Food tour, but make it an evening walk. This is an easygoing three-stop night that feels like a proper meal: wine and cheese first, craft cocktails and bites second, then dessert at the Empress Hotel to cap it off.

I like that the pairings are planned ahead, so you spend less time figuring out what to order and more time enjoying the places. I also love the variety: you’re not stuck with one restaurant’s menu all evening, you get a snapshot of Victoria’s scene across different styles.

One thing to keep in mind: it’s an alcohol-included experience. If you don’t drink, you’ll want to consider how you want to handle the included beverages, and you should also plan to eat at a comfortable pace since it’s basically three courses in about 2.5 hours.

Key highlights worth planning for

• Three-course pacing over two hours 30 minutes: each stop is short and focused.
• Raclette at L’Apero Wine & Cheese Bistro: a whole wheel of cheese melted over fire.
• Chef Brian Tesolin and the Courtney Room: farm-to-table style appetizers paired with a drink.
• Q at the Empress Hotel finish: dessert plus a gin and tonic in a landmark setting.
• Small group size (max 12): better flow and less waiting around.
• Guide Kathy: reviews call her engaging and a big part of the fun.

The value: what you’re really buying at $148.47

At $148.47 per person, this isn’t a bargain meal. It is, however, good value if you want three things you usually have to piece together yourself: reservations, thoughtful drink pairings, and a “what should I order” cheat sheet.

You’re paying for the planning and the handoff between places. The tour runs about 2 hours 30 minutes, and the stops are timed so you’re not spending half your evening trying to locate your next reservation or waiting for your table. That matters in Victoria, especially at dinner time when dining rooms can get busy.

Also, you’re getting alcohol included. Each stop comes with one alcoholic beverage, including wine samples at the start and two cocktails during the experience, plus snacks from three award-winning restaurants. If you would normally spend money on wine, cocktails, and guided ordering help, the price starts to make more sense.

The other side of value is the “no stress” factor. You show up, walk a short loop downtown, and someone else keeps the evening moving. Reviews are packed with people calling it relaxing and doable, including folks doing it during a cruise stop in Victoria.

Getting your bearings: start time, route feel, and group size

This tour starts at 7:00 pm at 1028 Blanshard St, and it ends at 721 Government St after your final stop inside the Empress Hotel. You’ll have a mobile ticket, and it’s set up for a small group, with a maximum of 12 travelers.

That small group size changes the experience. You can hear the guide, questions feel natural, and you’re not stuck in a slow-moving line at each venue. The pacing is also built for an evening walk. It’s not a marathon, but you will be on your feet for a little while, moving from one spot to the next.

Your physical requirement is listed as moderate fitness. Translation: you should be comfortable walking a bit in the evening and keeping a steady pace, but this tour isn’t described as extreme.

One more practical note: the starting point and the ending point are both in central Victoria, so you’re in easy reach of public transportation. If you’re coming from a hotel or a cruise area, this tour layout makes it feel low-effort.

Stop 1 at L’Apero: raclette that makes the first bite feel special

Your first stop is L’Apero Wine & Cheese Bistro at 1028 Blanshard St. The main event here is raclette. If you’ve never had it, here’s what to expect: a whole wheel of cheese gets placed over a fire and is melted so it comes to the table ready to eat.

That opening matters. Raclette isn’t just “a snack.” It’s a show and a comfort-food moment, which helps the tour feel like a true evening meal rather than a quick tasting parade.

Along with the raclette, this is also where you start with drink pairing. You’ll get wine samples as part of the alcohol included. I like this approach because it sets expectations early. You learn the style of what you’ll be tasting, then later stops build on that rather than feeling random.

What’s a potential drawback at this first stop? You’ll likely arrive hungry, because the raclette is heavy and rich. If you’re someone who gets full fast, take the first bite slow. Drink tastes are part of the experience, but you don’t want to rush through the most memorable part of the night.

Stop 2 at the Courtney Room: Chef Brian Tesolin and Pacific Northwest bites

Next you head to The Courtney Room at 619 Courtney St. This is where the tone shifts from cheese-forward warmth to a more modern, food-and-drink pairing vibe.

The tour includes appetizers made by Chef Brian Tesolin, and the focus is on the bounty of the Pacific Northwest. Reviews highlight that the food here feels farm-to-table and that the bites are flavorful without being fussy.

You’ll also get a craft cocktail paired with what’s coming out. The drink portion is important because it ties the food to a specific flavor direction instead of just handing you whatever you’d like from a bar menu.

A smart way to enjoy stop two is to treat it like a conversation between drinks and bites. Take a sip, then eat. If you eat first, the cocktail can taste muted. If you sip first, you’re more likely to notice the pairing the guide is pointing out.

The other reality: appetizers are not always small. In a tour like this, the second stop often determines whether the night feels balanced or whether you’re fighting your appetite. If you’re trying to pace, this is where you do it.

