Top-notch theatre, music fests and a delightful riverfront: What to do in Stratford — including chef-approved picks

Hamilton Spectator

3 days ago

Summer in the city is crowded and sweltering. Use this road trip guide to get out of town and explore the charming places within driving distance of Toronto. Every week, we'll spotlight an Ontario destination, complete with expert picks for how best to enjoy. Happy trails!
Most visitors come to town for the drama: namely, the Stratford Festival, famous as North America's largest classical repertory theatre company, which alone is worth the two-hour drive from Toronto. But the picturesque city's creative spirit extends well beyond these stage productions.
Stratford also boasts a chef-driven dining scene, shaped by one of Canada's top culinary schools; a pretty, walkable core full of artful boutiques and heritage architecture; and a lively calendar of cultural events, including open-air concerts by the Avon River.
Here are some of the best things to do here this summer.
Visitors can rent a canoe, kayak or pedal boat at the Boathouse, located right on the riverfront.
Paddle or cruise the Avon.
Winding past green spaces and theatres, the river is Stratford's central gathering place and a hub for picnics, strolls and open-air performances. Rent a canoe, kayak or pedal boat at
the Boathouse
, then glide past the city's famous white mute swans, which are ceremoniously released from their winter shelter each spring. For a more relaxed ride, a 30-minute cruise aboard the Juliet III passes the Tom Patterson Theatre and other waterfront landmarks while a guide details the story of how this quiet stretch of river became key to Stratford's cultural identity.
The city's stylish shops include Wills & Prior for home goods.
Shop like a stylish designer.
You'll find some of Stratford's best boutiques along Ontario Street.
Bradshaws
, a fixture since 1895, is now helmed by Carrie and Jeremy Wreford, who draw on backgrounds in graphic and set design, respectively. The store is stocked with elegant home goods, from Klippan throws to the latest Le Creuset. Just up the block,
Wills & Prior
is a beautifully styled homewares shop where you can easily go from 'just browsing' to leaving with linen napkins, ceramic mugs and marble soap dishes. They also carry a small but excellent collection of abstract paintings by Canadian artists Shane Norrie and Julia Balfour.
'Anne of Green Gables' is now playing as part of the Stratford Festival's 2025 season.
Book the hottest tickets in town.
Launched in 1953 by journalist Tom Patterson, the
Stratford Festival
has transformed from a local gamble into one of North America's most celebrated theatre festivals. Traditionally running from April to October — this year, select shows will extend to December for the first time ever — it draws hundreds of thousands of visitors each season for its mix of Shakespeare, new works and musicals. It's a strong year for red-headed heroines: '
Anne of Green Gables
' has emerged as a hit for its warm, faithful storytelling, and 'Annie' has won over audiences with its high-energy choreography.
Find the 'secret' beer garden.
With a blink-and-you'll-miss-it entrance tucked behind a tree-lined stretch of Waterloo Street,
Bru Garden
is easy to overlook. Step through the gate, however, and you'll find a spacious beer garden lined with picnic tables and anchored by a food truck slinging smash burgers, schnitzel and loaded fries. For a local pour, order an English pale ale from Stratford's own Black Swan. Fruity spiked slushies are a fun pick on hot days, and there's a solid lineup of non-alcoholic brews, too. With upbeat music playing and the buzz of a friendly local crowd, it's one of the town's best places to unwind.
The MusicBarge at Stratford Summer Music. This year, the festival runs until August 10.
Listen to live music around town.
The annual
Stratford Summer Music
festival (on now until Aug. 10) has more than 150 musicians playing 45 concerts in venues across the city, from Celtic tunes on riverside stages to jazz in a former church turned restaurant. Also, on Wednesday evenings until Aug. 27, the Stratford Concert Band fills the Upper Queen's Park Kiwanis Bandshell with symphonic classics, pop hits and marches for its
free summer concert series
