Arts, Eats and Fun in Peterborough, Ontario

Published September 15th, 2025

All photos and video by Jay Kana
Presented in paid partnership with Peterborough Tourism

I’ve spent a bit of time in Peterborough over the years, including participating in the Parks Canada popular Lock and Paddle event. It was time to set aside a few days to truly delve into this special part of Canada. Home to a thriving food scene, astounding arts and culture environment and a special small business community, Peterborough’s resurgence is in full form.
It’s around two hours from the Toronto area and a little over three hours from Ottawa, so it makes for a terrific road trip.

Plus, there’s a GO Bus terminal in Peterborough and if you do opt for that, know that it stops at the south of the city, downtown, and at Trent University, with links to the Lakeshore East GO train line”

Follow my Peterborough path or use it as an inspiration to choose your own adventures in this vibrant, artistic and culture-rich city.

Where to Stay in Peterborough

Let’s start with establishing your home base, the Holiday Inn Peterborough Waterfront.

It’s centrally located and try and get a riverside view room that faces the Otonabee River as the morning views are splendid.
My king suite was spacious, the wi-fi was quick and the bed was/is quite comfortable.
There’s plenty of parking and amenities as well, making it an ideal location to call home as your explore Peterborough. 

What to do in Peterborough

A 10 minute walk from the Holiday Inn brings you to the Art Gallery of Peterborough. They’ve got free admission and donations are encouraged. The walls are adorned with creativity and stories are shared by artistic visions across various mediums.
Visit their website for a current list of existing and upcoming exhibitions.

The renowned Canadian Canoe Museum, planted by the Trans Canada Trail on the shores of the Otonabee River and Little Lake, is a national treasure. It’s an entirely new building and included moving their entire collection from a previous location. This majestic collection of canoes, history and heritage is a must-visit destination in itself.
2025 sees the introduction of the Builders-In-Residence program, enhancing an already impressive set of exhibitions throughout the 65,000 square-foot building on the Trent-Severn Waterway.
The canoe is not only the medium but it’s also part of the message among Canada’s history.

If you visit in warmer months, there are canoe and kayak rentals on-site for you to explore both the Otonabee River and neighbouring Little Lake.
Plus, the popular Little Bean Cafe is on the main floor for hot drinks and snacks.

Walk on the wild side at the Riverview Park and Zoo, Canada’s only free and accredited zoo.
It’s a 10 minute drive from your home base along Water Street and open year round.
Learn about the over 150 animals and 40 species here, from mammals to birds to reptiles and more. This community-driven destination includes live music in the summer, has a strong educational aspect, a massive playground and splash pad, and a serene Riverview walking trail. 

A strong dedication to the arts, culture and inclusiveness is the sign of a strong, smart city and Peterborough delivers fully and completely. 

The famous First Friday Art Crawl happens on, well, as the name says, the first Friday of each month. Between 6:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m., stroll the streets and tour local art galleries, shops, cafes and studios and soak in the colossal creativity the city has to offer. Everyone is warmly welcomed as arts and culture is for all of us. As their website succinctly says, “It is a community-centered, joyful, inclusive, and sometimes spontaneous and messy happening.”

My visit included time with two renowned local artists, Kim Beavis Sanderson and John Climenhage, both making cool artistic contributions within and beyond the city. 

Downtown Peterborough boasts an abundance of small businesses creating a big community.
From vintage shops to books to modern clothing, record shops to fashion, to pottery to health and wellness and so much more, there’s a vivacious vibe encompassing the city’s small business community.

Everyone I met in the small business community was eager to send me to various other businesses to show support all around, which definitely echoes the “collaboration over competition” approach here.

Take your time discovering these pillars of Peterborough and you just might find a new favourite shop and make some new friends along the way. 

There’s a pair of Farmers’ Markets; the Peterborough Regional Farmers' Market in the Quaker Foods City Square with dozens of vendors, live music and a cool community feel.
There’s also the Peterborough Farmers’ Market at Morrow Park, with an equally wide array of vendors and sweet offerings, all in the name of serving the community and supporting local vendors.

Where to eat in Peterborough

Before we dig in, I’ll start by saying that my partner, Steph Wallcraft of RoadTripper.ca has Celiac and had no issues dining at any of the following eateries.

Tora Sushi has your order everything off an tablet and the options are plentiful!
Pleasantly sized portions paired with superb tasting food make this a must-visit spot for sushi enthusiasts. Plus, the cat decor is delightful!

One Eighty on Hunter, serving the community for a decade, makes some pretty good chicken wings. Go on a Thursday if possible for wing night!
The rest of the menu offers a good variety from burgers to steaks to sandwiches to salads and more. 

Ashburnham Ale House also serves up some impressive chicken wings, along with salads, burgers, soups, sandwiches, pizzas, pastas, brunch and more. Enjoy your meal indoors or on their patio. 

My favourite chicken wings in Peterborough are at Love You, Mean It and I certainly do mean it.
The simplicity of their elevated menu, featuring heaps of local producers, showcases their care to the culinary craft.
Opened in July of 2024, they smartly blend an upscale experience with being unmistakably approachable. Shareable items, excellent entrees and succulent desserts complete the menu, while the outstanding service made for a memorable visit. 

If Vietnamese cuisine is your thing, then visit locally-owned Hanoi House.
Traditional Vietnamese dishes are served with a smile from a menu with plenty of offerings.
The dining room is bright and spacious and as a noodle kinda guy, I was impressed with their selection and of course, my order. There are also rice, wok and Banh Mi offerings as well to round out the menu.

There’s the aforementioned Little Bean Cafe at the Canoe Museum location and one that’s a few minutes walk from the Holiday Inn by the Otonabee River, called the Silver Bean Cafe…same company, slightly different names.
With an expansive patio to enjoy the outdoors, this local gem serves breakfasts made-to-order, light lunches and various drinks. Sure, the food is delicious but it’s their location that adds the exclamation point here. The peacefulness of the river as you enjoy time alone or with friends or family is wonderful.

Dreams of Beans serves up a stellar breakfast and as I visited in September, I got a perfectly made pumpkin spice latte. The stylish cafe is brimming with charm and a warm, inviting dining room is a great way to spend some time sipping on a hot or cold drink in the heart of the city.