Almonte is a picturesque 19th-century mill town surrounded by the Canadian Mississippi River, located just 40 minutes from downtown Ottawa. Because it is so incredibly photogenic, it has become a hot spot for filming movies in recent years. You can easily spend an entire day here exploring heritage streets, unique boutiques, and scenic views. From where to shop to must-try restaurants, here is your ultimate day-trip guide to Almonte.
Fun Facts about Almonte
The Origin of Basketball and Almonte
Did you know that the inventor of basketball grew up just minutes outside of downtown Almonte? Dr. James Naismith was born in Ramsay Township (now part of Mississippi Mills) and developed the concept of the game in 1891 while working in Massachusetts. Local legend says his inspiration for basketball actually came from a childhood game he played with his friends right here in the area called “Duck on a Rock.” Today, you can celebrate this local history by snapping a photo with the life-sized bronze statue of Dr. Naismith sitting on a bench in the heart of Almonte, or by visiting the Mill of Kintail Conservation Area, which houses a fantastic collection of his personal artifacts, early rulebooks, and memorabilia!
Almonte: A Real-Life Hallmark Movie Set
It is no surprise Almonte is affectionately nicknamed “Mini Hollywood North”—its picture-perfect heritage buildings and cascading waterfalls have served as the backdrop for nearly twenty different holiday romance movies! While it is a delight to visit at any time of year, Almonte truly transforms into a magical Christmas village during the holidays, glowing with twinkling lights, evergreen garlands, and a spectacular “Light Up The Night” festival on the first Friday of December. You can easily spot familiar cinematic landmarks while you explore, like Baker Bob’s, North Market, and Café Postino, which have all starred on the silver screen.
Check out this post for a guide of Christmas movies filmed in Almonte and ideas to guide a seasonal visit.
Where to Go for Coffee and Treats in Almonte
You’ll find plenty of cute shops and cafes to pop into on the main street. Walk around and see what catches your eye. Here are a few of my favourites:
Hummingbird Chocolate
Hummingbird Chocolate is an award-winning, craft bean-to-bar chocolate factory. They make world-class chocolate from scratch using ethically sourced cacao from regions like Central America. You can stop by to sample their creations, with the spicy Mayan chocolate being a true standout. They have a wonderful cafe on site, and it’s definitely worth trying their hot chocolate. You can even get an iced version in the summer.
Healthy Food Technologies Donuts
Healthy Food Technologies slogan is ‘Expect Great Taste Without Guilt’ because they make donuts with 50 to 70 percent less fat but not at the expense of the taste. How do they make delicious donuts that are healthier? Owner, Ed Atwell, invented a new process to fry foods that cut down the fat percentage. I’ve heard nothing about great reviews about this place. They open early so it will be one of my first spots next time.
Dairy Distillery
Would you drink vodka made from cow milk? Dairy Distillery uses milk sugar to make spirits. They saw an opportunity to create spirits using milk sugar because using milk sugar hasn’t been popular with distillers due to its high cost and production challenges, but there are over 3500 Ontario dairy farmers whose milk permeate from ultrafiltered milk often just becomes waste. They’re now able to create a spirit that supports local farmers and the environment. I would definitely be interested in trying this, how about you?
Go For Coffee
Right in town you’ll find Ottawa Valley Coffee, a cozy spot on the main street.
Equator Coffee is based in Almonte. They’ve been roasting in the heart of the Ottawa Valley since 1998. It’s named Equator because the owners want to ‘Equate’ the benefit of drinking coffee, from those consuming it to the farmers who grow it. Along with the cafe, their Almonte location is also the roastery.
Almonte Ice Cream Shop
Cool off with a cone at the Almonte Ice Cream Shop and then enjoy it along the riverwalk.
Best Restaurants in Almonte
Joe’s Italian Pizza
Joe’s Italian Pizza has a rustic interior with beautiful chandeliers throughout. Here you can get wood-fired pizza and other Italian specialties. They offer classic pizza dough or the Pinsa dough. Pinsa is a mix of sourdough, rice, soy, and wheat flour and imported directly from Rome. They are Canada’s first certified Pinsaria.
