Whether you’re looking for local vegetables, sustainably sourced ingredients, or tasty baked goods, it’s easy to eat local in Kingston.
Memorial Centre Farmers’ Market
303 York St
Every Sunday, 9 am to 1 pm
Kingston has plenty of fantastic restaurants to check out, offering flavours from a wide range of culinary traditions. If you want to sample a world of flavours in one stop, you’ll want to make a trip to the Memorial Centre Farmers’ Market. The market brings together local vendors offering farm-fresh produce and spectacular hot dishes. How often can you get Chinese-style steamed buns, authentic Ukrainian perogies, fresh babaghanush, and hot churros, all in one place? And it’s all produced within 100 km. of the market.
Check out their roundup of their diverse list of vendors.
Kingston Public Market
Springer Market Square
Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, 8:30 am to 5 pm
Dating back to 1801, the Kingston Public Market is the oldest and longest running public market in Ontario. Today, it carries on that legacy as the perfect place to load up on farm-fresh produce, preserves, local maple syrup, fresh-cut flowers, and more.
For an in-depth look at this historic market, check out our story on the Visit Kingston website.
Miss Bāo Restaurant + Cocktail Bar
286 Princess St.
Thursday to Sunday, opening at 5 pm
Miss Bāo serves delicious Asian fusion cuisine shaped by a commitment to sustainability and local ingredients. They leverage seasonal ingredients in their dishes, collaborate with local suppliers, and keep a large portion of the menu composed of vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free items. They even grow their own microgreens in the restaurant with their in-house gardening system. It’s hard to get much more local than that!
Check out their menu online to see what delicious dishes are in store today.
Feast On® certified restaurants
Multiple locations
If you’re looking for a spot to get a taste of Ontario, let Feast On® be your guide to restaurants that not only serve delicious food, but have a proven commitment to community and sustainability. Initiated by the Culinary Tourism Alliance, Feast On® certified restaurants have proven that their procurement process for ingredients meets a minimum standard of Ontario-grown or produced items, for both food and beverage.
Did we mention that Kingston has ten businesses that have earned this prestigious certification? Explore the full list on the Feast On® map.
Pasta Genova
234 Wellington St
Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, 10 am to 5 pm
Just steps away from Princess Street you will find a local gem that specializes in quality Italian groceries and some of the best bread in the city. Since opening in 1988, Pasta Genova has garnered a reputation for being the premiere spot downtown to grab homemade pasta and sauces, fine cheese, and freshly baked focaccia. Pop by for lunch for one of their delicious sandwiches with provolone cheese, homemade muffuletta, and stacks of cured meats or eggplant on warm focaccia.
Baltic Deli
506 Days Rd.
Monday – Friday, 11 am to 6 pm, Saturday 11 am to 4 pm
Located in Lasalle Plaza in Kingston’s west end, Baltic Deli specializes in Polish delicacies. As well as a selection of deli meats, sausages, and cheeses, Baltic Deli offers a variety of takeaway sandwich options for lunch. Just make sure to pick up some paczki (jam-filled Polish doughnuts) or one of their other fresh-made desserts while you’re there.
Coffee Way Donut Shop
472 Division St.
Daily, 6 am to 11 pm
We couldn’t leave out this Kingston icon when talking about local eats. Coffee Way has been serving some of the city’s favourite donuts for decades. Pick up a box with freshly baked favourites like apple fritters, Boston creams, crullers, and Canadian maple. For those with a super sweet tooth, check out the special, topped with toffee pieces and a caramel drizzle.
Now serving: Ontarieau sparkling water
Sometimes it’s the small additions that make a big impact. As well as being Feast On® certified, the Black Dog Hospitality Group restaurants have taken their commitment to local ingredients a step further with the addition of Ontarieau Sparkling Water, a sparkling spring water sourced (naturally) from Ontario. Find it at Black Dog Tavern, Dianne’s, and Atomica Kitchen & Cocktails.
Bonus: eat Canadian
Flight Cheese Shop now offers a “domestic flight,” showcasing Canadian cheese. Take a tour around the country via your taste buds; each container has six types of Canadian cheese, with tasting notes and pairing suggestions.
Some of these places are participating in Kingstonlicious. Make sure to try their special prix fixe menus before the culinary festival wraps up on March 31! See participating restaurants and their menus online.
