Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!
E.g., products you love, local businesses, travel recs - you can add anything to a Benable list!
Restaurants You Need to Try in Hamilton, ON!
17
items Hamilton, Ontario, Canada is full of amazing food and local businesses! Here is my recommendation list of restaurants you'll need to check out next time you're in the city!
Map
MaiPai is my go-to pizza joint in the city, with mouth-watering Detroit-style deep dish pizza. To non-locals, the exterior makes this place look like a bit of a hole in the wall, but once you are inside you are transported into a funky tiki bar! MaiP...
You honestly can't go wrong with anything you get on their menu, but my recommendation would be the Secret Pickle Pizza (don't knock it till you've tried it!!) and Garlic Garlic Garlic Pizza! Their cocktails are fantastic too and this spot also has s...
You honestly can't go wrong with anything you get on their menu, but my recommendation would be the Secret Pickle Pizza (don't knock it till you've tried it!!) and Garlic Garlic Garlic Pizza! Their cocktails are fantastic too and this spot also has s...
Maipai
1
Rapscallion & Co is my absolute favourite restaurant in Hamilton, offering a seasonal menu of delicious and adventurous foods to share with the table.
This restaurant can get a bit pricy, so it may not be the place you go to on the regular, but I always like to spend a special occassion here to celebrate, or bring out of town friends and family here for a lovely time.
I am always amazed by their unique food offerings, even as someone who was a former picky eater, I no longer hestitate to try anything on the Rapscallion menu because I know it will always taste amazing. My biggest recommendation here would be their ...
This restaurant can get a bit pricy, so it may not be the place you go to on the regular, but I always like to spend a special occassion here to celebrate, or bring out of town friends and family here for a lovely time.
I am always amazed by their unique food offerings, even as someone who was a former picky eater, I no longer hestitate to try anything on the Rapscallion menu because I know it will always taste amazing. My biggest recommendation here would be their ...
Rapscallion and Co.
I don't think I've ever had a better ramen bowl than the ones I've had at Mystic Ramen! Starting out in the Hamilton Farmer's Market, Mystic Ramen has worked it's way up to now having its own dine-in restaurant, now adding more items to the menu such...
Mystic Ramen
The Capitol Bar is one of my favourite cozy bar joints to grab some eats with friends or family on the regular! This whisky bar has a small, but perfected food menu, as well as specials that always hit.
On weekend evenings, you can often find local musical talent playing live in the bar, which makes for a lovely evening out along with the bar's disco bar and candle lights they turn on at night.
The owners, bartenders and waitstaff here are also super nice too and make their customers feel at home.
My #1 recommendation if you come here is to grab a smorgasbord to share (chartcuterie board of selected meats, cheeses, pickles, and jams). You also can't go wrong with their burger & a pint, carbonara (when they have it, but the ragu is also ama...
On weekend evenings, you can often find local musical talent playing live in the bar, which makes for a lovely evening out along with the bar's disco bar and candle lights they turn on at night.
The owners, bartenders and waitstaff here are also super nice too and make their customers feel at home.
My #1 recommendation if you come here is to grab a smorgasbord to share (chartcuterie board of selected meats, cheeses, pickles, and jams). You also can't go wrong with their burger & a pint, carbonara (when they have it, but the ragu is also ama...
The Capitol Bar
Mimi's Asian Gourmet is a take-out and delivery only spot that has the best Thai food in the city! Portions are fantastic, and the food all tastes amazing. My favourites dishes from here are the pinapple fried chicken, peanut curry, and pad see-ew. Y...
Mimi's Asian Gourmet
Cowabunga pizza is a close second for my favourite pizza spot in the city, also being an award winning pizza joint winning the best slice in the world at the International Pizza Contest in 2024.
There are two locations for Cowabunga in the city--one a take out only spot, and the other a sit down restaurant. I've only ever been to the takeout spot, but you can also pick up any of their available international snacks/candy or sodas while there...
All of their pizzas are fantastic, but I would definitely have to recommend the Pepperoni Plus, which adds pickled jalapenos and hot honey!
There are two locations for Cowabunga in the city--one a take out only spot, and the other a sit down restaurant. I've only ever been to the takeout spot, but you can also pick up any of their available international snacks/candy or sodas while there...
All of their pizzas are fantastic, but I would definitely have to recommend the Pepperoni Plus, which adds pickled jalapenos and hot honey!
Cowabunga Pizzeria - Take Out Only
Twisted Lemon is a bit of the ways outside Hamilton, located in Cayuga, ON, but definitely worth the drive! I became interested in this restaurant after seeing how many awards it won after being voted for best restaurant in Hamilton (yet not quite in... The restaurant is also an inn, which I haven't had the opportunity to stay in yet, but seeing how hospitabile the restaurant staff was, I'm sure it will be an equally amazing experience.
