Shopping and Dining in Stratford, Ontario
Where to Eat and Shop in the City Hosting the Shakespeare Festival
Jun 1, 2009
Stratford, a 1 1/2 hour drive west of Toronto, is located in Perth County, home of Ontario's Mennonite and Amish communities. The town provides an idyllic backdrop for staging performances of the Bard. Thousands flock to Stratford, Ontario every year in order to attend the world-renown Stratford Shakespeare Festival, and to enjoy its aesthetic and gastronomic temptations.
Stratford's Shakespeare Festival
The Stratford Shakespeare Festival, which opens in April and runs until November, originated in 1953, and showcased Shakespearean plays exclusively. Over the years, productions have expanded to include contemporary drama, as well as one musical each year. The productions are held in the following four theatres:
- The Festival Theatre
- The Avon Theatre
- The Tom Patterson Theatre
- The Studio Theatre
To order tickets to the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, read here.
Stratford's Ontario Street
A walk along Ontario Street, Stratford's main street, will leave visitors impressed with the topnotch quality and variety of shops. Women shoppers seeking retail therapy will find relief in the trendy fashion styles at The Touchmark Shop and The Wardrobe of Stratford. Tourists on the hunt for unique gifts may strike gold in Bradshaws or Watsons Chelsea Bazaar, while the artistically-inclined can purchasee Inuit sculpture, prints and paintings at Gallery Indigena.
After a shopping spree, visitors may indulge their sweet tooth at Chocolate Barr's Candies or can walk a few steps down to York Street, which skirts the Avon River, to sample any of the 350 types of loose tea at Distinctly Tea.
Stratford Bookstores
Booklovers will feel at home in Stratford wandering through its many bookstores. Fanfare Books at Ontario Street carries the latest titles in airy surroundings. Walking several blocks west, visitors will enjoy discovering second-hand books in the never-ending rooms of Yesterday's Things and Books, 351 Ontario Street. The Book Stage at 126 Waterloo Street South is a great resource for new and used books, including rare editions of literature and theatre.
Stratford, Ontario Accommodations
Stratford offers a wide choice of accommodations ranging from exclusive bed and breakfasts to economy-priced motels, including:
- Stewart House Inn, 62 John Street North, is a luxurious Victorian-era bed and breakfast with heated pool
- Queen's Inn, 161 Ontario Street, is a moderately priced inn with comfortable rooms located right downtown
- The Swan Motel, 960 Downie Street, is affordable and well-maintained with outdoor pool located 10 minutes from downtown
- SGH Residence (Stratford General Hospital), 130 Youngs Street, offers budget-priced clean rooms with shared bathroom and pool, and includes breakfast
For information on Stratford accommodations, read here.
Stratford, Ontario Restaurants
Visitors to Stratford will be rewarded with a superb culinary experience. Due to the high volume of visitors to Stratford in the summer, reservations are recommended for most restaurants, including:
- Rundles, 9 Cobourg Street - five-star haute cuisine in an exquisite modern setting
- The Old Prune, 151 Albert Street - medium-priced entrees in a renovated Edwardian house
- Raja Fine Indian Cuisine, 10 George Street West, authentic Indian curries in a formal room
- The Sun Room, 55 George Street North - reasonably-priced vegetarian and Asian specialties
Antique Shopping in Shakespeare
After leaving Stratford, visitors travelling east about five miles on Highway 7/8 will encounter the Hamlet of Shakespeare. The blink-and-miss village is home to about half a dozen high-end antique stores, as well as a quilt shop that are well worth perusing for high quality furniture and goods.
A trip to Stratford, Ontario to attend the Stratford Shakespeare Festival provides a perfect summer escape. Visitors will not only welcome Stratford's small-town feel, but will experience the cosmopolitan offerings of its first-class restaurants, shops, and accommodations.
For information on visiting Lake Huron towns, read here.
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