When you think of Niagara’s wine country, chances are Niagara-on-the-Lake (NOTL) comes to mind, and for good reason. Home to some of Canada’s oldest and most celebrated vineyards, this town has built its reputation on award-winning wines and stunning vineyard views. But equally epic is its history and thriving food scene, where local farms and nearby vineyards keep restaurant menus fresh, seasonal and full of Niagara’s delicious flavour.
With so many ways to sip and savour, our 3-day guide is your ticket to tasting the best of NOTL.
Day 1: Warm vineyard welcomes, downtown gems & wood-fired flavours!
Ease into Niagara-on-the-Lake with a mix of sweet downtown discoveries, tastings at beloved wineries, a nostalgic stop for ice cream and piping hot wood-fired pizza straight from the oven.
Noble Restaurant
6 Picton St, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON (View Map)
Located inside the historic Prince of Wales Hotel, Noble Restaurant offers a refined start to your Niagara-on-the-Lake journey. The hotel itself dates back to 1864 and has long been a landmark of Victorian elegance, welcoming guests with its timeless charm.
Starting our wine country adventure here, we opted for Noble’s Eggs Benedict, served with soft poached eggs, Canadian bacon, sourdough, hollandaise and topped with chives. For a sweet start to the morning we couldn’t resist ordering a stack of Chocolate Chip Buttermilk Pancakes topped with Chantilly cream, pure Canadian maple syrup and plenty of fresh coffee.
Fritters on the Lake
217 King St, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON L0S 1J0 (View Map)
After breakfast take a stroll along Queen Street, a historic stretch dating back to the 18th century that now bustles with unique boutiques, artisan shops and cozy cafés. Tucked across from Noble Restaurant is a family-owned bakery and NOTL gem, Fritters on the Lake.
Grab a box of their fresh, hot apple fritters, a local legend that even draws fans across the border. From classic plain to caramel-drizzled, each one is a sweet bite of NOTL. And with cider season around the corner, the crisp apple slushy is the perfect way to cool down after exploring the Heritage District.
Strewn Winery
1339 Lakeshore Rd, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON (View Map)
When you’re in Niagara’s wine country, a visit to a vineyard is practically mandatory if you want to soak up the region’s epic wine-growing culture. For us, that meant heading to Feast On® certified Strewn Winery for their personalized tasting experience.
We made our way to the outdoor Pavilion which overlooks the winery’s beautiful vineyard and started with a sparkling sip before moving through four hand-picked wines from their portfolio of whites, rosés, reds and dessert wines.
What truly made the experience shine was our wine consultant, who guided us through each pour and encouraged us to step outside our comfort zones. We discovered wines we already loved as well as styles we might have overlooked, from a lighter, to more bold flavours we tasted through their 2022 Premium Riesling Luscious, a crisp 2023 Cabernet Franc Rosé, an aromatic small lot Chardonnay Musqué and a funkier 2022 Gewürztraminer.
Marynissen Estates Winery
1208 Concession 1 Rd, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON (View Map)
Up next a late lunch and sangria flights at Marynissen Estates Winery, a proudly Feast On® certified destination that celebrates Ontario-grown ingredients alongside its wines. While traditional tastings are always on offer, summer visitors (May through September) can’t miss their patio side Sangria Flights.
Four playful flight combinations are made in-house using Marynissen Estates’ wines. Think refreshing combinations like Pearadise Charm crafted with their Charm sparkling, or Crimson Kiss made using the winery’s Cabernet Merlot.
To round things out, the winery also offers a rotating lineup of locally-sourced snacks and nibbles, from cheese and popcorn to chips and salsa. For something with a heartier bite we especially loved the stacked roast beef sandwich sourced from local farm shop, The Grove Niagara. It’s a tasty pairing to continue fuelling your NOTL tasting adventures!
Avondale Dairy Bar
461 Stewart Rd, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON (View Map)
Winding down day one, before making your way to dinner, enjoy a sweet pick-me-up treat at Avondale Dairy Bar. A true Niagara tradition since the 1950s, Avondale Dairy Bar has been scooping up smiles with ice cream made right on-site using milk from their own dairy farm.
From thick milkshakes and classic banana splits to colourful scoops, the menu is pure nostalgia! For a real taste of Niagara, their seasonal sundaes are not to be missed. We were lucky enough to visit during peak peach season and couldn’t resist trying the peach sundae, made with peach infused ice cream and topped with slices of freshly-picked peaches sourced from farms just down the road.
BarrelHead at Pillitteri Estates Winery
1696 Niagara Stone Rd, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON (View Map)
For dinner we made our way to BarrelHead at Pillitteri Estates Winery, a Feast On® certified spot and local favourite for wood-fired pizza and vineyard views. The outdoor patio offers plenty of seating with choices among the orchard, near the live music stage or by the kitchen to watch pizzas slide into the wood-fired oven.
