The Best Restaurants In Kingston, Ontario

Here Are Some Of The Best Restaurants In Kingston, Ontario!

Looking for restaurants in Kingston, Ontario? You certainly have options! It’s said that Kingston has the most restaurants per capita in Canada – and we believe it.

Kingston offers foodies a lot of different cuisine options – from Spanish to Indian, German, Thai, and even Cambodian! And, having lived in Kingston for many years before – and being locals currently – we’ve explored the food scene pretty extensively.

Whether you are looking for family restaurants or fine dining, you will find great restaurant options in Kingston, Ontario.

For this post, we included the restaurants that are more “sit-down” places. If we included the “grab and go” places, we would be here all day.

Also, since this post is geared towards visitors to Kingston, many of these recommendations are located in Kingston’s historic downtown core. Some are even right on the Kingston waterfront.

However, we wanted a more complete list so we have included a few restaurants in the West End or up near the 401!

Kingston, Ontario Restaurants Near the 401

If you are in a hotel up near the 401 (usually on Division Street), then finding a restaurant downtown might not be the best option.

That said, the restaurants up by the highway are mainly chain brands. However, some of them you can definitely rely on.

Many of them cater to groups and families with kids. You can find sit-down restaurant options up on Division Street near the 401 like Pizza Hut, East Side Mario’s, and Montana’s.

Kingston, Ontario West End Restaurants

Kingston’s West End is loosely defined and differs depending on who you ask. Basically, if it’s not right downtown Kingston and it’s not up by the highway, it’s the West End. This is where Gardiners Road meets Princess Street, essentially.

Similar to up near Highway 401, the places out here are typically more on the chain side – but you can find a few local gems hidden among the strip malls.

If you need a restaurant in Kingston’s West End, check out the following places as recommended by a local Kingstonian:

Bella Bistro is in Colin’s Bay. They serve up all local food, with daily specials, and even have a market in the basement.

They have delicious sandwiches, pizza, burgers, homemade desserts, and fresh fish/shellfish.

Days on Front has the benefit of having its Head Chef connected to one of the most famous downtown restaurants in the city – AquaTerra.

They have good food for a little higher price. It’s basically a gem in a strip mall in the Reddendale neighbourhood.

Sabre is the place to go for amazing Indian food in the west end on Princess. Our local connection recommends basically the entire menu – there is not a bad choice on it!

Restaurants in Downtown Kingston, Ontario

Now, for the good part – here is an extensive list of the restaurants in downtown Kingston.

These are a few of our favourites and a few classic names that you should definitely check out if you are visiting Kingston.

We also left out any chains since you can eat at Jack Astor’s, The Keg, or Milestones anywhere in Ontario!

That said, we can’t write a post on the best restaurant in downtown Kingston without mentioning a few classics.

Unfortunately, we (surprisingly) haven’t yet been to some of the absolute most popular places – Chez Piggy, AquaTerra, and Le Chein Noir, but we wanted to mention them!

Wooden Heads

Address: 192 Ontario St, Kingston, ON K7L 2Y8, Canada

If you want pizza in Kingston, there is only one place to go. Okay, there are actually many places (sorry, Atomica), but Wooden Heads has just absolutely fantastic pizza.

Their stone oven, authentic wood-fired method means you get a delicious pizza served with the toppings you want.

Eric has been a bunch of times – and every single time Wooden Heads delivers. They even have an outdoor patio in the summer season that you can sit on.

Inside is beautifully decorated and the vibe is always lively. That said, the liveliness is always attributed to how busy the place is. It’s always PACKED.

So, if you know you want to go on a specific night, it’s definitely a good idea to make a reservation! Eric likes the Annunziato pizza (he likes anchovies and black olives) and the fact that they have a massive drinks menu from wine to beer to cocktails and more.

Greco’s Grill and Wine Bar

Address: 167 Princess St, Kingston, ON K7L 5R2, Canada

If you are looking for Greek, Greco’s is the place to go. Located right on Princess Street, this place does a great job of serving up authentic Greek dishes.

Eric has been a handful of times over the years – notably, he went with a group of friends to celebrate a special occasion and had a blast ordering wine, food, and of course – the famous appetizer – Saganaki (flaming cheese)!

The place is dimly lit so it’s a great place for a romantic evening. It is quite small from the outside but it’s long so there’s loads of seating. That said, it does fill up on nights and weekends!

Amadeus Cafe

Address: 170 Princess St, Kingston, ON K7L 1B1, Canada

If you are in the mood for hearty European cuisines – such as schnitzel, potato pancakes (like Lisa actually grew up eating), or even delicious Spätzle – then head to Amadeus Cafe!

Located right on Princess Street, this cozy place also has a great beer menu (mainly German beers) and an awesome “beer garden” patio in the pack!

Eric has been here twice and both times were great – he had schnitzel which was like you’d find in Europe.

The portions are large and the prices might be a tad high (for Kingston) but you’ll leave full and it’s a different cuisine than the rest of the city!

Royal Angkor

Address: 523 Princess St, Kingston, ON K7L 1C6, Canada

Royal Angkor is absolutely amazing. There, we said it. For the best spring rolls in Ontario (in our biased opinion) head to Royal Angkor for Cambodian and Thai fusion cuisine.

