- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Coffee & Tea |
- All
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Music:
- Live
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Sun, Sat
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
24 reviews for The Bengal Lounge
Review Highlights
"The service is top-notch, and the drinks are stiff."
(in 4 reviews)
"...is full of dark wood and big comfy leather chairs & sofas."
(in 3 reviews)
"...would have it, was when I was there- they offer live Jazz."
(in 2 reviews)
Loading...
24 reviews in English
-
Review from Warren C.
Saskatoon, SK
11/6/2011
Loved,loved,loved this place.Ambience was awesome,service was top-notch,and the drink menu was inventive and historic!
I loved the Classic Manhattan but I couldn't stomach the American whiskey so I asked for Canadian Whiskey which made the drink! Our server's name was Paul and he was attentive and efficient! Munchies on the table, sunlight streaming through the room, and nice background music made for an enjoyable 2 hours in the mid-afternoon.Expensive but you gotta splurge every once in a while.Glad we did it here. -
Review from Mario P.
12/5/2011
We stopped in here for a cocktail before dinner. Some interesting cocktail combinations and house specialties, but overrated. Really pricey, and really snooty.
-
Review from vena v.
7/27/2011
The room is lovely. The food is awful. The only edible Indian food on the buffet were the papadum and the chutneys (all of which may have come from boxes/jars). The price is high. Don't eat here.
Go to Sunnyvale CA or LA, CA, and get your Indian fix there. -
Review from J W.
6/5/2011
Fancy schmancy, dudes! Me and my Mama checked in here in May on Friday the 13th...which is maybe my new lucky number :)
The curry buffet was definitely an olfactory sensation upon entry, I'm not a huge fan, and since we already ate, we just stopped for dranks.
My mom was on this coffee/liqueur kick and they had a neat-looking lil espresso martini thing she tried; I went for the gold: the Original Bengal Tiger: blend of Bacardi dark rum, fresh lemon, pineapple and pomegranate juice with a hint of apricot brandy = class in a glass, yo!
The locale was obvs plush, dark, and totally neat...it was also cool wandering through the Empress to get there, and definitely the perfect evening to check out the grounds. I love Vic, but I've never actually been here so it was really cool! -
Review from Elif F.
3/8/2011
This review is only for going here as a bar/lounge. I did not try the food and don't think I would want to from the looks of it.
I can see where it might get a bit touristy during the tourist season, and the food. But, go here for the lounge. A great place to go on a crowded Saturday night. Trust me on this one. It's been a family secret since it opened in 1970.
Where else are you going to recline on large pillows on a leather couch with a view of the inner harbour? I didn't have the fru fru tourist drinks. I did have a really great grey goose vodka martini, made a little dirty. At 8 dollars, I don't think that is that much more expensive than many places I've been to. Throw in really great people watching, flirting with the waiter, and live awesome jazz I'd say it's a great time. -
Review from April R.
9/25/2011
Had to check this place out. Cant review the food because we only came in for a drink. The place is a beauty. We sat at the bar and enjoyed talking to the bartender. The drinks were really good and it was a fun environment to be in. You can sit there and imagine what it used to be like when this place fist opened. At least stop by for a drink like we did.
-
Review from mike c.
9/12/2011
Had dinner there on 9/6.
Had the Indian buffet.
I should have run when I saw BEEF curry, but it was too late by that point.
Worst Indian food I have ever had. Bland and underseasoned. I have had much better food at the local Indian food cart.
Not exactly cheap either. I was pretty surprised to see that my martinis were $18 a piece. I did not expect to pay New York prices in BC.
Mike c -
Review from Lisa M.
Victoria, BC
9/25/2011
Ambience was good. Buffet was cold and bland. Waiter was not good, we had to move our empty plates to other tables. He also never asked if we wanted another drink, or if we wanted coffee after I meal. We were a large group and they would not split up the bill. They would only take two payments, it was weird! I expected class here, but it was no different then going to a cheap Chinese buffet. Sorry! The only great thing was the decorate//designer, gorgeous lounge.
-
Review from Victoria R.
Vancouver, BC
8/17/2010
I was told that a trip to Victoria - much less the Empress - would be incomplete without a stop at the Bengal Lounge for cocktails. Not knowing what to expect, I'm happy to be reviewing it without pretenses.
The room alone makes you feel like you're somewhere in English-colonized Africa or India, with wood paneled walls, leather chairs, lush animal print pillows and a giant bengal tiger skin hung over the impressive fireplace. It truly is a visually stunning place, even the ceiling fans have an exotic look to them (they are antique styled).
On Saturday nights - which, as luck would have it, was when I was there- they offer live Jazz. So now you're immediately transported not only to some exotic English colony, but back in time to the '50s in a cool hotel cocktail lounge. I could have stayed in that time warp for ages.
