- Irish Times Victoria, British Columbia, is the only authentic Irish pub in Victoria, BC.
- Irish Times Victoria BC occupies an imposing heritage site, which originally housed a branch of the Bank of Montreal.
- As Victoria’s only Irish pub, Irish Times is the perfect spot for lunch, happy hour, or dinner while you explore this picturesque garden city.
- In addition to authentic Irish dishes, this Victoria Irish pub serves starters, soups, salads, burgers, sandwiches, fish & chips, and desserts.
- And check this out: there is nightly live entertainment!
Is Irish Times Victoria the best Irish pub in North America? Whether you’re looking for a great place to eat while you visit Victoria, you’re making a quick stop on your cruise to Alaska, or you’re touring Vancouver Island, Irish Times Victoria is the perfect spot for lunch, happy hour, or dinner.
You can’t beat the extensive menu, great drinks, or delicious desserts served by the smiling knowledgeable staff!
Ideally situated on Government Street, just a quick walk from Victoria’s renowned Inner Harbour, the site is of historic significance. Fort Victoria stood on the spot in the 1840s, an important trading post for Hudson’s Bay Company. Later, the first Mayor of Victoria, Thomas Harris, built his home on this very spot.
Irish Times, named after the eponymous newspaper in Dublin, Ireland, opened its doors in 2004 and is the only authentic Irish Pub in Victoria, BC.
Not only is it one of the most beloved pubs in Victoria, this gem won the title of Best Irish Pub in North America in 2017 in an Irish Pubs Global survey! And if that isn’t impressive enough, The Irish Times in Dublin, Ireland, named it one of the best Irish pubs in the world!
With its chateau-style stonework, the impressive building was designed by the renowned architect Sir Francis Rattenbury in 1895 for the Bank of Montreal.
Rattenbury won the contract while working on the Parliament Buildings in Victoria. Because of the success of the Chateau style, he used it 10 years later when designing the iconic Empress Hotel on Victoria’s Inner Harbour.
After the Bank of Montreal vacated the premises in 1987, the building became home to a chic Ralph Lauren store for more than 15 years. But then publican Matt MacNeil, the current owner, saw an opportunity to lease the building and create a statement Irish pub; he signed a lease for 30 years.
Matt’s extraordinary vision led to a complete renovation, creating the impressive Irish Times Public House. Notably, the basement excavation led to a stunning discovery during the renovations: an underground tunnel with miniature rail cars was found intact!
The bank had loaded these cars with gold for transport to their head branch. No gold, however, was found during the excavation.
Interestingly, Matt grew up thinking he was Scottish. However, he always felt drawn to all things Irish. He went to the Catholic Boys School in Vancouver, and later, after graduating from university, he began managing pubs.
Over the years, he partnered on nine pubs in Calgary, Banff, and Victoria. But while busy creating pubs, a DNA test confirmed that he was 90% Irish after all! Astonishingly, his ancestry can be traced back to the legendary King Niall of the Nine Hostages, who founded the MacNeil clan.
Today, his bi-level pub oozes so much character that you can cancel your Aer Lingus flight to Dublin!
The dark polished wood, intricate plaster, Victorian-etched glass sparkling in the doors and windows, and locally-made brass chandeliers will make you feel like you are in the Emerald Isle. Each detail reflects MacNeil’s great care with every aspect of his pubs and restaurants.
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In This Post
Irish Times Victoria BC – the Menu
As the only authentic Irish pub in Victoria BC, Irish Times Victoria serves an mouthwatering menu of authentic Irish classics such as Bangers and Mash with whipped Yukon gold potatoes, hearty Shepherd’s Pie, Irish Stew with house-made Irish soda bread, and Chicken Pot Pie with hot, flaky puff pastry and hearty vegetables.
Don’t miss the Full Irish Breakfast, which is served until until 3 pm.
But if you’re not in the mood for Irish fare, there are plenty of other choices to choose from, from starters, soups, and salads to burgers, sandwiches, fish and chips, and desserts.
With choices such as Guinness French Onion Soup, Hot Turkey Sandwich with cranberry sauce, Classic Potine, Sockeye Salmon Burger, and Prawn Po Bay, you will be wondering, “How can I choose just one?”
Actually, you don’t have to—they offer takeaway!
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Irish Times Victoria BC – My Mouthwatering Lunch
Irish Times Victoria Chef Greg Ward prepared a mouthwatering Seafood Tasting Menu for me. It included a Seafood Platter, Clam Chowder, Tuna Tartar, Fish Tacos, and Dessert. I was also shown how a perfect Guinness is poured. It’s more complicated that you might imagine!
Seafood Platter
My extravaganza began with the Seafood Platter, which was prepared by Chef Greg Ward.
Plump, juicy prawns, sweet Coho Salmon candy, seared Albacore Tuna, and Gwi Gwi oysters from the wild northern waters of Vancouver Island were laid on a crushed bed of ice, maintaining the perfect temperature for dining.
They were married with lemon, grated horseradish, and Tabasco. I lingered over each exquisite bite.
The buttery, creamy Clam Chowder was in a league of its own. The soft clams and the seasoned stock brought my taste buds to life. The house-made Irish soda bread with fresh, softened butter was the perfect accompaniment. Order the bowl for a great lunch!
