Working Remotely in Downtown Victoria: A Local Guide

One of the best things about working remotely is having more agency in how you spend your day.

Some mornings, working from home is exactly what you need. Other days, what’s typically comfortable and familiar feels stifling. You might want somewhere you can focus without distraction, take a call without worrying about background noise, or simply be around other people for a while.

Working remotely in Victoria makes it easy to change things up.

Downtown, a productive workday can include a proper workspace, a tasty lunch, a walk outside, a coffee hang with a friend, or a little movement before heading home. You don't have to fit all of that into every day, of course. The point is that the options are there when you want them.

Here's how to make the most of a remote workday in downtown Victoria, with a little help from our Friends of KWENCH, the locally-grown businesses we love recommending to our members and guests.

‍

Finding Your Remote Work Rhythm in Victoria

There isn't one right way to work remotely.

Maybe you do your best thinking first thing in the morning and prefer to take meetings later in the day. Maybe you like a couple of quiet days at home followed by a day somewhere with a little more energy. Or maybe you've discovered that leaving the house is the thing that helps you actually switch into work mode.

The freedom to choose is part of what makes remote work appealing. It also means you can pay attention to what helps you feel focused, connected and good at the end of the day.

A coffee shop might be perfect for catching up on emails. Home might be best when you need uninterrupted quiet. And when you want a proper desk, reliable Wi-Fi, somewhere private to take a call and other humans nearby, a coworking space can give your workday a little more structure without taking away the flexibility.

Where to Work Remotely in Downtown Victoria

Settle Into a Coworking Space

There are days when it's nice to know your workspace is already taken care of.

At KWENCH, you can settle in for focused work, move to a phone booth when a call comes in, find a different spot when you need a change of scenery, or grab a coffee without packing up your laptop and heading somewhere else.

Our hotdesking memberships are designed for people who want that kind of flexibility. You can choose a plan based on how often you want to come in rather than committing to the same schedule every week.

If you're visiting Victoria, curious about coworking, or just need somewhere to work for the day, a day pass gives you another way to drop in.

Find a Favourite Coffee Shop

Sometimes you don't need a full workday setup. You need a coffee, your laptop and somewhere pleasant to spend an hour or two.

Victoria has no shortage of good options.

Habit Coffee is right below KWENCH, which makes it particularly easy to step away from your screen for a specialty coffee or a change of surroundings when your day allows for something a little less structured.

We've written a whole post on some of our favourite places to grab a coffee and get a little work done around Victoria, so we'll save the longer list for there.

Take a Proper Lunch Break

When your commute is measured in steps rather than highway exits, taking an actual lunch break becomes a little easier.

Ruth & Dean has a menu for whatever mood you're in. Grab an easy, healthy lunch to go, cozy up with the soup of the day, or treat yourself to their signature breakfast sandwich on a buttery biscuit with chimichurri. Save room for one of their iconic cakes.

A little farther into downtown, Dumpling Drop is another Friend of KWENCH and a good reason to leave your desk when lunchtime rolls around.

You'll also find Swan's and Jam Cafe among our Friends around Victoria.

Remote work can make it surprisingly easy to eat lunch while answering emails or realize at 2:30 that you haven't really moved all day. Being downtown gives you plenty of reasons to close the laptop for a little while and come back with a clearer head.

Step Away From the Screen

A change of pace doesn't always have to involve another cup of coffee.

One of the things we appreciate about working in Victoria is how easy it can be to build movement and time away from a screen into the day.

Step out of the club and take a class at Ma Yoga or Lagree West.

Craving a deeper reset? Add an $84 boost to your KWENCH membership for unlimited midweek midday circuits at Ritual Nordic Spa, or head to HAVN for an evening treat-yourself soak.

Want a deeper reset? Boost your KWENCH membership for $84 and head to Ritual Nordic Spa for unlimited midweek midday circuits.

And sometimes the simplest option is just going for a walk.

Downtown Victoria puts the waterfront, neighbourhood streets and plenty of places to wander within easy reach. Even 15 minutes outside between meetings can create a welcome dividing line on a busy day.

Wellness is part of life inside KWENCH, too. Our Club includes an open gym with weekly strength-building or HIIT classes as well as a library and meditation space, so you don't necessarily need to leave the building when you need a little time away from your desk.

Make an Afternoon of It

The best part of working downtown? Your day doesn't have to be all work.

Maybe you need art supplies from Opus, want to wander through Public Mercantile, or are ready to bring home a few new plant friends from VI Plant Shop. 

Heck, while you're at it, why not squeeze in a midday haircut at Lavish Salon or Victory Barber and wrap up the workday with a scoop from Cold Comfort?

That's part of what we like about being connected to downtown Victoria. Work doesn't have to exist completely separately from the rest of your life.

There are local shops, studios, cafés and people doing interesting things all around us. On a flexible day, you actually have a little more opportunity to enjoy them.

Meet the Friends of KWENCH

Friends of KWENCH is a growing group of local businesses that make Victoria feel like Victoria: makers, shops, wellness spaces, cafés, and more. We’re so proud to know them, and we wanted an easy way to point our community toward theirs.

Now is as good a time as ever to support the people around you, introduce good people to other good people, and make it a little easier for our communities to support each other..

The Friends network currently includes some of the most Canadian, Victoria-founded, and well-loved names in our community:

Bishop’s Family Cycle • Cold Comfort • Design Victoria • Dumpling Drop • Fat Sisters • FIZZ Non-Alc Bottle Shop • joni •  Lavish Salon • Luna Collective • Nezza Naturals • Opus Art Supplies • Public Mercantile • Ruth & Dean • Softer Drinks • The Vend Collective • VI Plant Shop • Victory Barber & Brand

It's a pretty good group to have in your neighbourhood.

And, while you're there, be sure to grab a Friends of KWENCH card at any of these businesses. It gets you a full work day at KWENCH for $35 (reg. $45), plus 35% off your meal at Ruth & Dean. This initiative is just beginning to take shape, so stay tuned for more.

‍

Build a Workday That Feels Like Yours

Working remotely doesn't mean every day needs to look the same.

Some days might be quiet and focused. Others might include a lunch out, a meeting with someone new, a workout, a walk by the water or a few hours working somewhere that simply feels good to be in.

That's what we like about working in downtown Victoria. You can build a little more life into the spaces between meetings and deadlines.

And if you're looking for a home base for some of those days, KWENCH is here.

Come in for a day, find a favourite spot to work, grab something from Ruth & Dean, take a break when you need one, and see where the day takes you.

‍