Spinnakers Gastro Brewpub & GuestHouses

The last beer we ordered was 3 minutes before 3pm happy hours, we didn't realize it at the time and our server never offered to wait to put the order in the 3 minutes for us. When we asked if we could slip it under the happy hour window, they said no. It's not about the $2, it's about whether or not they gave a hoot. There are way too many eating establishments with happy hours with better service for us to consider going back to this place.

Spinnakers is an absolute gem that truly lives up to its reputation! From the moment I walked in, I was captivated by the warm, inviting atmosphere. The rustic charm of the pub, combined with its stunning waterfront location, creates an experience that feels both cozy and refreshing. The highlight of my visit was, without a doubt, the roast mushroom pizza on flatbread. It was perfection! The roasted mushrooms were rich and flavorful, balanced beautifully with a crispy flatbread base that had just the right amount of chew. Every bite was a delight, and it’s easily one of the best meals I’ve had in a long time. The service was impeccable. The staff were attentive, professional, and genuinely friendly, ensuring everything was just right throughout the meal. They made the entire experience seamless and enjoyable—perfect for a work lunch. My only regret was the rainy weather, which meant I didn’t get to enjoy the patio. Sitting indoors and watching the rain on the water was still lovely, but I couldn’t help but imagine how spectacular it would be to soak up the views and fresh air on a sunny day. If you’re looking for a spot that delivers incredible food, outstanding service, and an unbeatable waterfront ambiance, Spinnakers is a must-visit. I can’t wait to return—hopefully on a day with patio-perfect weather!

Great local pub with nice selection of beer on tap.They have good salads and other fare for lunch and a great breakfast menu. Love the view with outdoor seating available

Loved that we could have our pup on the patio to keep us company through our lunch. Views were really grand of the inner harbor of Victoria. Our meals arrived in a timely fashion, and were tasty and well-proportioned. Our server was polite and prompt and didn't ignore us at any point. Not only was there ample parking, but they have a class 2 charger on site for owners of electric cars to charge while eating at the restaurant. So, why not give 5 stars? I had the pulled pork sandwich and for some reason it just didn't sit well with me... Too much fat, or something in the sauce, or the caraway seeds in the coleslaw??? I'll have to go back and try something different to edge towards a better experience for me.

Great location, good facilities, but service is so-so, the lady didn’t even come to check on the food quality. The cucumbers in the salad were not fresh (yellow inside). Otherwise okay.

My wife and I stayed here for two nights in early September. We found the room small , but clean. We had breakfast and supper at the restaurant and were more than happy with the quality of the food and the service. The walking trails were handy and the views were great. We recommend this facility

Stayed for a long weekend. Our rooms were delightful and exceptionally clean. It's the only place to stay in Victoria and we will definitely be back. The food was very good and staff were helpful and caring. We really enjoyed our little patio and having a private space to have breakfast

A Memorable Lunch at Spinnakers Brewhouse Late this summer, I took my mum out for lunch at Spinnakers Brewhouse. It was a gorgeous day, and the patio was bathed in sunshine. Our server, Mackenzie, was absolutely delightful. My mum has significant dietary challenges that require careful planning, and Mackenzie went out of her way to accommodate her needs with a warm and positive attitude. As for me, I decided to try the clam pasta, one of the few dishes I hadn’t sampled over the years. When our food arrived, Mackenzie checked in on us to ensure everything was to our liking. I found the pasta a bit too salty for my taste, and when I mentioned it, Mackenzie didn’t hesitate to offer a solution. She had the kitchen prepare a fresh plate for me, which arrived quickly. Unfortunately, the second serving was still too salty. Mackenzie handled the situation with professionalism and grace. She later explained that the recipe had recently been adjusted and noted that the naturally salty ingredients—capers, anchovies, and clams—had compounded the issue. Her transparency and willingness to address my concerns left a positive impression. This experience reinforced an important reminder: it’s okay to speak up if something isn’t quite right. Giving the staff an opportunity to respond and find a solution is key. I’ve been a loyal patron of Spinnakers since the 1990s and have always appreciated their excellent food and service. While this dish didn’t quite hit the mark for me, I value the way the team handled the feedback and will certainly continue to enjoy everything else this iconic brewhouse has to offer.