Eric always ordered the Thai Vermicelli and would get an extra order of spring rolls because they were just THAT good. Their curries and pad thai are also really good.

If you go to eat in, you should know that the place is small and a little out of downtown but it’s worth the walk.

When you read the menu, remember that the “chili pepper” scale for how hot the dishes are is NOT to be taken lightly!

Dianne’s Fish Shack & Smokehouse

Address: 195 Ontario St, Kingston, ON K7L 2Y7, Canada

If you are looking for a bit of “surf n’ turf”, head to Dianne’s for some of the best seafood in Kingston.

This restaurant is located right down by the waterfront – across from Wooden Heads and right beside the Tourist Information Centre in the Old Train Station. Eric had been a handful of times – each time was excellent.

If you want a recommendation, go for fish tacos or the steamed mussels. The mussels came in a green coconut curry with grilled bread – and were great for sharing.

They also have a massive beer, wine, and cocktail menu.

In the summertime, the patio area usually has a healthy crowd on it. It’s small but nice and right on the sidewalk. Inside, Dianne’s is super cozy and somewhat nautical-themed.

After all, this is a fish bar!

Curry Original

Address: 253 Ontario St A, Kingston, ON K7L 2Z4, Canada

If you have craving for Indian, then there is likely no better place than Curry Original.

Located right on Ontario Street downtown, you can get a great meal and then head out for a walk along the water for a perfect evening.

If you want something great to try, get their Butter Chicken – it is super popular for a reason!

Tango Nuevo

Address: 331 King St E, Kingston, ON K7L 3B5, Canada

If a bit of Spanish flair is what you are after, then Tango Nuevo is for you! Located right down at the corner of Ontario and Brock street, Tango is the place to go for tapas and cocktails.

Eric has been with friends a few times and every time it’s been great. Their front patio is great for enjoying the summertime atmosphere downtown.

Inside, the place is dark and great for an intimate evening with friends to try some great food.

If you go, try the Brussels Sprouts and the Fish Tacos… but you might feel overwhelmed by the options so just go with what you want to try.

Consider a reservation if you know you want a specific night and time!

Olivea

Address: 39 Brock St, Kingston, ON K7L 1R7, Canada

For a bit of Italian, head to Olivea. Right beside Tango (but facing Springer Market Square), Olivea is an upscale Italian place that also makes a point of serving and sourcing local ingredients.

They have a large patio area for the summer season which is great for enjoying a glass of wine in the evening air!

Eric has been once for a birthday with friends and it was great. They had Bruschetta and he had the Seafood Linguine which was really good – pricey, but good!

Atomica

Address: 71 Brock St, Kingston, ON K7L 2Z9, Canada

If you want to argue about pizza some more, let’s head to Atomica for some great food. Located on Brock Street, Atomica has this super cool, modern vibe that’s great for loads of groups: dates, friends, you name it.

As with Wooden Heads, Atomica is known for its pizza – and it’s really good. However, Atomica has a little more variety on the menu whereas Wooden Heads is more just about the pizza.

Eric has been to Atomica a bunch of times and – again – it’s always great. You should check out their Salumi pizza and they have an extensive veggie menu, too!

We went again recently for a special occasion and had the Kahuna pizza and the Grenade pizza. Again, both really good. Lisa even had a fancy cocktail with rosemary in it and it was excellent.

Casa Domenico

Address: 35 Brock St, Kingston, ON K7L 1R7, Canada

Casa is currently closed for renovation, reopening in Spring 2024.

If Olivea doesn’t work for you, right next door is another Kingston classic – Casa! Casa is one of those names thrown around when someone is looking for a really good place to eat downtown.

Casa is a little bit pricier – but they do Italian right. Eric has been a bunch of times now with family, friends, and even coworkers. It’s always been good.

The last time he was there he sat on their smaller front patio and enjoyed their bruschetta with goat cheese and a Peroni – a great combination!

The patio overlooks Springer Market Square so it’s a great place to sit and watch the Kingston world go by!

Harper’s Burger Bar

Address: 93 Princess St, Kingston, ON K7L 1A6, Canada

If you looking for a great burger in Kingston, there are a few places you could go. We’d say avoid the chain places and head for the local specialty with the great front patio – Harper’s!

Located right on Princess, Harper’s is great because you get to totally build your burger how you want it. You pick the patty type, bun, and toppings.

You still have sides to contemplate – but you should think about waffle fries because they are really good.

One time Eric got the “Smokehouse” and it was really, really good – but Harper’s also has plenty of beef or non-meat alternatives.

Funny enough, Harper’s was on a Canadian food show “You Gotta Eat Here” and while it was good before that really beefed up the popularity!

Red House

Address Downtown: 369 King St E, Kingston, ON K7K 2Y1, Canada

Oh, Red House. How you spoil us with awesomeness. Red House is easily one of Eric’s favourite places to go for food and drinks in Kingston.

Located on King Street East, Red House is this great upscale place for drinks and really good food. They don’t have a huge menu but their choices are always really good.

