Set in the idyllic Prince Edward County, Picton is the area’s largest community and best places to eat. The County, as it’s often referred to, is best known for its exceptional wineries. But the area is also a big supporter of eating local, with many of the restaurants in Picton serving dishes made with locally-sourced ingredients.
This charming small town packs an array of fantastic places to dine. There’s everything from cute cafes to fine dining as well as international cuisine and more. So, plan a trip to the County and enjoy eating your way through town with these top Picton restaurants!
9 of the Best Restaurants in Picton
The Waring House Restaurant
Visitors will find the best of all worlds at The Waring House Restaurant and Inn! This historic inn and restaurant offer the perfect place to stay in Prince Edward County. Along with accommodation, there’s plenty of dining options and a spa.
The Waring House is one of the best restaurants in Picton for a long list of reasons. In their Barley Room guests will be transported to a classic British pub. With stone walls, a fireplace, and live music most nights, it’s the perfect mix of charm and fun.
This is a popular place, so when we visited, we pulled up a seat at the bar. It offered a great view over the dining room and an ideal vantage point for the music. Plus, the central bar has seating all the way around it.
The Barley Room menu features classic pub fare that’s full of flavour. There’s also local cider and beer. Like most of the best restaurants in Prince Edward County, the Waring House makes using local food a priority. In addition, they utilize their on-site kitchen garden and are Feast On certified with the Ontario Culinary Alliance.
Another lovely place to dine at the Waring House Restaurant is in their Amelia’s Garden. This dining room overlooks beautiful gardens and offers afternoon tea. As with most Ontario tea rooms, reservations are recommended.
Afternoon tea at the Waring House includes an assortment of Harney & Sons fine teas, traditional sandwiches, scones with Devonshire clotted-cream, and baked goods.
The Waring House Restaurant Information
Address: 395 Sandy Hook Rd, Picton, ON K0K 2T0
Hours: Open Daily for Breakfast 8:00am – 10:30am & for Lunch/Dinner 11:30am – 9pm
Phone: (613) 476-7492
Vic Social
Originally known as the Vic Café, this fun is now under new ownership. Still toted as one of the best restaurants on Picton’s Main Street, it has all the retro vibes from before but with plenty more fun things to do beyond eating!
The Vic Social is the perfect place to cook up a good time! Home to fun activities for the whole family, there’s Foosball, arcade games, board games and more. Plus, every Friday and Saturday night a dance floor is waiting for you.
Whether you go for dinner and drinks or games and late-night bites, the Vic Social has something to attract everyone.
The menu at the Vic Social includes breakfast, lunch and dinner. Highlights includes their famous tater tots for breakfast, a hearty VIC burger for lunch, and crazy milkshakes. They also have the option to make it a boozy shake!
Vic Social Information
Address: 166 Picton Main St, Picton, ON K0K 2T0
Hours: Sunday – Tuesday & Thursday 8am – 11pm, Wednesday 12pm – 11pm, Friday & Saturday 8am – 12am
Phone: (613) 476-2233
The Blue Sail Seafood Market & Restaurant
Prince Edward County is surrounded by the waters of Lake Ontario, so its no surprise that one of the best restaurants in Picton serves up fresh seafood!
The Blue Sail Seafood Restaurant has a cozy and seafaring vibe in their dining room. With a one wall a rich blue colour and paintings featuring waterside scenes, it’s a great place to enjoy a romantic dinner.
You’ll find a fantastic menu that includes everything from oysters to PEI mussels. Many love their Seafood Risotto as well as the Sea Bowl, which comes with mussels, clams and shrimp steamed in a garlic butter broth.
Along with a lovely patio, the restaurant is home to a market. At the market you’ll find high quality, fresh seafood ranging from lobsters to clams, and various fish.
Travel Tip: If you’re looking for the freshest seafood it arrives every Thursday afternoon around 3pm.
The Blue Sail Seafood Market & Restaurant Information
Address: 266 Picton Main St, Picton, ON K0K 2T0
Hours: Lunch is available Friday to Sunday 12pm – 3pm, Thursday 5pm – 8pm, Friday & Saturday 5pm – 9pm, Sunday 5 – 8pm
Phone: (613) 645-2583
Bean Counter Cafe & Bakery
One of the best coffee shops in Picton is the Bean Counter Café & Bakery! Set in a beautiful red-bricked building, this café is a staple in town.
After opening 20 years ago, the Bean Counter Café has become one of the best places to go in Picton for lunch. They serve a variety of sandwiches, soups, salads, and delicious pastries. A few house specialties that are perfect to eat inside or grab for a picnic are their jerk chicken wrap or the vegan falafel.
This warm and casual café offers dining inside as well as on their patio. I love their patio in the summer! Pull up a chair and watch the buzz of Main Street Picton.