Twisted Lemon offers a delicious seasonal menu that includes a few twists on classical favourites. You'll start your meal with an offering of their free lemon pepper wonton chips…which instantly led to me asking if they sell them (and yes they do!!)....
The restaurant also specializes in and creates their own clarity cocktails in-house. I recommend trying a flight of cocktails to get the full experience! The waitstaff is welcoming and lovely, and will walk you through the process of how they clarify...
Despite being a higher-end and quite fancy restaurant, there are fun touches in the decor that bring it back down to earth, with lovely lego flowers on each table, and I was also delighted when I saw the “homer simpson backing into a bush” meme as an...
Twisted Lemon offers a delicious seasonal menu that includes a few twists on classical favourites. You'll start your meal with an offering of their free lemon pepper wonton chips…which instantly led to me asking if they sell them (and yes they do!!)....
The restaurant also specializes in and creates their own clarity cocktails in-house. I recommend trying a flight of cocktails to get the full experience! The waitstaff is welcoming and lovely, and will walk you through the process of how they clarify...
Despite being a higher-end and quite fancy restaurant, there are fun touches in the decor that bring it back down to earth, with lovely lego flowers on each table, and I was also delighted when I saw the “homer simpson backing into a bush” meme as an...
Twisted Lemon Restaurant & Boutique Inn – Twisted Lemon ...
Plank is a great spot in the center of Downtown Hamilton for tapas! Their menu changes seasonally and offer a bunch of fun fusion eats such as big mac inspired boa bucks or cheeseburger spring rolls.
Plank also has a number of fun cocktails, as well as a rooftop patio that comes with it's own separate menu!
Plank also has a number of fun cocktails, as well as a rooftop patio that comes with it's own separate menu!
Plank Restobar Augusta
Hotties Smashburgers is one of the newer smashburger joints in Hamilton, but also my personal fave! This fast food joint stands out--not only with it's neon pink lighting and decor, but with amazingly crispy and tasty smashburgers, delicious fries, a...
My go to meal from here is always a chili cheese smashburger (with extra pickles on the side!), cajon fries with their delicious Garlic Pepper sauce to dip them in, and when I'm feeling extra, a strawberry sundae with the pink soft serve :)
My go to meal from here is always a chili cheese smashburger (with extra pickles on the side!), cajon fries with their delicious Garlic Pepper sauce to dip them in, and when I'm feeling extra, a strawberry sundae with the pink soft serve :)
HOTTIES SMASHBURGERS
Arties on Locke St. is famous for their absolutely delicious focaccia sandwiches! They are so good you need to make sure you get there early because they will sell out quick! In addition to their sandwiches, Arties also offers yummy baked goods, fres...
Artie's
One of my most recent discoveries in Hamilton, Simple Italian Bakery offers an array of lunch options, baked goods, and coffee, all that will make your mouth water! From their pizzas, sandwiches, and sweets, you'll find yourself happy with anything y...
Simply Italian Bakery (SIB)
The Burnt Tongue is Hamilton's best soup spot, offering a changing menu offering of soups and sandwiches. Perfect for lunch, but I always like to order delivery from here when I am feeling under the weather and want to eat a nice hearty soup. My pers...
THE BURNT TONGUE - Hamilton
Goldies is another great smashburger joint in Hamilton, but in my opinion their main highlight is their tender and crispy fried chicken burgers! Goldies fried chicken burgers are the best I've ever had, and I love to finish my meal off with one of th...
Goldies fast food
Saint James Espresso bar is a fun, tasty and unique Breakfast spot in the Hamilton Downtown area. They have fantastic coffee, breakfast sandwiches, seasoned smashed pototoes, baked goods, and fun pancake flavours!
Saint James Espresso Bar & Eatery - Hamilton
Spring Grill House is my go-to spot for korean barbeque in Hamilton! Located on the mountain, Spring Grill House offers an all you can eat menu that lets you have as much kbbq as you can eat! Like like traditional korean barbeque, this restaurant let...
At Spring Grill House, you order your food and drinks directly from their ipads, which means you don't have to wait to flag down a waiter for more food (and is also great for those with social anxiety!).
In additional to barbecue, you can also order other types of small dishes from their menu such as dim sum, sushi, salads, and more!
At Spring Grill House, you order your food and drinks directly from their ipads, which means you don't have to wait to flag down a waiter for more food (and is also great for those with social anxiety!).
In additional to barbecue, you can also order other types of small dishes from their menu such as dim sum, sushi, salads, and more!
Spring Grill House
La Luna is a Mediterranean spot with several locations in the Hamilton area! La Luna makes fantastic shawarma, but my personal fave from them is the Fattoush salad, which is the best I've ever tasted! Their hummus is wonderful, light, and creamy as w...
La Luna Restaurants
Comma Cafe is lovely breakfast and brunch spot in Hamilton, offering some of the tastiest sandwiches around! My personal fave s are their steak sammy and chicken bunbun. They also make a delcious thai iced tea and fun mocktails!
COMMA CAFÉ