My husband and I drove down from Nanaimo to enjoy a day in Victoria. Decided to have a nice "to go" dinner because that's what we do these days. (Thanks COVID!) Anyway...I remembered I enjoyed the bangers and mash the last time I was at Spinnakers so I called and placed my order. The menu had changed and the sausage was a turkey and cranberry banger with roasted root veg mash and stuffing. It was DELICIOUS! I couldn't have asked for better. The stuffing was rich and buttery with lots of flavour...gravy was peppery and smooth and the mash had lots of texture and mouth appeal. Presentation was a bit messy but that was my fault for ordering extra gravy. It wasn't needed...it would have been perfect with whatever they had planned for it. They know how to cook! Hubby enjoyed his burger and fries ...I didn't give him much talk time over all my mmmmm's! Upon picking up the order I also grabbed a fresh focaccia and a couple of lavender shortbreads. I'm too full to eat them now but I'm sure we will enjoy them later. Thank You Spinnakers for the great dining experience...in our truck... overlooking the harbour. Very happy!

It started when we were seen by the host and requested a table for 2. He took us to a 4-top jammed in a corner by another 4-top table in use. I looked and there were a string of open 2-tops along the windows overlooking the patio and water. He moved us and we were seated and greeted by a very friendly server. It took awhile for the wine to arrive and we ordered dinner. That took quite a long while. The salad came with the entrees so food got cold while eating the salad. My wife's entree was wrong. I ordered the burger. The house made bun was hard. Maybe it sat under a warming lamp for a while (the fries were warm not hot although they were very good). Another very long while for my wife to get her correct entree. Only on rare occasion will I not give a restaurant a second chance as there can be off nights. This is one of those occasions. We will not return.

The views and the building are the best thing to recommend about it, and it's right on the Songhees Walkway, so it's a convenient place to stop if you're on a walk. It's always pricier than I remember, and the food and drinks are always just fine. Their beers are okay, their seafood chowder, fish and chips, and mac & cheese are totally edible. But if you're gonna spend $20 on a burger or $25 on a pizza there are so many better options in town.

It's really unfortunate that when 2 people go to a place for lunch that one dish is outstanding (Mac & Cheese with pulled pork add-on) and the other is disappointing (House Made Kielbasa Baguette). Anyone who has had a `hot dog' doesn't expect that the seller is going to cut the sausage in half and put that on a big bun and smother it with greenery! That is the case here and it was really disappointing that they decided that their sausage can't be delivered as a whole item on a bun/baguette like the rest of the world who consume sausages on buns! The proportions here are wrong. The place has been around for a long time so I would expect better consistency. The kielbasa was also not that great either when compared to real Ukrainian sausage (very bland). The pulled pork add-on to the Mac & Cheese was very tasty, not too much BBQ sauce, and I believe there was some heat added to the Mac that made the dish very `more-ish'. Kudos to the Chef on this one!

Great outdoor seating and views. Dog-friendly. Really good pizza and beers and EXCELLENT service. Gendered bathrooms :( 5/10 comfort rating for outside chairs.

We stopped for lunch at Spinnakers while making our way around the Songhee Walkway. The restaurant has main and second level tables with a beautiful view overlooking the water. The pizza and clam chowder looked delicious, but we opted for sandwiches. My hubby ordered the pulled pork sandwich. It was moist and full of flavor with a decent amount of slaw on it. I had the salmon burger and was pleasantly surprised to see the it was a full piece of salmon rather than a patty. It was cooked perfectly and nicely seasoned. I highly recommend the fries too. There is a full bar, in fact one upstairs as well as on the main level. They have some really good looking cocktails, with and without alcohol as well as well as home brews and sodas. Service was a little slow, but that seems to be the case everywhere these days with places struggling to get enough employees. This was a great stop on our walk.

Our 1st night in Victoria and we were looking for some place to sit down for dinner. For those familiar, this felt very similar to a McMenamins from Oregon/Washington. We split the shrimp flatbread & Kale Caesar, and each tried a beer. All was lovely!

