4 Fun Niagara Itineraries for Holiday Shopping The Day Away
Holiday shopping is so much more enjoyable when you can stop and enjoy some local flavours along the way. This season, Niagara’s a perfect destination to give this tactic a try. The following itineraries blend the best brunching, browsing, sipping and shopping spots in St. Catharines, Port Dalhousie, Jordan and the Niagara Benchlands.
St. Catharines
Brunch
The District offers delicious brunch options on Saturdays and Sundays. Bistro Mirepoix is an unassuming little spot with brunch dishes like Sourdough Waffles and Lobster Florentine Eggs Benedict. At White Meadows Farms, delicious tasting boards make a perfect mid-morning meal with four maple syrups, mini buttermilk pancakes and a glass of homemade maple iced tea.
Browse
If your travels bring you to St. Catharines on a Thursday or Saturday, head to Market Square for the St. Catharines Farmer’s Market, where in addition to tasty treats, you’ll find lovely gift ideas on display from local artisans. On Thursday evenings from November 17th through December 15th there will be a special Winter At The Market, bringing in even more local artisans, crafters and resellers.
Sip
Archives Wine and Spirit Merchants is a relatively new addition to St. Catharines’ downtown core. The friendly tasting bar and bottle shop stocks an impressive selection of wine, spirits, beer, ciders, food, and cocktail ingredients, as well as apparel and accessories.
For those looking for a non-alcoholic picker-upper, Happies (formerly Small Batch Juice Co.) has a creative selection of juices, smoothies and seasonal drinks that are the ultimate healthy treat.
Shop
Everlove Design’s beautifully curated shop is filled with lovely art, throws, candles, mugs, and more. They’ll even assemble custom gift boxes for you.
Port Dalhousie
Brunch
If you’re visiting on a Sunday, the brunch menu at KaiserHaus Wine Bar Bistro is a winner, and the beautifully decorated space will make you feel like you’re dining in a small European café.
On other days of the week, Rozie’s Café is the go-to brunch and breakfast spot with locals for good reason. If you’d like a brunch option that allows you to graze as you go, hop online before your trip, and order a delectable charcuterie box from Chz Plz.
Browse
Enter a haven of Hygge just a short drive down the road from Port Dalhousie at Hus & Rooms. This Scandinavian lifestyle, interior design and home décor store has a stunning selection of giftable items, including bath products, books, clothing, kitchen accessories and more.
Sip
If you’re craving some craft beer, stop in for a mid-afternoon flight at Lock Street Brewery, who also happens to have a delicious seasonal brunch offering on Sundays. If you’d prefer a little caffeine kick, Balzac’s Coffee Roasters or 416 Coffee Co. are sure to please.
Shop
Thistle Bookshop and Café is home to helpful staff who are always happy to provide recommendations for the readers on your holiday shopping list. For festive treats that Fido will love to find under the tree, Endless Pawzabilities is Niagara’s only artisan pet boutique and “barkery.”
Jordan Village
Brunch
Best-bet brunching is always on the menu in Jordan at favourites like Inn On The Twenty and RPM Bakehouse. To enjoy a heaping helping of Lake Ontario shoreline views with your brunch, head to Beacon Harbourside Kitchen and Bar.
Browse
Spend some time admiring the diverse collection of art at Jordan Art Gallery.
Sip
A visit to Jordan isn’t complete without a stop at the Cave Spring Winery Tasting Room. The winery waives the fee for its tasting flight if you purchase a case of wine, so stock up for holiday entertaining!
Shop
After you’ve made your way through the lovely collection of shops in Jordan’s historic mews, walk a little further down the road to discover additional retail rewards at The Maple Market and Avant-Garde Emporium.
Niagara Benchlands
Brunch
Who says you can’t have pizza for breakfast? If you’re travelling on the weekend, Honsberger Estate Winery’s small barn opens at 11 am. It is an incredibly cozy spot to tuck into a Jordan Pear pizza, made with farm pears, Upper Canada Cheese Company’s Maple Smoked Cheddar (from just down the road) and beer-braised onions. Megalomaniac, Peninsula Ridge Estate Winery (on Sundays) and Revalee Brunch Café are other best bets for a Niagara Benchlands brunch.
Browse
Join the list of antique hounds and vintage enthusiasts who keep returning to score beloved finds at Prudhommes Antique and Vintage Market. With three buildings of antiques and collectables and a dozen vendor cabins, this market is Niagara’s largest.
Sip
There’s no shortage of sipping stops to choose from when you’re touring through the Niagara Benchlands. Some wineries that are particularly pretty in the winter months include Westcott Vineyards, Kew Vineyards Estate Winery, Hidden Bench Estate Winery and 180 Estate Winery, where guests can enjoy a tasting around their own private fire pit.
Shop
If you have little ones on your holiday shopping list, be sure to visit Vineland’s Hey Baby. Niagara’s first handmade baby store offers a beautiful selection of goods from local artisans and small businesses from across North America. The store’s neighbour, The Local Life, is also fully stocked with locally sourced handmade products, including jewelry, candles, soaps, clothing, and more.
Get even more ideas for enjoying the holiday season in St. Catharines and the Niagara Benchlands.
Supported by the Tourism Partnership of Niagara
