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The 10 Best New Restaurants in Kingston for Your Next Food Trip
Are you the type who gets bored with the same food spots on repeat? Yeah, I’m a witness—my best friend can’t stand sticking to our “usual eats or drinks,” and honestly, I might lose it if he whines one more time.
The upside? We end up exploiting way more places, and our taste buds get a serious upgrade.
So, if you’re over the places that have been around since your parents were teenagers, here’s your guide to the best new restaurants in Kingston.
Burger 347
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Address: 1347 Gardiners Rd #1
Contact details: +1 613-384-0377
Operating hours:
- Tuesday to Saturday: 11:30 AM – 9 PM
- Sunday: 12 PM – 8 PM
Pricing: $
Burger 347 has the right to use the word “burger” in their name since they do a good job at serving high-quality, flavour-packed ones. For instance, they offer burgers that feature seasoned beef patties, locally sourced toppings, BBQ bacon, cheddar, and tangy sauce.
To complement your burger, we also love their crispy, golden fries, loaded poutines, and classic onion rings. As for dietary options, they also offer plant-based patties, customization options, and gluten-free menu items.
What we appreciate the most is their efficient service; you’ll notice speedy ordering, with minimal wait times even during peak lunch hours. It also helps that their location is accessible and great for takeaway or casual dine-in.
Pro tip:
If you have any dietary preferences or restrictions, don’t hesitate to ask your server, especially if it isn’t shown on their menu. And consider visiting during mid-afternoon to enjoy a quieter experience.
The Cannery Kitchen & Social
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Address: 1550 Princess St
Contact details: +1 613-541-4683
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday: 7 AM – 10 AM, 4 PM – 10 PM
Pricing: $$
You can find The Cannery Kitchen & Social in Kingston’s revitalized downtown, blending an industrial-chic interior with cozy lighting, communal tables, and a nice social vibe. It’s pretty popular for casual dinners, after-work drinks, and weekend brunches.
They’ve got an impressive menu, be it for their all-day or breakfast selection. To give you an idea, they serve dishes such as baked lobster, crab dip, and cannery cob salad, as well as burgers and mains like grilled Dijon salmon, striploin steak, and roasted cauliflower steak, among others.
So, you can expect to see diverse menu items and diverse dietary options. You can choose from vegetarian, gluten-free, and some vegan-friendly options—plus, the staff are highly accommodating with substitutions.
Pro tip:
Consider booking a table in advance on weekend nights to secure a spot, since it fills up quickly with both locals and visitors. And don’t miss out on their drinks. The bar features cocktails, wines, classics like a Negroni and Old Fashioned, and whisky.
Rhodes Restro + Bar
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Address: 2360 Princess St
Contact details: +1 613-539-6177
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday: 7 AM – 10 PM
Pricing: $$
If you’re dining as a family or group, Rhodes Resto + Bar is a solid choice. It also helps that the staff is used to waiting on and serving big groups, so you can expect them to be efficient and accommodating.
Their diverse menu impresses, featuring traditional comfort foods with creative twists like The Manhattan, chicken Piccata, schnitzel, halibut and chips, and ribs and wings combo. Their staff are open to substituting items for you to meet dietary needs, by the way.
Moreover, this place offers special deals, including 25% off appetizers on Mondays, burgers on Tuesdays, pasta and rice bowls on Wednesdays, fajitas on Thursdays, and Halibut and chips on Fridays.
Pro tip:
If it’s your first time, try their Rhodes Schnitzel or The Manhattan for a true taste of the kitchen’s creativity. It’s also a good idea to book a reservation, especially if you’re arriving during peak hours.
Manoosheh
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Address: 163 Division St
Contact details: +1 613-767-1111
Operating hours:
- Monday to Saturday: 9:30 AM – 10 PM
- Sunday: 9:30 AM – 7 PM
Pricing: $
Now, for something outside your usual local food, Manoosheh offers a genuine taste of Lebanese cuisine. Their specialty? It’s called manousheh, a traditional Levantine flatbread baked fresh to order and topped with a variety of savoury or sweet ingredients.
Some of their signature dishes include the Lahm Bi Ajeen, a flatbread topped with seasoned ground beef, onions, and tomatoes. You can also go for their Muhammara Manousheh, a spicy-sweet spread made from roasted peppers, walnuts, and pomegranate molasses.
What we also appreciate is that many of their dishes are vegetarian, and if you have other dietary needs, the kitchen can also accommodate gluten-free requests—just give them a heads-up. If you want something quick, you can also order takeout or delivery.
Pro tip:
For a classic, authentic experience, try the Zaatar Manousheh paired with a refreshing Ayran yogurt drink. And if you’re looking to end your night with a sweet treat, get their Nutella & Banana Manousheh.
Heist
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Address: 168 Wellington St, Suite 101
Contact details: +1 613-548-9463
Operating hours:
- Tuesday to Thursday: 4 PM – 10 PM
- Friday to Saturday: 4 PM – 11 PM
Pricing: $$$
Heist is the place to be if you want an upscale and sophisticated dining experience. Stepping into the restaurant, you’ll see the design blend modern aesthetics with classic charm, making it perfect for intimate dinners or special celebrations.
They’re big on contemporary Italian cuisine, featuring locally sourced ingredients that balance bold flavours and elegant presentations. Such dishes include the rigatoni in creamy tomato sauce with guanciale and chilli and the zesty seafood linguine with prawns, tomato, basil, and lemon.
People with various dietary preferences can also enjoy without worry since the restaurant offers vegetarian and gluten-free menu items, and staff can accommodate any other concerns when possible.