I went to Spinnaker's when it first opened in the 1980s and I've come back every time I visit Victoria. it remains an excellent place for food and beverages. I don't agree with anybody not giving it a five-star review; I was there on a Wednesday night and it was packed with locals. The locals seem to know it's an excellent place, and I've noticed that some of the negative reviews are because sometimes there are long waiting times. of course, a bad restaurant has no long wait times.

Excellent choices of draft beers! We ordered Fish & Chips. Halibut fish was tender and very good but truffle fries were just okay. Waitress and service was excellent! Friendly, knowledgeable and flexible.

Poorly trained staff, worst experience ever in any establishment. Management needs to do a better job at training staff.

Great view, even if I got sunburnt. Figuring I should go West Coast local, I had the smoked salmon pizza. While the cheese and shrimp were nice, the smoked salmon was dried out enough that it wasn't especially flavorful for a house smoked meat, so I wasn't all that impressed.

We went for dinner last night in the main restaurant and were very disappointed. We live in area and this is not the first time we have had a poor service experience at Spinnakers. We received our first drink order only to be ignored until our meals arrived and our glassware had to be removed before placing our dinner. The servers walked away not offering us anything else, no wine, no water, no condiments??When a server finally returned to ask about our meals and was told by my guests that her salmon was not great, the server smiled and walk away and never returned again. We sat with finished plates in front of us for awhile until I waved our server down and again we were not ask if we needed anything else. I'm sorry to say as a local I will not be back. What has happened to our local Pub?

Weird expensive menu. Thought it would be more "pub" food but it sure wasn't. It's pricey too!! I went with a group (so not my choice) but wouldn't choose to go back on my own. Our server was busy for sure, we were a large group, but we didn't just show up, we had a reservation, so they knew we were coming. She was terse and curt and we felt like we were inconveniencing her. I'd be looking for somewhere else!!

This review is long overdue given that I went here during Dine Around, so thank goodness for the notes saved on my phone! First things first, we were initially given the dinner menu despite coming in for lunch and for Dine Around. When the Dine Around menu ($20) did come, it was slightly different than what was online (e.g. some dishes were not listed or were in a different section). Though this caught my friend and I by surprise, it didn't affect our decision too much as the dishes we wanted were still on the menu. WILD PACIFIC FISH CAKE: I found the tarragon hollandaise sauce too tarte, and the fish cake a bit overcooked and dry. I was also hopeful that the fish cake would be nestled atop a celeriac remoulade (as seen on their Facebook page), but staying true to the Dine Around menu, it only had the sauce to accompany it. Had the celeriac remoulade been there, its fattiness may have helped to balance the flavour of the dish more. WILD MUSHROOM RAGOUT HASH: Though on the smaller side, I enjoyed how each element came together in this dish. The egg was beautifully poached, with its orange yolk coating each potato, mushroom, and green. The potatoes were bite-sized, and along with the mushrooms, were both tender and well-seasoned. CARAMEL FRENCH TOAST: You would think that a dish with caramel, french toast, and a poached pear would be a cavity waiting to happen, but I surprisingly did not find this dish to be overly sweet. I think the espresso whipped cream and the granola streusel played a role in downplaying the sweeter elements of the dish. The poached pear was divine and added a nice fruity flavour overall. Between the entree and the dessert, I might have to hand it off to the dessert this time because I was fairly impressed. (And this says a lot, coming from someone who doesn't have much of a sweet tooth!) Although I was inclined to give Spinnakers a 3/5, I think that the value, service, and oceanside view (absolutely gorgeous!) are enough to edge it into the 4/5 category.

This is a super restaurant. Service staff is very friendly. My first time and I arrived with a very large party. A co-worker and I ordered both the duck confit pizza and shepherd's pie and split them. Both were very good. Shepherd's Pie had a nice mild kick of spice, but the duck pizza had a great flavor. I would recommend either. Another co-worker ordered the spicy chicken sandwich, she said it was amazing. She tried my pizza but said her sandwich was way better, so idk lol We'll definitely be back next year!

