Charlottetown is an incredible hub of amazing restaurants, nightlife and art. There’s plenty to explore in the capital of Canada’s food island. Here’s everything you can’t miss on your own trip to Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.
How To Get To Charlottetown?
You can do a road trip in your own vehicle or fly. If you fly, you can take a cab to Charlottetown, and everything is easily walkable. If you plan on visiting more of PEI, I recommend renting a vehicle or doing organized day trips from Charlottetown.
How Many Days Do You Need in Charlottetown??
Charlottetown is the perfect home base for your PEI trip. You can easily see a lot in 2 days, but four days will allow you to savour each spot. I recommend 2-4 days in Charlottetown. We made day trips to gems like Greenwich National Park and Victoria By The Sea from Charlottetown.
Where To Stay in Charlottetown
There are plenty of unique places to stay in Charlottetown. We opted for the newly renovated Arts Hotel. It had a great rate, and this hotel celebrates the art scene. One of the highlights was getting back after an event, and the bar downstairs was packed and entranced, listening to the piano players.
The Rodd Charlottetown is a hotel from the 1930s right downtown. Enjoy its old charm with new amenities.
The Holman Grand is a historic property with elegant rooms overlooking the waterfront.
Best Things To Do in Charlottetown, PEI
Best Restaurants in Charlottetown
Charlottetown has an incredible food scene. It’s home to The Culinary Institute of Canada, and many students work locally. From a great cup of coffee to your seafood fix, there is plenty of foodie finds you need to try on your trip:
The food scene is an incredible and constantly evolving capital of Canada’s food island. Locally focused restaurants, artisan shops and food festivals.
Dinner to Drinks in Charlottetown
Peake’s Wharf
Peake’s Wharf is home to a collection of restaurants and food huts. My favourite is The Chip Shack. They might have the best fries in Canada made with PEI potatoes. They also have a lobster roll. Peake’s Wharf restaurant has a large patio that looks at Peake’s Wharf and the water.
Victoria Row
This street is home to plenty of great restaurants and patios underneath twinkle lights. In the summer, they also have live music you can enjoy while savouring your meal. It was closed when I visited, but I recommend visiting Fishies on the Rooftop, where you can enjoy a drink on a rooftop patio and soak in the sights.
The Brickhouse Kitchen & Bar
This multi-layer restaurant is the perfect spot for dinner turned into drinks in an 1800s warehouse. We went for appetizers and cocktails. The top-floor cocktail lounge felt like you were in an upscale apartment. It was a popular spot for date night. I’d love to head back here and try their brunch.
Merchantman Fresh Seafood & Oyster Bar
Enjoy incredible seafood specialties from fresh oysters, lobster and rock crab dip, smoke and pickle board and more. I also love their fish and chips paired with seasoned kettle chips. They have a gorgeous patio in the summer. Merchantman Fresh Seafood & Oyster Bar is an excellent spot for dinner and drinks.
Pink Crow
Enjoy wood-fired specialties in a restaurant that feels perfect for date night. I loved vibe inside and the pink door that greets you at the front. I couldn’t resist the lobster and potato pizza. My friends got the lobster rigatoni that looked equally amazing. I highly recommend adding the brussel sprout caesar appetizer too!
Founders Food Hall
Find lots of wonderful vendors under one roof at Founders Food Hall. From fresh seafood specialties to souvenirs and coffee from Oh Hey PEI, there’s plenty to explore. You can even catch live music here and they have a beautiful patio.
Reddins
Enjoy a speakeasy in Charlottetown at Reddins. With its vintage-inspired design and hidden-away vibe, it pays homage to the city’s secret drinking culture, when alcohol prescriptions from Reddins Drug Store kept the good times flowing.I haven’t had a chance to visit yet but it’s top of my list next time I’m in town!
Charlottetown Coffee Shops
The Gallery
Don’t miss this coffee house and bakery on your visit. The Gallery is owned by a couple from Germany that moved to PEI in 2016. Grab a coffee, and don’t skip on their delicious treats! I love grabbing a coffee here and then strolling vibrant George St.
