Spring hits Ontario and suddenly everyone remembers how good it feels to eat outside, sip something local and wander somewhere new. If you want the inside scoop on where to go before the crowds roll in, these three destinations deliver big flavour and serious spring vibes.
From crafting your own gin in rural Wellington County to bao-hopping in Mississauga and planning berry-filled adventures near London, here’s how to turn a regular weekend into a delicious one.
Want to skip ahead? Jump down by destination:
County of Wellington: Farm Fresh Flavours and Small-Town Charm
Just an easy drive from the GTA, Wellington County serves rolling farmland, charming villages and a food scene that knows exactly what it’s doing. Spring wakes up farm markets, patios and countryside experiences you won’t find anywhere else. Read on for a few of our favs!
Craft Your Own Gin at Silver Fox Distillery
If you’ve ever sipped a great gin cocktail and thought I could totally make this, here’s your chance.
At Silver Fox Distillery you step into a Gin School experience that runs about 5–6 hours and feels like culinary camp for grown-ups. You’ll work alongside expert distillers, sample botanicals and design your own flavour profile.
Then the magic happens. You fire up a small-batch still, distill your custom blend and leave with a personalized bottle of gin you created yourself. It’s equal parts science, craft and bragging rights.
Hot tip: Gin School runs on weekends and fills fast. Call ahead to lock in your spot.
Treasure Hunt at Aberfoyle Antique Market + Lunch at Reunion Bistro
Spring mornings practically demand a good wander. Start yours at the legendary Aberfoyle Antique Market, Canada’s largest outdoor antique market. Over 100 dealers bring vintage finds, quirky collectibles and unexpected gems. You might walk away with mid-century glassware, a retro record player or a story about the strangest thing you saw that day.
After the treasure hunt, head to nearby Morriston for lunch at Reunion Bistro.
Chef-driven French inspiration meets local ingredients here. Expect beautifully plated dishes, rich sauces and the kind of cozy dining room where you linger over dessert because leaving feels like a mistake.
Hot Tip: Want to keep the day rolling? Just five minutes from Reunion Bistro, you’ll find the charming West Avenue Cider where you can try award-winning small batch ciders made with Ontario heritage apples grown on the on-site orchard.
Ride the Signature Cycling Routes (and Snack Your Way Through Them)
Like to earn your treats? Cycling in Wellington never means just cycling. The Signature Cycling Routes from Wellington County wind through quiet country roads, farmland and postcard-worthy villages. Each route invites riders to hop off the bike and explore.
You’ll find charming cafés, roadside farm markets, local breweries and small-town bakeries all waiting for you. Think of it as a scenic ride with snack breaks built in. Pack light, bring curiosity and follow the smell of fresh baking.
Yoga, Wood-Fired Pizza and Vineyard Sips at Cox Creek Cellars
What better way to enjoy an evening of yoga than in a vineyard complete with wine? We can answer that. By adding pizza to the mix! Celebrate the first warm days of the year at Cox Creek Cellars this spring and summer.
At Cox Creek Cellars you start with yoga among vineyard views. The stretch resets your week, clears your mind and works up the perfect appetite. Then the reward arrives.
Wood-fired pizza comes out bubbling and smoky. Locally crafted beverages flow. The vineyard glows in golden evening light. Movement, great food and a relaxed countryside vibe make this one of Wellington’s best spring rituals.
Taste Real’s Spring Rural Romp
If you love farm visits, local food and discovering where ingredients come from, mark your calendar for the Spring Rural Romp hosted by Taste Real on May 30th.
This self-guided day across northern Wellington County includes farm tours, local food tastings, plant and seedling sales, kids activities, farm animals, craft beverages, prizes and pop-up experiences. Perfect for families looking to enjoy a day outdoors — you don’t want to miss it.
Hop your way along some of the region’s best farms visiting alpacas, grabbing some ice cream, seeing bison in the field and so much more!
Make it a Getaway
Want to make your trip to Wellington an overnight escape or perhaps a few days overnight? Check out Inner Joy Getaways for a high tea experience and a private spa stay overlooking the Grand River. Alternatively, Tailwinds Bed & Breakfast is nestled alongside vibrant wetlands teeming with wildlife and lush greenery with plenty of opportunities for nearby hiking, cycling and more!