Nice view. Lively setting where people can relax and enjoy conversation. Good breakfast options (frittatas, eggs/potatoes). Friendly and kind servers (ours was Jenna). They also took good care of our 1-yr old (high-chair, even crayons and worksheets!). We really appreciated it.

Spinnakers is an old, historic brewpub that people should not be surprised that it lasted this long! This is a great place to quench multiple types of thirst for beer: from sampling 5oz glasses to 64oz loads for sharing. That day I just had high tea at The Empress Hotel, so I opted for the 5oz lager... In the spirit of Britain, I ordered Sockeye Salmon and Chips (the British call fries chips... ok ) Before it came, I was provided a small jar of salt and a tall bottle of malt vinegar, which built some nice suspense. The very taste of the dish brought me back to my study abroad days in London two years ago! Paired with the lager, the fried shell of the salmon tasted extra decadent. Usually I fear that the salmon is over cooked and too dry, but it turned out completely fine! The meat was soft, juicy, and aromatic and the Tartar sauce complement was on point! Later, I decided to go for the rose cider and I was glad I did. It was not only fruity, but also dry and not sickly sweet. What a perfect last dinner in Victoria, with the sunset and harbor view! There is nothing like eating decadent seafood along the water with a picturesque vista!

We took the water taxi over and walked to Spinnakers for a little nosh and a pint. What a beautiful building and they have a nice view. Our server was cordial and attentive. We missed happy hour (oh well) but grabbed a couple beers and a cider) then had a few appetizers and they were ok. We shared a crunchy chicken sandwich which had really nice flavor but the highlight of that sandwich were all the pickled "things" like the pickled onions on the sandwich or the pickled green beans in the side! The bun was also delicious. Then an order of smoked chicken wings which were a bit dry and some fries. The highlight was their sauce for the fries! Oh my delicious! It's good bar food. And the pool tables are fun also. It's a nice spot I will say their in house made chocolates were amazing!! I would also grab a loaf of bread too it looked insane!

Delishious apple rhubarb cider! Fresh salad, butternut squash and bacon on a flatbread - yummy! Really cool older building with lots of hardwood charm. Loved the deck looking toward the water - easy walking distance from the marina. Great lunch on a perfect fall day.

I went there with 3 friends who all ordered chicken wings which where quite small and very dry. I ordered the salmon and cream cheese bagel which was awful. Scant amount of salmon, 4 very thin small slices and the bagel was dry, stale and hard to swallow. Eat somewhere else

I really wanted to love this pub, especially after meeting a WW2 vet just outside who told me some of his life stories, and also some stories about Spinnakers. But, it just didn't work out. These 2 stars are for the location and view. Cool old brewpub, with some nice decor elements and a fantastic view of the bay. But, I tend to agree with some of the other comments on the food. I went in for a look on a Tuesday afternoon and it was almost empty, perhaps to be expected for a Tuesday. Because of the poor reviews on food, I dipped my toes in by trying 2 of the happy hour items (and also since it was happy hour, ha): 1. Smoked Brisket Ends with horseradish aioli. 0/5, it was almost inedible unless you like deep fried beef fat - because that was exactly what it was. No smoke at all, and literally 90% fat, some pieces 100%. When I think of smoked brisket ends, I think of charred and chewy bits of caramelized smokey goodness. That it was not. It was almost as if they took the fat trimmings from the brisket, cut them into cubes and deep fried them. Completely lacking of flavour or discernible smoke, seasoning was off too. Horseradish aioli was not very horseradish-ey. I had to send it back, which I almost never do on happy hour items....Just don't do it. 2. The Brickoven baked focaccia, with malt vinegar, sea salt, rosemary and olive oil, (1/5). Decent flavours here, but the focaccia was underwhelming. Was like plain store-bought, and not warm at all. You would think it would be warm and toasty based on the description on menu. **** I will say both my servers were attentive and lovely to deal with (4/5). A few years back I had these delicious smoked / grilled wings here, and they were great, but not enough to get me to visit this place again. Bye Spinnakers

An all around excellent meal. First, our service was impeccable, our server didn't miss a beat, water right away, drink order taken right away, drinks arrived within minutes, appetizer and meal order right away. We started with the cold fish plate. it was to die for, excellent tuna, smoked oysters and smoked salmon with bread, crackers and a coleslaw that was the best I've ever had. I had the smoked oyster and fish fettuccine, it was heavenly, fresh oysters and fish, the penne sauce was scrumptious, my friends had the Salisbury steak and the Poke bowl, both excellent, fresh ingredients, it was the best meal in a long time.