Receiver
Fuel up at this Charlottetown staple with multiple locations at Victoria Row. Receiver also has amazing food, you need to try their breakfast sandwich and hot honey sandwich!
The Kettle Black
This is an excellent spot for lunch and coffee. Sit back in one of their comfy chairs and soak in the coffee shop vibes.
Enjoy Cow’s Ice Cream
Cow’s famous PEI ice cream is a must every time you visit. It’s premium old-fashioned ice cream made from their recipe. Go for one of their fun flavours, like gooey money or moo crunch.
Fun fact, they have 11 stores across Canada and one in Beijing, China!
Taste The Town Food & Fact Tour
This tour is a great way to enjoy multiple foodie finds in Charlottetown while learning about the city. The tour includes all samples. By the end, we were completely stuffed. Here are the stops we went to:
- The Gallery: we enjoyed a coffee sample and chocolate. We loved it so much that we went back again.
- Gahan House: this brewery is a great spot to enjoy some brews and seafood. We got to try three types of their mussels – curried, white wine sauce and seasonal with apples. If you like mussels, I’d recommend visiting.
- The Chip Shack: no food tour of PEI would be complete without visiting the Queen of Fries herself for some delicious fries.
- Lobster on the Wharf: we ended the tour with a delicious lobster roll. The bun had a savoury garlic butter, and they told us they had the freshest lobster roll in town.
We also learned lots of cool facts along the way. Did you know you needed a prescription to get beer in Charlottetown in 1948?!
You can book the tour here with Experience PEI.
Charlottetown Brewery Tour
Charlottetown has plenty of breweries to explore within walking distance. You can go on a self-guided brewery tour. There’s also Ride Solar, a pedal-powered bike tour that will bring you to some of their favourite locations on a unique pub crawl.
Learn About Mi’kmaq Culture
The Mi’kmaq are the First Peoples of PEI and have called it home for 12000 years. In Charlottetown, you’ll find the Epekwitk Assembly of Councils Building, a focal point of Mi’kmaq history and culture. Here you’ll find more Indigenous experiences in PEI, including tours.
Live Music in Charlottetown
Charlottetown has such a fun nightlife and plenty of spots to enjoy live music. Some favourites include Trailside Music Hall, The Guild, PEI Brewing Company, Peake’s Wharf, and Victoria Row. There’s no shortage of places to go. Let the music guide you.
Explore the Waterfront
There are plenty of Instagram-worthy spots along the waterfront, like the love lock LOVE sign or catching a vibrant sunset. Walk along the waterfront to Victoria Park, and you’ll spot the Brighton Beach Lighthouse.
Festivals in Charlottetown
PEI Shellfish Festival
PEI Shellfish Festival feels like Canada’s version of Oktoberfest but with lobster rolls and oysters! This festival captures the very heart of PEI. Enjoy world-class seafood, culinary competitions, dancing the night away, and making new friends at the ultimate East Coast Kitchen Party.
The festival kicks off with Feast & Frolic, an incredible lobster supper, complete with family-style seating and unlimited oysters (24 kinds to choose from), and more. By day, catch high-energy chef battles, oyster shucking contests, Caesar comps and more. By night, dance the night away to live bands. In between, enjoy fresh seafood from lobster rolls to mussels to clams!
2026 is the 30th anniversary of the festival so you know its going to be amazing! Mark your calendar for September 17-20th. Get your tickets here!
Whether you’re here for two days or four, Charlottetown is the perfect gateway to PEI’s food, culture, and coastal beauty. Add it to your Canadian bucket list—you’ll leave full, happy, and already planning your return.
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Julia started Little Miss Ottawa as a way to explore her hometown as a traveller would. She’s always planning her next adventure, whether it’s local or abroad. You’ll find her exploring with her camera in hand. She hopes Little Miss Ottawa helps bring you on new and fun adventures. Happy exploring :)
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