A Day Away in Kingston

By Visit Kingston

Leave the car behind as you explore Kingston’s pedestrian-friendly downtown core. Stroll the limestone streetscapes dotted with restaurants and bars offering some of the best food and drink you’ll find anywhere, and enjoy an abundance of independent shops and boutiques offering only-in-Kingston finds.

For more passports and itineraries, visit the Great Taste of Ontario’s website.

Eat & Drink

The city comes together to share its passion for good food raised right. Kingston’s chefs source homegrown every chance they get. Through winter, spring, summer and fall, their menus constantly evolve to explore bold flavours and offer the best tastes and products of the region. For more places to eat and drink, visit our page here.

Dianne’s Fish Shack and Smokehouse: Classic East Coast meets the flavours of Mexico! Think lobster rolls, fish n’ chips and oysters along with tacos, guacamole and Mexican BBQ.

Atomica Pizza and Wine Bar: Fresh Mediterranean food including a plant-based menu guaranteed to please any vegetarian or vegan.

 

The Everly: Thoughtful wine list from near and far, focusing on terroir-driven small passionate producers, as well as a curated selection of classic cocktails for your pleasure.

Toast and Jam: A locally sourced brunch café where all food is made from scratch in house. Their Avocado and Egg Breakfast is heavenly.

 

Spearhead Brewing Company: Beer without boundaries. It’s a philosophy reflected in Spearhead’s mainstay brews including a Moroccan Brown Ale, Bedrock Lager, Lighter Lager, and a Hawaiian Style Pale Ale.

AquaTerra: Dishes that delight made with locally sourced ingredients, and magnificent waterfront views with every meal. Pair an Apple Cider Champagne Cocktail with their Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake for a sweet treat of the season.

 

Explore and Experience

Whether you want to spend the day exploring historic sites or prefer to discover vintage and one-of-a-kind finds, you can get lost in the history, heritage, art and architecture of the country’s first capital city. Looking for more things to see and do? Visit our page here.

Kingston Penitentiary Tours: Always notorious in Canada, this maximum-security prison operated for 178 years and is now a National Historic Site offering guided tours.

Waterfront Pathway: An 8km picturesque trail along Lake Ontario accessible from the downtown core. Along the way you’ll see part of Kingston’s UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Kingston Fortifications.

 

Antiques and art: Whether you’re after antique treasures, vintage vinyl, or thrifted threads, Kingston is home to a bounty of shops that cater to those who love a good find. Be sure to check out End of the Thread Antique Emporium, Something Else Records, and Martello Alley.

Historic neighbourhoods: Explore Sydenham Ward, Queen’s University campus, Barriefield Village, and Portsmouth Village for a glimpse into the city’s past. The City of Kingston offers guided audio tours via their mobile app.

 

Haunted Walk of Kingston: Ghosts, graveyards, hangings and haunts. Walking tours of Kingston’s darker past.

Agnes Etherington Art Centre: An art museum located at Queen’s University. Be sure to take in Rembrandt and Company: Seventeenth-Century Dutch Paintings from The Bader Collection.

Tett Centre for Creativity and Learning: Operating in a beautiful heritage building on the shores of Lake Ontario, the Tett Centre is home to arts organizations and artists, and offers many opportunities to immerse yourself in workshops, exhibitions, and open houses. Be sure to stop by Juniper Café for a sweet treat.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by The Tett Centre (@tettcentre)

 

Rest & Relax

Frontenac Club: Virtually every space within the 175-year-old Frontenac Club has been re-envisioned and restored. Offering the best rooftop view in the city, unparalleled privacy, newly renovated rooms, and gourmet breakfasts.

Delta Hotels by Marriott Kingston Waterfront: Kingston’s four-star hotel in the heart of downtown. Each guest room features water views. Indulge in award-winning culinary creations at the on-site restaurant, AquaTerra, or bask beside the sparkling indoor rooftop pool.

Looking for more hotels and inns where you can rest and relax at? Check out all of them here.

The Latest

Eat + Drink
Seven spots for seasonal dishes and drinks to indulge in this winter

Sports + Outdoors
Sports and recreational activities in Kingston during the holidays

Top 25 Things to do
25 things to do in Kingston this January