Holy crap everything here was awesome. We walked over from around the Clipper ferry dock. Nice riverfront scapes. Maybe an hour walk? Maybe only a 1/2 hour. We didn't make a reservation but seems like we should have. We lucked into a table right at opening. And it was full when we left. It was Super Bowl Sunday. Alright. One negative to remark on first then I'll commence gushing. I had my phone on the table and my server spilled some water on the table pouring water. Some splashed and spilled on to the table and phone. Nothing damaged. No harm done. But then she said "That's the worst possible place for that." It wasn't like "Oh, clumsy me" or any laughing, it seemed 100% serious. The table had a lovely view of the bay and we arrived right at opening (noon I believe) on Sunday. They had a nice cafe that served cold brew. Almost ordered one but held back. So the table enjoyed: Appetizer clams Irish Coffee Caesar's (like a bloody Mary) Wee Scotch Egg Seafood chowder Everything was spectacular. It all came out together. The clams were served with a mini baguette that was buttered and melty. The soup came with a slice of white bread and the egg came with stone mustard and a few slices of bread. Irish coffee was served in a clear espresso type cup with a biscotti/scone nibbler. Cute touch. The chowder was really hearty and savory without being too creamy or bland or too salty or thick. It was perfect. I hope it didn't come from a premixed bag. My drink was savory and crisp and I really enjoyed the Sunday $7 special! Save a few bucks! The stand out for me was the clam appetizer. It's entree size for one and def fed two. The loaf is so buttery and melty and perfect for sopping up the onion bacon salty broth. The clams were tender, not rubbery or gritty. If you're in town briefly, this is a definite thought for a meal. Really nice vistas and a healthy tap list. Cocktails looked tasty. Oh! And because Victoria was one of the most friendly places I've visited, an elderly gentleman stopped us while we half studied our map like tourists. "Can I help you folks?" We asked how far it was and if it was good. He said him and his wife never go despite its popularity because she's allergic to garlic and they are a garlicky place. FACT. EVERY SINGLE THING I HAD, HAD garlic in it. That's a plus for me though but still worth mentioning.

I went for brunch there last week and it was one of the worst meals I have had in the city. My friend and I ordered pretty traditional breakfasts but I could only finish half of what I was served. The scrambled eggs were a mere drop on the plate...this was one egg not two as advertised. The sausage was like a brick..so hard I could not even cut it...tasteless as well. Three quarters of the plate was covered with stone cold, tasteless potatoes. The white bread was too hard to bite into and was cold as well. This place might be a good pub to drop in for a beer or a glass of wine but the food was awful. The chef seemed to have thrown together a plate of leftovers that were too hard to chew, stone cold and completely devoid of taste. The coffee was bitter and stale. This place is not known for its food but some effort put into their meals would have been nice. Never again!!!!!

On the third morning of our stay in Victoria, daughter and I drove over to Esquimalt after breakfast at the hotel to see Spinnakers Pub, and environs. We arrived about 8:30am, the morning bright, sunny and clear, and just perfect for our sightseeing and viewing possibilities. After going inside and checking out the dining room and lounge areas, and the nice views from each, we walked a ways on the winding path out back - catching some wonderful views of Victoria's harbour, and immediate surroundings. We could not have asked for a better day, weather-wise, but our morning was about to get even better soon. Once back to Spinnakers after our walkabout, a great surprise - though only about 9:20am, the pub was already open for business! Yeah, we decided to try a round of one of their ale 'flights'. We settled on a "Flight of Four", from a list of choices they call 'Classics' -- we chose 5 oz glasses, and picked the following four ales: Spinnakers Lager, Nut Brown Ale, Original Pale Ale, and Bay Bridge IPA. The four provided a nice range of tastes, from light and crisp, to light-and-full-bodied, to deep amber and nutty. We missed being able to sample only one - the Extra Special Bitter. They were all fine brews, and we really enjoyed them. If asked to pick two favourites - it would be the Original Pale Ale, and Nut Brown Ale for her, and the Bay Bridge IPA, and Nut Brown Ale for me. In summary: our Spinnakers visit provided some wonderful viewings of it and the area, and a much-enjoyed, early-morning "beer flight break" for the two of us. The staff were friendly and very courteous, and even though the top floor lounge was currently under renovation and closed, we were allowed to go up and catch a look at the area, and views from there - sure appreciated that. The property itself was beautiful, and the views wonderful. The ales cool and tasty, and they sure hit the spot. Visiting Spinnakers, and its environs, turned out to be such fine contribution to our morning!