The all-you-can-eat dessert buffet was a splendid end to our evening, he had cocktails and I ate 4 different types of chocolate desserts, for $15.
If you're in Victoria, what everyone tells you is right - you have to go. -
Review from Eric K.
5/16/2010 1 Check-in Here
If you frequent nicer hotel bars (think the Oak Room at the Plaza Hotel in NYC) and enjoy them you'll like this place. The Empress hotel is probably one of the few places regal enough to contain the lodge-themed Bengal Lounge without it seeming like some trite novelty.
You'll get what you expect at the Bengal Lounge and a bit more. I went in expecting OK drinks that were way overpriced. Instead I got a good (but not incredible) drink from a menu of drinks that were a lot less overpriced than I had expected. For instance the whiskeys at the Bengal Lounge were quite a bit cheaper than the ones at the Oak Room in NYC.
This isn't a bar I'd go to regularly but I consider it a pretty good example of an upscale theme bar. I wouldn't push someone to go here if they weren't interested in it but definitely check it out if you are. -
Review from Jake M.
7/16/2011
The Bengal Lounge is a must try in Victoria. Worth stopping in for a drink, especially during the live music hours.
-
Review from megan y.
11/22/2010
The setting makes you feel as if you have walked back into a private English club in colonized India: sway ceiling fans, animal heads, wall murals, lots of leather and a great big fireplace. The cocktails have the same flare. They are strong, beautiful and delicious.
I tried their Ms Mary which was rosemary infused vodka with lemon and egg whites. The combination was almost like an alcoholic lemon meringue with rosemary. Delish! My party enjoyed superb
old-fashioneds, delightful side-cars and very stout gin and tonics.
We enjoyed every minute of our time at the Bengal Lounge. The service was top-notch! It's a bit spendy, but this is a must-visit if you are in Victoria! -
Review from Timothy d.
10/11/2009
All I'm going to mention about this place is, the cheese plate!
Enough for two and one of the best of the best in-terms of cheese plates I've had.
The leather chairs, the dark wood... the whole atmosphere is relaxing and quiet. The service is top-notch, and the drinks are stiff.Listed in: it's fromages, it…, Vancouver BC... so many…
-
Review from Elaine S.
6/23/2011
Loved the ambiance! It was like drinking on a movie set. The Empress 1908 cocktail is not to be missed! The tea was very enjoyable, but we had a bit of a wait for service.
-
Review from Christopher P.
Victoria, BC
2/21/2010
With the recent death (*sob*) of Solomon's, I've been forced to re-canvas places in Victoria to get a reasonable cocktail. Recently, I went back to Bengal's...and it was delightful in almost all respects.
The atmosphere is perfect, and designed for relaxing and chatting, or just sipping a drink and reading the paper. Of everything on their menu, I think that I'm most in love with the Vanilla Espresso - I love chilled espresso, and the vanilla-flavoured vodka goes beautifully with it.
I did say 'almost all respects'. The key drawback is that you're paying Fairmont prices for your drinks; there are certainly cheaper places in the area. Also, the beer selection is exceptionally poor.
If you're looking for reasonable cocktails, then you can do a lot worse than Bengal's. Check it out if you're feeling wealthy, want a nice environment, and have time to relax and enjoy a decent cocktail. -
Review from Nobbi L.
8/21/2008
We wanted to find a watering hole at the Empress while visiting Victoria. We entered the hotel through the "Hotel Entrance". Despite our not being registered guests, we were admitted. I guess the Empress allows Queens! We walked through the lovely lobby toward the restaurants. They were serving high tea in one of the rooms. I asked a few times for the place to have some drinks. We finally found it: The Bengal Lounge. It was rather early in the afternoon. We had already eaten lunch. A wonderful smell of Indian spices raped our olfactory nerve endings. "Verdammt!" I can't partake of the yummy Indian buffet. I'm stuffed! (In the American, not British way, though THAT would be a welcome miracle!)
Despite all the diners, the friendly hostess, led us to a comfy love seat and chair with a sofa table just for drinks. The setting was spectacular. It reminded me of Raffles in Singapore. Remember that Singapore Sling? (Well, there I just had a Bombay Saphire Tonic. No nellie drinks for me!!!) Actually, come to think of it, I had the same here!
Although I wanted to return for that Indian buffet, it didn't work out time wise. Maybe next time. -
Review from Beth C.
Victoria, BC
10/7/2008
It's an overpriced tourist trap. If you're okay with that, though, read on.
The atmosphere is beautiful, in the Empress Hotel, so it's giant, airy, spacious, with fans moving on the very high ceiling. The decor is old wood and carpet, but it doesn't feel overly stuffy or colonial.
