It’s easy to work up an appetite with all the year-round fun in the Haliburton Highlands. With so many activities from swimming and water skiing to snowmobiling and ice-fishing, you’re sure to be ready to eat! Haliburton Highlands, Ontario is very large area geographically, and would take hours to traverse by car. In this blog we’ve focused on the southwestern section, including the communities of Haliburton Village, Minden, and Carnarvon. Haliburton has a reputation for delicious eats, and our Haliburton cottage rentals are so close you can nearly smell the cooking from your lakefront! Here are Haliburton’s top restaurants to keep you fueled for your next adventure.
Haliburton’s Top Restaurants | Haliburton Village
Haliburton Village is in the heart of Haliburton County, and is one of the larger communities in the area. The “Main” street here is Highland Street. With most of the shops and restaurants within a couple of blocks, it’s a very easily walkable town to shop. Make a day of it, and be sure to stroll through Head Lake Park. There’s a large, new playground kids are sure to enjoy, and the lakefront pathway is good for people of all ages and abilities. When you’re ready for refreshments, why not head to one of these local establishments and enjoy a nice meal!
Maple Avenue Tap & Grill
When the weather is nice, you’ll see diners on the street side patio at Maple Avenue Tap & Grill, on Highland Street. Indoors you’ll find lots of room too, complete with a cozy atmosphere, and friendly servers.
The menu at Maple Avenue Tap & Grill showcases the flavours of the world. There’s everything from chicken souvlaki, chicken parmigiana to a good old-fashioned juicy cheeseburger. It’s a mixed cuisine establishment serving homemade specialties for everyone’s taste. Each plate is a hearty meal that will keep you full for an entire day.
Poquito Loco
Poquito Loco is located within Castle Antiques and Cafe, right in downtown Haliburton. It brings the taste of Mexico to Haliburton with authentic flavours you’ll go crazy over! On Friday nights, it is the place to be! Bask in the ambiance of live music while enjoying the delicious Mexican food. It specializes in tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and other street food. It even has vegan burritos!
McKeck’s Tap & Grill
McKeck’s was originally founded in 1986 by Walt McKechnie, a retired NHL hockey player. This family-style restaurant on Highland Street has new ownership, but still operates under the same name, with the same good food and atmosphere. Game days are always busy at McKeck’s. It’s generally full of die-hard fans watching the Maple Leafs or Blue Jays, while talking about the latest snowmobiling excursions over a pint of local Haliburton brew, and comfort food steaming from every table.
Join the crowds at one of Haliburton’s top restaurants. Pull up a seat at the table or settle down at the bar for a quick bite. Order a round for your table to sample local brew flavours over a few appetizer plates. For entrees, it has all the pub grub favourites on the menu – hot buffalo wings, topping-covered pizzas, nachos and cheese, poutine, meat-filled sandwiches, and hearty steaks.
Kosy Korner
Celebrating 90 years in business, Kosy Korner has comfortably claimed its spot as the longest lived restaurant in Haliburton, and is a favourite breakfast destination for the local residents. So, before hitting the slopes at Sir Sam’s Ski area, wake up early to tackle the most important meal of the day in a delicious way!
Roll out of bed and get to Kosy Korner, where guests are already being served at 6 AM. Sip a hot cup of Joe while the kitchen prepares your meal. It keeps breakfast simple yet tasteful with breakfast sandwiches, pancakes, French toast, and combos including eggs and toast. Thanks to the fast service, you can get in, get out, and on with your Haliburton Highlands adventure before returning in the afternoon for lunch.
Hook, Line & Sinker
This newly renovated restaurant is in a great location, just west of Haliburton Village’s main street, across from the town docks at Head Lake. The patio has an amazing view of the lake. The menu includes fish and chips, seafood options, pub sandwiches, mains, and shareables, rotating the options seasonally. Boshkung Brewing Company even created a pilsner beer specifically for the restaurant. There is a full fridge of it so you can take some back to the cottage with you!
Bonnie View Inn
Bonnie View Inn is located 10 minutes outside Haliburton Village, on the shores of Kashagawigamog Lake. There you’ll find excellent dining options in several locations on the property. In the spring and fall they cater mainly to group functions, with some selected dates that are open to the public for dining.
During the summer months, they switch to dockside dining on the patio, with daily lunch and dinner from the last weekend of June until Labour Day weekend. Don’t worry if the weather doesn’t cooperate though – your meal will simply shift inside the restaurant.
If you’re more in the mood for a delicious scoop of ice cream while relaxing on the shores of Kashagawigamog Lake, Scoop Life serves Kawartha Dairy ice cream!