Along with delicious food, the Bean Counter has a fabulous cup of coffee. Using locally roasted beans produced by County Roasters, every cup packs fresh flavour. And if you’re looking for something light to add to your coffee order, I highly recommend their signature blueberry scone.
Bean Counter Cafe & Bakery Information
Address: 172 Picton Main St, Picton, ON K0K 2T0
Hours: Open daily 7am – 5pm
Phone: (613) 476-1718
The Acoustic Grill
Set within the historic Master Feeds Building, the Acoustic Grill has been rocking the food scene in town for nearly 20 years.
It’s all about good music, good food and good times at this classic pub with a twist. The Acoustic Grill is known for making some of the best burgers in Picton. One of which is a vegetarian friendly one that’s one of their top menu items. The Country Garden Burger is made with black beans and topped with all sorts of yummy goodness.
The menu at the Acoustic Grill is full of classic dishes, and some with taken up a notch, that include fresh, local ingredients. Everything is made in-house with highlights beyond their burgers being the steak sandwich and sweet potato loaded poutine.
While their burgers rock, the live music is all acoustic! It all adds to the vibe, which is a cozy mix of country pub and rock and roll restaurant. Inside, you’ll find an array of band posters on the walls and features dating to the building’s historic heritage.
The Acoustic Grill Information
Address: 172 Picton Main St, Picton, ON K0K 2T0
Hours: Monday to Thursday 12pm – 9pm, Friday to Saturday 12pm – 11pm & Closed Sunday
Phone: (613) 476-2887
The Royal Hotel
If you’re looking for where to stay in Prince Edward County that also has one of the best restaurants, then book your stay at the Royal Hotel!
The Royal Hotel is a landmark in downtown Picton. Dating back to 1879, this boutique hotel has been restored by a local family. It offers a variety of dining options too.
Mornings are a great time to pop into their Counter Bar. This café serves up light fare including fresh baked goods and coffee. It’s a great spot if you’re looking for a quick breakfast on the go.
For those looking for a dreamy dinner in Picton, the Royal Hotel has a stunning dining room. The menu features farm to table dishes. Using fresh organic ingredients that’s harvested up the road from the hotel, every bite is a burst of flavour.
The dining room offers a view of the kitchen, where the magic happens. Plus, there’s a spacious terrace that’s the perfect place to dine on a warm summer night. It has cozy seating, marble table tops, and looks over the garden.
On the menu are a selection of shareable plates like oysters and fresh sourdough bread. You’ll also find a number of appetizers like soup and burrata. Mains are varied and include pasta dishes, fish options, steak, and more.
I enjoyed the Cassarecce, which is a Sicilian pesto, eggplant, and pecorino pasta dish. As soon as I took the first bite of my Casarecce, I knew it was freshly made noodles!
The Royal Hotel Information
Address: 247 Picton Main St, Picton, ON K0K 2T0
Hours: Open every day: Lunch 11am – 3pm, Dinner 4:30pm – 9pm, Thursday to Saturday Dinner is to 10pm
Phone: (613) 961-2600
The Lighthouse Restaurant
One of the best restaurants in Picton for breakfast is the Lighthouse Restaurant. Located in the Picton Harbour Inn, this cozy spot has been voted County Weekly News Readers’ Choice for favourite breakfast for a number of years in a row.
Open for breakfast and lunch, the Lighthouse Restaurant provides all the favourites. Enjoy delicious home-style cooking in a family-friendly space. Their top dishes for breakfast are the eggs benedict and pancakes.
If you’re visiting for lunch there’s everything from burgers to wraps as well as surf and turf to chicken parmesan. A go-to lunch menu item is their crispy fish and chips. However, there’s plenty of lighter options like salads and popcorn shrimp.
The Lighthouse Restaurant is also fully licensed. Their alcohol menu boasts a number of County choices like Huff Estates and Sandbanks wine, as well as Prince Eddy’s and Parson’s beer.
The Lighthouse Restaurant Information
Address: 33 Bridge St, Prince Edward, ON K0K 2T0
Hours: Open daily 7am – 2:30pm
Phone: (613) 476-2186
Coaches Pub and Grillhouse
Stepping into Coaches Pub will make you feel like you’ve entered Cheers! This classic pub has the perfect tagline, Good Beer, Good Food, Good Music.
This family owned and operated pub has been a staple watering hole in town since it opened in 1991. After a recent move a few doors down, Coaches is still located on Main Street and still offers all the great pub food.
The menu at Coaches Pub includes all the classics like fish & chips, wings and nachos. In addition, you’ll find a mix of other items too like PEI mussels, flatbreads, and a Cajun shrimp Po Boy. Everything is fresh and made with local ingredients as much as possible.
