Favourite Cafes and Bakeries
Looking for coffee, breakfast or a quick lunch? Try these spots!
Located straight down the hill on Water Street, this spot serves solid coffee and tasty baking. Try the raisin biscuits. I'm also a big fan of their vegan wraps. Live music Tuesday afternoons and Thursday evenings!
78 locals recommend
Rocket Bakery
294 Water StLocated straight down the hill on Water Street, this spot serves solid coffee and tasty baking. Try the raisin biscuits. I'm also a big fan of their vegan wraps. Live music Tuesday afternoons and Thursday evenings!
Best pain au chocolat this side of Paris. Double check their hours, bring cash and arrive early.
52 locals recommend
Georgestown Bakery
60 Hayward AveBest pain au chocolat this side of Paris. Double check their hours, bring cash and arrive early.
Right across the street from Georgestown Bakery, this friendly cafe offers good coffee, tasty lunch fare and healthy snacks
23 locals recommend
Georgestown Cafe and Bookshelf
73 Hayward AveRight across the street from Georgestown Bakery, this friendly cafe offers good coffee, tasty lunch fare and healthy snacks
A new addition, this charming spot makes great coffee, has superb baking, and the gelato is delish! Can be very busy.
14 locals recommend
The Parlour Gelato + Coffee
85 Military RdA new addition, this charming spot makes great coffee, has superb baking, and the gelato is delish! Can be very busy.
Recently opened right around the corner, you’ll find good coffee and yummy breakfast sandwiches. Service can be spotty.
Long's Hill Cafe and Bookshelf
101 Long's HillRecently opened right around the corner, you’ll find good coffee and yummy breakfast sandwiches. Service can be spotty.
Surprisingly, this place offers some wicked coffee and early morning hours. A very pleasant 10 minute walk from the house.
44 locals recommend
Bannerman Brewing Co.
90 Duckworth StSurprisingly, this place offers some wicked coffee and early morning hours. A very pleasant 10 minute walk from the house.
Good coffee and excellent baked goods are what I visit this place for. They also have high-quality takeout and meats as well as a small dining area.
Waterwest Kitchen and Meats
720 Water StreetGood coffee and excellent baked goods are what I visit this place for. They also have high-quality takeout and meats as well as a small dining area.
Favourite Ethnic Foods
St. John's isn't known for diversity, but offers some good options for those willing to seek it out
A 20 minute walk from the house, you'll find a bustling little market every Saturday morning featuring a plethora of food vendors hawking all kinds of tasty international fare from the Caribbean, Middle East, Africa, Asia and Central America. Grocery items exist but are still a bit limited ... you'll find a good selection of arts and crafts as well.
33 locals recommend
St. John's Farmers' Market
245 Freshwater RdA 20 minute walk from the house, you'll find a bustling little market every Saturday morning featuring a plethora of food vendors hawking all kinds of tasty international fare from the Caribbean, Middle East, Africa, Asia and Central America. Grocery items exist but are still a bit limited ... you'll find a good selection of arts and crafts as well.
The daily lunch special is a great deal! Tasty Afghan food in a friendly spot
8 locals recommend
Afghan Restaurant
375 Duckworth StThe daily lunch special is a great deal! Tasty Afghan food in a friendly spot
Favourite spot for Hot Noods. Be prepared for some spotty service. The food makes up for it.
Bad Bones Ramen
178 Water StFavourite spot for Hot Noods. Be prepared for some spotty service. The food makes up for it.
Favourite Vegetarian Fare
Green Kitchen
47 Harvey RdJust around the corner, this friendly spot serves up tasty veggie and vegan fare
Poyo + the Sprout takeout
364 Duckworth StVegan & Veggie spot also serves GF baking
Peaceful Loft
250 Duckworth StBuddhist cuisine from Macau. Great value and always tasty
Where to get Groceries
Large scale grocery store three blocks up the hill. Attached to a NLC (Liquor Store) and pharmacy for all your needs!
68 locals recommend
Sobeys St. John's Merrymeeting Road
8 Merrymeeting RdLarge scale grocery store three blocks up the hill. Attached to a NLC (Liquor Store) and pharmacy for all your needs!
Health food, ethnic food and specialty ingredients in this "hippy" store.
9 locals recommend
Food for Thought
84 Gower StHealth food, ethnic food and specialty ingredients in this "hippy" store.
The Natural Boutique
191 Water Street StSmall selection of organic and natural food products
This corner store just up the street has all the Newfoundland basics you could ask for, including cold beer! Don't forget the soft serve.