Tuna Tartar
A unique Asian-California-inspired dish, the Tuna Tartar featured sashimi-grade tuna on a bed of silky avocado and crisp cucumber. A light soy-sesame marinade with a meticulously sliced green pea topping elevated the taste and visual appeal to fine dining. The airy shrimp chips provided a unique tool for scooping the Chef’s seafood tartar.
Fish Tacos
And then came the Fish Tacos! I am a massive fan of fish tacos and judge all fish tacos based on the ones I once devoured in Old Town, San Diego. When you are Victoria, you must try them! The Chef prepared the generous piece of cod in a house-made Robert Service Stone-Fired Ale batter, adding cusabi coleslaw, pickled red onion, cilantro, and lime. Divine!
Irish Times Victoria BC – the Desserts
Irish Times Victoria BC serves three desserts: Guinness Brownie, Sticky Toffee Pudding, and Grandma Judy’s Cheesecake. I opted for the Guinness Brownie, which was served with vanilla ice cream, chocolate fudge sauce, and pistachios. Guinness intensifies the rich chocolate flavor in this dense, moist treat.
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How to Pour a Perfect Guinness
The pub offers drinks for the spirit; a perfectly poured Guinness is yours for the asking. By the way, the perfect pint of Guinness takes 119 seconds to pour. The first pour, with the glass at a 45-degree angle, goes to the bottom of the gold harp on a Guinness beer glass.
The beer is left to settle, and the second pour brings the head to the rim. Matt points out that Guinness has only 4% alcohol and the same calories as a pint of 2% milk. It’s also high in protein, so isn’t it time for a Guinness?
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Irish Times Victoria BC – the Spirits
Reputedly, the Victoria Irish pub has Canada’s largest selection of Irish Whiskeys, including Midleton Very Rare Vintage Release —perfect for a celebratory drink!
There are also Scotch Whiskys, Canadian Whiskeys, and Alternative Whiskeys as well as gins, vodkas, tequilas, and rums.
There are more than 40 beers on tap featuring local craft breweries and global options. Matt carefully chose BC wines to showcase the best grapes available. Try the Blasted Church Red or the Dirty Laundry Rosé from the Okanagan, BC’s top-producing wine region.
Specialty coffees such as Irish Coffee. Hot Nutty Irishman, Spanish Coffee, and What’s Kraken are also popular.
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Irish Times Victoria BC – the Live Entertainment
The Irish Times is serious about craic (Irish for fun)! This authentic Irish pub in Victoria truly comes alive with nightly musicians playing a variety of genres, from East and West Coast Celtic to classic rock.
On Friday and Saturday afternoons, clap along to traditional Celtic tunes. And you can expect a line-up of musicians on St. Patrick’s Day! The pub is also home to the Liverpool Football Club in Victoria, and the big screens show current sports.
Irish Times Victoria BC – the Snugs
Like many Irish pubs, snugs (or semi-private rooms) are available for groups. You will see Matt’s nods to Irish culture and his Irish family throughout the pub.
Matt named the McCarthy Snug after his great uncle, Uncle Desmond Bernard McCarthy, the youngest of ten children, conceived in Cork, Ireland, and born in Vancouver, BC.
It is located on the main floor, can seat up to 16 people, and has a cast iron fireplace. O’Hagan’s Snug is a cozy space for 10 people and is the perfect space for drinks and merrymaking. Matt named these snugs after relatives he considers to be gentlemen’s gentlemen—and men whom Matt has a great fondness for.
Bard and Banker Pub
Matt also created the Bard and Banker Pub in Victoria, just a few blocks from the Irish Times. This building was built for the Canadian Imperial Bank in 1885. Matt says bank buildings are perfect for pubs because of their beauty and strength.
Built on prominent corners on Government Street, the Irish Times and the Bard and Banker both stand their ground, yet welcome you in for some good cheer.
Interestingly, in the Bard and Banker, poet and bank employee Robert Service made additional money after his regular shift by sleeping on a bale of hay in the vault with a gun by his side, just in case would-be robbers breached the impenetrable stone building!
The Irish in Canada
The first Irishmen to come to Canada were fishermen who came to Newfoundland in 1536. Millions of Irish later arrived in Canada during the Potato Famine in the mid-1800s.
Soon after that, during the Gold Rush in BC, the Irishmen headed west to British Columbia to stake their claim.
How proud would they be today if they could see what an Irishman built in Victoria?
I think they would appreciate how their culture, food, drink, and songs are enjoyed by so many.
The people of Victoria, too, are grateful to have the Irish Times bring the community together and offer good craic seven days a week.
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I rate the Irish Times pub two thumbs up! Sláinte!
Where to Stay in Victoria
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Designed by renowned Architect Sir Francis Rattenbury, the Fairmont Empress is the perfect hotel for heritage buffs and history fans. The 431-room hotel is 7-minute walk from Irish Times Pub, a 5-minute walk from the British Columbia Parliament Building, and a 2-minute walk from the Inner Harbour.
Linda Sheppard
In a previous life, Linda Sheppard was a Financial Advisor working with numbers. Now she works with words to describe her travel experiences. Linda has traveled to more than 30 countries and has many more on her must-see list. She calls the beautiful city of Victoria, British Columbia, home. She is a regular contributor to the Accidental Travel Writer.