We started with the Peach & Blueberry Salad before sharing the Sweet Heat Pizza, topped with sausage, pineapple and hot honey. The cocktail and wine menu were just as fun with options like the Peach Out Man, blended Canadian whiskey, peach nectar and the winery’s own Icewine, while the Peachy Keen mocktail kept things bright with peach juice, lemon and Barrelhead grapefruit soda.
Before leaving, be sure to stock up on their house-made chili oil and hot honey for a delicious way to bring a slice of NOTL home with you.
Day 2: Sweet Starts, Creative Stops & MORE Vineyard Views
From Hungarian bakery specialties to plant-based bites, hands-on pottery and an afternoon of vineyard touring, Day 2 serves up a delicious blend of flavour and scenery in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Budapest Bake Shop
118 Queen St, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON (View Map)
We kicked off Day 2 on Queen Street at Budapest Bake Shop, where the smell of fresh kürtőskalács (Hungarian chimney cakes) leads you right to the door. These golden, sugar-dusted spirals are hand-rolled and baked fresh all day. We couldn’t resist the classic Sweet Chimney and the savoury bacon, egg and cheese chimney to start our morning on a delicious note.
Avo + Co
106 Queen St Unit E, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON (View Map)
For a lighter pause between all the indulgence of wine country, we stopped at Avo + Co, a colourful downtown café serving up fresh, feel-good eats. Their menu is full of vibrant, nourishing choices. We tried the Avo Toasty, topped with creamy avocado, microgreens and a poached egg, along with a Purple Smoothie Bowl packed with berries and almond milk. To sip we opted for the Green Smoothie blended spinach, kale, avocado, pineapple and ginger for a delicious midday reset.
Hot tip: The owners are passionate about bringing fresh, unique options to Niagara-on-the-Lake’s downtown dining scene. They also run Whisk, a cozy matcha café just across the street, another must-visit spot if you’re craving matcha.
Queenston Pottery Studio
1648 York Rd RR 1, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON (View Map)
To balance out all the sipping and snacking, we took some time to explore Niagara-on-the-Lake’s creative side with a visit to Queenston Pottery Studio. Founded in 1978 by Eva and Frank Mlcak, this family-run studio sits along York Road between Queenston and St. David’s, surrounded by orchards and wineries.
Inside their two-level gallery and garden space, you’ll find hand-crafted dinnerware, mugs and serving pieces alongside charcuterie boards, Turkish textiles, and other locally sourced treasures.
Hot tip: For a closer look behind the scenes, be sure to check out the studio’s workshop calendar and book a hands on-experience or guided studio tour before visiting.
Southbrook Vineyards
581 Niagara Stone Rd, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON (View Map)
Next up was lunch at Southbrook Vineyards, Canada’s first winery to achieve both organic and biodynamic certification, and proudly Feast On® certified for its commitment to sourcing local ingredients. The outdoor kitchen serves up a seasonal menu of wood-fired pizzas, each crafted with what’s fresh and in peak flavour.
We sampled a few standouts including the seasonal pizza topped with corn, basil, artichoke and chicken, along with the peach, basil, feta and onion pizza. Pairing our lunch with some unforgettable sips, we couldn’t resist trying a flight to sample some of the winery’s signature wines.
Up first we sipped the Triomphe Orange (an orange wine made by fermenting white grapes on their skins for extra colour and depth), next their Cabernet Sauvignon affectionately dubbed the “burger wine” by our server Melanie for how well it pairs with a juicy patty and lastly the crisp Laundry Vineyard Riesling.
Queens Royal Park
45 Front St, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON (View Map)
Before winding down our second day, we paused at Queen’s Royal Park, a lovely spot to stretch your legs along the walking trails that trace the water’s edge. The park’s iconic gazebo, originally built in 1983 for the filming of The Dead Zone, has since become one of Niagara-on-the-Lake’s most photographed landmarks, offering postcard-perfect views across the lake.
Peller Estates Terrace Wine Bar
290 John St E, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON (View Map)
The final stop of day two ends with a chef’s dinner at Terrace Wine Bar at Peller Estates Winery, a Feast On® certified spot where the menu is crafted with the same care as the wines it’s served alongside.
Guided by the philosophy that wine and food need each other, the kitchen and cellar work hand in hand to create pairings you won’t find anywhere else, every dish thoughtfully matched with one of the winery’s delicious VQA pours. It’s the perfect setting for a light bite or more indulgent meals while soaking up golden-hour sunsets with a glass of wine, a cocktail or even a mocktail.
We toasted the day with a Niagara Spritz, made with their Signature Series Ice Cuvée Classic, Aperol and bitters. It’s a local twist on an Italian favourite. For dinner we opted to try the three course pre-fixe dinner menu.