Great blue cheese flat bread and smoked salmon pizza provided a lovely evening at this consistently reliable venue .

So hard to give Spinnakers this review. My wife and I have been going here for 11 years and have a lot of history with this place. The building, beer and food are amazing- but the service has gone down hill to the point that we had to walk out three out of the seven times before Covid happened. It was a raining fall day so we thought it'd be nice to walk down to spinnakers and give it another shot. This is now in the Covid swing of things. When we placed our order I thought things would have changed in the last year, guess not.... the service was as cold as the food that came out 45 min later. This wasn't a fillet mignon in duck - it was bacon and eggs. Spinnakers use to be a local pub that Victoria was proud of and one of the first brewpubs around and maybe it's new owners, or something happening between the servers. Wish it was like it use to be. Props to the kitchen and brewers, you guys have always been on point - spinnakers you're nose diving and you got to pull up. Hate on this review all you want - these are just facts Covid or not.

Waited 30 mins for a table in the evening - no problem, except the hostess seated 2 other tables who arrived after us first. Explanation - sorry, your name seems to have disappeared from my list. Good beer and food, but the hostess put a damper on it

Really, just OK. Food and beer, very average. Good service. Would not return.... Got the seafood chowder...not thick at all...very thin & brothy....green salad had Pesto....not mentioned on menu... wouldn't have ordered.

My wife and I travel to Victoria, BC regularly. Personally, I've been going there most of my life on vacations. When you know an area well, you start to figure out the "must go to spots". Every trip, we hit Spinnakers at least once. The restaurant build out is kind of cool, but the best place to sit is on one of the two patios. Their property sits right on the edge of the Inner Harbor (Harbour?) and is a really nice place to grab a bite to eat and enjoy one of their micro brews. I wouldn't say it's the most amazing restaurant that I've eaten at, but I always get a cup of their excellent seafood chowder and fish and chips. You have three choices: cod, halibut and, my favorite, salmon. The fish is always fresh, the portions are satisfying and the batter is just right. They are served with a tartar sauce, but I use the malt vinegar that is always on the table. They have a nice little dessert menu. It changes up with the seasons, and is a nice way to finish off a lunch or dinner. I'd recommend it at least once. Who knows...you might become a traveling regular, like we are.

Great brewpub! We went on a Friday night so it was busy! It's an old house style Pub with two floors, bottom floor is more of a restaurant vibe. Upstairs is more of the pub feel with pool tables and tvs. We sat upstairs. They have games like trivial pursuit etc if you're so inclined, and we were. It's a fun atmosphere. Their beer is pretty good. We tried a pale ale and a lager and liked both. My boyfriend and I both ordered the pub burger with beet and goat cheese salad. It was higher quality pub fare for sure. The burger was made fresh, very juicy and lots of flavour. Beet salad was new to me and I loved it....mmmm creamy goat cheese! Oh and our server was great. We didn't feel abandoned even though it was busy. She always made sure we had a drink. We also took one of their lager growlers to go. Only 10 bucks for one, good deal! All in all its a nice little spot for a Friday evening out. You have to find parking on the street though. I didn't notice much of a parking lot.

