Guidebook for Kingston
Food Scene
It's great bistro-type restaurant for date-night dinner or drinks!
37 locals recommend
Chien Noir Bistro
69 Brock StIt's great bistro-type restaurant for date-night dinner or drinks!
It's just a hole in the wall, but best Thai food in Kingston!
8 locals recommend
Royal Angkor Restaurant
523 Princess StIt's just a hole in the wall, but best Thai food in Kingston!
Perfect for brunch! Can be busy on weekends so have a back-up plan if you're not prepared to wait.
One side is restaurant, the other side is their bakery where you can get fresh baked goodies.
18 locals recommend
Toast & Jam
1530 Bath RdPerfect for brunch! Can be busy on weekends so have a back-up plan if you're not prepared to wait.
One side is restaurant, the other side is their bakery where you can get fresh baked goodies.
Pho & Vietnamese
If you're getting pho, ask specifically for them to bring you the lime, sprouts, and thai basil plate (for some reason they don't do it automatically). Also lots of other Vietnamese food.
Mekong Restaurant
394 Princess StPho & Vietnamese
If you're getting pho, ask specifically for them to bring you the lime, sprouts, and thai basil plate (for some reason they don't do it automatically). Also lots of other Vietnamese food.
Tandoori Sizzle
1046 Princess StClosest Indian food
It's the closest Starbucks! (There are 2 more downtown, this one is more of a quiet suburbia version).
16 locals recommend
Starbucks
95 Princess StIt's the closest Starbucks! (There are 2 more downtown, this one is more of a quiet suburbia version).
Breakfast, cafe, bakery....Peter's Place is an iconic downtown store for a stop-in during your visit. Great when you want to walk around downtown and are starting in the morning!
6 locals recommend
Peter's Place
34 Princess StBreakfast, cafe, bakery....Peter's Place is an iconic downtown store for a stop-in during your visit. Great when you want to walk around downtown and are starting in the morning!
Harper's Burger Bar
93 Princess StBecause they specialize in burgers. Need we say more?
Wooden Heads Gourmet Pizza
192 Ontario StBecause gourmet pizza downtown!
Full-service restaurant open year-round on Wolfe Island (see the FREE Wolfe Island Ferry for how to get over). It's within walking distance of the ferry terminal if you want to leave your car in Kingston!
14 locals recommend
The Wolfe Island Grill
1222 Main StFull-service restaurant open year-round on Wolfe Island (see the FREE Wolfe Island Ferry for how to get over). It's within walking distance of the ferry terminal if you want to leave your car in Kingston!
Drinks & Nightlife
The Toucan
76 Princess StIt's a classic Kingston late-night hangout
The best brewpub in Kingston! They serve all their beer on tap, and you can order appetizers and small meals too
42 locals recommend
Stone City Ales
275 Princess StThe best brewpub in Kingston! They serve all their beer on tap, and you can order appetizers and small meals too
Barcadia is exactly what you think it is.... BAR + ARCADE! Everything from classic Street Fighter to pinball to Super Mario. It's one of our favourite places to grab a drink and hang out.
8 locals recommend
Barcadia
347 Princess StBarcadia is exactly what you think it is.... BAR + ARCADE! Everything from classic Street Fighter to pinball to Super Mario. It's one of our favourite places to grab a drink and hang out.
If you're downtown on Princess St late at night, PITA GRILL & POUTINE is the place to get your late-night snack. Skip Smoke's and the other brand name places.... look for the blue & yellow sign of Pita Grill. It's super popular
Pita Pit
421 Princess StIf you're downtown on Princess St late at night, PITA GRILL & POUTINE is the place to get your late-night snack. Skip Smoke's and the other brand name places.... look for the blue & yellow sign of Pita Grill. It's super popular
Getting Around
Kingston station
1800 John Counter BlvdModern City Taxi 613-546-2222 is the best taxi service in Kingston. We also now have Uber!
Modern City Taxi
439 Montreal StreetModern City Taxi 613-546-2222 is the best taxi service in Kingston. We also now have Uber!
Shopping
Cataraqui Centre station
This is the 'big' indoor shopping mall in Kingston
Essentials
Closest grocery store! It's an easy 5-min walk there from the neighbourhood:
(1) Right turn out of the driveway
(2) Right turn onto Jane
(3) Turn left at the first path, and you'll be in the back of the Food Basics parking lot.
