7 Best Restaurants in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador

Bannerman Brewing Co.

$$ Fodor's choice

Located in a former firehouse at the east end of Duckworth Street, this trendy beer and coffee bar makes an ideal place to chill at the end of your downtown explorations. The architecture features industrial elements like exposed beams and massive glass garage doors that open to an outdoor space in summer. The atmosphere is friendly and calming, a choice spot for work or for fun.

90 Duckworth St., St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, A1C 1E7, Canada
709-747–-2337
Known For
  • friendly and engaging staff
  • communal tables are great for work meetups
  • baked treats are irresistible

Chinched Bistro

$$ Fodor's choice

This culinary diamond shines with innovative yet hearty food, whether you're dining in the sit-down restaurant or grabbing something from the take-out deli. With so much perfect meat, seafood, and vegetables tucked into one tiny building, this is more than just a hidden gem. If the pork theme seems heavy, be assured the handling of flavors is light and responsive. With a small enough group, you can sit at the bar downstairs and enjoy delicious tapas.

5 Bates Hill, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, A1C 4B5, Canada
709-722–3100
Known For
  • handcrafted charcuterie
  • house-infused spirits and cocktails
  • pig-ear fries
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon., Reservations essential

Hungry Heart Café

$$ Fodor's choice

Open for breakfast and lunch, this café makes the perfect spot to take a break from touring and enjoy a variety of options like shrimp pad thai, roast cauliflower soup, or any number of daily changing specials crafted by one of the most versatile chefs in Newfoundland. Under the umbrella of the nonprofit Stella's Circle, all revenue from the restaurant goes back into helping the most vulnerable in the community.

142 Military Rd., St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, A1C 2E6, Canada
709-738–6164
Known For
  • fresh salads
  • house-made desserts
  • Saturday brunch
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.–Mon. No dinner

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Mallard Cottage

$$$ Fodor's choice

Roaring fires, an open kitchen, and jars of homemade pickles lining the rafters set the scene in this renovated historic building in Quidi Vidi Village. The menu changes daily based on the best ingredients available from local sources and might include spit-roasted pork shoulder or tuna tartare, always accompanied by novel and succulent vegetable dishes. With an on-site sommelier, the wines and cocktails keep up with the food. On Sunday the restaurant has live music.

8 Barrows Rd., St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, A1A 1G8, Canada
709-237–7314
Known For
  • on-site sommelier
  • Sunday brunch with live music
  • fun beer garden
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. Nov.–May, Reservations essential

Piatto Pizzeria and Enoteca

$$ Fodor's choice

Following standards set by the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana (VPN), Piatto’s pizza chefs (pizzaiolos) have been trained to prepare authentic Neapolitan pizza. The midtown location offers a contemporary setting that makes a popular lunch stop. Using choice ingredients, including a low-gluten flour, their classic and updated pizza treatments are delicious when enjoyed in-house, but you can also buy their make-at-home kits to enjoy the same fabulous pizza in the comfort of home.

Raymonds

$$$$ Fodor's choice
Arguably the best restaurant in Canada today and one of the best in the world, Raymonds features classic Continental cuisine reimagined with local ingredients and upgraded to the acme of perfection. The dining room is elegant and grand, with chandeliers overhead and city lights reflecting off the harbor through massive windows. For a more intimate evening, look into the bar which serves the same menu but in a softer, almost vintage, setting.
95 Water St., St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
709-579--5800
Known For
  • <PRO>exquisite tasting menus</PRO>
  • <PRO>varied wine list</PRO>
  • <PRO>grand historic decor</PRO>
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. year-round and Mon. Oct.–May. No lunch, Reservations essential

The Nook and Cannery

$$ Fodor's choice

This easygoing diner does a bustling lunch service in large part due to the personality and creativity of its owner, locally known as an innovative and improvisational chef. Enjoy casual fare with surprising ingredients in a space decorated with an eclectic mix of family photos, bottled preserves, and tabletops repurposed from old furniture and signage. Vegan, gluten-free, and meat-based options are available in generous portions.