Name: James Bay Inn Hotel, Suites & Cottage
Address: 270 Government Street, Victoria, Canada, Victoria, British Columbia, CA
Price range: US$87–US$238 per night
Rating: 8.83

What guests think

Travellers describe James Bay Inn Hotel, Suites & Cottage as a charming, well-kept historic property with exceptionally friendly staff, clean rooms, and a quiet, walkable location near Victoria’s Inner Harbour, Beacon Hill Park, and other central sights.

Many appreciate the on-site pub and restaurant, lobby coffee and tea, and free parking, though spaces can be tight. Common trade-offs include no elevator, no air conditioning, some smaller or warm rooms, thin walls and creaky floors, and occasional dated decor. A few note noise from the pub or nearby horse carriages, while others found rooms very quiet. Expect character and value over modern amenities.

Facilities

Cleanliness

Rooms

Service

Location

Dining

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Facilities

Well-liked on-site pub and restaurant; free parking is offered but spaces can be tight. The heritage building has no elevator or air conditioning; lobby coffee/tea is provided, and some suites/cottages include kitchens.

Related guest reviews

10

Maggie

26 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

The property is historic and the staff were very helpful in many ways. I didn't realize that this hotel did not have an elevator and as my husband is handicapped it took us a while to walk up into the entrance and then to the 3rd floor. The staff carried our bags. we were there for 3 nights so on the 2nd day they were able to move us to the 2nd flloor which helped a lot.The rooms were clean and spacious with nice toilet soaps etc. There is a great restaurant downstairs which we used for a hearty breakfast. Great prices compared to the touristy areas. Good parking. The hotel is very close to the waterfront and the hop on and off bus, which we used. if this hotel had an elevator we would definitely stay again. We would recommend.

10

Richard

17 Nov 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

This is our second time staying at James Bay Inn. We, a middle aged recently retired couple, enjoyed our first stay so much that we returned to this lovely well cared for historic property in downtown Victoria! We greatly appreciated the staff, especially the front desk, the free parking, the convenient location and the friendly pub. As well, we had several meals at the on site restaurant and found the food to be very good and the service great. Thank you to Skye, Alex, (breakfast) and Lauren (dinner). Our room, this time, was on the main floor. It was clean, fairly quiet, and had a very comfortable bed and a large bathroom, although it lacked the view that we enjoyed during our first stay upper floor room. We plan to return again!

10

Pamela

19 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Staff were friendly, tea and coffee plus fruit available in reception 24 hrs/day, close to transport and major attractions. Would definately stay again

10

Andrea

9 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Loved our stay - this hotel has so much personality. Great location, pub and cafe in basement, secure bike storage, able to store luggage before and after checkout. Only downside is no AC so I think the rooms would likely be hot to sleep in during full summer

10

Evan

30 Nov 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

I really like the fact that this place was completely unapologetic about being a throwback to an earlier time, keeping its historical feel without being kitschy. All the things that were important were done well without trying equal or outdo most modern hotels that feel they were made with a cookie-cutter. It also has a great little (and very busy!) restaurant downstairs and a small bar. It is clearly appreciated by its traveling clientele but also appears to be a local favorite, and all the employees seemed like a family, appreciating their good fortune to work at a place with such good vibes and character.

10

Karen

27 May 2025

·

Stayed 5 nights

Lovely historic hotel in quiet neighborhood. Easy walking distance to main attractions. Staff very friendly and accommodating. No air condition but they provide fan and with the window open you get a nice breeze and wake up to chirping birds. Hotel restaurant was very good and reasonably priced.Free parking is a plus. Loved our stay and will be back again! Very clean!

10

Sandra

31 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

A beautiful old, character hotel in charming James Bay. Parking is a little tight but is still free for hotel guests.

8

Katrin

11 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The room was nice, and the hotel had an old-fashioned charm. The staff was friendly, and it was convenient to have parking right in front of the building. However, the Wi-Fi was poor and kept disconnecting. The hotel has a restaurant and a pub on the lower level. We had breakfast at the restaurant, which was traditional and nothing special, but it was fine.

10

Duncan

26 May 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Great location.Very Victorian decor.Restaurant was superb

10

Cary

20 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Always nice when we stay there, breakfast downstairs is a good convenient option.

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Cleanliness

Reviews consistently describe rooms and common areas as very clean or spotless. A few mention tired carpeting or occasional odors.

