Friday, March 29, 2024

6 ‘late night’ cafes in Victoria where you can grab a hot beverage after the sun goes down

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Greater Victoria is a notoriously sleepy city that closes up shop early and switches from Blundstones to slippers at about 7 p.m. 

The city has around 1,000 bars and pubs where you can go to get some evening work done or read a book on any given night, but what about if you don’t want a noisy pub environment?

Or maybe alcohol just isn’t your thing.

For the purposes of this article and given the context of Victoria, anywhere that doesn’t close until 8 p.m. will be referred to as a “late night” spot. Most bars close at 10 p.m. here anyway, so that seems like a fair designation. 

Here are six places you can grab a coffee, tea or a pastry in the evening and get some work done:

Moka House Coffee

Nuzzled in the heart of Cook Street Village, Moka House Coffee puts an emphasis on building community in their space. 

They also have a location in Cadboro Bay near the University, but the Cook Street location keeps their doors open to caffeine junkies until 8 p.m. and that is what makes them a “late night” spot. 

They source their coffee from Sacred Acre Coffee that is roasted weekly and brewed with care in all three locations. 

  • Where: 345 Cook Street, Victoria
  • When: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday to Sunday

Soupa Cafe

Both their original downtown location and their new location in the old Esquimalt bingo hall are open “late” until 8 p.m. 

They have soups, sandwiches, flatbreads, salads, hot drinks, pastries and most importantly, a cozy calm vibe.

Right now their cafe also features a big Christmas tree to give you a nice living room feeling. 

This is the perfect spot to grab a late night cup of coffee, have a heart-warming bowl of chili and a Turkey sandwich while getting some work done or reading a book. 

  • Downtown:
    • #145 – 736 View Street
    • 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday to Friday, 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. on Saturdays
  • Esquimalt: 
    • 820 Esquimalt Road
    • 11am – 8pm Monday to Friday

QV Cafe & Bakery

In the heart of downtown on Fisgard, right beside the iconic Chinatown archway, QV has some of the best cakes and sweet treats in town. 

They also keep their doors open extremely “late” for Victoria, maybe the latest cafe in town! They shut their doors at 10 p.m. every day. 

Lots of room to read a book or bring your laptop if you are feeling like having a workaholic evening. 

Grab a warm drink, a cozy corner and a delicious pastry here any day of the week!

  • Where: 1701 Government Street
  • When: 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday to Sunday

Cat’s Coffee and Cake

A truly brilliant bakery and a beautiful place for students to congregate as it is located so near to the university. 

Are there actual cats? Sadly no. Are there cat themed treats? Absolutely, yes. 

Cat’s downtown stays open until 9 p.m. on the weekends and 7:30 p.m. on weekdays. Their Cadboro Bay spot is open until 7:30 p.m. throughout the week. 

That gives plenty of cozy vibe time in the evening to cram for the upcoming finals or just meet up with friends and spend some student loan money.

  • Downtown:
    • 1213 Douglas Street
    • 7:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Monday to Thursday, 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., Friday to Sunday
  • University:
    • 2560B Sinclair Road
    • 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday to Sunday

Caffe Fantastico / Tre Fantastico

Caffe Fantastico is the roastery in Quadra Village that serves warm food, delicious pastries and some of the best locally roasted coffee in the capital region. They also have beer for those who dabble in that kind of thing. This cafe is open “late” from Thursday to Saturday. 

Tre Fantastico is a more bistro style spot but it is ‘Fantastico’ at heart. It’s downtown and keeps its doors open “late” as well. 

  • Caffe Fantastico:
    • 965 Kings Road
    • 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday to Saturday, 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sunday to Wednesday
  • Tre Fantastico:
    • 810 Humboldt Street
    • 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday to Tuesday

Did we miss something? Let us know if you have a cozy late night destination that isn’t on our list in the comments!

mm
Curtis Blandy
curtis@victoriabuzz.com

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