Victoria’s Secrets

Discover the livelier side of the City of Gardens

GRAB THE BEST BUNS Burger mania has hit town! Try The Pink Bicycle ( 1008 Blanshard St., pinkbicycleburger.com) or Mafia Burger (730 Caledonia Ave., facebook.com/ mafiaburger). 19th- century Majestic Theatre cinema inside the Royal BC Museum’s This Old Town (675 Belleville St., royalbcmuseum. bc.ca). EAT WITH A LOCAL Sit down at the communal table at The London Chef (953 Fort St., thelondon chef. com), a hip culinary centre that features great grub from London-born chef Dan Hayes, Victoria’s version of Jamie Oliver.

SLEEP IN Book one of the ultrachic rooms at the Inn at Laurel Point (680 Montreal St., laurelpoint.com), designed by award-winning British Columbia architect Arthur Erickson. The Inn is bright, minimalist and ubercomfy.

British Columbia’s capital can be prim and proper on

the surface, but once you get inside, it's one hip city.

HAVE A CUPPA Fairmont Empress Hotel (721 Government St., fairmont.com/empressvictoria) has long been the grand dame of afternoon tea in Victoria. But she has a new rival just down the street. Staff at Silk Road Tea ( 1624 Government St., silkroadteastore.com) urge patrons to taste the latest blends of herbal, oolong, black, green and other teas. DRINK UP Order The Red Dress cocktail (grappa, Campari, violet liqueur and fresh orange) at Veneto Tapa Lounge in the Hotel Rialto ( 1450 Douglas St., venetodining.com) or opt for the Queen Victoria G&T at the bohemian Fernwood Inn ( 1302 Gladstone Ave., fernwoodinn.com). BOOK A WILDLIFE TOUR Orcas, humpbacks, grey whales, harbour seals, sea lions, bald eagles and porpoises are just a boat ride away. What other city offers accessible wildlife tours within steps of your hotel? Get more info at hellobc.com/ victoria. RELAX AT THE SPA Disrobe for the Canadian Maple Sweet Body Treat scrub at the Boathouse Spa & Baths at Oak Bay Beach Hotel ( 1175 Beach Dr., oakbaybeach hotel.com/spa). The shea butter and cocoa wrap will dissolve your tension in no time. DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY Shake it at Darcy’s Pub ( 1127 Wharf St., darcys pub.ca) with live rock ’n’ roll and Top 40 tunes, or at the fancier Clubhouse at the Strathcona Hotel (919 Douglas St., strathconahotel.com). HAVE A LAUGH Enjoy a knee-slapping Charlie Chaplin silent film at the re- created