The menu rotates so you never have the same things twice (usually). From their burger to their home-style chicken bites, everything is good – including their daily specials which are on the chalkboard!

On tap, they have a variety of beers and scotch whisky. The place is an old limestone/brick and wooden beam place that’s cozy and nice. The staff is always friendly, the bartenders are great, and the vibe is lively on weeknights and weekends.

Their front summer patio is also nice to sit outside.

They actually opened a second location in the West End north of Gardiners Road and Princess Street. You can find it here.

Tir Nan Og

Address: 200 Ontario St, Kingston, ON K7L 2Y9, Canada

For an authentic pub experience down near the water and right on Springer Market Square, head to Tir Nan Og. There are plenty of classic pubs in the city but Tir Nan Og is easily one of the most popular.

Their pub-style grub features classics like fish and chips, meat pies, burgers, and loads of shareables. They also have karaoke on Thursdays which is always a fun time!

Mekong

Address: 394 Princess St, Kingston, ON K7L 5N3, Canada

If you are craving Vietnamese/Thai dishes, Mekong is for you. Eric knows people that absolutely swear by Mekong but he never ate there when he lived there.

Then, once while visiting with Lisa, we ordered Mekong and has a dish similar to Royal Angkor. It was so good.

If you want to go and sit in, Mekong is on “the hub” on Princess right beside Stages nightclub. it’s pretty large inside but gets busy since it honestly is just really, really good.

We absolutely love their Bun Ga Nuong, Cha Gio (grilled chicken, spring rolls, vermicelli noodles, and peanuts) in case you were wondering.

Kingston Brewing Company

Address: 34 Clarence St, Kingston, ON K7L 1W9, Canada

For a classic Kingston experience, you have to check out Kingston Brewing Company. Also called KBC, the brewery/restaurant has been a staple of Kingston culture for decades.

Eric can’t even count how many times he’s been. The place is decorated with signs, beer taps, you name it. It’s definitely eye-catching and interesting.

Inside you’ll likely find a packed house, but they have a front patio in the summer and a back garden/patio area as well. Their food is more on the pub side but it’s great. Their pulled pork sandwich is absolutely delicious.

KBC also does its own beer (obviously) – and you can enjoy it on-site. Grab a pint (or pitcher) of their Dragon’s Breath Cask Ale, Regal Lager, or Whitetail Cream Ale – all are good and they have even more!

Sima Sushi

Address: 66 Princess St, Kingston, ON K7L 1A5, Canada

Kingston is known for its variety of sushi places – and some people swear by one place over another. Depending on who you ask, you will get different answers.

We really like Kame Sushi – but someone else might argue that for overall quality, you should head for Sima.

Located right on Princess street, Sima isn’t a huge place so it’s usually busy. Inside you find some of the freshest sushi in the city. We’ve had Sima a few times and it’s always been good.

It’s a little pricier compared to some of the other places in town but that’s because you get quality.

Grizzly Grill

Address: 395 Princess St, Kingston, ON K7L 1B9, Canada

If you plan on staying “up the hill” in the hub (the area with many of the bars and clubs on Princes Street) you can find a great meal at the Grizzly Grill.

You can’t miss it since there’s a giant bear head outside above the main doors.

Inside, you find a very nature/Canadian upscale-themed place with large windows, a fireplace, an open kitchen, and loads of spaces for dining on two levels. It’s a big place so you likely don’t need a reservation – but it does fill up.

Eric has been for food many times – and at night, he’s been there for drinks, a round of pool, and the dance floor at the back!

You can expect a good meal – it’s one of the best places for prime rib in the city (in Eric’s opinion).

Copper Penny

Address Downtown: 240 Princess St, Kingston, ON K7L 1B2, Canada

And last, but certainly not least – we have Copper Penny. In business for over 30 years, Copper Penny is a classic Kingston eatery for comfort food. Don’t come here looking for fine dining and the healthiest of options!

Eric has been numerous times over the years and it’s always just what you expect: a cozy, greasy meal and beer with friends.

The thing about Copper is their fries: they cover them in a soup stock powder which makes them flavourful and a little extra salty. Copper fries are amazing.

That said, their menu actually has loads of options from plates of pasta to wraps, salads and even sandwiches. The staff are always friendly and the bartender is always on his game (he’s a friend but he actually does a great job).

Copper Penny is also good for kids since there are loads of seating and tasty options on the menu. They also have a West End take-out location if you are looking for it!

Related Articles

If you are visiting Kingston, check out these other posts to help you plan the perfect Kingston stay!

• How to Get From Toronto to Kingston
• Awesome Things to Do in Kingston
• Ideas for Day Adventures From Kingston
• Hotels and Inns: Where to Stay in Kingston
• Our Favourite Coffee Shops in Kingston
• The Best Bars and Pubs in Kingston

And there you have it – some of the best (and our favourite) restaurants in Kingston, Ontario! There are so many places to eat that we couldn’t include everything – but we are happy with the list we came up with!

What do you think? Did we get the good places or miss a gem or two? Let us know – it’s always great to talk about the Kingston food scene!

As always, Keep Exploring, eh?
– E&L

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