Related guest reviews

10

Carol

7 Feb 2026

·

Stayed 4 nights

The room was spotless, I appreciated the comfortable chairs in the room for reading and the areas outside the room for reading. I liked having windows at night that opened. I loved the decor, I felt like I was at home. The room was very cozy. The staff was friendly and very helpful. I ejoyed the sitting area downstairs, we had some lovely conversations with other guests. It was silent at night and the location is superb

10

Barbara

28 Dec 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Room was clean and staff was friendly. This quaint hotel is in a good location. The restaurant was delicious.

10

Wolfgang

24 Nov 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Friendy and efficient staff, clean room. Will stay here again!

10

René

30 Dec 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The rooms are old and lovely and clean— delightful!

10

Kim

30 Jun 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

We stayed one night but wish we had booked more. Very friendly and helpful staff, walking distance to harbour, restaurants and bars.

10

Josh

13 Nov 2025

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Stayed 1 night

The staff were amazing, the room was clean, quiet and a great central location overall. Will definitely be returning!

8

SEONGHEE

19 May 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The incredibly friendly staff made our stay very pleasant. Overall, the room was in good condition, except for a slight smell from the bedding. Please note that there is no microwave or refrigerator in the room.

10

Jane

24 Feb 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

We enjoyed our stay in this quaint heritage building. It wa spotlessly clean and the beds were comfortable

10

makennah

23 Apr 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

A nice historic hotel that is clean and well maintained.

10

Karen

1 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

This is an older hotel in a very cool and quaint part of town. The staff are very friendly and efficient. The hotel is kept in immaculate condition and the surrounding gardens are beautiful. Do stay here!

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Rooms

Rooms feature historic decor and comfortable beds; many are small or cozy, while suites and the cottage provide more space. Expect thin walls, creaky or uneven floors, occasional warmth, and, in a few cases, spotty Wi‑Fi.

Related guest reviews

6

Samuel

22 Dec 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

The location is more valuable than the hotel, there's so much great stuff in close proximity. The bedroom was minimal. No temperature control, very few outlets, incredibly stiff mattress (double). Great big shower with high pressure water, but again minimal control besides on/off, hot/cold. Family had the suite in a smaller side building that had a hotplate and a convection microwave, as well as a kettle/toaster/coffee maker. We were able to bake buns and they turned out great but we did have to look up a user manual. The suite was also quite small and lacked any temperature control. If I was going with just 1 other person I'd target one of the suites. Solo, then a room is probably fine cause you're just there to sleep.

4

Douglas

18 Feb 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Lots & lots of stairs!! And the radiator heat on the 3rd floor is extreme. Need to open all windows & use fan unless you like 25 C. The corner of our room dipped as the building settled. Plugs are at a premium. But the staff is wonderful and it was booked solid!

8

Jason

15 Nov 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Loved my stay. I personally love quaint hotels and this was that - if you want something super fancy you will not be happy. But if you love quirky details and older buildings, this is a lovely place. The location is very quiet, I had excellent sleeps. It’s very close to Beacon Hill Park which was a wonderful walk with my morning coffee.

10

Shelley

26 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Elegant classy hotel. Spacious room.

10

Rachelle

12 Oct 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Fell in love with this hotel's unique charm and vintage decor. The location was unbeatable, and the quiet nights were a bonus. Despite the small rooms, it felt perfectly cozy. The staff were also very friendly. I highly recommend staying there.

8

Sharon

15 Jun 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

There was no air conditioning as it is a very old Inn but they did supply fans.

10

Tracy

6 May 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

We stayed on the building beside the main hotek and itcwas so quiet.

8

Timothy

5 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Lovely old spot,o ly drawback was the incredibly small room we got..loved the pub downstairs...and super convienant location

8

Katrin

11 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The room was nice, and the hotel had an old-fashioned charm. The staff was friendly, and it was convenient to have parking right in front of the building. However, the Wi-Fi was poor and kept disconnecting. The hotel has a restaurant and a pub on the lower level. We had breakfast at the restaurant, which was traditional and nothing special, but it was fine.

10

Cathie

8 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Nice place to stay out of the hubbub of downtown Victoria. Very walkable. It’s quiet and clean. The room was fine for me— 2 people would be cramped! And the shower was very small! But it all worked just fine and I would consider staying there again if ever in the area. I didn’t not eat at the hotel so cannot comment on the food.

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Service

Service is a standout: staff are consistently friendly, helpful, and accommodating, often assisting with luggage and special requests. Occasional complaints concern restaurant interactions rather than the front desk.

