Embark on a farm-fresh adventure through Hamilton and Brant, where local markets, family farms, and craft breweries come together to showcase the region’s agricultural bounty. This delightful day of farm and market hopping takes you from morning coffee to evening brews, celebrating the passionate growers and makers who bring farm-to-table goodness to life.
Let us be your guide on this culinary journey and use our wayfinding tool to get access to full maps and detailed directions.
DAY 1: Fresh Picks and Farmhouse Pints
STOP 1: Trails Cafe
Start your farm-fresh adventure with handmade drinks and buttery pastry at Trails Cafe in Ancaster. This cozy, dog-friendly café offers a welcoming start to your road trip, where every cup is brewed with care and every plate highlights its flavours.
STOP 2: Josmar Acres Farm Market
Add some bright flavours and colours to your palate by heading northeast to Lynden to Josmar Acres Farm Market, where the stalls overflow with vibrant fruits, crisp vegetables, and locally crafted goods. Choose from an incredible selection of locally made cheese, milk, seasonal produce, and quality meats from over 36 different vendors to take with you for the next leg of your adventure.
STOP 3: Elberta Farms Country Market
Add to your bounty by riding west to Elberta Farms Country Market in Paris, a flourishing country market with humble roots dating back to 1966. What started as surplus vegetables sold on a roadside table has blossomed into a thriving country market. Bring home sun-ripened produce and savour the simple pleasure of eating food grown just a few fields away.
STOP 4: Flamborough Hills Golf Club
Your harvest exploration leads to the perfect lunch stop as you journey north to Flamborough Hills Golf Club in Copetown, where the kitchen creates seasonal dishes using locally sourced ingredients. Whether you dine indoors or out, expect bright flavours and countryside views. No tee time required, just an appetite for well-made, regionally inspired cuisine.
STOP 5: Steel Wheel Brewery
With your appetite satiated, begin your craft brewery journey by heading south to Steel Wheel Brewery, where you’ll discover Brantford’s oldest brewery. Sip your way through rotating seasonal releases, made with grains, fruits, and berries grown right on the property. It’s a true farm-to-glass experience, best enjoyed on their laid-back patio where the countryside landscape stretches toward the horizon.
STOP 6: Paris Beer Co. – Paris Brewing
Continue your exploration of Brant’s craft beer scene with a countryside drive to Paris Beer Co. – Paris Brewing, a seventh-generation brewery that pairs small-batch brewing with locally grown hops and rye. Relax with a pint and a flavourful meal from their award-winning kitchen; each dish created to complement their handcrafted beers and celebrate regionally-sourced ingredients.
STOP 7: The Arlington Hotel
End your day at The Arlington Hotel where decades of stories blend with modern comfort. Whether you unwind in your room or toast the day’s discoveries with a cocktail in The Library Bar (Thursday-Saturday), it’s the perfect place to recharge before tomorrow’s adventures.
Consider these dinner options to taste the best of Paris:
- Juniper Dining Co. combines the cuisine from French Bistros and Lyonnaise Bouchon to make an unforgettable meal
- Camp 31 BBQ serves up authentic Alabama-style barbecue, bringing the taste of the South to Ontario.
- Capeesh Kitchen & Cellar takes a global approach to their cuisine, combining elements from Italy, America, Greece and India to make an adventurous dining experience
day 2: Farm Fresh Finds and Small-Batch Sips
STOP 1: Wincey Mills (Detour Espresso Bar)
Begin the second day of your farm-fresh journey with coffee at Wincey Mills in Paris, where this former 1800s textile mill has transformed into a thriving cultural and culinary hub. Pick up your day’s fuel at Detour Espresso Bar and pair their expertly roasted coffee with an adventure through Wincey Mills Market Hall, where 15 different vendors call home.
STOP 2: Murphy’s Country Produce
Refill your basket by travelling east to Murphy’s Country Produce in Binbrook for a hands-on morning of harvesting. From pick-your-own fields filled with berries, pumpkins, and corn to a farm store stocked with local preserves, honey, and fresh-baked treats, you’ll find plenty of ways to take a taste of the season home with you.
STOP 3: The Udderway Artisan Cheese Co
Pair your seasonal bounty with award-winning cheeses from The Udderway Artisan Cheese Co in Hannon. Drive the scenic roads south and sample creamy cheddars and rich artisan wheels, all made Guernsey and Holstein milk with A2 protein.
STOP 4: Maria’s Tortas Jalisco
Satiate your worked up appetite by heading to Hamilton for lunch at Maria’s Tortas Jalisco, where family recipes and locally sourced ingredients bring the bold, vibrant flavours of Guadalajara to life. Every taco, torta, and house-made sauce offers a delicious midday break from your farm-fresh explorations.
STOP 5: Farm Fresh Country Market
After lunch, continue your exploration of the region’s agricultural bounty by driving over to Farm Fresh Country Market and browse their selection of seasonal produce. Pick up some of their available seeds to start cultivating your own garden.
STOP 6: Tall Post Cider
Discover how farm-fresh produce becomes a refreshing drink by traveling southwest from Hamilton to Hannon to Tall Post Cider, where this cidery’s small-batch production highlights the bright flavours of their Ontario-grown fruit and hand-picked spices. With each small batch, the cider makers experiment with new ideas and seasonal ingredients, creating blends that capture the orchard’s best.
STOP 7: Ridge Road Estate Winery
Complete your farm market hop by driving to Ridge Road Estate Winery in Stoney Creek, where wine is created on this 150 year old farm. Sit by the firepit and take in vineyard views while tasting signature blends like “Call Me a Cab”, a wine with fragrant aromatics and flavours of dark, rich fruit with a hint of chocolate to finish your journey.
Ready to Discover More?
If your appetite for local flavours hasn’t been satisfied, add these culinary gems to your route:
- C Hotel by Carmen’s offers boutique comfort and on-site dining at Baci Ristorante for trendy modern Italian cuisine
- Sasso Pizza Market & Bar crafts exceptional pizzas in a warm, inviting atmosphere.
