A Weekend Guide to Prince Edward County

Condé Nast featured The County for a reason, this region is truly a food and wine lover’s dream. There are so many great local restaurants, wineries, breweries, and charming towns to visit. Located approximately 2.5 hours away from Toronto, it’s the perfect weekend getaway to take all year round. In the past I’ve visited during the late summer, early fall months, and it’s such a great getaway and feels like a hidden gem.

The last time I visited The County, was back in 2021. It was so incredible to see how much the region has changed, but also how many of the small businesses we visited back then, have grown immensely. That always makes me so happy to see.

WHERE TO STAY

We were travelling with family, and our pup, so it was the perfect stay to visit The Victorian Picton. The most quaint circa 1860 home, there were 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, a hot tub, and a Coach house full of games. This was incredible, and quaint, and the best part was the location. Steps away from the Main Street in Picton, you’re close to all the cafes, restaurants, small boutiques. It felt like the perfect base.

There are lots of cool restaurants here, bars, wineries, and breweries. During this trip we checked out some new spots, and these were our favourites.

THINGS TO DO

The County is comprised of various different towns, such as Wellington, Picton, and Bloomfield. Sandbanks Provincial Park is here too, and it’s a must visit if you like camping, beaches, and sand dunes. We visited the famous Dunes Beach, to see the largest bay-mouth barrier dune formation in the world. That was amazing, and a mouthful.

My favourite part about the County is how much everyone supports local businesses. It’s a pleasure to visit a place like this, where you feel you are contributing to local businesses, meeting new people, and genuinely you feel welcomed. I loved walking around Picton and Bloomfield and exploring the beautiful little shops, there are so many cute spots but here were some of my favourites:

Zest Kitchen Shop: this beautiful home and kitchenware store sells locally produced specialty food items like the famous Cressy mustard, local jams and honey, and so many cool home goods. I picked up some beautiful gold flatware here that I fell in love with. 

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Savon du Bois: this beautiful handcrafted soap and fragrance store, carries locally made products that smell like heaven. There are signature scents sold here using botanical elements, and amazing quality. I love that they are made in Picton.

Slickers: This place is an institution, and their campfire ice cream is a staple for a reason. Toasty marshmallow, it just feels like summer with every taste!

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PLACES TO EAT AT There are so many options, it’s hard to choose! The County is a foodie and wine lover’s dream. 

Parsons Brewing Company

We had the BEST burger here. The beer is amazing, there’s tons of great seating, and the food is just to die for. We got lucky with the weather the day we visited and it was just the perfect spring afternoon. 

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Rosetta This is a new Italian spot located on the main street  of Picton. Opened by a team of Toronto chefs, the people behind Bar Raval, Martine’s Wine Bar, Paris Paris, and some other cool spots. The food here was delicious, and the ambiance and decor was so romantic and perfect for a night out.

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The Royal Hotel We stopped by the Royal for cocktails, but we wished we stayed for pizza. The pizza here is known for being one of the best in the county. 

La Condesa We tried going here back in 2021, but couldn’t get a table. We’re so glad we came back, it was still a bit tough to get a table as we had to get on a waitlist, but it was SO worth the wait. The tacos here are excellent, particularly the fish tacos. A must visit for sure.

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WINERIES TO VISIT

Closson Chase

This iconic purple barn at Closson Chase is so recognizable, their gardens are also beautiful where they have their tastings, and their wines are some of the best in the region. You must try their Pinot Gris, which is crisp but has notes of floral and honeysuckle. The ideal summer white IMO.

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Karlo Estates

Check out Karlo Estates for one of the region's most innovative wineries. They even had the world's first vegan certified wine in 2012 which was amazing. They even have a speakeasy wine lounge, and their patio is dog friendly. They also have a famous dry stone bridge, this is a must visit winery.

Huff Estates Another excellent spot, great wines, and such a fun pizza patio. They also have accommodations options here too which is so convenient!

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This is such a gem of a region, I love how quaint it is and tucked away. The waterfront is so beautiful, the small town charm, full of wineries, and an amazing provincial park, there's so much to see. I'm already planning my next trip back.