London, Ontario is a hotbed for great music. With its unique position basically halfway between Toronto and Detroit, the city has pulled some pretty incredible musicians over the years and some big musical moments have happened there too.
Did you know that Johnny Cash proposed to June Carter here or that Radiohead played for a $10 ticket back in the 90s? As Canada’s UNESCO City of Music, that tradition of bringing in great musical acts continues today. If you find yourself in the city for a concert, we’ve got recommendations for where to grab a bite (just ask our friends).
Near Canada Life Place or Harris Park
Some of the city’s biggest acts come to these two spots. Canada Life Place (previously known as Budweiser Gardens and the John Labatt Centre) doubles as London’s OHL hockey arena (Go! Knights! Go!) and the largest venue.
Just down the road, Harris Park offers a great lineup of festivals each summer including Rock the Park which has nights dedicated to country, rock, hip hop and more each year. So, where do you eat?
Hot Tip: Walk around Canada Life Place to check out the Johnny & June mural created by artist Kevin Ledo.
Covent Garden Market
Where: Covent Garden Market Bldg, 130 King St, London, ON (View Map)
If you’re an indecisive group or looking for a meal that’s affordable and delicious, the Covent Garden Market is the perfect place. Located directly across the street from Canada Life Place, this farmers’ market has been operating since 1845!
Wander the bottom floor of vendors selling everything from freshly roasted coffee and homemade ginger cookies to gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches, Brazilian coxinha, Jamaican patties, samosas and more.
If you’re in the mood for a sit-down meal, check out Waldo’s on King which is easily accessible from the market and then top off your meal with some great desserts from Happiness (we highly recommend their macarons).
The Early Bird
Where: 355 Talbot St, London, ON (View Map)
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The Early Bird is a diner with an over-the-top menu and their own venue inside to boot! Tuck into a red, shiny 1950s-style booth and order up an array of funky eats. Think BLT sandwiches with sunny side up eggs, bacon jam and maple aioli or French toast stuffed with Swiss cheese and topped with Togarashi honey and candied jalapenos for starters. It’s a vibe.
Pizzeria Madre and District Ice Cream
Where: 320 Thames St #106, London, ON (View Map); 320 Thames St #103, London, ON (View Map)
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Pizzeria Madré is one of the best pizza spots in London if you ask us. Known for their homemade sourdough pizzas with big ol’ leopard spots, it’s a great spot for a little pre-concert date. We suggest starting with a little Cavolo Nero— a delightful salad with shredded Tuscan kale, pickled currants, toasted hazelnuts, pecorino and a lemon-garlic vinaigrette.
Let’s talk about pizza. You really can’t go wrong but we’d be remiss if we didn’t shout out the Cheese Louise topped with three different cheeses, fresh oregano and hot honey or the Calabria with tomato, aged mozza, Calabrian salami, artichokes and Calabrian chile— yum!
Hot tip: Pizza Madre also does takeout so if you’re waiting in line to be at the front of the rail at your concert, you can grab a ‘za to enjoy in line!
Once you finish up, walk just around the corner to one of the city’s newer treat stops—District Ice Cream. Known for their inventive flavours, ice cream flights and nitro cold brew floats, your sweet tooth will thank you. Flavours change regularly so scope out their Instagram in advance or just be surprised. Psst— you need to try the ube honey in a waffle cone!
Near London Music Hall or Centennial Hall
Okay first we have to call out the elephant in the room. London Music Hall and Canada Life Place are only a five minute walk apart so you really could go to any of the following restaurants or the previously mentioned ones.
Now that that’s off our chest, let’s grab some grub.
Hot Tip: The promoter for London Music Hall hosts Rock n’ Roll BINGO every Tuesday night at Wink’s Eatery downtown. It’s a fun addition to any trip.
Burger Burger
Where: 633 Richmond St, London, ON (View Map)
Oh mama, Burger Burger knows how to make (you guessed it) a mean burger. Picture a burger joint about the size of a bedroom that serves up one of the best damn burgers you’ve ever had (no seriously, Big 7 Travel named them the second best burger in the country in 2019).
While there’s no wrong answer, the question then becomes “what the heck should I order?”. For us, no trip is complete without ordering The Richmond. Named for the street this spot is on, this burger is simple and delicious: double patty, cheese, bacon and carmelized onion. We recommend adding a fried egg on top because…well because it’s delicious.
Feeling a little adventurous? Try the Honey Popper which includes a chicken breast crisped to perfection and smothered in Cajun sauce, topped with spicy mustard, herbed cream cheese and jalapenos. Paired up with Burger Burger’s fresh cut fries or poutine and a milkshake, what more could you ask for?