The drinks are good, if expensive. The food, and to be fair, I've only eaten there once, was bland and very overpriced. I had a fancy version of fish and chips (which turned out to be much like a regular version of fish and chips, for $25.00). Most of my dining companions had the curry buffet, and most reported that while it was sufficient, it was quite bland and inexpertly done, much of it overcooked, underspiced, and unimaginative. Certainly not as inspired as the prices.
I suspect their fare is aimed at a much more senior clientele, and rightly so - I don't expect to be able to afford that place very often until I'm 75.
It left me with mixed feelings - part "meh, I could have cooked better", part "that was a good martini" and part "when's pay day again?". -
Review from Aaron E.
10/23/2008
This place is probably only 3 or 4 star quality, but I've had an obsession with it since I was a wee little child.
As a young lad visiting Victoria with my family we would have tea at the Empress or stay at the Empress and I would always walk by the Bengal Lounge and cry at the thought of not being let in due to me being underage (you have to be of legal drinking age to get in). From the threshold I would gaze at the Safari themed decor and I would always vow I would be back here one day.
I was finally able to enter these sacred grounds on my most recent trip to Canadia Land. Waiting 19 long years paid off and I was beyond thrilled to sit next to the Elephant head that sits above the fireplace with the tiger rug next to me.
The food they serve is "Indian". They have delicious chutneys and such, but it's very much Americanized... or Canadianized?? Fusion food? Not sure how to describe it but it's not at all close to being authentic... but it's nonetheless delicious. They also serve English-esque items like Fish and Chips. I wouldn't know about the alcoholic beverages since I was still considered underage by la familia (sticklers about me being 21) but they sure did make a mean Arnold Palmer.
You can get better food elsewhere but the service is top notch and the atmosphere is flawless. Whimsical without being over the top, elegant without being pretentious. Highly recommended for something slightly out of the ordinary. -
Review from i. o.
7/14/2009
Sitting in the Bengal Lounge, minutes after checking into the "empressive" Fairmont Empress, luxuriating in the softness of the impossibly comfortable soft-leather couches and waiting in earnest for my curry lunch to begin, it was easy to imagine myself in another epoch, in a lounge ... at say ... London's Royal Geographic Society, exchanging crispy gists with explorers such as Percy Fawcett or Edmund Musgrave Barttelot.
Yes, this lounge is genuinely olde-skoole, complete with black marble elephants at the entrance, a real Bengal Tiger skin hanging over the fireplace (!) and all the decor/woodwork/high-ceilings that you'd expect.
I greatly enjoyed the curry lunch buffet, it is expensive (~24 CAD), but after the weak-ass taste-less pretzels I got on the flight over from the US, I was ready to tuck into this nice welcome to Victoria!
5 Stars!! -
Review from Julie G.
9/7/2010
Nice atmosphere. Overpriced food. Went there only because we had an entertainment card for buy or get one free $30 dinner buffet. Wasn't careful about the disclaimer that said "excludes defined holidays". We went on a rainy Monday evening on Labor Day. Come on. We were able to use other coupons that day without a problem. Not this place. Ended up paying $80 for a not so big Indian dinner buffet and one cup of tea. Ouch.
-
Review from noell b.
7/8/2011
an old fashioned men's smoking room from the 1900s with a tiger pelt on the wall, live jazz band and 100 year old leather couches that were as soft as silk. i had a couple delicious cocktails including a "bengal tiger" and a creamy pineapple blended drink. the ambiance was fabulous and so were the cocktails. we had indian-inspired appetizers that were good too. the combination of food, ambiance and cocktails made it a fabulous night.
-
Review from Nicole F.
9/14/2008
We were already staying at the Empress so we decided to go downstairs for some cocktails and appetizers since we weren't hungry enough for dinner. The room is full of dark wood and big comfy leather chairs & sofas. It was a nice place to wind down at the end of the day. I had a mango lassi which is pretty much an alcoholic mango milkshake (yummy) and we shared some naan bread with various dips and some samosas. Everything was good. We took a look at the Indian buffet on our way out. It looked fine but I'd stick to the a la carte menu if I come back.
-
Review from Chris M.
Victoria, BC
9/18/2010
For the price, you can find better.
Sure it has cool atmosphere. Sure the waiter called me sir, and had a napkin over his arm. But the food was no better than a 10 dollar all you can eat indian place, and the drinks were 15 bucks each. They do not accept entertainment book coupons on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Holidays (you know, all the times you might want to go somewhere nice).
Leave this trap for the tourists. -
Review from Sho G.
6/9/2009
Wow this place is really cool. Its old very fancy and I wish more places have the historical feel that this place does (this is coming from an american). Its a rarity to see such intricate woodwork nowadays. Anyhow we went for the buffet which I highly recommend unless you have money in which case this would be the place to live it up. The food was really good Indian and the selection they had at the buffet is enough to fill you up. Its not the biggest Indian buffet I've ever seen and it is definitely more expensive but its worth it if you appreciate the Colonial India decor and old world atmosphere.
