While Niagara is known for its fabulous wine country cuisine, navigating from winery to winery on foot can be a challenge.
Fortunately for foodies, there’s a Niagara destination with an amazing collection of culinary gems, all located within an easy walk of each other. Downtown St. Catharines’ red-hot restaurant scene makes it a perfect place to park the car and enjoy a gourmet galivant on foot. Convenient daily GO Train service to St. Catharines from the GTA means it’s also easy to set out on this tasty tour without any wheels at all!
Brunch
Plan to arrive in St. Catharines for brunch at Bistro Mirepoix. Believe the hype, this friendly restaurant serves up an intimate, mouth-watering experience. Bistro Mirepoix’s vibe may be relaxed, but the culinary team’s dedication to preparing a dozen or so items in creative ways will wow you. Bistro Mirepoix’s rotating brunch menu blends traditional breakfast favourites like eggs benedict elevated with pork belly & brie or lobster Florentine and fresh herbs grown in house. If you prefer something sweet, try the mascarpone stuffed brioche french toast with mango and raspberry. Muah!
Next, spend some time exploring the shops of Downtown St. Catharines. If you’re visiting on a Thursday or Saturday, swing by the St. Catharines Farmers Market to browse stall after stall of spring’s freshest farm-to-table flavours.
Lunch
Reward yourself for the steps you’ve acquired so far with a light lunch stop at Wellington Court. If it’s a sunny afternoon, score a seat on the patio. Enjoy a bottle of Niagara wine paired with a selection of outstanding appetizers, like Chef Erik Peacock’s famous chicken liver paté, old-school Oysters Rockefeller or fresh focaccia topped with roasted garlic, caramelized smoked onion butter and sundried tomato olive yuzu tapenade.
With no drive to deal with or traffic to fight, the afternoon is yours to enjoy as you please. Browse the impressive collection of bottles at Archives Wine and Spirit Merchants. Treat yourself to a traditional barbershop experience with the bonus of an exceptionally well-stocked bar at Frontier Barbers & Company. Taste your way through a flight of craft beer at Merchant Ale House, or enjoy some friendly competition at Ludology Boardgame Café.
Happy Hour
When you hear the neighbourhood church bells chime four o’clock, take it as your signal to head to oddBird for happy hour, recently recognized as one of Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants. This spring, oddBird’s talented bartending team is having fun with a Ship of Theseus-inspired cocktail called Drink of Theseus and switching up one key ingredient each week. The restaurant’s ever-changing chalkboard of delicious small plates will make leaving some room for dinner difficult!
Dinner
When you can finally tear yourself away from the one-of-a-kind vibe at oddBird, make your way down St. Paul Street for a warm welcome from the friendly team at Bolete. Chef Andrew McLeod wows diners with modern Canadian cuisine prepared in his open kitchen. If you’re visiting on a Wednesday or Thursday, consider the competitively priced mid-week prix fixe menu, which includes your choice of appetizer, main and dessert for just $65.
Evening
For after-dinner fun, consider timing your trip with one of the many concerts or independent film screenings at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre. Other great options taking place within walking distance of Bolete include and a wide range of independent bands performing at Warehouse Concert Hall.
After dinner or your show, squeeze in one final stop at Pharmacii. The carefully curated cocktail list here received a spectacular spring makeover inspired by the staff’s childhood memories. Treat yourself to a Banana Bread Cocktail, made with bourbon, amaro, smoked banana syrup and a beautiful banana brulee and raise a glass to one delicious day!