The in-between walk: how the tour keeps things from feeling rushed

Between stops, you’re walking downtown. There’s also time built in for a stroll along the popular streets near the Empress area. This part isn’t about sightseeing speeches. It’s more about keeping the rhythm right for an evening meal.

Here’s why that’s good for most people: it prevents the typical “taste, swallow, repeat” feeling you get on some food tours. You’re moving just enough to stay comfortable, and you’re not stuck in long restaurant queues.

Also, since it’s an evening tour, you don’t have to overthink daylight plans. You’re already in Victoria at the hour when the city’s energy makes walking feel natural.

Stop 3 at the Empress Hotel: dessert plus gin and tonic in Q

The final stop happens at the Empress Hotel National Historic Site of Canada, at Q at the Empress restaurant. This is your dessert finish, and yes, it includes a gin and tonic as part of the included drinks.

Ending here gives the night a clear emotional capstone. The Empress Hotel setting adds a sense of occasion that you don’t get from a strip of independent restaurants. It turns your last bite into a “remember this” moment.

This stop is also short, which keeps it from dragging. At the same time, it’s long enough for you to settle in, enjoy dessert, and do the natural post-tour thing: reflect on which pairing you loved most and compare notes with your small group.

If you’re watching your pace, this is the place to decide how you want to finish. Dessert is included, so you’ll probably be tasting something sweet. You’ll be glad you saved some space, but you’ll also want to keep sipping water between drinks if you plan to wander afterward.

Why the guide matters more than you think

This tour is led by a guide from Off the Eaten Track, and reviews specifically call out Kathy as a standout. That’s not just about friendliness. A good guide controls the flow, keeps you from feeling stuck waiting for the next course, and gives you context for why the pairing works.

You also benefit because the tour is essentially “three restaurant orders in one.” Without guidance, most people would under-order or over-order, then spend the rest of the evening wishing they’d done one more thing. With a guide, you get the right balance of bites and the right drinks at the right times.

Kathy’s name coming up so often is a strong signal that the group experience is handled well. For an evening with alcohol included, that human factor matters.

Drinks + food pairings: how to make the most of the tasting format

You get one alcoholic beverage at each stop, plus snacks from the three restaurants. The tour includes wine samples early and then two cocktails during the evening.

That structure makes it easier to taste with purpose. You’re not ordering from scratch at each venue. Instead, you’re tasting a planned set. Here’s how I’d approach it if I wanted to remember the differences between stops:

• At the first stop, focus on the cheese and wine pairing. Take note of whether the wine makes the cheese taste richer or more balanced.
• At the second stop, pay attention to the cocktail. Cocktails often bring brightness and spice-like flavors that change how you experience appetizers.
• At the final stop, treat dessert as a finish, not just a sugar bomb. The gin and tonic pairing should reset your palate rather than just add another heavy flavor.

If you’re the type who likes to take photos, do it fast and don’t let it slow your pacing. You’ll be in each location long enough to enjoy, but not long enough to turn it into a half-hour photo shoot at every table.

Who this is best for (and who should think twice)

This tour fits best if you want an evening plan that combines food, drink, and simple structure. You’ll likely enjoy it if you:

• like tasting different styles of restaurants in one night
• enjoy wine and cocktails
• want a guide-led experience without spending time making reservations

It may not be your top choice if you:

• don’t drink alcohol or prefer non-alcoholic options (the tour is built around included drinks)
• want a long, slow dinner with lots of free time in one restaurant (this runs on timed stops)
• have a very limited walking tolerance, since it does involve moving between downtown points

If you’re visiting Victoria for a first time and want a quick read on the local food scene, this format is efficient. And because the night is timed, it’s a good fit for people doing a cruise stop and trying to pack in one great experience without a complicated schedule.

Practical tips for the smoothest evening

Keep it comfortable. It’s an evening walking tour, and you’ll be standing and walking more than you would at a single restaurant dinner.

I’d also do three small things ahead of time:

• Eat a light snack earlier, so the raclette doesn’t hit you like a food truck of cheese.
• Wear shoes you’d actually choose for a city stroll, not just “dinner shoes.”
• If you plan to drive or take a longer transit ride afterward, pace your drinks and consider water between courses.

Finally, bring a good attitude. A food-and-drink pairing tour works best when you treat each stop like part of one meal, not separate events.

Should you book the Evening Sip, Savor, Stroll Tour?

I’d book this if you want an easy, well-paced evening that hands you a full set of tastings across three acclaimed stops, with alcohol included and guided pacing that keeps things from feeling chaotic. The raclette start at L’Apero and the Empress finish at Q are memorable anchors, and the repeated mention of Kathy as a strong guide is a good sign that the experience runs smoothly.

Skip it if you’re alcohol-avoidant or you want lots of free time inside one restaurant. This tour’s value is in structure and variety, not in lingering.

If you want one solid “Victoria night out” without the planning headache, this is the kind of tour that makes the decision for you.