Kingston, Ontario has some of the best restaurants in Canada. FACT!
It also has the most restaurants and bars per capita in Canada than any other city in our country! Can you believe it? I was a bit shocked by this at first and didn’t know this fun fact!
After spending a weekend in this remarkable city, you can definitely see this to be true. Every street we walked down we spotted a cute place that we wanted to check out or were tempted to visit!
There are top notch coffee shops on every corner, fresh bakeries that line the streets and some really trendy dinner spots that are perfect for date nights or a night out with friends. There are so many great restaurants across the city, some of the best restaurants in Kingston are mainly in the downtown area so you can easily walk to them from where you are staying! And after all the food we ate, it was nice to walk it off haha!
Here are the Best Restaurants in Kingston Ontario
#1. Juniper Cafe
Highlights include the best and most mouth watering pastries we have had in a while and the prettiest yogurt bowl I have ever laid eyes on. If breakfast isn’t your thing they also have a killer lunch menu with the option to have wine or a craft brew as well!
A lot of their menu is locally sourced and made in house which always makes me like a place more! There are two locations in town- one in the Tett Centre for Creativity and Learning (stunning location by the water) and the other location is in the west end!
#2. Black Dog Tavern
This Kingston Ontario restaurant has been around for 20 years so you know it’s a good one! Black Dog Tavern should be on everyone’s list for a place to experience when in town! It was for sure my favourite dinner spot we visited for overall food, ambience and service.
Black Dog Tavern is located in a historic building and offers classics like steak and frites, oysters and burgers but has a modern and upscale twist to it all. We loved the ambience inside and if we came back without the kids, we would for sure have sat around the cozy and happening bar for a meal! What a vibe!
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#3. Baja Craft Kitchen
If you are looking for a hip place for Mexican and Margaritas, you need to visit Baja Craft Kitchen!
Tucked away down an unassuming alleyway, the restaurant is a gem. Once you enter the door you walk through a hallway of colorful umbrellas ( Instagram lovers this is for you) which eventually leads you to the restaurant itself.
I absolutely loved our lunch there- we split their Avocado Fries and had a few Quesabirria tacos. Both were 10/10! I imagine that the night time vibes would be even cooler as they had neon lights on some of the walls and an epic bar which was the focal point of the space that was filled with tons of different tequila brands.
#4. Northside Espresso + Kitchen
If you are serious about coffee, you need to visit Northside Espresso.
Inspired by the Australian city of Melbourne ( a city with a big coffee scene), Northside Espresso feels like you are transported down under.
It has an airy, bright and earthy atmosphere ( so many tropical plants!) and overall feels like a place that you can hang out in all day long. Along with serving up lattes, matchas, drip coffees and americanos, it features mouth watering classic Australian breakfast items ( I have been told the Avo Toast is one for the books!)
#5. Harper’s Burger Bar- One of the best restaurants in Kingston for gourmet burgers!
Harper’s Burger Bar is one cool spot! So cool that it was even featured on The Food Network’s “You Gotta Eat Here”
The menu has over 50 different burger combinations, sides, dressings- you name it, the menu has it! It also has SO many fun shakes for the kids making it a great spot to go with the family.
We decided on a Unami Burger ( the beef is family farmed and sustainably raised too FYI) and customized ours with a Gluten Free bun which is not always easy to find!
#6. Atomica Kitchen -The best restaurant in Kingston for Italian!
Atomica Kitchen + Cocktails is one of those places that would suit anyone’s style! We came as a family with the kids but we saw a 30th birthday taking place there, a mother/son duo on a night out and 2 couples enjoying a fun dinner together!
While the atmosphere is inviting with it’s exposed brick, on site pizza oven and booths that line the walls, the food is what really delivers here! They have everything from homemade pizza, pasta and even some unique items like gourmet bao buns! My favourite dish though was their Chicken Parmesan paired with a classic Italian Negroni….*chef’s kiss*
#7. Chez Piggy
If you are looking for more of a fine dining experience in town, this Kingston Ontario restaurant is for you!
Chez Piggy was started back in 1979 and has not stopped elevating itself ever since! Set up in a renovated limestone original building, it is ever so inviting, unique and has menu offerings for brunch, lunch and dinner.
Chez Piggy also has an expansive and well thought out craft cocktail list which shouldn’t be missed
#8. Daft Brewing- Best Brewery in Kingston, Ontario
Kingston Ontario is home to a few good breweries but Daft Brewing is the most colorful and according to them “the weirdest”. Seems like the perfect combo to me!
What I particularly loved about Daft Brewing is that in addition to a phenomenal beer menu, they have a pretty awesome food selection. Some breweries I have visited in the past only offer tiny bites like chips or nuts. At Daft, they have everything from charcuterie to grilled cheeses, gourmet sandwiches and nachos!
#9. Sens Cafe
This is one of the best Kingston restaurants by the waterfront and it is in a stunning limestone building to boot! The place looks so inviting from the outside that you almost have no choice but to walk in!
Sens Cafe serves up fresh coffee ( they have a serious coffee and tea menu), fresh pastries and some more savory breakfast items. The owners have opened previous cafes in France so they know a thing or two about doing the cafe thing. Do not miss this spot!
The Best Restaurants in Kingston Ontario: Continued List!
- Score Pizza– This is the spot for a quick gourmet pizza on the go! You can choose all the toppings you want, customize the size of it and then watch it bake in the on site pizza oven!
- Dianne’s Fish Shack– This restaurant on the corner of Ontario street features all of the fish tacos your heart can imagine. This place would be very cute and perfect for a summer afternoon especially since they have the best margaritas in town!
- Mio Gelato- Mio Gelato is like an institution in Kingston and whenever we asked some locals where to eat the first place they mentioned visiting was Mio Gelato! The gelato is really as good as what you find in Italy!
Looking for more Kingston Ontario Restaurant Finds?
From family fun, to relaxation, a culinary adventure and everything in between, there’s an accommodation package for every type of trip. Keep up to date on all offerings that are available throughout the year HERE. Hotels within the city of Kingston often have some great promotions making it very easy to stay for the weekend, explore and eat your way through the city!
Kingston also has its annual Kingstonlicious program, which typically runs through the months of January-March. This is an award-winning program where restaurants feature specialty pre-fixe menus and unique signature events showcase the local culinary scene. It’s not to be missed!
I hope you enjoyed my list of the best 9 Restaurants in Kingston and I hope you end up making your way to this beautiful city!! I can’t wait to visit again in the summer when the patios are in full force and we get to experience some of the restaurant’s summer menus.
Have any questions about some of the Best restaurants in Kingston? Feel free to Email me or DM me on Instagram
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