. At the
Stratford Perth Museum
, licensed outdoor concerts on the lawn range from country acts to rock tributes, with proceeds supporting the museum's programming.
The Shakespearean Gardens is one of several gardens in Stratford linked by the Avon River.
Stop and smell the flowers.
Stratford never misses a chance to evoke its Shakespearean namesake — the Ontario city takes its name from the Bard's birthplace, Stratford-upon-Avon. The Shakespearean Gardens, first planted in the 1930s, originally featured only botanicals from his plays but now includes more than 60 varieties of flowers, herbs and shrubs. Rising over the beds is a 65-foot chimney, the last remnant of the Dufton Woollen Mill, which was destroyed by fire in 1919. To see more of Stratford in bloom, follow the path along the river to the Festival Theatre, where five manicured gardens burst with vibrant day lilies and other flowers.
Feast by the fire.
Step inside
Braai House
and you'll be hit with the scent of wood smoke and sizzling meat. Stratford's South African-inspired grill house centres on a live-fire hearth, visible from the sleek dining room. Watch chefs stoke the flames in the open kitchen as you snack on boerewors (juicy beef sausage with tangy chakalaka relish), or grab a seat on the second-floor patio. Mains like black cod and rump steak emerge perfectly seared, but don't overlook the wood-fired pizzas, crisped at the edges and packed with charred flavour.
If you stay:
Steps from the Avon River,
the Bruce Hotel
channels English country-manor charm with a modern twist. Its 25 rooms and suites feature elegant details like marble bathrooms, French doors and crystal chandeliers. Dine at the restaurant, where dishes draw inspiration from local farms, or ring the 24/7 cookie hotline to have freshly baked treats delivered to your door.
Want more food and drink recommendations in Stratford? Visit
thestar.com/travel
for 'Where Chefs Eat,' featuring chef Randi Rudner of the Prune.
WHERE CHEFS EAT: Chef Randi Rudner's favourites in Stratford
When she's not teaching future culinary stars or co-leading the kitchen at
the Prune
— a Stratford institution known for its refined, seasonal cooking — chef Randi Rudner knows exactly where to go for a delicious bite. She spent years working under some of the city's most respected chefs, at restaurants like Pazzo Taverna and the now-closed Rundles, and today helps shape Stratford's next generation of talent through her role as a program manager at the
Stratford Chefs School
. Here, she shares her go-to spots in town.
The Starlight
:
'It has a retro lounge vibe. They have a really interesting cocktail program and such talented bartenders, but also the kitchen is strong. They've got a killer weekend brunch, and dinner is small plates influenced by local products and the seasons. It's low-key and a really easy place to go have drinks and snacks.'
Bluebird Restaurant & Bar
:
'It's owned and operated by Aaron and Bronwyn Linley, who have been in the Stratford restaurant scene for a really long time. It's a very pretty restaurant. The menu (offers) familiar ideas articulated through the lens of the travelling that Aaron and Bronwyn do. They've got a cute patio and nice wines and cocktails.'
The Relic Lobby Bar
:
'It's a fantastic bar with cool, well-balanced cocktails. Ulises (Sanchez), the owner, is super talented and does a lot of community building by hosting guest bartenders from other restaurants and bars. It's a beautiful room that's styled like an expat lobby bar, and they also have a little, secret speakeasy in the basement.'
Mercer Kitchen
: 'The food is Japanese beer hall-influenced. They have these fried chicken karaage bites that are satisfying any time of day. They have a huge menu and over a dozen rotating beer taps showcasing interesting microbreweries. It's great if you're a beer drinker because they do flights, and the taps sometimes change over the course of a day.'
Lovage
: 'It's a French market bistro-style restaurant, and the menu changes regularly. Jamie (Crosby), the chef, is unbelievably talented. It has a great patio and a huge and interesting wine list. It's a beautiful room that's comfortable and casual. You can go for a special occasion, but it's also a great spot for a glass of wine on a random Tuesday.'