Burlington Ontario Waterfront Lunch by Spencer Smith Park

A Burlington Ontario waterfront lunch is easy to plan, because several rooms on the lake side of downtown have patios or windows facing Lake Ontario and Spencer Smith Park. A waterfront seafood-and-steak restaurant, a Greek taverna and a hotel lounge are the kinds of room to look for, and this guide explains what each offers and how to pair lunch with a walk.

Spencer Smith Park is the centre of Burlington's waterfront. It sits on the shore of Lake Ontario in the downtown, with a small beach, walking paths and the Brant Street Pier. A lunch here is as much about the view as the plate, so choose your table with the weather in mind. We state no hours or prices, since both change through the season.

Where can you have a Burlington Ontario waterfront lunch?

Choose by mood. A restaurant at the water's edge, often with a heated patio looking over the park and the lake, is the favourite for special occasions, with seafood and steak on the menu. A Greek taverna a short walk along the lakeside road serves classics such as saganaki, spanakopita, souvlaki and moussaka, and Greek plates are made for sharing, which suits a lunch with friends. A hotel lounge a step back from the park offers a seasonal menu and a patio that overlooks the lake, and it is a short step from the park rather than on the water itself.

What is Spencer Smith Park food like if you do not sit down?

Spencer Smith Park food is mostly about the lakeside rooms and about what you bring. The park is open ground with paths, a playground and the pier, so a lunch on the move is easy to arrange. Many people eat in one of the rooms and walk afterwards, or walk first and eat when the wind turns cool. Festivals fill the park in summer, so allow extra time on event weekends.

Is a Burlington pier lunch a good idea?

A Burlington pier lunch means eating before or after the walk, since the pier is a place to stroll rather than a place to sit down to a meal. The Brant Street Pier is a raised walkway with a beacon, built as part of the park, and it gives a wide view of the lake and the downtown shoreline. A good plan is to eat at one of the lakeside rooms, then walk out along the pier while lunch settles. Wind off the lake can be cool even on a sunny day, so bring a layer.

Can you have a Burlington lakeside picnic?

Yes, and many people do. A Burlington lakeside picnic is a simple way to use the park on a fine day, and it costs less than a table. Carry a bag with a blanket, some fruit and a sandwich from a nearby counter, and choose a spot on the grass near the water. Check the city's current park rules for glass, alcohol and open flames, and take all your rubbish with you. If rain threatens, the lakeside rooms are a short walk away.

Where is Burlington outdoor seating at its best?

Burlington outdoor seating clusters where the lake is. The waterfront restaurant has a heated patio, the Greek taverna has a patio with views, and the hotel lounge has a lake-view patio of its own. Heating and layouts change between seasons, so ask when you book whether the patio is open. In the Mosey app, Outdoor seating is one of the tags a diner can add to a rating, so a table you enjoyed can say so.

When should you go for a lakeside lunch?

Weekday lunch is the calm option, with a better chance of a table at the window. Weekends fill early in summer, and event days in the park can bring crowds and closed streets. Late spring and early autumn are the sweet spots, with warm afternoons and short waits. Winter brings a quieter shoreline, and the indoor tables become the draw. Phone ahead for a group, and ask for a window table if the view matters to you.

How can you remember what you ate by the lake?

Rate it as you leave. In the Mosey app only the place and stars are required, and you can name each dish. Add tags such as Sea View, Outdoor seating or Group Dining, tag the friends you were with ("Who were you with?") so they can add their own rating of the same meal, and save the room to a list called Burlington waterfront. The map has a Friends' picks layer under "Explore the map".

What should you do after lunch?

Walk the park, take in the pier and wander back up Brant Street. Our Brant Street restaurants guide covers the downtown rooms a few blocks back from the water, and the Hamilton harbour and waterfront lunch guide shows how the other end of the bay does it. The Ontario guide to every town and the Canadian food guides cover the rest.

Once you are back from the shore, open the Mosey app, rate the dish you enjoyed most and save the room to a list for the friend who visits.