Adventure Cycling Association

Sure, Adventure Cycling Association’s brand-new 930-mile (1,500-kilometer) Eastern Canada Route links Toronto, Ottawa, Montréal, and Québec City by way of world-class cycling infrastructure. And, yeah, you’ll pedal through some incredibly bucolic rural landscapes and historic small towns along the way.

But we’re just as excited about the food.

Much of the route’s roughly 930 miles follows separated bike paths, many of them part of the continent-spanning Trans Canada Trail (Sentier Transcanadien) that carries cyclists through city centers and past rural farmstands. That puts some of that country’s best restaurants and most iconic dishes within easy reach.

And that means so much more than poutine and Tim Hortons. Here are a few culinary pit stops along the route to whet your appetite and fuel your ride.

1. Kawartha Dairy

Section 1: Lindsay, Ontario

Our route researcher describes this ice creamery’s Lindsay location as a “must stop.” But consider looking up the menu before you arrive. It offers more than 50 flavors, including classics such as birthday cake, French vanilla, ripe raspberry sorbet, and Nanaimo Bar, a famous Canadian chocolate treat named after Nanaimo, British Columbia.

2. Three Tarts

Sections 1 and 2: Ottawa, Ontario

Continuing with the sweets, you’ll have plenty of opportunities along the route to indulge in Canada’s national pastry: the butter tart. Small and circular, it’s a delicate balance between the crust and a filling of butter, brown sugar or maple syrup, and eggs. Think of it like the pecan pie’s hockey-playing cousin. Picking a favorite can lead to intense debate, and in Ottawa, two of the best versions are found in a gas station and a dive bar. Luckily for us, there’s a third option — Centretown’s Three Tarts bakery — that’s much closer to our route.

3. Wakefield

Section 2: Wakefield, Québec

Wakefield isn’t a restaurant. It’s a town. And it’s known for its laid-back bohemian vibe and culinary scene. If you’re in the mood for internationally inspired dishes, the menu at Café Le Hibou (French for “The Owl Cafe”) runs from stuffed grape leaves and beef tartare to poke bowls and a poutine that swaps gravy for butter chicken and cilantro. At La Maison du Village (“The Village House”), you’ll find upscale comfort foods like maple-and-herb-braised short rib and risotto with smoked le coprin mushrooms, crème fraîche, and tempura-stuffed zucchini flower. Or for a farm-to-table experience at an actual farm, there’s the cafe at Juniper Farm, where, from spring through fall, you can order dishes like seasonal quinoa bowls, “farmwhiches,” and a red lentil daal soup.

4. Fairmount Bagel

Sections 2 and 3: Montréal, Québec

Many claim it’s the water that makes New York City’s bagels so good. In Montréal, they don’t have to speculate. It’s the process. A true Montréal bagel is made by hand with a dough of malt, egg, and sugar or honey, but no salt. Then it’s poached in honey-infused water and baked in a wood-fired oven. The result is a denser, slightly sweeter bagel than its New York counterpart, with a bigger hole and a crisp, lightly charred crust. The bagel’s origin is still debated, but Fairmount Bagel in the famous Mile End neighborhood dates back to around 1919. Is it better than NYC’s? We’re not brave enough to give an answer, so you’ll just have to ride the Eastern Canada Route and see for yourself.

5. Véloroute Gourmande

Section 3: Montréal to Sherbrooke

The final entry on our list isn’t a specific restaurant or even a town. It’s pretty much the entire 146-mile (235-kilometer) ride from Montréal to Sherbrooke, AKA the Véloroute Gourmande. Launched in 2022 to promote bicycle travel in Québec’s Montérégie region and Eastern Townships, the culinary adventure features more than 100 restaurants, breweries, farmers’ markets, and cafes within five kilometers of the route. Here are just a few to give you an idea of the breadth of options.

Farnham Ale & Lager

The beer menu at this Farnham microbrasserie (French for microbrewery) ranges from sours and browns to hazy pales and classic IPAs. There’s even a rotating “beer slush.” Whichever you choose, pair it with the brewery’s famous grilled cheese, made with fromage from a local, award-winning cheesemaker.

Un Momento

A combination yoga studio and cafe, Bromont’s Un Momento is designed to give you pause. On the cafe side of things, the menu of small bites, sandwiches, salads, empanadas, and even a Chilean hot dog often nods to the owner’s South American roots.

Marché Foster

General stores known locally as épiceries are a mainstay of Québec’s culinary scene, and you’re sure to pass plenty on your tour. Waterloo’s Marché Foster hawks everything from snacks and pastries to enough cured meats and cheeses for one heck of a charcuterie board.

Kóz

In Magog, Kóz’s terrace views of Lake Memphremagog are the perfect pairing for its Mediterranean-inspired dishes, including Turkish pizzas, crispy tuna with pistachio yogurt, and even a six-dish prix fixe tasting menu.

Bistro Le Louis XVI

This bistro sports a menu filled with elegant French dishes such as mushroom risotto and duck confit cavatelli. And because it’s in Sherbrooke, it’s the perfect place to cap off the Véloroute Gourmande — if you left space in your panniers for a dressier set of clothes, that is.