We know planning a road trip adventure across Southeastern Ontario can seem a bit daunting. With so many amazing destinations waiting to be discovered, how can one choose? Don’t fret, we’ve got you covered! We’ve been covering Southeastern Ontario’s epic food scene for years and we’ve got loads of recommendations. This time around, we spent time in the Rideau Lakes area and boy were we pleasantly surprised by the diverse food scene here.
Where is South Eastern Ontario?
Before we dive in, let’s talk about where exactly we’re talking about.
This region is massive and starts way up, just south of Ottawa in the area affectionately known as SDG (Stormont-Dundas-Glengarry) then moves through Cornwall, Brockville, The 1000 Islands and Gananoque. Just north of here is the Rideau Lakes, where we spent the majority of our time on this most recent trip. You can see it represented in block 5 of this map.
Want to know more? Check out the map on South Eastern Ontario’s website.
A 2-day adventure in Chaffey’s Lock & Westport!
It’s no secret southeastern Ontario is brimming with flavour. We hit the road to visit some hidden gems bursting with adventure and culinary excellence. Our adventure will lead you to explore the beautiful area of Chaffey’s Lock and Westport.
This trip is perfect for you if you love to balance time outdoors with unique and creative eats.
Day #1 in Chaffey’s Lock
Nestled along the Rideau Canal, Chaffey’s Lock is a charming community, ideal for a quiet and beautiful escape. So point those wheels here, step out of that car and get ready to jump into some delicious adventure.
Adventure Time with Rideau Tours
Where: 1671 Chaffey’s Lock Rd, Rideau Lakes, Elgin, ON (View Map)
Every road trip needs a sprinkle of adventure, and you’re in luck because Rideau Tours in Chaffey’s Lock has you covered with incredible packages for couples, friends, and the whole family. Mixing adventure with great tastes, you don’t want to miss out on this experience.
We think these packages are the way to go as the team at Rideau Tours will be your guide during your visit to Chaffey’s Lock, providing all the equipment needed and a delicious picnic lunch curated to showcase a true taste of the place of the region!
We opted into the Pedal-Paddle-Picnic— an adventure trifecta that offers a jam-packed itinerary to explore the area. This tour includes a bike and kayak rental to help you explore this charming and historic village before settling in for a gourmet picnic with locally-sourced goodness right at the forefront.
We were immersed in the natural beauty and local flavours with this full-day adventure package. We started our morning with a scenic bike ride along the Cataraqui Trail, part of the expansive TransCanada Trail system.
Post-ride, we made our way to Chaffey’s Lock to indulge in the ‘Flavours of the Rideau’ gourmet picnic conveniently set up at a picturesque table by the water.
This locally curated picnic included your choice of smoked turkey, roast beef or chicken salad sandwiches, local Artisan cheese and smoked sausage paired with in-season heirloom veggies and freshly-squeezed sparkling apple and pear juice. One of the best parts was getting a chance to see the lock in action while we indulged in all the deliciousness!
Wrapping up our picnic, we got ready for our laid-back water adventure— kayaking and canoeing on the World Heritage Rideau Canal. Rideau Tours provides all necessary equipment including life jackets to make sure your experience is amazing. We glided on the Rideau and got to take in the sounds and incredible views of the canal.
PS. We recommend you finish your adventure with an optional refreshing swim in the tranquil waters (weather permitting).
Dinner time at the Opinicon
Where: 1697 Chaffeys Lock Rd, Elgin, ON K0G 1E0 (View map)
Stepping into the Opinicon, you’ll be immersed in 120+ years of history and elegance at this once private residence for John Chaffey, transformed over the years into a delightful restaurant. The Opinicon sits above the banks of Opinicon Lake and the Rideau Canal’s Chaffey’s Lockstation, giving you a view to remember.
Pro Tip: We recommend you request a table overlooking the view in advance!
Let’s dive in!
The Opinicon offers an incredible variety of beautifully created dishes starting with mouthwatering appetizers! We ordered the Crispy Calamari topped with arugula salad, preserved lemon and dill aioli. It was crispy, flaky and oh-so-good! We also indulged in a brushcetta dish made with fresh focaccia, basil puree, garlic chive whipped ricotta, and finally glazed in a lip-smacking balsamic glaze.
Moving onto our mains, we went with some hearty options. We decided on the Pollo Fritto – a breaded chicken breast with roasted potatoes, truffle aioli, asparagus and caper salad. The crunch here was legendary and mixed in with the salad, it was a refreshing combo!
We also got to taste their Steak and Fries— a delicious serving of a 10oz steak cooked to perfection layered on with their house-cut fries and topped with their steakhouse aioli.
Let’s say you might need to wear some stretchy pants (but make them fashionable) when dining here! Post-dinner, walk the grounds and indulge in their blast-from-the-past ice cream shop. Keep reading to learn more. There’s always room for dessert, as they say!
Dessert at the Opinicon Ice Cream Shop
We scream for ice cream is an understatement for this hopping joint. From the first glance at their rows of flavours, you’ll be craving them all! We decided to savour about as many flavours as we could with some double-scoop action. Can you blame us?
Here’s the all-star lineup: A waffle cone with heaping scoops of Chocolate n’ Smores nestled into a waffle cone with a soft and fluffy watermelon and strawberry sorbet
What a perfect ending to an amazing day full of adventure!
Pro tip: The Opinicon ice cream shop is only a 2 min walk from Rideau Tours so you can stop here at any time and as many times throughout the day as your heart desires. We may have tested out that theory ourselves— wink wink.
Before we make our way over to the Cove Inn, it’s worth mentioning that you can also stay the night in Chaffey’s Lock with Rideau Tours at their Canalview Cottage and Tree Top Glamping bunkie as part of their Lodge to Lodge package!
