Victoria has a large supply of unique stores. The best streets for wandering are Johnson, Pandora and Fisgard between Wharf Street and Government. Following are stores we like to visit, even when when we're not planning on buying anything:
- Silk Road (1624 Government Street). Although pretty much everything in this tea store is expensive, It's worth going in anyway, if only to get a free sample of whatever teas they have brewed that day. They have an amazing selection of teas and tea-related products as well as a spa.
- Global Village Store (535 Pandora Avenue). A small store of hand-crafted fair-trade gifts at very reasonable prices.
- Capitol Iron (1900 Store Street, 250-385-9703). This store has everything: housewares, hardware, gardening, outdoors clothing, fabric and a basement full of random memorabilia and things like vintage doors, and ship steering wheels.
- Chinatown Trading Company (551 Fisgard Street) is a maze-like store filled with a little bit of everything, including a room of baskets and huge 10 foot tall sticks of bamboo. It's located on Fan Tan Alley, part of Chinatown's historic past.
- From Salt Spring Island, Salt Spring Soapworks (575 Johnson Street / 386-7627) makes a wonderful line of natural soap products at a reasonable price. When you go in, sample their salt or sugar scrub. They will leave your hands feeling silky smooth.
- The Rave 'N' Iron (Market Square / 250-361-3644) bills itself as an "intuitive urban art gallery". They take reclaimed iron and steel and polish, weld, meld, and cut it into beautiful and very unique jewlery and art. Be sure to ask the friendly owners who are often working behind the counter how they make their stuff.
- A Little Bit of Hanoi (Market Square / 250-388-6830) is easily found by the gleaming rickshaw that is usually parked in front of the store. The small shop sells Vietnamese imports ranging from brightly colored silks and handbags to hand-made crafts and gallery quality arts.
