Victoria’s ‘waterfront secret’ named one of Canada’s coolest neighbourhoods

Victoria’s best-kept waterfront secret may not be much of a secret anymore!

The Songhees Walkway has been named one of Canada’s 10 coolest neighbourhoods in a new feature published by Maclean’s magazine.

The national publication surveyed its writers about the Canadian neighbourhoods they love most, ultimately selecting 10 destinations from coast to coast for its summer travel list.

Victoria’s Songhees Walkway was featured under the fitting title “The Waterfront Secret,” earning praise for its float homes, wildlife, pocket beaches and sweeping views across the Inner Harbour.

Maclean’s contributor Jeni Gunn said her affection for the area began in 2009, when she moored her boat at Westbay Marine Village in Esquimalt.

From there, she watched the constant flow of commuters, couples, families, dog walkers, wedding parties and, on at least one occasion, a leashed cat moving along the waterfront.

“I can’t think of another location that offers such delightful people-watching,” Gunn wrote.

Stretching for roughly three kilometres between Songhees Point and Westbay Marine Village, the walkway offers a front-row view of Victoria’s working harbour and downtown skyline.

The route passes marinas, parks, rocky shorelines and several small beaches, while benches and picnic tables provide plenty of places to stop along the way.

At the Esquimalt end is Westbay Marine Village, one of only a handful of urban harbour communities in Canada. Its mix of boats and float homes gives the area a distinctly West Coast feel despite being only minutes from downtown Victoria.

The walkway also passes the 2.4-acre Matson Conservation Area, a protected green space overlooking West Bay. The property contains the last remaining Garry Oak ecosystem along the Victoria harbour and provides habitat for native plants, birds and other wildlife.

For those looking to turn the walk into a longer outing, the route also offers a couple of popular waterfront dining stops.

Spinnakers Gastro Brewpub, which has been brewing in Vic West since 1984, is recognized as Canada’s oldest surviving brewpub. Closer to Songhees Point, Boom + Batten overlooks the Victoria International Marina and offers a café, dining room and waterfront patio.

The eastern end of the route also carries significant cultural history.

Songhees Park is located on the site of the former Songhees Village and Reserve, which remained there until 1911. An expansion opened in 2022 as the first park developed through a partnership between the City of Victoria and the Songhees Nation.

The expanded park includes Lekwungen artwork, Indigenous plantings, accessible pathways, gathering areas and a viewing platform overlooking the Inner Harbour.

For Greater Victoria residents, the national recognition may be less of a revelation and more of a confirmation.

The Songhees Walkway has long been a favourite place to walk, run, cycle, watch the sunset or simply sit beside the water.

When was the last time you took a stroll down one Canada’s coolest neighbourhoods. Let us know in the comment section below!