Victoria’s historic Market Square contains a pub that offers more than just great beer; it also offers great history. We are talking about The Drake Eatery; a hub for West Coast craft beer and fresh, locally inspired and creatively curated nibbles located just one block next to Chinatown. But long before the taps flowed in this beautiful red brick space, it echoed with the footsteps of sailors, fur traders, artists, and even a few bohemian pizza lovers.
In the late 1800s until the mid 1930s, Market Square was the commercial engine of Victoria’s Inner Harbour. Provisions flowed through its many warehouses, and the area teemed with dockworkers, transients, longshoremen, and visiting sailors looking to gather supplies, and spend their hard-earned wages on entertainment, both legal and illegal.
At the corner of Store St. and Johnston Ravine (later renamed Johnston St.) sat the Drake Hotel - a no-frills saloon close to the dock that catered to these same dockworkers, transients and seafaring types. While the original hotel is long gone, just across the square, The Drake Eatery pays homage to both it, and the legacy of Victoria’s original waterfront working-class citizens.
After several decades of neglect, the early 1970s saw the red brick block of Market Square reborn as the home for funky boutiques, quirky shops and several unusual eateries, including the legendary Noos Pizza - in the space that The Drake now occupies.
Part pizzeria, part bohemian showroom, Noos sprawled across five quirky floors of dark, smoky rooms adorned with ferns in macrame hangers, all lit by dim bulbs in stained glass lampshades.
The joint became a magnet for artists, musicians, and students, offering live jams, poetry nights, and whole wheat-crust pizzas — a novelty men item in the 1970s. Local legends Paul Horn and Valdy sometimes stopped by to munch on pizza and entertain crowds from the stage. But as Victoria’s entertainment scene slowly grew over the next 20 years, Noos’s popularity in turn slowly faded; and in the early 2000s, it finally closed its doors.
In 2014, the space took on new life as The Drake Eatery. Named after the original Drake Hotel (located across the way in Market Square) the pub brought a new chapter to the same historic address. Today, The Drake features 25+ rotating taps that showcase unfiltered, small-batch beers from British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest.
From bold IPAs to tart saisons, it’s a haven for craft beer lovers and casual sippers alike - but don't look for a server to bring you your libations; The Drake is a fully self-serve bar designed to encourage mingling, connection and community amongst it's patrons.
Then there's the food: The first thing to note is that The Drake has no deep fryer, relying instead on the creativity of the Chef to create food that’s unique while being palatable for the average punter. Why not stop by and try some seasonal rotating menu items? They change all the time, and always rate five stars from locals and tourists alike! No matter what's being created, it's guaranteed to beat run-of-the mill wings or a greasy plate of nachos any day!
So come on down to Market Square and check out The Drake. With its deep roots in Victoria’s working-class past, plus its ties to a legendary pizza counterculture, all complimented by a forward-thinking beer program, it’s so much more than a pub — it’s a living slice of the city’s food and entertainment soul.
Better still, why not visit The Drake as part of a Hidden Victoria’s Bites & Sights walking tour? You’ll enjoy an immersive look at the cultural history of Old Town, try a few tasty snacks, and of course enjoy a beverage (or two) plus a special dessert to finish. For more info, click HERE.
Oh, and don’t forget: if you show a business card from your tour guide, you'll receive 15% off your next food purchase at The Drake.
View The Drake's Website HERE.