We started with the heirloom beetroot salad with fiore di latte and a baco noir reduction, followed by an Ontario striploin paired with pinot noir sauce, spring potatoes, patty pan squash and string beans. For dessert, the chocolate marcona cake with pinot noir–compressed cherries and chocolate crumble was the sweetest way to end the day in wine country.
Day 3: History, Local Flavour & Lakeside Charm
Our final day in Niagara-on-the-Lake blends fresh starts and heritage stops with beachside strolls, antique hunting, market browsing and one last farm-to-table feast.
Niagara Juice Co.
187 Victoria St, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON (View Map)
We kicked off Day 3 at Niagara Juice Co., a cozy local favourite run by husband-and-wife duo Chef Karrie and her husband, where everything on the menu is made from scratch. Breakfast meant digging into The Famous Breakfast Croissant, hand-rolled and layered with bacon, egg, lettuce, tomato and lemony hollandaise.
We paired our breakfast with a mango pineapple smoothie and plenty of locally-roasted Black Sheep Coffee. It’s easy to see why Chef Kerrie’s breakfast sandwich has earned legendary status in town, but don’t skip the sweet side. We grabbed some freshly baked cookies for the road, the perfect little car snack before another day of exploring. Enjoying our breakfast out on their sunny patio made for a calm and delicious start to the morning.
Niagara Heritage Museum
43 Castlereagh St, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON (View Map)
Next, we stepped back in time at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Heritage Museum, where exhibits tell the story of Canada’s first capital and the town’s role in the War of 1812. From artifacts and uniforms to community stories, it’s a stop that puts the region’s historic charm into perspective. Spending time here adds a rich layer of context before heading back out to enjoy the town’s food and wine.
Treadwell Cuisine
114 Queen St, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON (View Map)
After our history lesson, it was time for a farm-to-table lunch at Treadwell Cuisine, a restaurant known for working closely with local farms like Quiet Acres in NOTL. We started with their Tomato & Peach Salad with burrata and basil sorbet, then tucked into the Chicken Schnitzel with crisp lettuce, radish and garlic yogurt. Dessert was another ode to local NOTL flavour. The Peaches with Polenta Cake topped with peach sorbet is made using fresh peaches sourced from nearby farms.
Patio-side sips made it all the more enjoyable with the smoky Zacapa rum cocktail was rich, bold and smoked in front of you table-side, while the White Peach Spritz mocktail was light and refreshing. With good food and a glass in hand, Treadwell Cuisine is a stop that fills your belly and fuels your next leg of afternoon adventures.
Lakeshore Antiques and Treasures
855 Lakeshore Rd, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON (View Map)
The afternoon called for a bit of treasure hunting at Lakeshore Antiques and Treasures, where shelves are packed with vintage finds, eclectic décor and one-of-a-kind pieces waiting to be discovered. Niagara-on-the-Lake is known for it’s charming antique shops, and this stop is a great way to take a break in between your tour of wine country. Wandering through the shop feels like stepping into a time capsule and it’s a fun way to bring home a little piece of Niagara.
Walker’s Country Market
15796 Niagara River Pkwy, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON (View Map)
Before heading off to dinner, we made our way to a beloved farm market that’s been open since the 1930s. Walker’s Country Market is a great place to stock up on fresh Niagara fruits, vegetables and baked goods like fresh fruit tarts made with seasonal fruits likes peaches, cherries and strawberries.
After picking up your goods, right next door sits the Living Water Wayside Chapel, dubbed the world’s smallest chapel, and yes, it’s as adorable (and Instagram-worthy) as it sounds. Between the market’s seasonal bounty and this quirky landmark, it’s a stop that blends flavour with fun local history.
Terroir Restaurant and Winer Bar
1339 Lakeshore Rd, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON (View Map)
We closed out our three-day adventure with dinner at Terroir Restaurant & Wine Bar, set within Strewn Winery’s estate grounds. Proudly Feast On® certified, Terroir celebrates Ontario’s bounty by combining classical French technique with Niagara’s best seasonal ingredients, and the result is truly a taste of place.
Our meal began with a bright tomato gazpacho made from locally sourced ingredients and an indulgent beef tartare topped with quail egg and Kozlik’s mustard.
For mains, we enjoyed a rich wild mushroom tagliatelle alfredo alongside an Ontario rack of lamb, served with garlic whipped potatoes and buttered broccolini in tapenade jus. Each course was beautifully paired with Strewn wines, creating a relaxed and refined finale to our Niagara-on-the-Lake getaway.
Get Ready to Explore the Delicious Side of Niagara’s Wine Country!
From vineyard tastings and farm-fresh meals to historic strolls and lakeside views, Niagara-on-the-Lake blends small-town beauty with bold, unforgettable flavours. It’s a feast for all the senses! To kickstart your next wine country getaway visit niagaraonthelake.com to start planning!
