Guidebook for Hamilton
Food Scene
amazing baked goodies as well as sandwiches and booze - beautiful inside and great for people watching
48 locals recommend
Mulberry Street Coffeehouse
193 James St Namazing baked goodies as well as sandwiches and booze - beautiful inside and great for people watching
Amazing coffee for the connoisseur - too small to hang around long but great for coffee on the go
16 locals recommend
Smalls Coffee
8 Cannon St EAmazing coffee for the connoisseur - too small to hang around long but great for coffee on the go
Portuguese bakery with cheap and tasty sandwiches made to order, coffee, breads and cakes. Locals come for the freshly made Custard tarts called 'Pastel de Nata'
11 locals recommend
Ola Bakery & Pastry
230 James St NPortuguese bakery with cheap and tasty sandwiches made to order, coffee, breads and cakes. Locals come for the freshly made Custard tarts called 'Pastel de Nata'
We eat here a lot - fast and tasty, fresh with enough variety to please everyone - my favourite is #457. zero atmosphere but often crammed with locals in the know - also one of the few places to get a bite or takeout after 10pm (closes at 11pm usually)
6 locals recommend
Pho Dau Bo Restaurant
15 Cannon St EWe eat here a lot - fast and tasty, fresh with enough variety to please everyone - my favourite is #457. zero atmosphere but often crammed with locals in the know - also one of the few places to get a bite or takeout after 10pm (closes at 11pm usually)
Sushi and Korean stone bowls with lots of choices in between - order a love boat for 2 and fill yourself to the gills. Good value but mediocre atmosphere - we eat here a lot because its always busy with international students and fresh with friendly staff. Lots of 'all you can eat' places around Hamilton but they just don't compare on taste and value like Ajio.
Ajio Sushi Korean & Japanese Restaurant
161 King St ESushi and Korean stone bowls with lots of choices in between - order a love boat for 2 and fill yourself to the gills. Good value but mediocre atmosphere - we eat here a lot because its always busy with international students and fresh with friendly staff. Lots of 'all you can eat' places around Hamilton but they just don't compare on taste and value like Ajio.
Amazing breakfasts or brunch - local ingredients and fantastic options - can get busy due to size
you could be ambitious and walk here by taking the Wentworth stairs (all 500 steps) through and up the escarpment with a great view from the top - or take transit and walk back down, SoBi bike share available at the bottom of the steps with a great cycling route through a green corridor to Corktown park.
8 locals recommend
Papaleo's Restaurant
638 Concession StreetAmazing breakfasts or brunch - local ingredients and fantastic options - can get busy due to size
you could be ambitious and walk here by taking the Wentworth stairs (all 500 steps) through and up the escarpment with a great view from the top - or take transit and walk back down, SoBi bike share available at the bottom of the steps with a great cycling route through a green corridor to Corktown park.
great atmosphere and the newest addition to the area called 'restaurant row' - brunches, lunches & dinners with fresh local ingredients
97 locals recommend
Earth to Table: Bread Bar Locke
258 Locke Street Southgreat atmosphere and the newest addition to the area called 'restaurant row' - brunches, lunches & dinners with fresh local ingredients
This is a bare bones basic diner - our closest breakfast spot (aside from eating at A & W or inside the mall) - fair pricing if you don't need fancy - good people watching :-)
John Street Diner
29 John St NThis is a bare bones basic diner - our closest breakfast spot (aside from eating at A & W or inside the mall) - fair pricing if you don't need fancy - good people watching :-)
Great for breakfast - classic diner with homefries, eggs benedict etc
6 locals recommend
Steve's Open Kitchen
149 James St SGreat for breakfast - classic diner with homefries, eggs benedict etc
Drinks & Nightlife
Modern Mexican cuisine as well as great people watching - the after work crowd usually fills the place - some DJ nights, great selection of cocktails and tequila
69 locals recommend
The Mule
41 King William StModern Mexican cuisine as well as great people watching - the after work crowd usually fills the place - some DJ nights, great selection of cocktails and tequila
Major shows like Elton John and BTS (Korean mega boy band) come through Hamilton and play at this venue - also kid friendly Disney and circus type shows. The biggest venue in Hamilton
58 locals recommend
First Ontario Centre
101 York BlvdMajor shows like Elton John and BTS (Korean mega boy band) come through Hamilton and play at this venue - also kid friendly Disney and circus type shows. The biggest venue in Hamilton
Tiny, intimate and has great cocktails - bonus - its just around the corner :-)
14 locals recommend
Bar Sazerac
278 James St NTiny, intimate and has great cocktails - bonus - its just around the corner :-)
cocktails, ambiance, some board games and excellent pies make this small bar a local favourite
28 locals recommend
The Brain
199 James St Ncocktails, ambiance, some board games and excellent pies make this small bar a local favourite
The French is really a restaurant but it has a lovely and comfortable bar with delicious cocktails and friendly staff - cozy with a European feel. we often head here for a drink and or an appetizer. Its fancy but not intimidating - if you want louder then you can always head to The Mule, The Diplomat or Rust city brewery for more 'action'
38 locals recommend
The French
37 King William StThe French is really a restaurant but it has a lovely and comfortable bar with delicious cocktails and friendly staff - cozy with a European feel. we often head here for a drink and or an appetizer. Its fancy but not intimidating - if you want louder then you can always head to The Mule, The Diplomat or Rust city brewery for more 'action'
Great menu means you can head here for lunch - feels like a pub but a bit more trendy - foozeball upstairs, patios front and back - excellent craft beer selection. Lots of other bars on this same section of the street.
