Where to eat and drink in Hamilton

Breakfast and brunch

Electric Diner

This popular 80s-inspired diner serves creative spins on classic brunch dishes. Try the Crab Cake Benny—eggs Benedict served on hefty crab cakes. Or indulge in the chicken and waffles made with a Korean twist. If the strawberry cheesecake pancakes don’t satisfy your sweet tooth, opt for one of the Electric Diner’s indulgent milkshakes.

Location: 28 James Street North, Hamilton

Saint James

This beloved cafe has consistently served great food and coffee for over a decade. All the dishes are made in-house using high-quality ingredients, including a delicious assortment of pastries. Don’t miss the cinnamon roll scone.

Location: 170 James Street North, Hamilton

Synonym

Featuring an all-day brunch menu, a variety of sandwiches, as well as flavourful hot dishes, this cafe-bistro is a must-visit. While enjoying your meal, be sure to try an expertly crafted coffee, a glass of natural wine, a small-batch beer or an inventive cocktail.

On the second Friday of every month, partake in ART CRAWL, an event designed to promote Hamilton artists.

Location: 328 James Street North, Hamilton

The Cannon

The Cannon serves high-quality coffee alongside a creative waffle-themed brunch menu. Try your eggs Benedict on a delicious cheese waffle or indulge in an egg, tomato and spicy mayo waffle sandwich. Gluten-free and vegan waffles are available upon request.

Location: 180 Ottawa Street North, Hamilton

Joshy’s Good Eats

A great stop for bagel lovers. Joshy’s Good Eats was so popular at the Hamilton Farmers’ Market that the owner opened a bricks-and-mortar location. Stop by for handmade bagels, a variety of cream cheeses, house-made cured fish and Joshy’s signature sandwiches.

Location: 1111 Cannon Street East, Hamilton

Lunch and dinner

Bardo

Since 2010, Bardo’s flagship restaurant in Hamilton has been serving delicious Italian-inspired fare.

Stop by for stone-baked pizzas, vibrant salads and hearty entrees in a lively atmosphere. Sip a craft beer or a signature cocktail as you enjoy your meal—they pair perfectly with the menu.

Location: 258 Locke Street South, Hamilton

MaiPai

For some of the best pizza in Hamilton, look no further than MaiPai. Serving delicious Detroit-style pizza alongside classic tiki cocktails, this restaurant offers bold and innovative flavours.

Pizzas are made in deep, rectangular steel pans imported from Detroit. The crust is thick, but airy and crisp and toppings range from traditional to inventive. Most pies can be modified to suit vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free diets.

Catch up with MaiPai on Instagram and be sure to make reservations in advance as this is a popular spot.

Location: 631 Barton Street East, Hamilton

Sagarmatha Curry Palace

Specializing in authentic northern Indian and Nepalese cuisine, Sagarmatha Curry Palace is a staple in the Hamilton area.

The dinner menu features samosas, pakoras, a variety of dishes from the Tandoor oven, and vegetarian and meat-focused curries. The vegetarian or meat thali is a great option for first-time diners as it offers small portions of several dishes.

Location: 43 King William Street North, Hamilton

Spring Grill House

For more than 10 years, Spring House Grill has been Hamilton’s go-to Korean BBQ restaurant.

The experience of grilling your own meal at your table is truly memorable. The all-you-can-eat menu, featuring seafood, vegetables and meat, as well as rice and noodles, is designed for sharing. If it happens to be your birthday, enjoy a complimentary dessert.

Spring Grill House is open for lunch and dinner service.

Location: 1441 Upper James Street, Hamilton

The Mule

Serving lunch and dinner, The Mule is a Mexican-inspired restaurant and a great place to explore chef-inspired tacos and tequila-based cocktails. From the sweet potato and halloumi tacos and queso fundito to the strawberry Paloma sangria, your taste buds are in for a treat.

Check out the events page for fun activities like Rock and Roll Bingo and Marg Madness, a cocktail competition.