My favourite time to go is in summer when you can dine right beside a waterfall.
Sterling
This modern restaurant is inside an old bank; you’ll even see “the vault” beside the bar. This is a great spot to head for dinner and drinks. They have a wonderful seasonal menu full of delicious dishes.
Cafe Positano
Step inside the old Almonte post office and you’ll find this Italian restaurant. Owners Steve and Claire transformed the space and many recipes are inspired by family recipes with roots in Southern Italy.
North Market
North Market has a full-service dining room, bakery counter, and specialty bottle shop. What to expect is an incredible farm-to-table menu featuring fresh, seasonal lunch bowls, scratch-made pastries, and savoury breakfast items, paired with phenomenal specialty coffee and a curated selection of organic natural wines.
Shops in Almonte You Need to Check Out
Cheerfully Made
You’ll be instantly happy as soon as you walk into Cheerfully Made. It’s full of handmade goods including everything from candles, prints, cards, jewellery, fashion and more. This would be a great spot to pick up birthday or Christmas presents 😉
Tin Barn Market
Inside Tin Barn Market you’ll find an eclectic mix of home goods. From unique home goods, antique furniture and more, there’s plenty of fun items to browse.
Pêches & Poivre
My friend from Heirloom recommended checking out gourmet grocer, Peches & Poivre, for some sweet or savoury goodies. It also carries her own brand of canned goods called, Shamrock Gardens. They grow all their own ingredients and have a great assortment of sweet and savoury jams, sauces, pickles and more. I got their tomato and onion jam (so good). Next time I’ll get their bbq sauce using Topshelf’s maple moonshine.
Baker Bob’s
Satisfy your sweet tooth at Baker Bob’s! This was recommended by a few locals. I was so full I didn’t have a chance this trip but I’ll definitely be back next time. This would be a great spot to enjoy a treat or bring some home for later. I also love the personality on their Facebook posts.
That’s the Spirit
This witchy shop is tucked away in a mall, so it’s easy to walk past, but it’s worth a visit. It’s full of jewelry, books and all things witchy!
Almonte Antiques & Collectibles
I loved exploring this shop at the bottom of Mill Street. There are plenty of antique shops in Almonte. From records, jewellery, fancy teacups and more, there were plenty of interesting collectibles inside. You never know what might catch your eye.
Almonte Farmers Market
If you go to Almonte on a Saturday, check out the Almonte Farmers Market in front of the public library from 8:30am-12:30 pm. You’ll find fresh produce from local farms, sweets, plants and more.
Things To Do In Almonte: Sights to See
Almonte River Walk
this is one of my favourite things to do in Ottawa. You’ll get some great views of the Mississipi River as you walk along the boardwalk beside the river. The power of the water moving through is incredible. I started at Heirloom restaurant but you can also start at the Old Almonte Town Hall.
Mill of Kintail
Hike through the trails of the Mill of Kintail. This 152-acre conservation area in Almonte is filled with beautiful nature walks all year round. There is an admission fee of $6 per person and you can visit Monday-Friday 9 am-3: 30 pm or Saturday-Sunday 10:30 am-4: 30 pm. This is one of my favourite things to do with my dogs. Bring your pup for a scenic walk.
At the Mill of Kintail mill, you can learn about the history of the area and the inventor of basketball, James Naismith.
How to Get to Almonte
You’ll find Almonte about 40 minutes from downtown Ottawa. Add this list of things to do in Almonte to your next day trip itinerary!
Once you’ve done all the things to do in Almonte, visit its neighbours, Carp or Carleton Place.
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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I’m embarrassed to state that I have never been to Almonte! You’re right – it is SO picturesque! Mental note: get out of Barrhaven.
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Definitely recommend it! Perfect for a nice getaway without going too far 🙂 Let me know when you go!