Haliburton’s Top Restaurants | Minden
The town of Minden has two faces – one along Highway 35, which bypasses the main part of downtown, but has a number of restaurants and the local grocery stores. Minden’s downtown is just minutes away, accessed via Newcastle or Water Streets, and Bobcaygeon Road is the “main” street there. Downtown is built alongside the Gull River. While in Minden, be sure to take your time and enjoy the Riverwalk. This unique pathway follows alongside the Gull River, with a connecting foot bridge either leading you back downtown or allowing you access to the Minden Boardwalk to continue on to the Minden Cultural Centre or to the Ball Diamonds.
Suwan’s Thai Cuisine
Located right in the Town of Minden, across the bridge from the main part of downtown, is Suwan’s Thai Cuisine. Suwan’s has a reputation for providing good quality food at fair prices, and is a favourite of both local residents and cottagers. The restaurant is located along the shores of the Gull River, alongside the Antique Store. Browse for antiques and then stop for some authentic Thai cuisine. Menu offerings include chicken mussaman curry, basil beef, and pad Thai.
Mulligan’s Pub & Patio
Mulligan’s is located at the Gull River Golf Club, as you might guess. The restaurant offers lunch and dinner casual fare ranging from wings, burgers, salads and sandwiches on their patio overlooking the golf course.
Pepper Mill Steak and Pasta
On Highway 35, between Minden and Carnarvon, you’ll find this delightful family restaurant, “with upscale flair”! While specializing in steak and pasta, they serve everything from burgers and hot sandwiches to pub fare, fish and chips, and seafood.
Heather Lodge
One of Haliburton’s top restaurants is Heather Lodge, an adult-only resort with the dining area open to the general public. This fine dining restaurant offers an ever-changing menu that relies on the chef’s creativity and seasonal product availability. Heather Lodge’s Chef James has over 25 years of experience, and specializes in soups and sauces. Top off your dining experience with a warm and inviting dining room, a spectacular view, and great customer service.
The restaurant is open year-round by reservation only on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights in the off-season; and every day in high season. It is important to book well in advance if you wish to be sure of getting a reservation here!
Haliburton’s Top Restaurants | Carnarvon
Carnarvon itself is very small, basically comprising the intersections of Highways 118 and 35, lacking a “downtown”, but there are two great restaurants here that are well worth your time!
Rhubarb Restaurant
Located conveniently just past the intersection of Highway 35 on Highway 118 on the shores of Mirror Lake, is Rhubarb Restaurant, not to be missed! The local community of Eagle Lake has the distinction of being the Rhubarb Capital of Ontario, and Rhubarb Restaurant was originally located in Eagle Lake, prior to moving to a larger location in Carnarvon, thus the name. For non-rhubarb fans – not to worry, they don’t just serve that delicious vegetable!
This upscale casual “cottage chic” dining spot is one of the best restaurants in the area. But the delicious cuisine is not all – there’s even a microbrewery on site. After your delicious meal, be sure to enjoy a glass or two in the tasting room of Boshkung Brewing Company, or at a picnic table alongside beautiful Mirror Lake.
Coming soon is a spinoff of Rhubarb, to be called Juna, to be located in Haliburton Village at 210 Highland Street. Juna will be an upscale Italian restaurant, and is expected to open in the winter of 2024.
The Mill Pond
Located on Highway 35, just north of the intersection with Highway 118, is The Mill Pond.
Home of the all-day breakfast, The Mill Pond is a lot more than just a great place to eat breakfast! Their slogan is “Where friends and family meet and eat”, and it truly is the case in this very small community. The Mill Pond has been in business for over three decades, serving generations of local residents and regular cottagers to the area.
The restaurant underwent a significant renovation recently after winning ACM Designs’ Restaurant Makeover Contest, so if you haven’t been there lately be sure to check it out again soon. The Mill Pond is a small, family-friendly restaurant with food options for all, ranging from all-day breakfast (until 5 pm), to prime rib, roast turkey, lemon pepper salmon filet, and of course sandwiches, salads, and lunch options too.
For more information on this lovely area of Cottage Country, Ontario, here’s Haliburton in a nutshell. The top attraction in Haliburton County is arguably Haliburton Forest and Wildlife Reserve, which has an up close viewing platform of their captive, but wild, wolf pack. If you’re feeling more adventurous, book a Haliburton Forest Canopy Tour, and Walk in the Clouds! Now that we’ve whetted your appetite with Haliburton’s top restaurants, why not book your Ontario cottage rental, and start planning!