38 locals recommend
The Ship
23 Augusta StGreat menu means you can head here for lunch - feels like a pub but a bit more trendy - foozeball upstairs, patios front and back - excellent craft beer selection. Lots of other bars on this same section of the street.
Parks & Nature
Roller rink in summer, ice rink in winter. A cafe as well as extensive trails that will get you from the HMCS Haida all the way to Princess Point - especially great on a SoBi bike share
13 locals recommend
Bayfront Park station
Roller rink in summer, ice rink in winter. A cafe as well as extensive trails that will get you from the HMCS Haida all the way to Princess Point - especially great on a SoBi bike share
You can park at 'Cherry Hill Gate' and walk the trails for free - birds and chipmunks will eat from your hands if you have birdseed (ask me) No bread allowed. an easy and lovely suspended boardwalk across wetlands and through the woods - a favourite destination. The main gardens are impressive and there's more than a day's worth of exploring here.
158 locals recommend
Royal Botanical Gardens
680 Plains Rd WYou can park at 'Cherry Hill Gate' and walk the trails for free - birds and chipmunks will eat from your hands if you have birdseed (ask me) No bread allowed. an easy and lovely suspended boardwalk across wetlands and through the woods - a favourite destination. The main gardens are impressive and there's more than a day's worth of exploring here.
This is one of the few waterfalls you can get to by bus - there is pay parking at the site but it will fill quickly on a weekend - go during the week and in winter - The colours in the ice and the snowy (but very easy and short) trails make this a short but worthwhile outing all year round
49 locals recommend
Tiffany Falls
This is one of the few waterfalls you can get to by bus - there is pay parking at the site but it will fill quickly on a weekend - go during the week and in winter - The colours in the ice and the snowy (but very easy and short) trails make this a short but worthwhile outing all year round
we love to visit Niagara Falls - we park further up the river near the 'Floral Showhouse' (drive past Niagara falls on the main boulevard and look for the Greenhouse on the right) We enjoy walking alongside the river to the ultimate dropoff that is the Falls. Do go and have a treat at the restaurant upstairs - its got amazing views especially if its windy, rainy or cold!
1604 locals recommend
Niagara Falls
we love to visit Niagara Falls - we park further up the river near the 'Floral Showhouse' (drive past Niagara falls on the main boulevard and look for the Greenhouse on the right) We enjoy walking alongside the river to the ultimate dropoff that is the Falls. Do go and have a treat at the restaurant upstairs - its got amazing views especially if its windy, rainy or cold!
There is a loop hike through this area but ask to borrow my guidebook for directions - otherwise - drive to the parking lot, have a look at the big bowl and then treat yourself to tasty treats at the nearby bakery and fruit stand :-)
42 locals recommend
Devil's Punchbowl Conservation Area
185 Ridge RdThere is a loop hike through this area but ask to borrow my guidebook for directions - otherwise - drive to the parking lot, have a look at the big bowl and then treat yourself to tasty treats at the nearby bakery and fruit stand :-)
Arts & Culture
Just the right size for spending a few hours viewing a diverse collection of modern and classical sculptures and paintings
124 locals recommend
Art Gallery of Hamilton
123 King St WJust the right size for spending a few hours viewing a diverse collection of modern and classical sculptures and paintings
Theatre Aquarius
190 King William StA very interactive gallery with classes, stuff to buy and usually at least 2 small exhibits - I've bought a few pieces from this gallery as its accessible in price and the staff are friendly. Always featuring, new and up-and-coming local artists
Centre 3 for Print and Media Arts
173 James St NA very interactive gallery with classes, stuff to buy and usually at least 2 small exhibits - I've bought a few pieces from this gallery as its accessible in price and the staff are friendly. Always featuring, new and up-and-coming local artists
Beautifully restored old theatre with second run and indie films - highly recommended
- take the Barton bus or use the 'Green P' lot across the street
7 locals recommend
Playhouse Cinema
177 Sherman Ave NBeautifully restored old theatre with second run and indie films - highly recommended
- take the Barton bus or use the 'Green P' lot across the street
Essentials
This place has every kind of grocery item from around the world as well as loads of ready to eat foods and its own food court.