The first couple times I came here, the food was good. Interesting locally sourced ingredients, and good flavour. But the last several times I've been sorely disappointed; I had the baba ghanouj recently and it was so unbelievably bland I was more inclined to eat the flatbread on its own. There was no brightness to it at all. The green salad which I had last time is also insipid. It relies too heavily on the cheese for the flavour. Breakfast is all right here, nothing special. The saving grace was the beer and truffle pairing--the chocolatier is doing some wizardry! Won't be back for the food, sadly, for a Victoria "institution" they could be doing soooo much better.

Large multi level bistro pub with views of ocean. Excellent food selection. I had the Brown rice bowl. Very odd flavours in the rice bowl with smoked mushrooms that tasted awful (akin to eating smoke and and dust), and the pickled beans were an acquired taste but still better than the mushrooms. Salmon was good as well as the halibut salad. Very good beers on tap including batters. Our server was excellent and accommodating. Excellent views of the harbour.

Despite being located away from downtown Victoria, a cool place by the way, Spinnakers does a fine job of making up for that by putting forth a solid overall product. They have beers that would satisfy the wide range of beer taste buds that likely come in the door. Yet for all the beer offerings, I remember most the food. For me it was charcuterie all the way, and yup no regrets. The pub is a really cool spot overlooking the water, and makes for nice city light viewing. Overall, the place is inviting too, and anybody could see that this was a nice spot to gather and socialize. Again, great overall product, even if there is no signature drink or dish. If in Victoria, I'd hit it up again, no question.

The Original Pale Ale is very nice! The food, on the other hand, ranged between barely tolerable and unremarkable. Avoid the kale Caesar salad which MAY have contained a teaspoon of dressing. We ordered the BC cheese pizza expecting a cheese-smothered flatbread but instead we were left wondering if they forgot the cheese. With all the great restaurants in Victoria, go somewhere - anywhere - else.

Really nice location but not so nice staff. I was ordering an apps that was displayed on a menu on the table and she told me that I couldn't get that on weekends. I stated "darn I really wanted those, You guys shouldn't tease us by having this menu on the table" and I laughed, meaning it as a joke. However she responded by saying "fine!" And ripping the menu out of my hands and storming off to take another tables order. When she came back we said we would not be ordering. I have never experience such rude service by someone. Almost complained to the manager but don't think it's worth it but this was very sad to be treated this way when you're here on vacation and drive a long way to come here.

One of my favourite places in Victoria. Great drink and decent food, and great atmosphere. It's a good place to come with a group, but I also frequently bring my laptop to work. The service is always fast and friendly. I also have a special weakness for the toffee they sell at the shop up front and always buy some to bring home.

Went for lunch. Had pub burger and I enjoyed it. Nice spot and view. My mate had a salmon burger she felt too much bread and ate basically as a filet. Thought be more a salmon patty but was still very good. Beer good too.

The smoked chicken wings here are an absolute must. Probably my favourite appie on the menu to start things off. Followed it up with a custom Gin and Tonic made with their own in-house pink grapefruit gin which I couldn't recommend more. Ended up buying a small bottle of it at the shop on the way out (for around $25)! Enjoyed a fantastic salmon burger for the main, and while the salmon was excellent, I have never been a fan of the Ciabatta bun. Always impossible to keep together when eating like a sandwich as it falls apart almost as soon as you pick it up. Had to fork and knife it, but first world problems I guess! Patio has a great view and vibe if you catch it on a calm sunset evening. A staple in Victoria!

Just had the worst hamburger of my life in this place. Purple cabbage on what was supposed to be a cheeseburger?? . No service at all. Why would I EVER go back?? Simply said... I won't. Save your money people.

We had a fun meal at this lively gastropub. The vibe was fun. The waitstaff were very nice. The beer was OK. I had an IPA- I believe it was the Juice Monkey. It reminded me of beer that I had in the Czech Republic- very smooth and drinkable. It wasn't as hoppy as I expected. In a similar vein, the home made bread was underwhelming. Dinner was very good. The burger was good. I enjoyed my fish and chips- the halibut was excellent. The salad was good. A better than average experience.

