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. 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!
 

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, such as Eggs Benedict elevated with pork belly and brie, and Lobster Florentine, with fresh herbs grown in-house. If you prefer something sweet, try the mascarpone-stuffed brioche French toast with mango and raspberry. This small, intimate hidden gem is worth the visit, again and again.

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 the freshest farm-to-table flavours.

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, such as Chef Erik Peacock’s famous chicken liver pâté, 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. 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.

When you hear the neighbourhood church bells chime four o’clock, take it as your signal to head to oddBird for happy hour at a spot that was recognized as one of Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants. The restaurant’s ever-changing chalkboard of delicious small plates will make leaving some room for dinner difficult!

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.

For after-dinner fun, consider timing your trip with one of the many concerts or independent film screenings at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre. 

After dinner or your show, squeeze in one final stop at Pharmacii, where the carefully curated cocktail list receives regular makeovers!