Location: 41 King William Street, Hamilton

Maisy’s Pearl Oyster Bar

Maisy’s Pearl Oyster Bar is a must-visit for oyster enthusiasts. With a selection of high-quality and sustainability-sourced oysters that changes daily, you’ll always have something new to try. In addition to oysters, there are plenty of other seafood-focused menu items available.

For a unique and tasty experience, enrol in an oyster shucking class. Learn almost everything there is to know about these beloved bivalves from owner and shucking champion David Burns.

Location: 342 Barton Street East, Hamilton

The Burnt Tongue

With three locations across Hamilton, this soup-focused restaurant is the perfect place for a hearty lunch or an early dinner.

Enjoy classics like chicken noodle soup, butternut squash bisque and cream of mushroom alongside sandwiches, burgers and salads. Save room for dessert—the carrot cake ice cream sandwich is as good as it sounds.

Locations:

• 1019 King Street West, Hamilton
• 182 Locke Street South, Hamilton
• 10 Cannon Street East, Hamilton

Menya Kyu

Menya Kyu is a farm-to-bowl ramen restaurant run by chef Yoshiyuki Aiba, a native of Tochigi, Japan.

Chef Aiba creates traditional Japanese ramen for lunch and dinner using local ingredients. His signature Jidori ramen features locally raised chickens from Fenwood Farm in neighbouring Ancaster. In addition to creamy and clear chicken broths, a plant-based option is also available.

Location: 154 James Street South, Hamilton

Le Tambour Tavern

Located in downtown Hamilton, Le Tambour Tavern is a Parisian-inspired bistro.

Chef Teo Paul, who owns two popular Toronto restaurants (Union and Côte de Bœuf), opened his Hamilton location in 2023. The dinner menu features classic bistro fare like beef tartare, oysters and escargot. But what sets this restaurant apart is the open-fire grill. Enjoy roast chicken with frites and chalet sauce, whole grilled fish and charred steaks straight from the fire.

Location: 345 James Street North, Hamilton

Aberdeen Tavern

Aberdeen Tavern serves elevated comfort food in a unique setting, a former bank. The chefs work closely with local farmers and sustainable importers to maintain the highest-quality standards. From the baked feta to the bone-in pork chop, every dish is beautifully crafted. Cocktails are made with fresh-squeezed juices and there is a broad selection of wine to choose from.

Visit on Sunday evenings when the restaurant transforms into a traditional steakhouse.

Location: 432 Aberdeen Avenue, Hamilton

Martello Restaurant

This Italian-inspired restaurant offers a delicious array of pizzas and pastas.

Classic dishes like Margherita pizza and Carbonara pasta are available, but if you are interested in trying something different, you’re in the right place. The kitchen strives to blend tradition with creativity so indulge in a spicy-sweet ‘nduja and corn pizza or a savoury beet and goat cheese-filled agnolotti.

Finish your weekend at Martello with Sugo Sundays—the restaurant’s ode to the Italian-American red-sauce restaurant.

Location: 298 James Street North, Hamilton

Victoria’s Steak and Seafood

Located at the corner of Locke Street and King Street, Victoria’s is a fresh take on the classic steakhouse.

Enjoy exclusive cuts of beef from around the world, exceptional seafood and top-notch service in a beautifully appointed dining room and lounge area. Have a glance at the ever-evolving wine list to discover some unique gems.

Location: 470 King Street West, Hamilton

Rapscallion & Co.

Rapscallion & Co. calls itself “a mischievous and vibrant part of Hamilton’s restaurant scene.” It offers regularly changing, meat-focused menus for both lunch and dinner in a casual but luxurious setting.

Join the team for weekly specials like Fried Chicken Sundays, when you’ll enjoy a family-style meal complete with coleslaw, biscuits and sides.

Location: 178 James Street North, Hamilton

Berkley North

This critically acclaimed restaurant is often considered one of the best restaurants in Hamilton.

The lunch and dinner menus feature highly creative fare that represent Ontario’s changing seasons. Dishes are carefully crafted in-house and offer diners unique flavour combinations with the perfect balance of simplicity and sophistication.

