James Bay Self-Guided Food Tour
Discover hidden gardens and local gastronomy on a self-guided food tour of Victoria's oldest suburb. No tour guide, no groups, no time constraints. All you need is your cell phone and an appetite!Duration
Roughly 2 hours
Price
$45 CAD
Availability
April-October
Your journey begins…
Once you have purchased your self-guided tour you pick-up your foodie passport from our downtown location inside the Steamship Terminal Building at 470 Belleville Street. We will help you download the free APP and get you started so you can head to the beginning of the tour to start your culinary journey of James Bay. Discover the neighbourhood using our GPS app and foodie passport.
Time to explore James Bay…
Using our foodie passport and the GPS-triggered APP you will discover the many features of Victoria’s oldest suburb while stopping at five local foodie businesses. Sample traditional Indigenous Cuisine with a bite of Bannock, indulge in a slice of pizza from the Islands only floating pizzeria, dine on local cuisine inside a vintage steamship terminal, dive into decadent truffles inside a 100-year old corner store, and end the tour at a local grocery store to sample some local coffee and roasted nuts.
Details
Passport Pick-up: 470 Belleville Street
Included In Cost: 5 foodie samples plus downloadable audio tour.
Tour Start Location: Imagine Studio Cafe (31 Erie Street)
Ending Place: For Good Measure (579 Niagara Street)
Cost: $45 per passport
Tour Partners: Visit five local small businesses including Imagine Studio Cafe, Pirate Pizza, Off The Eaten Track, Terrible Truffles, and For Good Measure.
Dietary Concerns
This tour is vegetarian. This tour cannot be made dairy free, gluten free, or peanut free. If you have allergies we suggest joining our guided tours.
Highlights
• Sample five foodie dishes including bannock, pizza, local cheese & crackers, a duo of truffles, and a local coffe, and roasted nuts. Samples may vary depending on availability and seasonality.
• Sights include popular Fisherman’s Wharf, Pendray Mansion, Steamship Terminal, Legislature Building, and the Emily Carr House.
• Listen to stories, history, and find hidden private gardens using our free GPS-triggered APP.
Tour Information
Time: 11am-5pm
Availability: Tuesday-Sunday
Technology Needed: App works on both Apple and Android phones. May need Apple ID to download APP.
Seasonal: This tour runs April-October
Walking Distance: Roughly 3 km, total walking time approximately 2 hours.
A TASTE OF WHAT YOU’LL SEE
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How do self-guided tours work!
Do I have to purchase tickets in advance?
No, however we highly recommed booking in advance to guarantee the restaurants have the samples ready. We do take same day bookings but we can’t guarantee the restaurants will have the samples available at the end of the day. So while not necessary to pre-book – it is highly recommended.
Does the APP work on any cell phone?
Yes, the APP will work on both Apple devices and Android phones. If you have an Apple phone, please note that you will need to know your Apple ID in order to download the APP.
Will I need WIFI to use the APP?
No. Once you have downloaded the APP and added the tour, your phone uses GPS to locate you and play the tour. We do have free WIFI at our kiosk – you will need WIFI in order to initially download the APP.
Where do I pick-up the foodie passport?
You can purchase and pick-up the self-gudied tours from our downtown location. We are located inside the Steamship Terminal Building (470 Belleville Street). We share the locations with the Starbucks.
What's included in the cost?
The cost includes 5 food samples and the downloadable audio tour.
How much food is included?
There are five small samples included. I would not consider this a full meal, more of an opportunity to try a few local dishes and a fun way to explore the city. If you are looking for a more significant portion sized tour, consider doing one of our guided food tours.
Can you share the passport and samples?
Yes. Each passport is meant for one person but you are welcome to share the passport and the samples.
Are there vegetarian options?
This tour is pescatarian meaning there is no meat on the tour however there is a seafood sample (seafood chowder at Barb’s Fish & Chips).
What if I have dietary restrictions?
Because this is a self-guided tour it is not ideal for people with many dietary restrictions. The samples are set and can not be swapped out. If you have dietary restrictions we suggest joining one of our guided food tours, we can easily accommodate allergies on the guided tours.
How long does a self-guided tour take?
We suggest planning for a 2 hour experience if you do the tour all at once. However, the passport is valid for 2 weeks after pick-up so no rush to get it done all at once.
How much walking is there?
Depends on the tour however please note that you will be outside and walking for at least 1 hour, more on the James Bay Self-Guided Tour. We suggest wearing comfortable shoes and dressing for the weather.
What if I lose the passport?
Unfortunately lost passports can not be replaced. Keep is safe!
Are tours offered only in English?
Currently our self-guided tours are only offered in English however we are working on having them translated into a few more languages for 2023.