They also made their own batter for the chicken fingers, which are some of the best I’ve ever tasted. Plus, their homemade burgers are incredible!
Coaches Pub and Grillhouse Information
Address: 265 Main St W, Picton, ON K0K 2T0
Hours: Open daily 11am – 10pm
Phone: (613) 476-5888
The County Canteen
One of the best Picton restaurants with patio is The County Canteen! This great family-friendly restaurant is also a fun spot for a date night.
With a perfect patio that’s covered out front, you can dine outside and not worry about the sun beating down or if there’s sprinkle of rain. Inside you’ll find a stylish space that’s warm and comfortable. There’s a long bar, plenty of intimate seating and exposed brick walls.
The food at the County Canteen is an elevated pub style that includes beer-battered fish and chips, chicken wings and steak. Along with their epic nachos, many enjoy their fish tacos as their go-to menu option. In addition, the menu features vegetarian and gluten free items. Plus, there’s a solid kid’s menu.
This popular spot is known for their mighty list of Ontario’s finest beers on tap. With over two dozen beers to choose from, there’s everything from Prince Eddy’s in Picton to Flying Monkeys in Barrie. Along with beer, they serve a variety of The County’s local beverages like Kinsip House of Fine Spirits in Bloomfield.
If you’re looking for dinner and music, the County Canteen is the place to go! Weekends come alive with local music. Plus, every Wednesday you’ll be serenaded by karaoke singers.
Travel Tip: They do not take reservations, seating is on a first come, first served basis.
The County Canteen Information
Address: 279 Main St W, Picton, ON K0K 2T0
Hours: Sunday to Thursday 11:30am – 10pm, Friday & Saturday 11:30am – 11pm
Phone: (613) 476-6663
More Great Places to Eat in Picton
SUJEO Korean Restaurant – Another one of the best Picton restaurants is SUJEO! This Korean Restaurant is a popular spot, so be prepared to wait, as the dining room is small. The wait is worth it for their authentic Korean cuisine. While everything on the menu is delicious, two of the best dishes are their Bibimbap and Dumplings.
Crepe Escape – Set within the historic Armoury in downtown Picton are a number of shops and businesses. One of which serves up mouthwatering crepes. The Crepe Escape has a diverse mix of sweet and savory crepes. Two of the most popular are the All Day Breakfast crepe and the Butter Chicken crepe. Each crepe is made fresh, using locally-sourced ingredients. Plus, they have vegetarian and gluten-free options.
Hartley’s Tavern – For those seeking an elevated dining experience in Picton then make a reservation at Hartley’s Tavern. This family run restaurant creates stunningly crafted Canadian cuisine with many ingredients sourced from the County. Their Seared Duck Breast and Amaretto Creme Brulee are favourites. Plus, they offer a fine dining menu that includes three courses for $66.
Slickers County Ice Cream – With all these incredible meals you’ll want to grab a dessert! And one of the best places to eat in Picton is at Slickers. This ice cream shop makes small batch ice cream daily using locally sourced ingredients. They have locations in Picton and Bloomfield. A few top flavours are Campfire, Marshmallow, and Apple Pie.
Things to do in Picton
With so many amazing restaurants in Picton you’ll want to burn off some of those calories. You’ll find a long list of things to do and see in Picton and throughout the region. So, in between meals, check out a few of the area’s top attractions and activities.
- In and around Picton are around 40 different wineries. As one of the top things to do in Prince Edward County, indulging in a wine tasting or two will delight the tastebuds. A couple of the most popular wineries in the County are Huff Estates and Sandbanks Estate Winery.
- A fun way to pass the time between meals is to browse the shops in downtown Picton. Along main street you’ll find an array of interesting stores. There’s everything from clothing shops to ones selling unique home items. A few favourites include The Ye11ow Studio, Books & Company and Nickle’s.
- One of the quirkiest Picton attractions is Birdhouse City. Set within Macaulay Mountain Conservation Area, visitors can hike the park’s trails or wander the collection of over 100 bird houses. Many of the birdhouses represent buildings in Prince Edward County.
- Another fun place to visit in Picton is Base31. This former WWII air training base is now a reimagined attraction full of things to do and see. Within some of the heritage buildings are an array of businesses that you can visit. There are galleries, shops, an escape room, and more!
Where to Stay in Picton
To fit in all of the amazing places to eat in Picton you’ll want to spend a few days. Picton is home to an assortment of accommodations. There’s everything from boutique hotels to bed and breakfasts. One of the top places to stay in Picton is Merrill House, this charming Victorian home offers unique rooms and an on-site restaurant. Another popular place is the June Motel. You’ll be greeted with a glass of rose and a breakfast kit every morning.
So, pack up your bags and plan a getaway to Prince Edward County! With so many amazing restaurants in Picton you’ll want to base yourself in town.
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