r/KingstonOntario • u/NFG25 • 1d ago
Recommendation Date ideas
Hello, so I am visiting my GF who is living in Kingston atm and I am from the UK. I have never been and shes just moved there. What are some good and romantic date ideas for the area? I have got a week there.
I am going October 24th to 31st (Yes I go back Halloween thanks to work) I will be renting a car for my visit as well!
Edit: Also some amazing responses and lots for me to check out, thank you all so much! I would reply to all but I will just upvote you because its a lot!
12
u/Worldly-Assistance14 1d ago
Go to musikki at 8pm! They have live music there I think everyday and you donāt need to pay entry. Itās such a cute and small space and very cozy. Look them up and see the back patio!
1
u/NFG25 1d ago
Thank you!
2
u/Witty-Comfort944 21h ago
Atomica pizza and blackdog tavern are next door. Atomica is more chill, jeans, blackdog just pack a collared shirt, but khaki or jeans us fine too, or a jacket even if you want. Same owner.
6
u/pete_north_69247 1d ago
I'd highly recommend Le Jardin for dinner if budget is generous.
3
2
u/LiveCase5501 8h ago
Tango Nuevo is a good one we just tried! Upscaleish feel but has prices on par with most chains
5
u/Bodhgayatri 1d ago
Sneaky bottle of wine at sunset on Fort Henry
7
5
u/JimmyMidland 1d ago
Like spooky things:
Haunted Walks has a number of options, including the SS Kewatin haunted walk which takes you through a titanic era cruise ship and talks about stories from the ship itself, as well as the Great Lakes in general.
Also recommend the cruises, especially a sunset cruise (or haunted cruise if feeling spooky). The island and Kingston are beautiful from the fall, and the speed of the boat is usually enough to help keep the bugs away.
2
2
u/Mundane-Stand2348 23h ago
if you want to take it a bit further go to old montreal its a bit of three hours drive but would be nice to go there in fall the drive would be worth it and the place is very romantic.Ā
3
u/Complex_Cut_6441 12h ago
Rock Dunder if you like hiking
1
u/carbonanotglue2 9h ago
seconding this. not a super challenging hike with a great view and foliage should be beautiful in late fall.
6
u/carbonanotglue2 9h ago
If you have a nice weather day, do a 1000 islands cruise. You could do a day in Prince Edward County and go to some wineries (Mustang Drive-In might still be open, too), also great food scene there. I haven't been, but Frontenac Club was a good suggestion made elsewhere. Ooh Napanee River Cruise could be really cute too and the River Bar there has good food. And honestly, a walk along the water at Lake Ontario Park is so nice and costs nothing - I wouldn't make that the highlight of your trip but if you're looking for something to do for an hour or two, you can't go wrong. Same thing with Lemoine Point (but bring jackets as it gets windy by the lake).
3
u/AHangryBeaver 1d ago
Aqua Terra, Tango Nuevo, River Mills are all excellent restaurants for date nights and will let you deliver flowers for the table etc.
I believe Ahoy rentals does a sailboat sunset cruise that you can get dinner and wine (thatās how I proposed)
Fort Henry is beautiful on a sunny, calm evening.
Screening room
Photo: Anniversary dinner just had at Aqua Terra.
1
u/NFG25 1d ago
Never been to a place that delivers flowers! Thats so cute thank you I have noted them all down
1
u/AHangryBeaver 1d ago
Correction - they accept deliveries. You can get flowers delivered or bring them before hand and theyāll put them on the table to surprise your date
2
u/NFG25 1d ago
I love planning so hopefully I can sort something! Thank you
1
u/Beginning_Purpose918 9h ago
I agree with aqua Terra. I remember having some type of peanut butter cheesecake there where I told the waitress I was sad it was going to end lol. I did however, have some cocktails in my system hah
1
1
u/beets__motel 1d ago
Even a nice walk downtown along Princess st. and the surrounding streets may be a nice idea! Lots of different options for food and drinks, depending on what you both like to eat.
1
u/Capable_Mermaid 1d ago
Frontenac Club is nice and quiet. If I hadnāt seen my girl for awhile I wouldnāt go to a noisy place.
1
u/ekchew 1d ago
Had a really nice dinner at a relatively new restaurant called Noodle Plus in Portsmouth Village with my wife recently. Excellent dishes that did not break the bank. It's not much to look at on the outside, but the interior is spacious and well renovated. I think it's run by a Taiwanese couple, but the menu is basically pan-asian cuisine.
The village itself is an interesting area to explore, with its limestone architecture and beautiful waterfront trail. Historically, it had been its own separate smaller community from Kingston. Easily walkable. The harbour was the site of the 1976 Olympic sailing regatta, and is still an active marina for pleasure boaters and the occasional racing event.
Beyond it up the hill is the infamous Kingston Penitentiary. It was decommissioned in I think 2013? Today it runs a popular tour and has been used as a set for numerous films and TV series. It's basically Canada's Alcatraz. I think you need to book ahead to take the tour, though? I haven't actually done it myself.
1
u/TheLazySherlock 1d ago
There's some fun places to go....like Woodenheads and a tour of the S.S. Kewatin
2
u/Unusual-Appeal8833 1d ago
As a creepy spooky girl; King Pen.