Grace
Where: 215 Dundas St, London, ON (View Map)
Looking to make a date night out of this whole thing? Good on ya! Grace is the spot for farm to table dining in London’s downtown. Named after the grandmother of Executive Chef Angie Murphy, the menu here changes with the seasons and isn’t afraid to have a little fun.
You’ll find all kinds of inventive dishes. Choose from a la carte or a prefixed menu with a little choice— the world is your oyster. When we went, the dishes had loads of pop culture references and fresh ingredients we couldn’t get enough of. Our favs? Well, there were a number of standouts.
We loved Velvet Underground, made from baked new potatoes, creme fraiche, pickled cucumber, fresh dill, dill powder and ghee. With ingredients sourced from local farmers, it was a knock out of flavour.
Other favs included Golden Girls— a new take on fall squash and apples sourced from Thomas Brothers Market featuring house-made ricotta and whey gastrique that blew us away and Ginger Gold- a dish made with McIntosh Farms pan roasted duck breast, sweet potato walnut puree, blonde apple, biquinho peppers, ginger jus, black sesame and a whole lot of love. Whew!
Pair it up with some equally thoughtful cocktails (we recommend The Lorax) and of course, dessert. Life is too short to eat bad food.
Spageddy Eddy’s
Where: 428 Richmond St, London, ON(View Map)
This is a London classic. Located directly next door to the London music hall in the alleyway between the venue’s entrance and Richmond Street, Spageddy Eddy’s has been around for over 25 years.
That means you’ll find college and university alumni now taking their kids, pre-concert goers, students and more here enjoying the dark and cozy atmosphere alongside big ol’ bowls of pasta.
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With affordable prices and hit-the-spot dishes, you can’t go wrong with their spaghetti (of course), carbonara and some big slices of Eddy Breddy Garlic Bread— yum!
Near Aeolian Hall
The Aeolian Hall, located in the city’s east end is dedicated to protecting the arts and celebrating them in London. You’ll find all kinds of performances here from big band and orchestral to country, jazz, choir, comedy, art shows, film, theatre and more. With spectacular acoustics, it’s a true gem for venues in the city.
Yaya’s Kitchen
Where: 630 Dundas St, London, ON (View Map)
Speaking of gems in London, Yaya’s Kitchen tops our list. If you’re catching a matinee performance at Aeolian Hall on a Friday or Saturday, we highly recommend grabbing a table at Yaya’s Kitchen afterwards (must book in advance).
Run by Maryam and Malvin Wright, Yaya’s Kitchen started as a supper club in their backyards and has since transformed into a weekly dining experience that offers guests the opportunity to connect through food with immigration pathways, history and unique tastes of place. Each dish tells a story of Black foodways across the globe.
The menu changes every single time and is thoughtfully prepared with new stories, foodways and heart. Sip and savour over three hours of deliciousness as Malvin guides you through the courses and what you’re tasting. We don’t want to give too much away but we had a particularly mind blowing masa that we have seriously not stopped thinking about since.
It’s a chance to learn, grow and yes, eat some really delicious food along the way. Don’t sleep on this!
Beer Kitchen at 100 Kellogg Lane
Where: 100 Kellogg Ln, London, ON (View Map)
Going to your concert with a big group of friends? Love that! Beer Kitchen at 100 Kellogg Lane is the perfect place for a group hang. Brewing their own beers right on site (separate from also-on-site Powerhouse Brewing), Beer Kitchen offers fresh brews that go right from the bright tanks to your glass at the perfect temperature.
Beer enthusiasts will love the carefully crafted selection including our favs— the classic Czech-style pilsner and the Belgian Dark Ale. This second one is a spiced little number with cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and clove— perfect for the fast approaching holiday season.
If you’re feeling hungry, head over to the Beer Kitchen counter where you can order their takes on old world European beer hall classics like schnitzel platters, wurst and pretzels alongside fun and comforting dishes like wagyu bolognese, crispy tofu sandwiches and Roman-style pizzas.
Hot Tip: Beer Kitchen is located in 100 Kellogg Lane (the old Kellogg factory) and is also home to a brewery, speakeasy steak house, bakery, butcher shop, ropes course, arcade, mini putt, sport simulator, distillery, shopping and more.
Make it an Overnight Getaway
Thinking of making this into an overnight getaway? Good on ya! Check out the Idlewyld Inn & Spa for a relaxing overnight getaway super close to London’s downtown and several of the city’s venues. Don’t miss out on their gourmet breakfast the next morning or enjoy an evening at the on-site restaurant known for its delicious menu.
