The Songhees neighbourhood is a prestigious waterfront community in Vic West, situated directly across the harbour from downtown Victoria and connected by the iconic Johnson Street Bridge. The neighbourhood takes its name from the Songhees Nation, an Indigenous Coast Salish First Nation whose history and cultural presence remain deeply rooted in the region. With nearby parks, a scenic waterfront walkway, and a namesake beach, the area reflects both heritage and natural beauty.
Defined by striking modern condominiums such as the Bayview and Promontory, the Songhees offers some of the city’s most sought-after residences. These contemporary high-rises deliver refined living with world-class amenities and sweeping views of Victoria’s Inner Harbour, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and the Olympic Mountains—making the neighbourhood one of the capital’s premier addresses.
Sky High Resort-Style Living
Soaring gracefully over the harbour and skyline, the views from the Songhees area apartments and condos are unmatched. Being located across the bridge from Victoria and therefore posing little threat to the skyline or the view of others, Songhees community developers were less impeded by height restrictions. As a result, residents get some pretty incredible vistas out their windows, including sunsets over the water, the downtown Victoria skyline, and the vibrant energy of the Inner Harbour.
The Bayview Place development is made up of residential towers with another one in planning. The development also includes parks, walkways, and the Roundhouse (more on that below). These are 3 towers that make up the current Bayview Place development:
- Encore. 17-storey building with 134 units – completed in 2018
- The Promontory. 21-storey tower with 177 luxury units – completed in 2014
- Bayview One. 11-storey building with 133 condos and 5 townhomes – completed in 2009
The views in the Songhees neighbourhood developments are unique, but that’s not all that makes them so special. Residents have access to luxury amenities like a hot tub, steam room, sauna, business centre, outdoor BBQ deck, car wash station and dog wash station. There’s even a place to store your kayaks!
Oceanfront Way of Life
The unique luxuries of living in the Bayview Place development in the Songhees neighbourhood include the close proximity to the ocean, plus the abundance of public walkways, parks, and open spaces. While residents may have some of the best views in town, they also have the easiest access to the city’s beautiful public spaces. The Songhees walkway begins on the Vic West side of the Johnson Street Bridge, and continues along past the Songhees neighbourhood and into Esquimalt, hugging the shoreline tightly. This walkway is well used for walking, biking and running, and offers stunning views the whole way.
The Songhees neighbourhood is also situated right on top of numerous parks and grassy open spaces. To name a few, there’s Songhees Park, Lime Bay Park and Songhees Hillside Park, plus a number of open grass areas and a 1.8-acre dog park. There’s also Songhees Beach, which works as a great launch point for paddleboards and kayaks.
Pubs & Restaurants
The majority of Victoria’s restaurants, pubs and cafes can be reached by crossing the Johnson Street Bridge or by darting across the water in a harbour ferry. But there are some local gems on this side of the bridge as well – right inside the Songhees neighbourhood, all of which have excellent water and city views.
- Boom + Batten is an upscale restaurant next to the luxury Victoria International Marina. The restaurant specializes in Pacific Northwest cuisine with an elevated cocktail menu and wine list.
- LURE is a restaurant with a waterfront patio located in the Delta Hotel by Marriott Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort. The menu features local seafood, cocktails and wine.
- Spinnakers Gastro Brewpub is the oldest brewpub in the country, having opened its doors in 1984. The pub is known for classic, old-world beers, innovative craft pints and delicious, locally sourced pub food.
A New Hub for Community – Roundhouse
The Roundhouse is a piece of heritage waterfront property that includes an old railway and several heritage buildings. The roots for this development took shape a decade ago, with the developer getting started on different parts of the property in 1990. As such, this development has been one of the most complex in Victoria.
Plans for the Roundhouse redevelopment include an overhaul of the existing structures that would create 1,900 homes across a number of towers ranging from 10 to 32 storeys. But aside from just residential living, the plans include other elements that would transform The Roundhouse into an entirely new community in Songhees. 70,000 sq ft of retail and commercial space is in the plans, along with new public plazas, a childcare centre, and revitalized heritage buildings.
