I first went to Monkey Tree pub for a friend’s birthday when I first moved to the city. I didn’t know my way around and, to me, it seemed far away from everything since it wasn’t downtown. Of course, after I got my bearings about me and finally figured out the city (I also ended up moving closer to the University), I realized that Monkey Tree is indeed not really that far away at all.
In my final months living full-time in Victoria, I used to go to Monkey Tree all the time for cheap drink deals and because I lived quite close. The pub atmosphere is pretty standard, and service is generally friendly but often extremely slow. Additionally, the waitresses (in their barely-there skirts) tend to pay more attention to the tables of only men (unsurprising, but still irritating).
The food is pretty standard. Nothing spectacular, but a decent price for what you get and basic pub fare. If you’re not downtown and not driving, it’s a sensible option (though Maude’s has better food if you’re deciding on locales). I primarily recommend going to Monkey Tree on Saturday nights for music bingo. Go in a large group and it’s one of the best times you’ll have in the city. Be wary though; you absolutely must go early in order to actually get a table/enough tables for a large group. I’ve usually gone with a couple of friends for afternoon drinks and literally stayed until the evening. That’s how much I hate waiting in line. Plus, Monkey Tree isn’t really close to much else if you don’t get in.