Time to check into your stay at The Cove Inn
Where: The Cove Inn, 2 Bedford St, Westport, ON K0G 1X0 (View map)
The charm in this area is truly reflected in its architecture, people, and most importantly the delicious culinary offerings. After a long day exploring Chaffey’s Lock, we highly recommend you take advantage of the Cove Inn’s sprawling comfortable beds, cozy renovated beautiful rooms and the incredible views. In other words, forget that alarm, and indulge in the moment before we begin our day to stroll around beautiful Westport.
Day 2 – Exploring Westport
Good morning! Let’s make our way over to get some breakfast essentials— iced coffee and bagels!
Leisurely Breakfast at Vanilla Bean Coffee
Where: 34 Main St, Westport, ON. (View Map)
It’s no secret that coffee and bagels in the morning are the secret ingredients to get the day started, but at Vanilla Bean Coffee they offer that and then some with their tasty in-house baked bagels and breakfast treats to make your day even more special.
We grabbed two bagels, one layered with a delicious spread of roasted red pepper cream cheese, and the other with a classic peanut butter and strawberry jam! These may sound like regular breakfasts but their made-in-house bagels take these classics to another dimension! Soft yet crunchy with every bite, they pair so well with their spreads. Add some iced coffees on a hot day to this combo and you’ve got a match made in culinary heaven.
As we headed out the door, we couldn’t help but order the chocolate peanut butter cookies. We did not regret this and you won’t either as you munch and crunch your way through them the rest of the day.
A scenic view at Spy Rock lookout
Where: Westport, ON. (View Map)
To truly explore Westport we recommend you head on over to the local lookout. This lookout point offers a short and leisurely stroll through the trails to reach a beautiful cliff-face countryside view of Westport.
Fun Fact: Did you know you’ll be standing over billion-year-old granite and just beyond your toes is where a school bus-sized meteor slammed to earth? It’s an incredible lookout with a sprinkle of mystery and history.
After exploring the incredible views it’s time to head to lunch! Take a stroll down from the lookout and take in the charm of Westport. Let’s head off to sip some craft beer and nibble on delicious lunch offerings at Westport Brewing Company.
Lunch at Westport Brewing Company
Where: 41B Main St, Westport, ON. (View Map)
Craft beer lovers rejoice— you can’t miss out on this stop. Of course, we always suggest grabbing a flight the first time you visit any brewery. In our humble opinion, it’s the best way to get a true taste of what you like and what the brewery is great at.
Our favs? Their upper Rideau Blonde Ale with its well-balanced light taste with a sweet, malty aroma and the Rideau Lakes Red Ale— a complex brew with sweet caramel notes and a smooth finish!
We paired the flight with appetizing lunch bites like their soft pretzel layered in butter and a dijon dip, their main street classic pizza topped with pepperoni, mushroom and bacon and finally, their crispy fired chicken burger dressed in sriracha mayo, beer jelly, mixed greens and tomatoes served on a toasted brioche bun. Okay great, now we’re hungry again.
Adventure Time with complimentary Paddle on the water at The Cove Inn
Where: The Cove Inn, 2 Bedford St, Westport, ON. (View Map)
Did you know the Cove Inn supplies guests with kayaks to go out and explore the Westport Pond and Upper Rideau Lake?
We recommend you set up this experience in advance so that you can hit the water right away! Enjoy an hour or two taking in the beauty and nature around you.
Once you’ve had your fill of the water it’s time for dinner! We hope you worked up an appetite.
Time for Dinner at the Cove Inn kitchen
The Cove Inn Kitchen is a true hidden gem on the Rideau. You are in for a real treat dining here. We caught ourselves saying “Wow” and “Yum” a few too many times. The menu here will take you by surprise, offering a classic approach to Canadian dining with a wonderful and delicious twist.
For our appetizers, we had to try their Spinach + Cheese Wontons made up of six crispy fried wontons filled with a 3 cheese spinach dip that you dunk in sweet chilli garlic sauce. They’re great for sharing but we won’t judge you if you keep them to yourself.
Their Strawberry Mandarin Arugula Salad (both vegan and gluten-free) was another home run, made with arugula, fresh strawberries, mandarins, cucumber, feta, pickled onions and spiced walnuts, tossed in a mint vinaigrette— perfectly refreshing for those hot summer days.
If you’re feeling like some carbs would hit the spot (we always encourage it), the Creamy Tuscan Linguini with fresh spinach, sun-dried tomatoes and feta cheese tossed in a garlic cream sauce is a must. Alternatively, try their fish tacos with corn and pepper salsa topped with pickled onions and a very squeezable lime wedge.
It doesn’t end here folks…
We had to order off of their dessert menu and the Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée was calling our names! We swept this bad boy outside and shared it as the sun set over the lake. With a smooth and creamy vanilla custard and that classic crackly top, we’re not sure what was better— the sunset or the dessert.
Compliments to the chef… or should we say chefs?! We chatted with twin chefs, Chef Sarah and Chef Emily Brown who produce top-notch delicious flavours, re-inventing modern classics and introducing guests to palettes of new tastes of place from far and wide. All this to say these twin superstars aren’t messing around! Explore their delicious adventures on Instagram.
With the sun setting and your bellies full you have the option to head back inside and enjoy some live music, or sit out on the patio and sip on some delicious craft cocktails. Dealer’s choice.
What a delicious adventure!
With that, it’s time to head home. We hope you enjoyed your time in Chaffey’s Lock and Westport.
Quick Tip: Depending on your direction heading home, we recommend you add a visit to Forfar Dairy on your GPS to pick up some delicious cheese curds and perhaps a quick lunch, and pastries for the road!
Cheers! Want to keep exploring Southeastern Ontario? Click the link!
Summer Culinary Adventure: Merrickville Day on the Rideau Canal
