Songbird & Leaf's Guide to London ON
Family or Locally Owned Restaurants
Adam's absolute favourite place in the city. Family run and a London institution for nearly 20 years.
Traditional Ethiopian cuisine... be prepared to eat with your hands!
Addis Ababa Restaurant
465 Dundas StAdam's absolute favourite place in the city. Family run and a London institution for nearly 20 years.
Traditional Ethiopian cuisine... be prepared to eat with your hands!
Eclectic and quirky spot for great breakfasts and brunch
27 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Bag Lady Variety
474 Pall Mall StEclectic and quirky spot for great breakfasts and brunch
New Delhi Deli Inc
130 King StNestled in the Covent Market, the New Delhi Deli offers great West Indian fare.
Yasmine's-Authentic Lebanese Cuisine
1737 Richmond StreetMarienbad Restaurant
122 Carling StEastern European fare with a robust international beer list.
Another London institution. No frills décor but absolutely delicious Vietnamese. #78 is Adam's favourite.
9 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Vietnam Restaurant
1074 Dundas StAnother London institution. No frills décor but absolutely delicious Vietnamese. #78 is Adam's favourite.
Aptly named, Hot Oven Bureks offers delicious phyllo wrapped meat and spinach/cheese pies. Takeout only.
We go heavy on the sour cream. Yum!
Hot Oven
130 King StreetAptly named, Hot Oven Bureks offers delicious phyllo wrapped meat and spinach/cheese pies. Takeout only.
We go heavy on the sour cream. Yum!
So Inviting
876 Dundas StCraving dumplings, and only dumplings? This is your jam.
YOU (Youth Opportunities Unlimited) is unique. They give marginalized youth a second chance through geared training. One of their social enterprise initiatives, the YOU Made It Cafe has a rotating menu of light fare.
Their jams and preserves are really really good! (Personal favourite: spicy 4 pepper jelly)
YOU Made It Café
332 Richmond StYOU (Youth Opportunities Unlimited) is unique. They give marginalized youth a second chance through geared training. One of their social enterprise initiatives, the YOU Made It Cafe has a rotating menu of light fare.
Their jams and preserves are really really good! (Personal favourite: spicy 4 pepper jelly)
Fine / Upscale Dining
La Casa
117 King StTraditional Italian
Abruzzi
119 King StModern Italian, great wine list
Grace
215 Dundas StreetModern fusion
Ask for Andrew's famous duck fat perogies... even if they aren't on the menu.
12 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Craft Farmacy
449 Wharncliffe Rd SAsk for Andrew's famous duck fat perogies... even if they aren't on the menu.
Another London institution. Great wine list, delicious food; perfect to take clients for a dinner meeting or for a lovely night out with your special someone.
The Springs Restaurant
310 Springbank DrAnother London institution. Great wine list, delicious food; perfect to take clients for a dinner meeting or for a lovely night out with your special someone.
Bakeries
Skip the coffee and go straight for the custard tarts (Pastel de nata). The shrimp cakes (Rissóis de Camarão) are a personal favourite.
Great ryes and Portuguese breads.
7 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Nova Era Bakery
460 Egerton StSkip the coffee and go straight for the custard tarts (Pastel de nata). The shrimp cakes (Rissóis de Camarão) are a personal favourite.
Great ryes and Portuguese breads.
Coffee
10Eighteen
1018 Dundas StServing Pilot brand coffee out of Toronto. Knowledgeable staff and good coffee.
24 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Locomotive Espresso
408 Pall Mall StServing Pilot brand coffee out of Toronto. Knowledgeable staff and good coffee.
Bright, acidic and locally roasted (Kitchener) espressos. Bright airy environment.
They're also licensed to sell wines that are not in the LCBO.
Reset Social Cafe
503 Talbot StBright, acidic and locally roasted (Kitchener) espressos. Bright airy environment.
They're also licensed to sell wines that are not in the LCBO.
Fire Roasted Coffee Co.
22360 Dundas StGreat coffee, light fare and even better donuts (Boxcar).
7 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
CommonWealth Coffee Co.
478 Richmond StGreat coffee, light fare and even better donuts (Boxcar).
Hiking & Nature
Longer hiking trails on a man-made lake. Canoes and kayaks are available to rent.
34 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Fanshawe Conservation Area
1424 Clarke RdLonger hiking trails on a man-made lake. Canoes and kayaks are available to rent.
Medway Valley Heritage Forest
29 Doncaster AveShort trails that are great for day or night hikes. Can be in and out in an hour.
12 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Meadowlily Woods Trail
65 Meadowlily Rd SShort trails that are great for day or night hikes. Can be in and out in an hour.
Westminster Ponds
696 Wellington Rd35 minutes from London. One of our favourite hiking spots. If you're in town during the spring, check out the sandbanks for flocks of swan families.
15 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Komoka Provincial Park
503 Gideon Dr35 minutes from London. One of our favourite hiking spots. If you're in town during the spring, check out the sandbanks for flocks of swan families.
Local Markets
Covent Garden Market Building
130 King StWestern fair Market
900 King St20 minutes outside of London, and only open on Saturdays. A mix of local farmers and grocers who serve the rural areas outside London.
Feeling adventurous? Check out the livestock auctions in the spring and summer.
Trails End Market
4370 Dundas St20 minutes outside of London, and only open on Saturdays. A mix of local farmers and grocers who serve the rural areas outside London.
Feeling adventurous? Check out the livestock auctions in the spring and summer.
The Hungary Butcher
892 Dundas StBreweries & Pubs
Comfortable and traditional styled pub. Great international beer list. Service is always great; one of our personal favourites.
Chaucer's Pub
122 Carling StComfortable and traditional styled pub. Great international beer list. Service is always great; one of our personal favourites.
Popular with the tech crowd in London, Milo's curation of Canadian microbreweries is expansive.
23 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Milos' Craft Beer Emporium
420 Talbot StPopular with the tech crowd in London, Milo's curation of Canadian microbreweries is expansive.
Storm Stayed Brewing Company
169 Wharncliffe Rd SOne of the first microbrews in London. Their cream ale is nothing short of delicious.
21 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Anderson Craft Ales
1030 Elias StOne of the first microbrews in London. Their cream ale is nothing short of delicious.
Once the infamous Jim Bob Ray's, Toboggan Brewing now boasts great stouts and wood-oven pizzas.
There are other beers on taps, but we really do love their stouts.
30 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Toboggan Brewing Company
585 Richmond StOnce the infamous Jim Bob Ray's, Toboggan Brewing now boasts great stouts and wood-oven pizzas.
There are other beers on taps, but we really do love their stouts.
Full disclosure, not quite a brewery and we've not had a chance to visit. Our friends rave about the place and we'd love to hear what you think.
Union Ten Distillery
656 Dundas StFull disclosure, not quite a brewery and we've not had a chance to visit. Our friends rave about the place and we'd love to hear what you think.
Forked River Brewing Company
45 Pacific CtFrom the people who brought you Silver Stacks Brewery (Tobermory) comes Powerhouse. Solid selection, great service.
11 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Powerhouse Brewing Company
100 Kellogg LnFrom the people who brought you Silver Stacks Brewery (Tobermory) comes Powerhouse. Solid selection, great service.
Beerlab!
420 Talbot StDundas & Sons Brewing Company
400 Adelaide St N