Related guest reviews

10

Maggie

26 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

The property is historic and the staff were very helpful in many ways. I didn't realize that this hotel did not have an elevator and as my husband is handicapped it took us a while to walk up into the entrance and then to the 3rd floor. The staff carried our bags. we were there for 3 nights so on the 2nd day they were able to move us to the 2nd flloor which helped a lot.The rooms were clean and spacious with nice toilet soaps etc. There is a great restaurant downstairs which we used for a hearty breakfast. Great prices compared to the touristy areas. Good parking. The hotel is very close to the waterfront and the hop on and off bus, which we used. if this hotel had an elevator we would definitely stay again. We would recommend.

10

daniel

17 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Great staff and food in the restuarant and pub. we will return and tell others about the Inn. Had a great time at the Bryan Adams concert with Roy!

10

Sara

5 Oct 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Super friendly and accommodating front desk helped me get a room that better suited my needs without hesitation.

10

Janet

5 Nov 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Male staff who checked me in was very friendly, explained details of the hotel and offered assistance with my bag.

10

Kevin

17 Nov 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Another wonderful stay at the JBI. The hotel and pub staff really make you feel at home .

6

Lawrence

6 May 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

A tale of two rooms. First night rates a “2”, we stayed in Room 103 (don’t!), people from the on-site pub congregate right below the window, smoke cigarettes and talk until the pub closes at midnight. Second night rates a “4”, the staff was great and, after we had complained, moved us to another room (319). Much better. Again, shout out to the staff who was fantastic and very accommodating (seemed to be the manager or owner).

10

Phillip

5 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 7 nights

Fantastic hotel with amazing staff. We will be back ! Close to everything and a great location. Thank you Hedy for an amazing experience ! ♥️

10

Joseph

24 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Very nice hotel with an amazing staff

10

Sheila

31 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The staff at the James Bay Inn was wonderful. Clean rooms and neat old world vibe. I dropped a ring down the sink and they retrieved it for me. Over the top customer service! Thank you for the great stay.

10

William

17 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

We really enjoyed our stay at the James Bay Inn. We stayed in a "Garden Area Suite," which is a smaller building situated directly next to the main inn. The multi-room suite was clean and quiet and really big. Our only regret was that we could only stay for a single night. While there are mostly homes in the blocks directly surrounding the inn, it is convenient to both the wharf and downtown (about 15-20 minutes walk to either) and Beacon Hill Park (about two blocks away). Front desk service was great. We also ate at the pub/restaurant for both lunch and dinner. Lunch was great, but we had a very rude waitress at dinner (thus the four-star score for service). Overall, we loved our 24 hours in Victoria (which included a sunset whale-watching cruise), and plan to return; I would certainly consider staying at the James Bay Inn on any future trips.

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Location

Excellent, quiet James Bay location within easy walking distance of the Inner Harbour, Beacon Hill Park, and downtown sights. Guests value the peaceful neighborhood and convenient access to attractions.

Related guest reviews

10

Beverly

20 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 5 nights

Walking distance to Victoria's inner harbour and shopping. Very friendly and helpful staff. Bed very comfy. For our first visit to Victoria, it was perfect!

10

Elsbeth

19 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Alles zu Fuss erreichbar.

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10

Elizabeth

4 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 10 nights

Great location

10

Christine

24 Feb 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great location, walk everywhere, downtown, ocean, museum, beacon hill park 😊

10

Lori

7 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The only detail was we wish there was cream for the coffee in our suite. The location is so fantastic because you are close to the tourist centre but far enough away to have peace and quiet.

8

William

8 Jan 2026

·

Stayed 2 nights

Let's start by saying if you like your hotel shiny, new and cookie cutter then this is NOT for you. If you like your hotel quirky, eclectic with staff who try hard and value for your dollar then this may fit your bill. As I was told when I checked in, please read over the hotel description carefully so you know what you are getting. We loved the character of the place and it has a great location, a short walk to downtown and the legislature. In fact if we go to Victoria again, we're going to explore the possibility of going without our car. We love the place but we also are aware it may not be for everyone.

10

Sandra

31 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

A beautiful old, character hotel in charming James Bay. Parking is a little tight but is still free for hotel guests.

10

Raquel

3 May 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Location

10

Birgit

19 Oct 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Das Hotel liegt in bester Lage fußläufig zur Innenstadt von Viktoria. Es ist ein charmantes, altes Haus, dass hervorragend gepflegt ist und liebevoll bewirtschaftet wird. Das Personal ist super-freundlich und hilfsbereit. Ich kann diese Haus nur wärmstens empfehlen!

