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 Long Do You Need in Charlottetown?
We made day trips to Greenwich National Park and Victoria By The Sea from Charlottetown. 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.
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.
Things You Need To Do in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
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.
Enjoy Cow’s Ice Cream
This 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!
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!
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.
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
Their beautiful outdoor patio caught my eye. I went with their fish tacos and chips. The fish was perfectly crispy ad paired with seasoned kettle chips. This was an excellent spot for dinner and drinks.
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.
Looking for more ideas to add to your east coast adventure? Check out these:
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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