and unique tastes. Just outside the back door is Whiffen Spit, a beautiful place to take a walk - 1.75 miles if you go all the way to the end and back though any distance is pretty. From Whiffen Spit I watched seals cavort and many sea birds. From inside my room I watched a giant whale breaching in the channel and even saw a small bear walk by in the evening. If I had even a minor quibble I would say that for the price I wish they would go back to including breakfast with the room rate as a genuine B and B which I am given to understand they did in the past. While breakfast is not included there were very nice extras in the rooms including daily fresh baked cookies (very delicious!) and a fresh baked biscuit for my pup. I can't wait to come back here - I left feeling genuinely rested and renewed, and a bit in love with the spirit of Sooke, a vacation truly worth every penny.

We booked this yesterday on recommendations for the restaurant, looking forward to the fine dining. When I received an email to book massage and reservations I learned that the restaurant would be closed the night we would be there, a month from now. I was very disappointed. When I went to cancel, they had already charged my credit card and refused to give me a full refund. Be careful when you press that button. These people are not going to give you a refund and the restaurant is often closed , in fact it is closed most this month . Our travels take us to Vancouver Island often so if we do ever go to the restaurant, we will be sure to book one of the other nice accomodations in Sooke. A decent Business does not grab your money and keep it, but then some people feel "A dollar is your best friend!" I was very disappointed in the inflexible manor of the desk clerk, I was not reserving to go to the copper room and have a hamburger. :(

New on Yelp, but I thought I would repost my review recently posted on Tripadvisor, as I warmly recommend Sooke Harbour House to any and all! My wife and I have stayed and dined at the Sooke Harbour House many times over the years, and keep being amazed every time we return. Having traveled a great deal, both for business and pleasure, we've seen our share of beautiful settings and high-comfort luxury in hotels across the globe, but this little gem perched on the edge of the pacific ocean is truly one of a kind. Whether it's the exquisitely decorated rooms (all uniquely themed, and with copious amenities including wood burning fireplaces, jacuzzis or ocean-side hot-tubs); the unparalleled delectable kitchen and dining room experience, with local delicacies fresh from the nearby ocean and the hotel's own organic edible gardens and nearby farm, paired with one of the world's best wine lists (acclaimed by Wine Spectator for many years now); the wonderful and every changing abundance of (local) artwork and crafts that fills the hallways to give you the unique experience staying in a beautiful art gallery or museum (along with a private library!); the always warm, helpful and highly capable staff; the absolutely stunning nature surroundings and breathtaking ocean views with frequent whale sightings; the complimentary gourmet breakfast served in the privacy of your room or its private ocean-view balcony with the Olympic Mountains in the background; the availability of extensive spa treatment options; and too many other wonderful things to list in one single review... Sooke Harbour House is a must-visit venue for all lovers of beauty, art, tranquility, romance, luxury, nature, and fine dining. Trust us, we've been around and seen it all, are highly selective and critical when it comes to the places we stay and dine, and this little white beauty by the ocean still stands strong at the top of our list! Thank you, Sooke Harbour House, for indulging us with your wonderful hospitality and offering us yet another incredible experience during our stay in June. We can't wait for our next visit! Maybe, if the kids can join us, we'll come back early for your Christmas and New Year's festivities this Winter!

The rooms are disappointing to say the least. Definitely not worth the hype to stay here. The food is excellent! I don't recommend staying here, but worth having dinner.

I'm biased in that I got married here so the whole weekend was filled with love and laughter. Having said that, weddings can be stressful times and where you get married can either add to the stress or relieve it. The Sooke Harbour House is just outstanding. We could not have had a better weekend. We had my family and guests coming all the way from England and lots of others coming from Canada. Everyone was equally impressed. The location is so beautiful, overlooking the sea and with gorgeous natural (not manicured) gardens in the foreground. If you're getting married, check out the tide times so you catch full tide as your background! Apparently there is nothing growing in the garden that they cannot use for some culinary purpose. I love this idea and its commitment to local organic produce was one of the major draws for us in choosing it. It is a quirky place, definitely in the boutique category, and if you're looking for unique rather than opulent luxury, then you don't get much better. If you want to bring your dog, then do! Poochie will get his or her own welcome hamper with homemade dog treats... Each room is individual, sporting its own theme, and we got the chance to look in and choose from all of them. We actually went for one of the cheaper ones because it was still outstanding. The food. Well unfortunately my wife and I had churning stomachs for much of the wedding day due to nerves and adrenaline so perhaps we didn't appreciate it for what it was. However, everyone said how outstanding it was. They were extremely accommodating when it came to catering for special dietary needs, and ethically you don't get much better than their food philosophy. They are not fully self sufficient but most veg and salads are just growing outside. We decided to stay an extra night and so did manage to have another meal there the day after, this time with our stomachs back to normal. Absolutely deserving of its reputation as one of the best restaurants in Western Canada. Some may wonder what the fuss is about, but if you're into fine dining then you will appreciate the use of ingredients, the provenance of these ingredients, and the finesse in both presentation and cooking. Service was immaculate, knowledgeable and attentive yet laid-back. It's a pricey place but you get some of the best food around. I do find the accommodation extremely expensive, no matter how charming and unique it is, but I will forgive the Sooke Harbour House for this because of the wonderful memories it helps provide.

we spent 2 nights here in August. it was fabulous, though i would not stay in the mermaid room again, especially after i saw how wonderful several of the other rooms are. even though the weather was bad, we loved the garden tour and talk. the food was so good that we decided to eat in the restaurant both nights, even though it was pricey. and we were so happy we did! our waiter was much friendlier the 2nd night and we enjoyed the food and the view even more.

I like this hotel for it's location and quirkiness but it has some issues. As others have said, it's looking 'tired', which I don't really mind. What I do mind is when things feel a little dirty. Our soaker tub on the porch didn't look like it had been cleaned, bathroom had a sewer smell right off the bat, white sheets were very dingy, and the robes were so stained and pilled I was too grossed out to put one on. Other than that our room, #11, was spacious and well-appointed and felt cozy and warm. However the bed was rock hard! Glad we only stayed a couple nights for that reason. I like that they leave fresh cookies and port in the room for you and they have homemade cookies in jars all over the place. I also like that they bring breakfast to the room (restaurant is closed at that time). However, the food is not very good. Our first morning they offered a choice of omelette or continental breakfast. We had one of each. The omelet was really flat and compact and oily. Also too small to be filling. Came with a small scone which was ok. The continental breakfast was a really good yogurt and granola but the fruit compote was way too sweet. Also small portions. And we got a baked goods basket that had a nice croissant and some dry muffins. The second morning we were there it was just the continental breakfast option, no other offering. My review of the restaurant (which was really disappointing) is here: http://www.yelp.com/biz/sooke-harbour-house-restaurant-resort-hotel-sooke?hrid=mzkJe7_PcSYY8ATYmeYlcg