39 locals recommend
Nations Fresh Foods
2 King St WThis place has every kind of grocery item from around the world as well as loads of ready to eat foods and its own food court.
This is our closest grocery store - nothing fancy but it does have a good selection of international foods, some organics, nut milks and a local favourite - try the Roma pizza, fresh in the box near the ready cooked BBQ chicken (or ask for it) cheeseless pizza with a fluffy crust - can't explain how good this stuff is!
28 locals recommend
Food Basics
505 Rymal Rd EThis is our closest grocery store - nothing fancy but it does have a good selection of international foods, some organics, nut milks and a local favourite - try the Roma pizza, fresh in the box near the ready cooked BBQ chicken (or ask for it) cheeseless pizza with a fluffy crust - can't explain how good this stuff is!
Contains the Farmers Market, Nations, liquor store, dollarstore, post office, drug store, cinema & more - not a fancy mall but useful
35 locals recommend
Lloyd D. Jackson Square
2 King St WContains the Farmers Market, Nations, liquor store, dollarstore, post office, drug store, cinema & more - not a fancy mall but useful
Getting Around
unbeatable prices and 2 minutes from our place - we rent from their new fleet often.
Carter Car & Truck Rentals
1020 Upper Wellington Stunbeatable prices and 2 minutes from our place - we rent from their new fleet often.
The frequent express 'GO' bus into Toronto makes it easy to spend the day in Toronto. Also there are buses for the Toronto airport from here
50 locals recommend
Hamilton Go Station Rail
36 Hunter St EThe frequent express 'GO' bus into Toronto makes it easy to spend the day in Toronto. Also there are buses for the Toronto airport from here
SoBi are the blue bikes you'll see around the city - it's easy to join up online and enjoy the use of them on your visit - equipped with a useful basket, front and rear lights as well as a bell on the left handlebar grip - I love these bikes - excellent for touring the waterfront or trips to the Farmers market
9 locals recommend
SoBi Hamilton
126 Catharine St NSoBi are the blue bikes you'll see around the city - it's easy to join up online and enjoy the use of them on your visit - equipped with a useful basket, front and rear lights as well as a bell on the left handlebar grip - I love these bikes - excellent for touring the waterfront or trips to the Farmers market
Entertainment & Activities
The fully reclining seats are ah-mah-zing. Recently refurbished - great for rainy days when you've done everything else - close, so you can walk or use the bike share.
26 locals recommend
Landmark Cinema
2 King St WThe fully reclining seats are ah-mah-zing. Recently refurbished - great for rainy days when you've done everything else - close, so you can walk or use the bike share.
this is flat out fun - excellent on a rainy day - as a group or on your own - enjoy!
7 locals recommend
Hamilton Indoor Go Karts
193 Cavell Avethis is flat out fun - excellent on a rainy day - as a group or on your own - enjoy!
I don't have a huge interest in war or airplanes but even with a passing interest there's lots to see and do in this airplane hangar - climb into cockpits, take amazing pics, learn about the past and virtually fly a bomber under the skybridge :-)
48 locals recommend
Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum
9280 Airport RdI don't have a huge interest in war or airplanes but even with a passing interest there's lots to see and do in this airplane hangar - climb into cockpits, take amazing pics, learn about the past and virtually fly a bomber under the skybridge :-)
Playhouse Cinema
177 Sherman Ave Non a summer night this is so much fun - you'll need a car - you can also bring folding chairs to sit outside - there is a snacks stand and playground
10 locals recommend
Starlite Drive-In Theatre
59 Green Mountain Rd Eon a summer night this is so much fun - you'll need a car - you can also bring folding chairs to sit outside - there is a snacks stand and playground