The Best Bed & Breakfasts in Victoria, British Columbia

Dashwood is one of the rare B&Bs in Victoria that welcomes families. Let the kids search for sea glass on the seashore, or visit Beacon Hill Park to see the world’s tallest free-standing totem pole and the petting zoo. Inside the 1912 Arts and Crafts Tudor Revival-style home, the Penthouse Suite is perfect for families, while the 11 other suites feature antique furniture and faux-fur blankets.

Gastronomes and flower enthusiasts will love the Abbeymore Manor bed and breakfast in Victoria. Each suite is named for a flower growing on the grounds. Warm wainscotting, fireplaces and pretty chintz prints make you feel cosseted. Don’t miss the two-course gourmet breakfasts from the chef who will provide recipes for you to take home. Expect tea and cookies all day in the great room, followed by sherry, chocolate and conversation every evening.

Enjoy a fairytale stay at the Gingerbread Cottage bed and breakfast in Victoria. Vanessa, the friendly owner, welcomes you to this 1905 heritage home filled with antiques and collectables. Enjoy the view from the private rooftop garden of the Lavender Room, or enchant the whole family in the Hansel and Gretel Room, with its tidy sleeping nook. Breakfasts are a tour de force, created by Vanessa herself, who happens to be a cookbook author and culinary educator. As it’s only two minutes from the cruise ship dock and five minutes to the seashore, the location is magical.

A Victorian charmer, the Pendray Inn has a cozy wingback chair waiting just for you. Each suite is unique, with hand-painted ceilings and some with panoramic views of the Inner Harbour. A major draw is the Pendray Tea House, which serves traditional, vegan, deluxe and children’s afternoon tea menus in the light-filled dining room.

The owner has brought her artistic flair to this historic B&B in Victoria – you’ll find her artwork adorning the walls. There’s a range of room styles, with private or shared baths and four-poster or queen-size beds. Each one has a little something extra, such as a private garden patio or a jetted tub for two. Breakfast is as colorful as the paintings, with heaps of fruit, eggs cooked to order and much more. Keep an eye out for Mr T, the house dog, and a past owner, the house ghost.

Away from the hubbub but close to downtown, Marifield House lies in the quiet, residential James Bay neighborhood. The Royal British Columbia Museum, the Carr House (the childhood home of painter Emily Carr) and Beacon Hill Park are within a five-minute walk. One large double bedroom welcomes family groups, while another is suitable for couples. Both have ensuite bathrooms in this large, two-story home.

Fisher House Victoria Bed and Breakfast was built in 1912 and is a designated Heritage Building, with warm fir floors and beams lovingly refinished by the owners, Jen and Cal. The three rooms – one ensuite and two with private baths down the hall – are pleasingly decorated in pastel shades and have plenty of comfy cushions. After breakfast, walk to Fisherman’s Wharf, the Inner Harbour and the Bateman Gallery, featuring the work of Canada’s foremost wildlife painter, Robert Bateman.

Two thoroughly modern cabins are hiding in the woods, just a 20-minute drive from downtown Victoria. If serenity and seclusion are on your list of must-haves, this B&B is for you. Within 10 acres (4ha) of prime Canadian woodland, the two rough-hewn shingled cabins blend in with their woodland surroundings – so much so that deer and other wildlife feel comfortable walking by the large windows. Each cabin has luxury linens, a self-contained kitchenette and an outdoor hot tub. Breakfast is served in the main house alongside the creek that runs through the property.