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10

Jessica

3 Nov 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The property is historic, cozy, and warm! The staff are very welcoming, and the downstairs lounge/pub was a vibe for watching sports. Our room was small, but clean and comfortable. There’s free coffee and tea in the lobby :). Would definitely recommend for the location, friendliness and price!

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Dining

The on-site restaurant and pub receive strong praise for tasty, reasonably priced meals and good breakfasts, and are popular with locals. A few guests report inconsistent dishes or service.

Related guest reviews

2

Brenda Lee

12 Jun 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Comfy, friendly and quiet. The pub food wasnt impressive but the waitress was very nice.

8

Ute

4 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

We stayed one night with our family. Staff was very friendly and arranged for a pack and play to be set up for our grandson. The hotel is old and had a lot of charm. We had breakfast in the restaurant which was very good! Hotel is walkable to parks, Fisherman’s Wharf and downtown. Great location My only recommendation would be to upgrade the carpeting in the rooms as they were quite tired.

10

Duncan

26 May 2025

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Stayed 4 nights

Great location.Very Victorian decor.Restaurant was superb

10

David

22 Feb 2026

·

Stayed 3 nights

The food here is excellent.

10

Denise

15 Sept 2025

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Stayed 2 nights

This is a very unique hotel, it’s old and quaint. It’s very clean and offers complementary coffee in the lobby each morning. It includes a restaurant with great food. It could use some upgrades (carpet in room), but it’s well cared for. I would stay there again it’s very central to the harbour area, just a few blocks to walk.

10

Gary

5 Oct 2025

·

Stayed 6 nights

Really enjoyed walking around the James Bay neighbourhood, and burgers at the JBI pub are fantastic!

10

Bruce

8 Jul 2025

·

Wonderful, older hotel in a great location. Pub and restaurant are very good. Yhe area is quiet and yet super close to the harbour. The staff is very attentive. Would definitely stay here again.

10

Janine

5 Oct 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Absolutely brilliant stay. All staff are extremely helpful and friendly. The room was very clean and had everything you need for your stay, including the pub and cafe. Loved it!

10

William

17 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

We really enjoyed our stay at the James Bay Inn. We stayed in a "Garden Area Suite," which is a smaller building situated directly next to the main inn. The multi-room suite was clean and quiet and really big. Our only regret was that we could only stay for a single night. While there are mostly homes in the blocks directly surrounding the inn, it is convenient to both the wharf and downtown (about 15-20 minutes walk to either) and Beacon Hill Park (about two blocks away). Front desk service was great. We also ate at the pub/restaurant for both lunch and dinner. Lunch was great, but we had a very rude waitress at dinner (thus the four-star score for service). Overall, we loved our 24 hours in Victoria (which included a sunset whale-watching cruise), and plan to return; I would certainly consider staying at the James Bay Inn on any future trips.

10

Reginald

22 Nov 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Breakfast was excelent

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Month	Average price
January	US$76
February	US$85
March	US$103
April	US$118
May	US$143
June	US$168
July	US$168
August	US$160
September	US$167
October	US$117
November	US$90
December	US$84

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
				1 $209	2 $189	3 $205
4 $140	5 $228	6 $237	7 $238	8 $235	9	10
11	12 $146	13 $157	14 $184	15 $159	16	17 $99
18 $101	19 $115	20 $130	21 $95	22 $138	23	24
25 $95	26 $100	27 $91	28 $100	29 $99	30 $90	31 $87

James Bay Inn Hotel, Suites & Cottage

Prices for James Bay Inn Hotel, Suites & Cottage

Monthly average prices

About this property

Location

Room options

Premium House, 2 Bedrooms, Kitchen, Garden Area

Suite, 1 Bedroom, Garden Area

Standard Room, 1 Queen Bed

Traditional Room, 1 King Bed

Classic Room, 1 King Bed

Studio, 1 Queen Bed

Classic Room, 1 Queen Bed

Traditional Room, 2 Queen Beds

Cottage, 2 Bedrooms

Suite, 1 Bedroom

Standard Room, 1 Double Bed

Studio, 1 Queen Bed, Terrace

Guest reviews of James Bay Inn Hotel, Suites & Cottage

Who stays here?

What guests think

Property policies

Check-in instructions

Good to know

Optional extras

FAQs about James Bay Inn Hotel, Suites & Cottage

Prices for upcoming dates

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17	18	19
20 $204	21	22	23	24	25	26
27 $212	28 $155	29 $207	30