Planning a trip to Stratford, Ontario? Come hungry.
Stratford may be famous around the world for its theatre, and yes, it is also Justin Bieber’s hometown, but one of my favorite surprises was discovering just how good the food scene is.
Walt was born and raised in Stratford, so this trip had an extra personal connection for us. We visited with family to celebrate my father-in-law’s birthday, stayed at one of the most special boutique hotels we have experienced in Canada, and spent a few very delicious days eating our way through the city.
So if you’re wondering where to stay in Stratford, where to eat and exactly what to order, I’ve done the tasting for you.
Here are the places I would go back to first.
My Stratford Favorites at a Glance
Where to Stay: The Cottage at The Bruce
Breakfast: The Restaurant at The Bruce
Sweet Stop: Rhéo Thompson Candies
Lunch + Patio: Mercer Kitchen + Beer Hall
Wine + Small Plates: Betty’s on George
Dinner: Bijou at the Church
If you came here from Instagram, this is the full guide I promised you. Let’s get into it.
Where to Stay in Stratford: The Bruce Hotel
If I were planning another trip to Stratford tomorrow, The Bruce is where I would stay.
The Bruce is a CAA/AAA Five Diamond boutique hotel opened by owner Jennifer Birmingham in 2014 and named in honor of her father. Her goal from the beginning has been ambitious: to create the finest boutique hotel in the world. The property includes 21 rooms, four suites and a private cottage.
We stayed in The Cottage at The Bruce while celebrating my father-in-law’s birthday, and it was the perfect home base for our family getaway.
The Cottage sleeps up to six and gives you the privacy of a home with the hospitality of a luxury hotel. But what made our stay memorable was not simply the beautiful space. It was how personal everything felt.
Before we even arrived, the team sent us a questionnaire asking about our favorite snacks and drinks. When we walked in, a basket filled with chips, chocolate, beer and wine we actually liked was waiting for us. There were birthday surprises, morning service, evening turndown and, on our first morning, a basket of warm pastries and croissants delivered right to the cottage.
The Bruce is also conveniently located for a Stratford Festival trip. The Festival Theatre is only a short walk away, and the hotel has a house car available for guests when you want to head out and explore farther.
Cassandra’s Tip: The Five Diamond designation may make The Bruce sound formal, but that was not our experience at all. The team made us feel incredibly comfortable and genuinely cared for. That warmth is what made the property stand out for me.
Breakfast at The Bruce
Do not rush out of the hotel in the morning. Breakfast at The Bruce became one of my favorite parts of our stay.
My absolute must-order is the Peach Toast. I ordered it every morning. Savory preserved summer peaches, chèvre and thick sourdough make it so much more interesting than the name suggests. Walt loved the Brie Omelette, with caramelized onions and tomatoes.
Our Breakfast Favorites
- Peach Toast
- Brie Omelette
- Smoked Trout
- Iced Coffee
And yes, warm chocolate croissants arriving at the table certainly do not hurt. If you order only one thing: Peach Toast. Trust me on this one.
Rhéo Thompson Candies: A Stratford Tradition
Once you head downtown, make a stop at Rhéo Thompson Candies. They have been making chocolates and confections in Stratford since 1969, and their signature Mint Smoothies have become a local favorite. The center is smooth and pepperminty, surrounded by chocolate. Walt was born in Stratford and has always raved about their chocolate. He was right.
What to Buy: Mint Smoothies
And my most important Rhéo Thompson advice? Buy the biggest box. You may think you are buying too many. You are not.
Lunch at Mercer Kitchen + Beer Hall
For lunch, Mercer Kitchen + Beer Hall is one of my favorite places to settle into, especially when the Ontario Street patio is open.
The menu has a Japanese izakaya-inspired influence with sushi, rice bowls and shareable dishes, but it is approachable even if sushi is not normally your first choice. When we visit we love to order a roll and a bowl and share both.
What to Order at Mercer
Mijikai Maki: A deep-fried sushi roll with crispy hamachi and teriyaki. We initially ordered one and liked it so much that we ordered another, despite the serving already being generous.
Korean BBQ Crispy Chicken Rice Bowl: Crunchy, flavorful and perfect for sharing alongside the sushi.
