One of the best things about any road trip, in my humble opinion, is stopping along the way to sip a cup of freshly brewed tea and nibble on something sweet. I might even pull out a book…and take off my watch. That’s when I know I’ve truly shifted from “work mode” to “vacation mode”!
If you’re exploring the 1000 Islands Rideau Canal Waterways region southwest of Ottawa, and you need a bracing cup of coffee or tea, a cold drink, or a bite to eat, check out these independent cafés. Each of them is a wonderful place to take a break and enjoy locally made baked goodies.
For address and all the other information you’ll need to find them, check the website of the new 1000 Islands Rideau Canal Waterways Fresh Baked Adventures Cafés Trail.
Disclosure: This sponsored post was produced in cooperation with the Leeds Grenville Economic Development Office, which also provided the photo of Cosies at the top of this post.
Where is 1000 Islands Rideau Canal Waterways?
Stretching from Kemptville and Cardinal in the east to Westport and Gananoque in the west, this region of Eastern Ontario is ideal for a short road trip from Ottawa. And if you check out these cafés, you’ll also discover the pretty waterfront communities of Spencerville, Brockville, Westport, Portland and Merrickville. Bonus!
Charming cafés where you can unwind
Village Pantry, Spencerville
The red-brick building with black shutters on Spencerville’s main street is impossible to miss! Pop into this family-run general store for a cup of coffee and you might be tempted to grab a fresh cinnamon bun, some piping-hot pizza, poutine or an ice cream cone as well. Enjoy your treats on the shop’s patio or take a short walk to the grounds of the Spencerville Mill and Museum, where you can picnic at a table beside the South Nation River.
The Sweet Life Café, Brockville
If you’re coming to Brockville to enjoy views of the St. Lawrence River, drop into the Sweet Life Café first. There, you can pick up baked goodies of all descriptions. Depending on the day, you might find pecan butter tarts, lemon-blueberry scones, chocolate haystack cookies or mini trifles. Add a fresh-made sandwich, a cup of chowder and some beverages, and you’re all set for a picnic at nearby Blockhouse Island (which isn’t an island at all).
Cosies, Brockville
Tea lovers, take note: Cosies brews an authentic British-style cuppa, which you can pour from an antique teapot into a porcelain cup. You can also enjoy other English traditions in this pretty café, including Eccles cakes, butter-drenched crumpets, breakfast baps (sandwiches), scones with clotted cream, Cornish pasties and coronation chicken sandwiches. You can even get a full English breakfast, complete with grilled tomatoes and black pudding.
Vanilla Beans Café and Creamery, Westport
Vanilla Beans Café and Creamery—located in a charming heritage stone building with a pressed-tin ceiling—is the place to go for espresso, specialty teas, hand-rolled bagels, grilled sandwiches, ice cream cones and dairy-free sorbets. Iced coffees and other cold drinks are available, too. Take your treats across the street to one of the many picnic tables overlooking pretty Westport Harbour; there’s even a gazebo to shelter you on rainy days.
Recess Café, Portland
What do you do with space in a surplus 1960s school building? If you’re the proprietors of the Recess Café, you turn it into a coffee shop. Try the cinnamon rolls, cookies or red velvet cake, or dig into something more substantial, like a chicken salad sandwich with orange-herbed mayo, or a quinoa and toasted buckwheat grain bowl. Drinks include specialty coffees, loose-leaf teas, hot chocolate, natural sodas and fresh-squeezed orange juice.
The Village Bean Coffee House, Merrickville
On bustling St. Lawrence Street in the middle of Merrickville, the Village Bean is a popular meeting place for both locals and visitors. The organic, fair-trade coffees and teas are reason enough to drop in, but don’t pass the bakery display cases, where you might find anything from lemon loaf and brownies to cinnamon buns and the café’s famous carrot cake. Make a meal of it with a bowl of chili, a grilled panini or a made-to-order omelette.
If you go
You’ll find maps, addresses and all the information you need to discover these charming cafés on the Fresh Baked Adventures Cafés Trail on the 1000 Islands Rideau Canal Waterways website.
Looking for more tips on things to see and do in Eastern Ontario, the Outaouais, northern New York state and beyond? Subscribe to my free weekly newsletter or order a copy of my book, Ottawa Road Trips: Your Weekend Getaway Guide.
2 comments
Richard’s Coffee House on King Street West in Brockville will not disappoint. Only two blocks from the wonderful waterfront at Hardy Park which is party of the Brocktrail and has an awesome children’s play area and free washrooms.
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