Pro tip:
If you’re not sure what to get, try their seafood pasta dishes paired with a crisp white wine, and save room for dessert and order the Tiramisu. Also, we suggest booking a table, particularly on weekends.
Academy Food + Drink
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Address: 285 King St E
Contact details: +1 613-544-4434
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday: 7 AM – 11 PM
Pricing: $$
You’ll find Academy Food + Drink in the lobby of the Kingston Marriott. We like the open-concept design since it’s ideal for everything from casual meals to social gatherings—it gives off a relaxed yet upscale setting.
It’s nice that the menu emphasizes fresh, local ingredients, blending flavours with Western-inspired dishes. When it comes to breakfast, they include classics like pancakes with blueberry compote and cinnamon whipped cream, breakfast burrito, maple sausage, and fontina cheese.
You can also explore dishes like the Chargrilled Cod on Parmesan Potato Gnocchi with ratatouille and veal jus, or something on the sweeter side like vegan Coconut Parfait with house granola and seasonal fruit compote. And yes, they’ve got vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options.
Pro tip:
If you feel overwhelmed by their breakfast choices, go for the Pineapple Vanilla Brioche French Toast with fruit juice. Try to catch their happy hour specials from 2 PM to 5 PM, offering $7 select beers and 5-oz wines, $12 cocktails, and $12 appetizers.
Mercury Bar & Lounge
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Address: 125 Brock St
Contact details: +1 613-766-7225
Operating hours:
- Wednesday to Friday: 4 PM – 11 PM
- Saturday to Sunday: 11:30 AM – 11 PM
Pricing: $$
The highlight of Mercury Bar & Lounge is that they offer a vibrant fusion of Western culinary traditions and Asian influences. You’ll get to try dishes like their Mercury Butter Chicken, which combines tandoori-spiced chicken in a tomato-cashew sauce, served with basmati rice and naan.
Another standout is the Korean BBQ short ribs—imagine marinated beef short ribs served with rice, kimchi, and greens, giving your taste buds a burst of savoury and spicy flavours. They also have innovative comfort food, such as the Itaewon Beef Burger.
And if you want something vegetarian, the Avocado Infused Hummus comes with pistachio dukkah, pomegranate, and pita bread, which makes a fresh and flavourful appetizer. Also, you can easily call a staff member to ask for gluten-free options and other dietary requests.
Pro tip:
If you want to make the most out of your experience, consider sharing a few small plates like the Avocado Infused Hummus and Ricotta Rendezvous before diving into the main courses. And don’t miss out on their cocktails or wine selection.
Bobbi Pecorino’s Italian Wine Bar
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Address: 326 King St E
Contact details: +1 343-477-1017
Operating hours:
- Monday to Wednesday: 3 PM – 9 PM
- Thursday to Saturday: 122 PM –11 PM
- Sunday: 12 PM – 9 PM
Pricing: $$
In true Italian spirit, Bobbi Pecorino’s Italian Wine Bar features a menu that focuses on cicchetti (small plates) and antipasti designed to complement their wine selection. Some of the items that stood out to us include their buffalo mozzarella drizzled with fresh pesto.
We also like their crostone topped with seasonal ingredients, and their well-balanced charcuterie board featuring artisanal cured meats and cheeses. It’s also neat that vegetarian diners can find several choices, and even gluten-free requests can be accommodated.
But we can’t leave out their impressive wine list—you get a rotating selection of rare, high-quality bottles sourced directly by owner Rob Elvy. You can choose from 3-oz or 5-oz pours, making it easy to sample multiple bottles in one visit, and they even have Italian cocktails.
Pro tip:
Don’t be shy to let the host or sommelier know your flavour preferences; they’re great at tailoring recommendations, often introducing guests to hidden-gem wines they wouldn’t have chosen themselves.
Hakka Horizon
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Address: 304 Bagot St
Contact details: +1 613-542-4258
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday: 11 AM – 12 AM
Pricing: $$
Located just a short walk from Kingston’s waterfront, Hakka Horizon sits in a central spot, making it easy to reach if you’re coming from downtown hotels, shops, and Queen’s University. Their menu is unique, offering Indo-Hakka Chinese, Thai, and Nepalese-style momo dumplings.
To give you an idea, popular picks include veg or chicken chow mein, chicken and egg fried rice, chilli chicken, and the chicken steamed momos—the crowd-favourite juicy dumplings. We also love that they aren’t stingy and serve generous portions.
You can also choose from many vegetarian options like the Veg Manchuria Pakora or Veg fried rice and noodle dishes. Try to catch their lunch specials (around 10:30 AM to 3 PM), as they offer value-priced combos.
Pro tip:
Don’t worry about spice; you can customize the level, whether you want it mild or go for some extra heat.
Time Out Bar & Bistro
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Address: 167 Ontario St
Contact details: +1 613-531-0004
Operating hours:
- Sunday to Thursday: 11 AM – 10 PM
- Friday to Saturday: 11 AM – 1 AM
Pricing: $$
You can easily stumble upon Time Out Bar & Bistro as you walk along the scenic waterfront. It’s a nice place to chill, but the energy also turns up, especially when they host regular live music, karaoke nights, and open mic sessions.
Food-wise, they lean into heart, pub fare. Some of their best-sellers include All Things Wings and deep-fried cheese curds. Diners can also choose from nachos, sliders, wraps, sandwiches, and shareable platters, with sides like sweet potato fries, onion rings, or poutine.
Lastly, being a fully licensed bar, they serve a range of beers, ciders, and classic cocktails, making it a go-to for casual sips and pre-event meetups.
Pro tip:
If you want to go during live music nights, arrive early before the crowd starts to roll in, so you can snag a table with a clear view of the stage, and get to be the first ones to start ordering before things get hectic.