The Food District at Square One: Mississauga’s Ultimate Snack Crawl
If your ideal outing involves trying six different things instead of committing to one meal, welcome to the flavour playground inside The Food District at Square One.
Located in Square One Shopping Centre, this food hall packs global flavours, cult-favourite desserts and craveable street eats into one delicious stop. Here’s where to start.
Bao Mama
Fluffy bao buns feel like the unofficial mascot of modern food halls and Bao Mama absolutely delivers. Their pillowy steamed buns come stuffed with bold, saucy fillings that hit the sweet spot between comfort food and street food indulgence.
Two standouts deserve immediate attention:
- Filipino Birria Bao – juicy, rich and packed with slow-braised flavour
- OGC (Original Crispy Chicken Bao) – crunchy chicken, punchy sauce and the perfect bite-to-bao ratio
Hot Tip: Order both and settle the debate over which one wins.
Blossom Moments
If your snack crawl needs a colourful drink break, step up to Blossom Moments. This cheerful dessert spot and florist specializes in photogenic sweets that balance delicate flavours with playful presentation. Their Strawberry Matcha drink lands right in that perfect middle ground where earthy matcha meets bright berry sweetness.
Add a box of their elegant macarons and suddenly your snack crawl includes a Parisian moment in the middle of Mississauga.
Mogouyan Hand-Pulled Noodles
You can actually watch the noodles being stretched and pulled by hand at Mogouyan Hand-Pulled Noodles and honestly the performance alone deserves a visit. Fresh noodles dive into deeply savoury broths that deliver serious comfort in every bowl. Start with the Braised Beef Noodles, a rich, warming classic layered with tender meat and fragrant broth.
Then add Lamb Skewers hot off the grill for smoky, spice-kissed bites that bring the whole table together.
Hattendo
Soft Japanese cream buns feel like a little cloud of dessert heaven and Hattendo has perfected the art. The bread stays pillowy light while the fillings stay silky and balanced rather than overly sweet.
Two must-orders:
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Custard Cream Bun – classic, smooth and comforting
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Matcha Cream Bun – earthy, elegant and beautifully balanced
It’s the kind of dessert you pick up “for later” and finish five minutes later.
Big Fat Cookies
You’ll smell the butter before you even reach the counter at Big Fat Cookies. These bakery-style cookies lean unapologetically large, soft and loaded with flavour. Each one arrives thick, golden and just the right level of gooey in the centre.
Spring favourites worth grabbing include:
- Strawberry Cookie – bright berry sweetness wrapped in buttery dough
- Rose Coconut Cookie – floral, lightly tropical and completely unique
They travel well… if you somehow manage not to eat them immediately.
Egg Club
When the craving for something savoury kicks in, Egg Club answers with stacked, indulgent sandwiches. Their signature fluffy egg filling anchors each creation, layered with sauces and toppings that turn a simple sandwich into a full flavour moment.
Two crowd favourites lead the menu:
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Egg Club Sandwich – creamy eggs, soft bread and total comfort
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Chipotle Lobster Sandwich – rich lobster with smoky chipotle heat
Yes, lobster belongs in a sandwich and yes, it absolutely works.
Insider Tip for Your Food District Visit
The beauty of The Food District at Square One lies in the variety. You can grab a bao, sip a matcha drink, share noodles and finish with cookies or cream buns without ever leaving the space.
Come hungry, bring friends and treat the whole place like your personal tasting tour. One stop quickly turns into six and honestly that’s the whole point.
London, Ontario: Berry Season, Bike Rides and Festival Energy
Spring in and around London carries a very specific promise: berry season is coming. Local farms start buzzing, patios reopen and markets fill with early harvests and excited shoppers who know the best flavours arrive right now.
If you want the inside scoop on how locals celebrate the season, here’s how to spend a delicious day (or two) in London.
Berry Season Begins at Heeman’s
A spring visit to Heeman’s feels like stepping straight into southwestern Ontario’s farm culture.
