The 10 Best Restaurants in Guelph from a Local Resident's Perspective

Guelph has many restaurants throughout its neighbourhoods, serving their customers amazing food, drinks, entertainment, and memorable culinary experiences. Whatever your preference, there’s no shortage of good places to eat in Guelph with something to match every lifestyle, mood, and appetite. As the city grows, new restaurants in Guelph open up, adding to the Guelph neighbourhood’s appeal.

Whether you feel like Guelph fine dining, a boisterous sports bar and grill, or experiencing neighbourhood restaurants featuring traditional foods from all over the world, you can expect restaurant staff and community members to greet you with welcoming smiles and a sense of belonging.

Read on to learn which restaurants rate the highest from a local resident’s perspective.

Na-Ha-Thai's Kitchen



Na-Ha-Thai’s Kitchen is on York Road in the Eramosa neighbourhood. This community with unique cultural roots and small-town atmosphere has many heritage homes and farms with community participation and volunteerism.

As the only Thai takeout restaurant in Guelph owned and operated by Thai origins, their food flavour profile includes a combination of tastes for every palate — sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and spicy.

Besides traditional and authentic Thai foods, they offer mouth-watering desserts, Thai-fusion, gluten-free, and vegan dishes. Initially operating only at community-based Guelph farmer’s markets for the past two years, the Eramosa community has welcomed a brick-and-mortar Na-Ha-Thai’s Kitchen with open arms and hungry tummies.

Borealis Grille & Bar

Borealis Grille & Bar just celebrated 15 years of business on Gordon St. in the Clairfields neighbourhood. With various amenities, Clairfields is like a small town in itself. Part of its popularity stems from the easy 401 access and being surrounded by arterial roads that help get you around the city quickly and seamlessly.

Borealis Grille & Bar’s motto is “Obsessively Local,” and they stand true to that with every aspect of the restaurant — from the distilleries, wineries, and breweries they put behind the bar to the ingredients in their dishes, building supplies, and furniture. They offer incredible food and drinks at reasonable prices and are famous for their daily features and for providing a lovely experience out in a quiet, quaint neighbourhood.

Atmosphere Cafe + Etc.

Love a local feel? Celebrate local and love downtown Guelph. With many unique personalities and amazing businesses, residents love this community. From various services, amenities, delicious food, and a lot of fun, there’s always something to celebrate downtown.

Located on Carden St. in a beautiful 19th-century historical building in the market square of downtown Guelph, Atmosphere Cafe + Etc. has old-world charm with a modern flair. Their seasoned chef with over 30 years of culinary expertise has kept patrons returning to this downtown restaurant since 2004.

Atmosphere Cafe + Etc. boasts an exceptional dining experience with its French farm-house cuisine, inventive gluten-free options, premium wines, local microbrew craft beer, and top-shelf martinis. For quality dining and fresh ingredients, Chef Gilbert has your lunch and dinner cravings covered at one of the best Guelph downtown restaurants.

Earth to Table Bread Bar

Downtown Guelph offers a vibrant nightlife, stunning river views, easy walkability, and various amenities tied together by a sense of community.

Earth to Table Bread Bar on Gordon St. in downtown South Guelph lives by the motto, “Good ingredients matter,” and they stay true to it with seasonal dishes and local ingredients whenever possible. Owner Julie Johnson grew up in Guelph and knows the city's vibe. The Guelph community has supported and embraced this restaurant for the last nine years, along with its catering and cookbooks.

Cusina Mediterranean Bistro

Kortright West is a vibrant, active community for all ages and lifestyles, from families and seniors to young professionals and students. Driving through, you’ll see many people out enjoying the convenience of nearby services, shopping, and restaurants, like Cusina Mediterranean Bistro.

This upscale Mediterranean restaurant is on Kortright Rd. W., with value-oriented pricing and delectable in-house dishes. They’re open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner with takeout, delivery, and catering services. Dishes such as souvlaki, gyros, spanakopita, dolmathakia, and Mediterranean penne are some menu items the Kortright West community has embraced and returns for more.

Aberfoyle Mill Restaurant

Puslinch, just five minutes from South Guelph, is a quiet rural community with beautiful scenic views, top-rated schools, and the delectable Aberfoyle Mill restaurant. This piece of Guelph’s history is on Brock Rd. S. in the form of an old 1859 grist mill turned restaurant in 1966.

Aberfoyle Mill Restaurant boasts authentic antique decor, which is one of the largest personal collections of Canadians in the country. Their rustic antique setting bodes perfectly with their extensive menu featuring the best prime rib in Guelph on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

La Cucina

Looking for a great Italian option? Look no further than La Cucina. Located at 25 Macdonnell St. in Downtown Guelph, there’s a lot to like when it comes to this Italian classic. 

La Cucina’s menu includes all your favorite antipasti options, classic pasta dishes, a mix of must-try meat dishes, and an amazing selection of wines. Best of all, the entire experience is amplified by the cozy atmosphere this restaurant offers. 

Looking to Buy a Home in One of Guelph’s Vibrant Neighbourhoods?

Andra Arnold can help. Our award-winning Guelph real estate team offers local market knowledge and quality expertise to provide a seamless home-buying experience.

From property investors to buyers looking for a home in one of Ontario's fastest-growing cities, Andra Arnold & Associates can get you where you want to be.

Let’s talk