Just over an hour from Toronto, Waterloo Region is a marvellous destination for a cheeky weekend away with your S/O. Enjoy a date night at a fine dining restaurant or check out a tropical oasis filled with butterflies. Whatever your idea of romance is, Waterloo Region has the urban-rural balance for a delicious couples’ escape!
What are you waiting for? Pack a bag and hit the road. Waterloo Region is waiting!
Day One
Stop One: Lunch at Puddicombe House
145 Peel St., New Hamburg
puddicombehouse.com
On the west side of the Region is the very quaint town of New Hamburg and in it a restaurant with upscale romance and elegance that only a classic Victorian mansion can provide. The patio at Puddicombe turns outdoor dining into a luxury, bordered by meticulously landscaped gardens and private gazebos for intimate dining.
When the weather is warm, their menu is bursting with zesty, bright flavours and unique combos that will hit the spot and feel a little special (after all, it’s a romantic getaway)! You can easily spend time sipping on a few cocktails after your meal to extend your time because trust us, it’s a great place to just relax and chill together.
After lunch, consider exploring Downtown New Hamburg’s boutique shops or stroll hand-in-hand along the Nith River taking in the quiet charm of rural Ontario.
Stop Two: Check-in to the Walper Hotel
~20 minute drive from New Hamburg
20 Queen Street South, Kitchener
walper.com
The Walper Hotel is the iconic place to stay in Downtown Kitchener – it’s been a cornerstone in the city since 1893. The hotel has been exquisitely updated with modern luxuries but the historic dignity remains. If you ask us, it’s a great spot to cozy up for the night and enjoy some bubbly in your pjs while watching some TV. We aren’t judging.
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Stop Three: Roll or Stroll Through Victoria Park
about four blocks from the Walper
If you’re “life on two wheels” kinda folks, make sure you book the complimentary bicycles that The Walper has available! Just four blocks away is beautiful Victoria Park, and with paved paths and arched bridges, the park is easily accessible by bike or on foot.
If you’re visiting in the warmer months, keep your eyes open for Victoria Park’s resident love birds: Otis the swan and his darling Ophelia. Victoria Park is also right on the Iron Horse Trail, which you might consider using to bike to dinner at your next stop…
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Stop Three: Dinner at Red House
Less than a 10-minute drive or 15-minute bike ride from the Walper
30 William St. W., Waterloo
redhouseuptown.ca
This spot will leave you convinced that you do not need to be in the big city for big-city cuisine. Besides being bright red, the converted brick house fronts as a nondescript neighbourhood restaurant. The surprise, then, is the intimate bistro setting, a space infused with colourful botanicals and work by local artists.
Internationally inspired and ever-changing, the menu at Red House features vibrant, local ingredients, including fresh pasta from the gourmet shop right up the street, and meat and dairy sourced from farms less than 30km away.
Day Two
Stop One: The Yeti Cafe
Just a short walk or a few minutes drive from the Walper
14 Eby St. N., Kitchener
theyeticafe.com
You simply cannot leave Waterloo Region without stopping at The Yeti Café for brunch. An eccentric space teeming with trendy Toronto vibes, The Yeti almost always has a lineup and is always worth the wait. Menu items like The Bob, The Doug, or The Pregnant Sasquatch, coupled with My Little Pony table markers will have you smiling even before you take your first bite.
Stop Two: Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory
Less than a 20-minute drive, and on your way home
2500 Kossuth Rd, Cambridge, ON
cambridgebutterfly.com
Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory is a paradise of lush foliage and cascading waterfalls with tropical temperatures ranging from 24-28°C year-round. Many a’ proposal has happened in their gardens (wink, wink, nudge nudge). Stroll the indoor gardens surrounded by thousands of free-flying butterflies and tropical birds, and then head to their on-site café for a light lunch.
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Let the good times roll
So there you have it! A romantic getaway all planned out. We’ll let you take the credit for this one, of course. Want to really up your game? Be sure to download the Great Taste of Ontario passport for Waterloo Region and you’ll receive a $25 gift voucher for a participating restaurant if you visit and check into five of the stops on the passport!