6 locals recommend
Jackman & Greene
53 Cookstown RdThis corner store just up the street has all the Newfoundland basics you could ask for, including cold beer! Don't forget the soft serve.
If you're looking for "Fancy" groceries, Belbin's is about as fancy as it gets in Newfoundland. Look for imported cheeses in the back, sometimes they have a surprising selection!
42 locals recommend
Belbins Grocery
85 Quidi Vidi RdIf you're looking for "Fancy" groceries, Belbin's is about as fancy as it gets in Newfoundland. Look for imported cheeses in the back, sometimes they have a surprising selection!
Where to Eat Like a Local
Also known as: "Where to go for fish & chips"
My vote for best fish & chips in town. Order a two-piece with "dressing gravy" and split it with a friend.
78 locals recommend
The Duke Of Duckworth
325 Duckworth StMy vote for best fish & chips in town. Order a two-piece with "dressing gravy" and split it with a friend.
Just up the street, this casual spot offers stiff competition for best fish & chips. Make sure you ask if the fish is fresh or frozen...fresh is the one worth a trip for
18 locals recommend
Ches's Famous Fish and Chips
9 Freshwater RdJust up the street, this casual spot offers stiff competition for best fish & chips. Make sure you ask if the fish is fresh or frozen...fresh is the one worth a trip for
Dirty diner food with a specific Newfoundland vibe. Good spot if you're in the mood for "Newfie Steak"
Big R
69 Harvey RdDirty diner food with a specific Newfoundland vibe. Good spot if you're in the mood for "Newfie Steak"
Best Dining You Can Walk To
Distressingly quick to get to, I dine here way more often than my pocket book allows. Great brunch. Great burgers. Great cocktails. Great everything.
85 locals recommend
The Merchant Tavern
291 Water StDistressingly quick to get to, I dine here way more often than my pocket book allows. Great brunch. Great burgers. Great cocktails. Great everything.
So close, just a block and a half down the hill, Chinched offers great value casual lunches, and challenging, delicious dining in the evening. Don't miss their deli counter as well for tasty meat treats. Opt for anything with spruce tips in it!
34 locals recommend
Chinched
5 Bates HillSo close, just a block and a half down the hill, Chinched offers great value casual lunches, and challenging, delicious dining in the evening. Don't miss their deli counter as well for tasty meat treats. Opt for anything with spruce tips in it!
Can be a bit of a trick to get a seat on busy nights, almost always worth a wait for fresh oysters, creative cuisine, and a lively vibe. Can be noisy.
65 locals recommend
The Adelaide Oyster House
334 Water StCan be a bit of a trick to get a seat on busy nights, almost always worth a wait for fresh oysters, creative cuisine, and a lively vibe. Can be noisy.
The big daddy of fine dining in St. John's. Great for those special occasions. Reserve well in advance.
62 locals recommend
Raymonds Restaurant
95 Water StThe big daddy of fine dining in St. John's. Great for those special occasions. Reserve well in advance.
A solid B+ in the food department, Yellow Belly makes it onto this list mainly for offering the best hours of anywhere else on this list. If you're not sure what to order, the pizzas are always good.
61 locals recommend
YellowBelly Brewery
288 Water StA solid B+ in the food department, Yellow Belly makes it onto this list mainly for offering the best hours of anywhere else on this list. If you're not sure what to order, the pizzas are always good.
Recently opened, this Brooklyn-style microbrewery serves refreshing beers and tasty snacks in a laid-back, community environment.
44 locals recommend
Bannerman Brewing Co.
90 Duckworth StRecently opened, this Brooklyn-style microbrewery serves refreshing beers and tasty snacks in a laid-back, community environment.
Best Dining You Should Drive To
No trip to Quidi Vidi is complete without a reservation at Mallard Cottage for delicious brunch made with fresh ingredients. Reserve ahead.
95 locals recommend
Mallard Cottage
8 Barrows RdNo trip to Quidi Vidi is complete without a reservation at Mallard Cottage for delicious brunch made with fresh ingredients. Reserve ahead.
Head out Portugal Cove way and sample local, fresh farm-to-table fare
6 locals recommend
The Grounds Cafe at Murray's
1525 Portugal Cove RdHead out Portugal Cove way and sample local, fresh farm-to-table fare
Often cited as the best fish & chips on the Avalon Peninsula. And the view is nice.
23 locals recommend
By The Beach Fish and Chips
1608 Thorburn RdOften cited as the best fish & chips on the Avalon Peninsula. And the view is nice.