Excellent food and beer. We had the charcuterie - one of the best I have enjoyed. They use all local sourcing. Also had the asparagus goat cheese flat bread - very tasty from crust to the toppings. I especially liked Juice Monkey as a beer go with. I was a little disappointed in their upstairs tasting area - staff a little dense and unhelpful (when I asked if they had tastings available - they seemed perplexed by my question. This inquiry should NOT have been difficult for tasting room staff in Victoria's oldest brew pub. Mebe some better training is in order.. In any event - the food and beer IS very good and u would highly recommend the gastropub. I still spent over $200 in off sales, baked goods and culinary products in their retail so they do leave a good impression with me.

I loved Spinnakers! We walked here from downtown and while it seemed like a long walk it was probably only 20 minutes or so. We arrived tired and thirsty and found seating right away on the upstairs patio. It was chilly but the heaters made the outdoor seating pleasant. The view from the deck was amazing! See my pictures which I uploaded for proof. The Olympic Mountains which we usually don't see from the north side in Seattle, were right in front of us and just beautiful. Now onto the beer. We had a hard time choosing which beers to enjoy and luckily the beer and chocolate pairing was just what I needed. It allowed me to enjoy a few beers and then have a little treat to go with them on the side. How sweet. We didn't order any food here since we had previously eaten, but everything on the menu looked amazing. The food that was bussed by us looked even more amazing. The service we received along with the beer is certainly enough to bring me back here. I'm glad we made the trek over!

I was visiting the Vancouver island area with my family. My wife and her family would eat here during their visit, so when we went I knew I had to try it. First I will say, after parking and getting out of the car the awful brewing stench hits your nose, and frankly made us feel ill. The inside of the restaurant was nice. There is a nice view of the water. Drinks ordered and my wife's fresh squeezed lemonade tasted rancid. Beer battered cod was one huge piece of batter over a small piece of fish. We requested the regular fries be replaced with truffle fries, this did not happen. We had to ask twice for the fries we ordered. Got the check and saw that they charged me for a very small side of bbq sauce I ordered withy meal. I have never been so penny pinched and charged money for a condiment. Poor experience overall.

Spinnakers is a fantastic brewpub. The view is wonderful, the staff and atmosphere is terrific, and the food is fantastic. I've been several times since moving to Victoria and It's very high on my list of favourite places for a meal. The Cache Creek Flank Steak is very good, Salt Spring Shiitake Mushrooms are killer, but the West Coast Fish Plate is something I need in my life more often. So great. Personal note as a long story made short: I was just there and though some confusion, asked to speak to the manager with a problem I was having with a gift certificate. This was no fault of Spinnakers at all, it was through a third party misrepresenting the value of the certificate. But I spoke to Emily, the manager there, and she was wonderful, helped sort things out quickly, and went above and beyond in accommodating me and my friends. I didn't think I could love this place more, but that extra detail puts it over the top. Thanks to Emily, all the great staff at Spinnakers, and I can't wait to come back again.

We had a local tell us about this place as we were pub hopping on our vacation. Sure glad they did. Good drinks and good food. The servers and bartender were friendly. The atmosphere was good. We were on the second level bar, not the dining lower floor. We would deffinatley come back again if we come into town.

5 stars more for the guesthouse- I would 100% stay here again. Pizza was good and my partners burger was as well- but this was our birthday dinner so the selection left much to be desired. Beer was ok. If you are here, don't forget the chocolate. We loved that we spent the night in Downtown, ate here and walked a short ways to our guesthouse. Quiet area with beautiful views. Guesthouse had a jacuzzi tub, patio, beautiful bed and lots of character. Breakfast brought to the room included. I wish I had pics but our camera battery's died. the place had a chef, chocolatier and beer master. Pretty good and pretty views.

So far the worst dining experience I've had in years ! Tasting board was the smallest amount of anything I ever seen for $20. The balance of our meal was like a cheap lunch..only not that cheap .. and then there was the service .. or not Offer water .. no offer coffee refills .... no..,, do a table check.... no Bring bread with gluten free soup ? Yes .. Very disappointing .. in a city where I'm almost always impressed..

Lovely view of the harbor and excellent service. Food was good and very flavorful. Great menu diversity and a lovely wine and beer list. Noisy venue, but a great casual ambience.