Prince Edward County Road Trip
Every year, more than 750,000 visitors descend on Prince Edward County. This County sits on a headland that’s surrounded by water and trimmed with white, sandy beaches. Its mild climate makes it a great place to grow grapes and apples. As a culinary destination it continues to top must-visit lists in newspapers and magazines around the world. But it’s hard to keep up with the dizzying pace of new hotels, restaurants, breweries and wineries that open every year. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of a few of our latest fave spots, mixed in with a few classics.
Taprooms
Midtown Brewing Co
Midtown Brewing Co has been crafting classic, Old-World beer styles since 2017. Sample them alongside the brewpub’s exceptional fare, and then shop the locally made fine food at the shop next door.
Photo by Robbie Garden
Gillingham Brewing Company
The couple behind Gillingham Brewing Company left their corporate gigs to open up this intimate taproom overlooking a vineyard in the spring of 2019.
Photo by Christine Gillingham
Matron Fine Beer
Founded by a trio of beer industry pros, Matron Fine Beer also opened last summer. Their mission is to create terroir-driven beers using local ingredients and well water.
Photo by Mallory Jones
Local Brews to Try
Eat
Arrive early to snag a spot at Stella’s to savour the seasonal menu of small plates inspired by the practices, traditions and stories passed down by Chef Leah Marshall Hannon’s Indigenous great-grandmother.
Tuck into Texas-style pulled pork, ribs and brisket at Big Mike’s BBQ food truck. A farmers’ market fave, Flossie’s Sandwich Parlor has taken up permanent residence at gardening guru Carson’s Garden + Market. Locals love Slickers Ice Cream.
Try Campfire Cream—it’s packed with roasted and burnt-marshmallow sweetness.
Stay
After penning story after story about the shortage of accommodations in the County, Kathleen Sabyn and Rick Conroy, owners of The Wellington Times, started converting space in the newspaper’s building into the Newsroom Suites. Though the couple has since sold the paper (to its employees!) and expanded the inn to seven rooms, their new venture still shares the same roof as the paper’s newsroom.
Bonus: Mexican hotspot La Condesa, plus a handful of drool-worthy eateries, are steps away.
Do
Perfect your pickling game, make the ultimate sourdough starter, or master the art of cheesemaking at Littlejohn Farm, a family-run spot offering some of the coolest farm-to-table experiences in the province.