The chefs recommend the fresh cheese and sourdough starter as well as the mushroom dumplings.

Location: 31 King William Street, Hamilton

Quatrefoil 

Chefs Fraser Macfarlane and Georgina Mitropoulos opened this fine dining restaurant in 2010. Since then, they have been recognized by EnRoute, Toronto Life magazine and the MICHELIN Guide, making Quatrefoil one of the top-rated restaurants in Hamilton.

Located in a charming Victorian house in Dundas, the chefs offer a small but stunning dinner menu that they execute flawlessly. From the glazed sea scallops to perfectly cooked beef tenderloin, every dish is a tasty adventure.

Quatrefoil is the ideal place to celebrate a special occasion, or to spoil yourself for no particular reason.

Location: 16 Sydenham Street, Dundas

Desserts and sweet treats

Donut Monster

 Donut Monster started supplying independent coffee shops and grocery stores across Hamilton with fresh donuts in 2015. The donuts were a hit, and in 2018, a bricks-and-mortar store opened on Locke Street.

The donuts are made from scratch and topped with a wide array of glazes and garnishes. From unique flavours like chocolate caramel popcorn to classics like the traditional apple fritter, the options abound. The menu is changes often, so be sure to stop by and see what’s new. Vegan options are available.

Location: 246 Locke Street South, Hamilton

Willard’s Ice Cream

This beloved small-batch ice cream shop is renowned for its creative flavours, making it a popular destination for ice cream lovers, young and old.

If you are looking for something unique, opt for the garlic flavour or the mango-sriracha. If you’d prefer to stay within your comfort zone, vanilla bean and chocolate are almost always available. Check Willard’s Instagram stories to find out what is on offer before you go.

Location: 942 Main Street East, Hamilton

MySweeTooth

This Asian-fusion bakery opened in 2020 and specializes in cakes and cream puffs.

The ube-flavoured Basque cheesecake and the durian crepe roll will tempt those with a more adventurous palate, while the matcha cream puff and the strawberry cheese tart are perfect for traditionalists.

Location: 301 Main Street West, Hamilton

Late-night spots

The Brain Bar

This upbeat bar has a vibrant atmosphere and an extensive selection of drinks, making it the perfect place for an evening out with friends.

The rotating beer list features Ontario-made products. The cocktail menu features classics like the Dark and Stormy and the Pisco Sour. Coffee and a selection of herbal teas are also available.

If you are feeling peckish, don’t miss the prosciutto sandwich.

Location: 199 James Street North, Hamilton

The Argyle

With three state-of-the-art golf simulator bays, The Argyle is a unique place to have a cocktail. Practise using the driving range setup or play 18 holes with your friends—choose from 69 courses from all over the world.

In between swings, sip on an expertly crafted cocktail. The menu features a selection of luxurious gin and tonics and a wide variety of whiskies from near and far.

Location: 304 Ottawa Street North, Hamilton

Nanny and Bull’s

Located in the east end of Hamilton, Nanny and Bull’s is an inviting neighbourhood haunt featuring quality drinks and friendly service. Choose from a selection of creative cocktails, unique beers and singular mocktails. Weekly specials feature drink discounts and a popular bingo night.

In the warmer months, enjoy The Backyard, an outdoor beer garden with its own menu. If you are travelling with a larger group, book the Rumpus Room—the perfect hangout spot for groups of up to 14 guests.

Location: 627 Barton Street East, Hamilton

The Bard and Bear

The Bard and Bear is a bar and cafe that features over 1,000 board games. Sip a locally made beer or cocktail and enjoy a night of fun. Snacks, sweets and sandwiches are on offer. Peruse the online games library to find the game that speaks to you, then make a reservation—they are highly recommended.

Location: 237 James Street North, Hamilton

From intimate date-night dinner spots to casual lunch counters and action-packed cocktail bars, there’s no shortage of popular restaurants in Hamilton to explore.