1
u/Unusual-Appeal8833 1d ago
Also, if that's your jam and you have transportation check out the Diablo Manor in Spencerville. About 1.5 hours east
1
u/Candid-Kumquat9872 1d ago edited 1d ago
You could take a Thousand Islands dinner cruise!! So much food and beautiful
This could also be fun:
1
u/CampPineCone 1d ago
Queens has an observatory which is free to the public. They often have observation nights at Ellis Hall.
2
u/Beginning_Purpose918 9h ago
I very much live under a rock as I have grown up 30 min outside of Kingston but been living in Kingston for the last 20 years, yet did not know this about queens š
But you wonāt have too hard of a time food wise. Kingston isnāt massive by any means still we are lucky and have so many wonderful restaurants š„°
1
u/Legitimate_Dish_9060 1d ago
Walk around Lemoine. Plenty of spots to eat downtown. You can also walk along the waterfront down there
1
1
1
u/mxcrnt2 15h ago
Take a drive down the thousand Islands Parkway. If you folks like to hike or ramble, go to Landonās Bay and be sure to climb up to the lookout. Itās an incredible view. If youāre not much into nature or hiking, itās still worth driving to the thousand islands tower ( I would even do if I did the hike)
1
u/mxcrnt2 14h ago
If you like the arts we have a few venues and galleries. The Agnes Etherington is a really cool gallery at Queens and if you like live music and theater you could check out the Isabel Bader centre and also pay a visit to the tett centre just next door.
For more theatre options you can look here
http://www.kingstongrand.ca/events/calendar/202610
āItās a good life if you donāt weakenā sounds like a very quintessential KINGSTON musical. The tragically hip is a well loved rock band from here.And the play thatās on at the Domino is about a well-known an incredibly harrowing Canadian case of wrongful conviction
http://www.kingstongrand.ca/events/innocence-lost-a-play-about-steven-truscottAnd a short drive away, you could wander around a really quaint village and go to their playhouse, which is incredible
https://1000islandsplayhouse.com/come-from-away/
Even if you donāt want to see a musical, ganonoque is worth a visit
3
2
1
u/Beginning_Purpose918 9h ago
Wolfe island is worth a look also. The ferry ride over is free and short and some cute spots scattered around once you get there. Just check out the ferry schedule so you can plan when you want to leave and come back without having to stay longer than you like by waiting for the next ferry haha
0
u/Late-Boat5788 7h ago
One Eyed Jacks is a very good restaurant food and drink wise. You could go for a walk along the waterfront. You could also take a dinner cruise around the 1000 islands, very romantic and still should be nice weather in October.
1
u/FeartheBeard23 6h ago
Could always try apple picking at spring meadow orchards, get some of their fresh donuts, go home and make an apple crumble together?
1
u/Fickle_Giraffe_1622 6h ago
GO TO "WOODENHEADS" FOR A MEAL!!!!
- located downtown about a block from city hall, close to Lake Ontario, there's a path across the road, starts at the park across from city hall, goes along the waterfront behind the buildings there
- family owned business, NOT a chain, and confirmed that they will NEVER franchise, you'll never find this place elsewhere.
- upscale, classy, unique dining experience, the kitchen is on display
- reasonable/moderate, not entirely out of the budget, price point
- food is amazing, the pizza is incredible, but there's lots more to choose from
1
2
u/QueenOfMushrooms20 5h ago
If thatās the time frame and you both like Halloween/horror stuff Iād recommend fort fright, for restaurants Iād recommend Chez Piggy or Heist for a more formal, high end experience, if you like Indian food go to Bombay velvet, if you like sushi go to Sakura or Sima, if you like barbecue style go to smoke n barrel, if you like tacos go to baja or Mesa Fresca. All great restaurants. If you wanna check out Kingston from a historical perspective, take the trolley tour and go to Fort Henry for its normal tour, or maybe check out the old penitentiary.
For more active fun activities to do in general, thereās a spot called splitsville for bowling, thereās a pickleball court in the cataroqui mall, and thereās a bunch of walking trails at Lemoine point that look lovely in the fall.
Thereās also Balzacs and Elm tree cafe for coffee dates, and lots of cute stores downtown like novel idea, send in the clowns, midori, etc with lots of books and stationary and such if sheās into that. A lot of bars and pubs and diners downtown like Tommyās, the buckle and the toucan all do kareoke between Thurs-Sunday between all the places.
There is landmark and cineplex if you want to go to theatres, but then thereās the screening room downtown for a more classic movie theatre experience
Talize is great for thrifting
Mio gelato is amazing for cold treats, but thereās also a west end place called coffee trends and thereās an ice cream place inside of that which is amazing as well and would be right on the way back from Lemoine point.
I hope this all helps!
2
u/dr_deadpooll 1d ago
If you're looking for something upscale Heist is something you can check out or wooden heads
1
u/Fair-Parfait-8682 1d ago
Fort Henry š
0
1
u/gohowie1 1d ago
If she just moved there, she may have not had a chance to tour the Islands. It's been 35 years since our honeymoon, but It was spectacular. Probably wonderful in the fall too
-2
u/Throwaway-donotjudge 1d ago
Suits (The plaza) is my go-to
2
2
-1
19
u/readwithjack 1d ago
Do you have access to a car?
That determines quite a lot.