Mezcal Margarita: One of my favorite mezcal margaritas I have had in a very long time.
Cassandra’s Tip: Even if someone at your table says, “I don’t really eat sushi,” order the Mijikai Maki. This might be the roll that changes their mind.
Wine and Small Plates at Betty’s on George
If wine and small plates sound like your kind of afternoon, add Betty’s on George to your Stratford list.
Betty’s opened May 15 and is another concept from Jennifer Birmingham, the owner of The Bruce. There is also a lovely family connection between the two: The Bruce was named after her father, while Betty’s is named after her mother. How sweet is that?
The room is beautiful without feeling overly formal, and the approach to wine is relaxed and fun. It is a great place to stop before dinner, before a show or simply because Champagne and small plates sounded like a good idea.
What to Order at Betty’s
The Grand Slam: Champagne, caviar, chips and crème fraîche. Enough said.
Baked Brie: Served with apple-walnut compote and focaccia.
Passion Porkies: Shaved ham on a flaky maple sugar brown butter pastry. These were one of the bites I was still thinking about long after we left.
And apparently, baked Brie also turns me into someone who does not share, even with the birthday boy. Sorry, Dave.
Betty's is an absolute must-visit when in Stratford.
Dinner at Bijou at the Church
For dinner, Bijou at the Church gives you something you simply do not get at every restaurant. You are dining inside a beautiful converted historic church.
The soaring room makes dinner feel like an occasion before you have ordered your first cocktail. We happened to visit on opening night, and thankfully, the food lived up to the setting. Cocktails in a church? I’ll raise a glass to that.
What to Order at Bijou
Pan-Seared Pickerel: Served with sherry lentils, sous-vide beets and mushroom salad. This was one of my standouts.
Elevated Fish & Chips: Battered rockfish with fries, tartar aioli, grilled lemon and malt vinegar powder. The malt vinegar powder adds that familiar tang in a completely unexpected way.
Come for the beautiful church setting, but the food deserves a little praise of its own.
One More Stratford Food Experience to Know About
There is another reason Stratford punches above its weight as a food destination: The Stratford Chefs School.
The school has been training culinary talent since 1983, with nearly 900 graduates who have gone on to work in kitchens across Canada and beyond. During the school year, the public can also attend Student Chef Dinners featuring multi-course menus.
Cassandra’s Tip: If your travel dates are flexible, check the Stratford Chefs School calendar before booking your trip. A Student Chef Dinner would be such a fun addition to a food-focused Stratford weekend.
Is Stratford Worth Visiting for Food?
Absolutely. Theatre may be what first puts Stratford on your radar, but I would happily return for the restaurants and hospitality alone.
What I loved most is that Stratford does not feel like a city trying to manufacture a food scene for tourists. You have longstanding local traditions like Rhéo Thompson, newer concepts like Betty’s and Bijou, creative casual dining at Mercer, a nationally recognized culinary school and hospitality at The Bruce that made our family feel truly taken care of.
Frequently Asked Questions
Stratford is best known for the Stratford Festival and its world-class theater scene. It is also Justin Bieber’s hometown and has developed a particularly strong culinary culture, helped in part by the Stratford Chefs School.
My recommendation is The Bruce Hotel, especially The Cottage if you are traveling with family or friends.
My shortlist is Mercer Kitchen + Beer Hall for lunch, Betty’s on George for wine and small plates, and Bijou at the Church for dinner.
One local classic you should not miss is the Mint Smoothie from Rhéo Thompson Candies, which has been making chocolates in Stratford since 1969.
I would plan three to five nights. That gives you enough time to enjoy the restaurants, see a Stratford Festival production, wander downtown and actually enjoy your hotel rather than racing from stop to stop.
Save This Stratford, Ontario Travel Guide
If you found me through my Stratford Reel, welcome! I hope this helps make planning your trip a little easier and a lot more delicious.
Save this guide for later, send it to the person you would take to Stratford, and follow @cookwithcassandra on Instagram for more beautiful places to travel, delicious places to eat and plenty of recipes to make at home. You can find all of my recipes right here on Cooking With Cassandra, too. If you want to read my Stratford Travel Guide in my Winnipeg Sun Food & Lifestyle column you can read that story here. And if you go, let me know. Cheers, Stratford!
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