Destination:Drink ~ Victoria, BC

~ A week in B.C. was highlighted with a trip to Victoria, and delicious things awaited ~ 

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A week on the magical oasis of Salt Spring Island contained enough fantastic food and drink to keep me happy for the summer and beyond, but a day trip by ferry to Victoria on Vancouver Island was a lovely addition. The need for caffeine called after stepping off the ferry, and without a read on the local scene in the small coastal town of Crofton, we were thrilled to discover great coffee at Cedrick's Coffee House. Serving up Drumroasters Coffee roasted nearby in Cobble Hill, the cafe was quaint and cozy -  we sipped a lovely espresso and took a house drip brew to go as we headed to Victoria. 

Our first stop in Victoria included more coffee (obviously), and we sampled a Sirene Chocolate bar at Bows and Arrows alongside our Ethiopian pourover. 

The inviting atmosphere and stunning food program frames the beverage options well at Fernwood Coffee - a house espresso accompanied a canned Coffee Cream Soda, and the coconut yam lemongrass soup was also a must-try. So good. 

Photo courtesy of Hey Happy

After a stellar experience with a iced coconut milk latte at Hey Happy in 2015, we had to go back - a multi-roaster coffee bar, featured beans include 49th Parallel (Vancouver), Elm Coffee Roasters (Seattle), and Heart Roasters (Portland).
Reminiscent of summer experiences with the same drink at Mud Pie in Kansas City for me, we were excited to find cascara slushies on the menu as well - in a real slushie machine, no less! 

More Bows and Arrows love at Habit Coffee, this time with a refreshing cold brew sipped in their classic, brick walled, coffee house setting. 
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Photo courtesy of smokysweet.com

Pre-dinner cocktails did not disappoint at Little Jumbo - the romantic lighting made capturing the incredible beverages rather difficult, but we appreciate the great job Smoky Sweet did in that arena. Highlights included creations using Cutty Sark Prohibition Scotch, Boodles Gin, local (Vancouver) Woods Spirit Co. Amaro, and rhubarb bitters. A wonderful experience all round! 

Photo courtesy of loosenyourbelt.blogspot.com

We ended a wonderful day in Victoria with an incredible dinner at Cafe Brio and a bottle of​ Palazzo Della Torre Veronese – Allegrini 2012 (Veneto, Italy) to accompany it. Can't wait for my next visit! ~ Sadie