Restaurants Near the Festival Theatre Stratford Ontario: Pre-Show Dining
The Festival Theatre is at 55 Queen Street, north of the restaurant streets. The meal that cannot fail is the one inside the building. Downtown is a real dinner, and it is about 22 minutes on foot each way. A 7:30 curtain does not survive a 6:30 seating on Wellington Street.
No booking on this site. Menus and hours are on each restaurant's own site.
Menus and hours are on each restaurant's own site.
Stratford Festival cafés
55 Queen Street and 111 Lakeside Drive
Walk. In the building Planning estimate, not a measured Festival time.
The reliable pre-show meal: a sandwich, a light plate, a drink, or a picnic you ordered ahead. Do not assume the counter is still open after the bows.
Open Monday: —
Their site only. We do not take a reservation, copy the menu, or quote a price.
The Restaurant at The Bruce
89 Parkview Drive
Walk. The hotel says it is steps from the Festival Theatre Planning estimate, not a measured Festival time.
A reserved dinner before an evening show at the Festival Theatre, if you are seated early. Don't count on a table at 7:10 for a 7:30 curtain.
Open Monday: —
Their site only. We do not take a reservation, copy the menu, or quote a price.
The Starlight
64 Wellington Street
Walk. About 22 minutes each way Planning estimate, not a measured Festival time.
Dinner from late afternoon, and the kitchen stays open late. Ideal after a matinee, or after an evening show. A pre-show table only works if you are already downtown and seated early.
Open Monday: —
Their site only. We do not take a reservation, copy the menu, or quote a price.
The Common
80 Wellington Street
Walk. About 22 minutes each way Planning estimate, not a measured Festival time.
A sit-down downtown dinner. Give it the same clock as The Starlight: comfortable after the show, tight before an evening curtain if you are walking from the Festival Theatre.
Open Monday: —
Their site only. We do not take a reservation, copy the menu, or quote a price.
Bentley's Bar, Inn & Restaurant
99 Ontario Street
Walk. About 22 minutes Planning estimate, not a measured Festival time.
Open late, so it is the straightforward after-show stop downtown. Fine before the Avon or Studio if you sit down with time to spare.
Open Monday: —
Their site only. We do not take a reservation, copy the menu, or quote a price.
Mercer Hall
108 Ontario Street, Stratford
Walk. About 22 minutes Planning estimate, not a measured Festival time.
A downtown kitchen and beer hall in the same building as the Mercer Hotel. Comfortable after the Avon or Studio. A pre-show table before the Festival Theatre needs the same long walk as the rest of Ontario Street.
Open Monday: —
Their site only. We do not take a reservation, copy the menu, or quote a price.
The Parlour Inn Restaurant
101 Wellington Street, Stratford
Walk. About 22 minutes each way Planning estimate, not a measured Festival time.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner in the downtown inn. Useful between shows if you are already on Wellington. An evening curtain at the Festival Theatre is still a drive or a long walk.
Open Monday: —
Their site only. We do not take a reservation, copy the menu, or quote a price.
Pazzo & Café Bouffon
Downtown Stratford — the door is on pazzo.ca
Walk. About 22 minutes Planning estimate, not a measured Festival time.
Pizza and pasta downstairs, a French café menu upstairs, and a late kitchen on Friday and Saturday. A practical downtown meal. Read the hours on their menu page before you count on a table.
Open Monday: —
Their site only. We do not take a reservation, copy the menu, or quote a price.