52 locals recommend
Food Basics
33 Barrack StClosest grocery store! It's an easy 5-min walk there from the neighbourhood:
(1) Right turn out of the driveway
(2) Right turn onto Jane
(3) Turn left at the first path, and you'll be in the back of the Food Basics parking lot.
If it's not at Food Basics, it's here at Loblaws (also a Shoppers next door). You can also walk here in less than 10 minutes
18 locals recommend
Loblaws
1100 Princess StIf it's not at Food Basics, it's here at Loblaws (also a Shoppers next door). You can also walk here in less than 10 minutes
Better for kids than Kingston General. They have a walk-in pediatrics. Hopefully you don't need to go here during your stay!
10 locals recommend
Hotel Dieu Hospital
166 Brock StBetter for kids than Kingston General. They have a walk-in pediatrics. Hopefully you don't need to go here during your stay!
Arts & Culture
Canada's oldest prison, open to tours! Check the website first to make sure it's open (www.kingstonpentour.com)
90 locals recommend
Kingston Penitentiary
560 King St WCanada's oldest prison, open to tours! Check the website first to make sure it's open (www.kingstonpentour.com)
Sightseeing
The original Fort Henry on the St.Lawrence. Check out the estate grounds for an awesome view (great for jogging or walking) or take a tour. There are also seasonal touristy activities at the Fort (Winterfest, Halloween, etc.)
129 locals recommend
Fort Henry National Historic Site
1 Fort Henry DrThe original Fort Henry on the St.Lawrence. Check out the estate grounds for an awesome view (great for jogging or walking) or take a tour. There are also seasonal touristy activities at the Fort (Winterfest, Halloween, etc.)
Canada's only active military college. It's free to get in and it's in a great location - sort of a peninsula on the St. Lawrence. Check out the old architecture or just walk around (great sights) and grab lunch at the Senior Staff Mess. It's an active military institution, so there may be officer cadets walking around or marching in uniform.
13 locals recommend
Royal Military College of Canada
Canada's only active military college. It's free to get in and it's in a great location - sort of a peninsula on the St. Lawrence. Check out the old architecture or just walk around (great sights) and grab lunch at the Senior Staff Mess. It's an active military institution, so there may be officer cadets walking around or marching in uniform.
If you're playing tourist for a day, this is where you should start your downtown adventure!
12 locals recommend
Confederation Basin Marina
6 Clarence StIf you're playing tourist for a day, this is where you should start your downtown adventure!
FREE FERRY to/from Downtown Kingston - Wolfe Island. First-come, first-served for walk-ons, bicycles, or automobiles. The trip takes about 20 minutes (one-way). Arrive 10-15 min early if you're taking a vehicle. There's almost always enough room for walk-ons but vehicle spots fill up quickly.
There are some nice restaurants and beaches on Wolfe island to explore, but plan to arrive at the return ferry terminal 20-30 minutes before departure. It fills up really quickly in the summer season!
33 locals recommend
Ferry to Wolfe Island station
Barrack StreetFREE FERRY to/from Downtown Kingston - Wolfe Island. First-come, first-served for walk-ons, bicycles, or automobiles. The trip takes about 20 minutes (one-way). Arrive 10-15 min early if you're taking a vehicle. There's almost always enough room for walk-ons but vehicle spots fill up quickly.
There are some nice restaurants and beaches on Wolfe island to explore, but plan to arrive at the return ferry terminal 20-30 minutes before departure. It fills up really quickly in the summer season!