This Feast On® certified greenhouse, farm market, café and cidery/meadery has become a destination for locals and visitors alike who love fresh produce, plants and a good cider or mead.
Start by wandering through the greenhouse where rows of herbs, flowers and seedlings hint at the growing season ahead. You’ll find loads of variety when it comes to your upcoming veggie or fruit garden! Then head to the café where house-made cider and mead showcase local fruit and honey and you can enjoy it alongside their signature strawberry shortcake.
One standout worth seeking out: Berry Blush Dry Cider. Bright, crisp and lightly berry-forward, it tastes like summer in a glass.
As the season shifts toward early summer, Heeman’s strawberry fields open for pick-your-own berries. Showing up early in the season means you’ll snag some of the first strawberries grown in the region and trust us, they taste wildly different from grocery store berries.
Want to try Heeman’s berries in a slightly different way? Grab a strawberry sour at Anderson Craft Ales on a beautiful day and grab a bite out on the patio! This seasonal favourite is basically a right of passage for Londoners and the warm season ahead.
Farmers’ Market Morning (The Local Way)
London does farmers’ markets extremely well and a Saturday morning market crawl might be the city’s most underrated food experience.
Start at Western Fair Market inside the historic Western Fair District. The indoor market buzzes with local vendors serving breakfast sandwiches, coffee, baked goods, momos (trust us) and small-batch pantry staples.
Then continue to Trail’s End Farmers Market where farmers bring early season produce, preserves and comfort food that makes you want to shop hungry.
Finally swing through the iconic Covent Garden Market in the heart of downtown. Grab lunch, browse produce stands and chat with growers about what’s coming into season next.
Between the three markets you’ll find:
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fresh asparagus and greens
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baked goods still warm from the oven
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locally raised meats
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maple syrup, honey and preserves
Plus, you’re sure to find plenty of locals who will happily tell you exactly where to eat next.
Bike the Trails Then Reward Yourself With Ice Cream
London’s extensive trails make it easy to turn a casual bike ride or long walk into a full food adventure.
Ride along the river or explore wooded trails, then point your bike toward London Bicycle Café. This cozy café serves strong coffee, simple Dutch-inspired lunches and pastries with a loyal cycling crowd that treats the place like a clubhouse.
Once you’ve refuelled, head next door to District Ice Cream. Their rotating flavours celebrate local ingredients whenever possible. Last year’s seasonal standout featured roasted strawberries and cream made with Heeman’s berries and we’re still dreaming of it. If strawberries return to the menu this season, order it immediately.
Coffee and Wandering in Wortley Village
Few neighbourhoods capture London’s charm like Wortley Village. Start with coffee at either Sidetrack Café or Black Walnut Bakery Café. Both serve excellent pastries and the kind of coffee that encourages slow mornings.
Then, wander the village streets lined with independent shops, bookstores and small galleries. It’s the kind of place where you pop into a store out of curiosity and leave with something you didn’t know you needed.
Finish with lunch at one of the neighbourhood restaurants like Rebel Layne or Sagi and you’ve got a perfect, low-key afternoon.
Plan Ahead: London’s Summer Festival Season
Spring in London quietly sets the stage for one of Ontario’s most packed festival calendars. June alone brings a lineup that fills parks, patios and downtown streets with music, food and creative energy.
You’ll find:
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PondFest – local bands, community art and the beloved piano that stays in the park year-round
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London Children’s Festival – interactive arts and family programming
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London Beer Fest – craft breweries pouring their best
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London International Food and Drink Festival – global cuisine and local chefs
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Empanada Festival – yes, an entire festival dedicated to empanadas
Planning further ahead? Early July brings even bigger events including Rock the Park, Sunfest and Pride London Festival.
Translation: If you love food, music and summer energy, London’s calendar stays packed.
The Sweet Spot of the Season
London in spring sits right at that sweet spot where fresh produce returns, patios reopen and festival season waits just around the corner.
Start Planning Your Spring Escape
With so much to do (and eat!) in Ontario, it’s time to start your planning!
