The Strathcona Hotel (919 Douglas St., 250/383-7137) is Victoria’s largest entertainment venue, featuring four bars, including one serving a magnificent rooftop patio and the Sticky Wicket, an English bar complete with mahogany paneling.

Closer to the Inner Harbour and converted from an old grain warehouse is Swans Hotel (506 Pandora St., 250/361-3310), which brews its own beer.

A few blocks farther north and right on the water is the Canoe Brewpub (450 Swift St., 250/361-1940), housed in an 1894 red-brick building that was at one time home to generators that powered Victoria’s street lights. This place is popular with the downtown crowd and has a great deck.

Also offering magnificent water views is Spinnakers Gastro Brewpub, across the Inner Harbour from downtown (308 Catherine St., 250/384-6613), which opened in 1984 as Canada’s first brewpub. Victoria’s many English-style pubs usually feature a wide variety of beers, congenial atmosphere, and inexpensive meals.

The closest of these to downtown is the James Bay Inn (270 Government St., 250/384-7151). Farther out, Six Mile House (494 Island Hwy., 250/478-3121) is a classic Tudor-style English pub that opened its doors over 150 years ago. To get there, head west out of the city along Highway 1 and take the Colwood exit.

Most of Victoria’s nightclubs double as live music venues attracting a great variety of acts. Legends, in the Strathcona Hotel (919 Douglas St., 250/383-7137), has been a city hot spot for more than 30 years. It comes alive with live rock ‘n’ roll some nights and a DJ spinning the latest dance tunes on other nights.

Victoria boasts several good jazz venues. The best of these is Hermann’s Jazz Club (753 View St., 250/388-9166). Steamers (570 Yates St., 250/381-4340) draws diverse acts, but generally features jazz and blues on Tuesday and Wednesday night.

Contact the Victoria Jazz Society (250/388-4423, www.vicjazz.bc.ca) for a schedule of local performances.