A Meals Lover’s Information to three Days in Vaughan
Simply north of Toronto, Vaughan is a metropolis that blends cultural range with an epic food and drinks scene! From craft breweries and international flavours to nostalgic diners and unforgettable desserts, Vaughan is a spot the place each meal appears like a discovery.
Right here’s find out how to spend three scrumptious days exploring the very best bites and sips this metropolis has to supply.
Day 1: Craft Brews, Consolation Eats and International Eating
Sip and savour your approach by Vaughan’s craft breweries, international eateries and extra.
Mascot Brewery
1033 Edgeley Blvd #3 Vaughan, ON (View Map)
Kick off your Vaughan journey at Mascot Brewery, a Black-owned brewery and taproom that’s develop into a cornerstone of Vaughan’s craft beer group. Their house has all the suitable vibes for a spontaneous tasting flight, a laid-back hangout with mates and even a day of board video games.
The faucet listing is all the time evolving, so each go to appears like an opportunity to find one thing new they’re brewing. We opted to strive a pattern flight sipping by among the brewery’s hottest selections together with their Paulie’s Italian lager, New English lager and their refreshing Watermelon Beet bitter.
Past the beer, Mascot’s ethos runs deep. The founders created the Black Owned Collaboration (BOC) initiative, rooted of their private journey in craft beer and the popularity of how few Black-owned areas existed within the trade.
The thought started with curiosity about different Black brewers’ tales and has grown right into a motion that uplifts and shines a lightweight on Black-owned breweries, inspiring others to really feel they belong and to see themselves as leaders within the house. It’s not nearly beer, it’s about group, illustration and inclusion.
Salty Dawg Saloon
9732 Hwy 27, Woodbridge, ON (View Map)
Subsequent, head over to the Salty Dawg Saloon, a spot with wealthy historical past in Vaughan. As soon as referred to as an underground hangout, it has since grown right into a beloved informal spot that locals adore. Equal components cozy watering gap and go-to eating vacation spot, their menu shines with flavourful wood-fired sandwiches and pizzas.
Throughout our go to, we caught the tail finish of Vaughan Flavours, town’s signature culinary program that showcases taking part eating places by particular prix fixe menus. At Salty Dawg, the expertise started with a alternative of a cheese plate or a refreshing chickpea salad.
For the primary, the lamb–LandShark plate was a standout, that includes expertly-grilled lamb chops paired with crisp salad and a LandShark beer. Dessert sealed the take care of a traditional tartufo gelato for a candy end to an unforgettable meal.
Sizzling Tip: Vaughan Flavours might be again February 2026, so hold your eye out for this scrumptious program and all of the taking part stops throughout town.
Bevi Birra
7500 Hwy 27 Unit 20, Woodbridge, ON (View Map)
Hold the nice occasions rolling at Bevi Birra, a uniquely curated bottle store and native favorite gem run by finest mates and identified for its Italian-inspired flavours and heat, welcoming vibe. Their focaccia, made contemporary in home every day, is the scrumptious basis for his or her stacked sandwiches.
We tried the “Giovanna”, loaded with sizzling sopressata, garlic ricotta, pepperoncino, honey and arugula, or the hearty crowd favorite “Ribeye Steak” layered with provolone, rosemary aioli, caramelized onion and arugula.
For one thing candy, the house-made tiramisu is a can’t miss alternative. To sip, we paired our bites with the crisp Pronto Italian Lager by Halo Brewery and the daring Wonderful and Free IPA from Dominion Metropolis Brewing, a particular Trans-Canada collaboration brewed fully with Canadian elements to assist native growers and breweries.
Earlier than you head out, keep some time and make your approach upstairs for a pleasant recreation of pool. It’s a enjoyable strategy to spherical out a meal that’s all about good meals, good drinks and good firm!
Day 2: Nostalgic Bites, Arcade Enjoyable and Scorching Plates
Day 2 is all about enjoyable an these spots serve it up a-plenty!
Gordo’s Diner
200 Edgeley Blvd, Harmony, ON (View Map)
Begin Day 2 on a enjoyable and hearty observe at Gordo’s Diner, a nostalgic spot stuffed with vibrant cubicles, jukeboxes at each desk and partitions lined with 60s posters and memorabilia.
Right here, hearty parts of diner classics shine, from French toast dripping with syrup and butter to a stacked BLT breakfast sandwich or the filling Meat Lovers omelette with bacon, ham, sausage and cheddar cheese.
For an actual throwback end, we propose you pair your plate with a traditional frosty milkshake for the last word begin to the day!
Olive Department
1 promenade Circle Unit 101 Thornhill, ON (View Map)
For a noon pick-me-up, make a cease to The Olive Department inside Promenade Mall, a premier impartial kosher grocer spanning 35,000 sq. ft that blends specialty purchasing with a welcoming group really feel.
From contemporary deli and bakery counters to supply, ready-made meals and sizzling grab-and-go choices, the shop is designed to be greater than a spot to buy, it’s an expertise. We headed straight to the pâtisserie counter for a croissant cookie and a heat, brewed espresso for a candy break to the day.
After having fun with each final crumb, we stretched our legs strolling by the mall and landed at Bowls and Blasters, a full of life arcade and bowling alley with its personal kitchen and bar. Should you’re searching for informal eats, pre-dinner cocktails and a spherical of video games with mates, this could undoubtedly be in your itinerary.
3 Mariachis Mexican Restaurant
9200 Weston Rd. Woodbridge, ON (View Map)
After working up an urge for food with just a few rounds of bowling and arcade video games, you’ll be greater than prepared for one thing hearty.
Vivid, daring and stuffed with flavour we made our strategy to 3 Mariachis Mexican Restaurant. Pairing vibrant décor and heat hospitality with a menu of genuine Mexican delicacies, we opted to start out with the birria tacos served with house-made consommé, made for dipping.
Together with tacos we tried the scorching combined grilled molcajete, a sizzling volcanic bowl loaded with hen, steak, shrimp, cactus and cheese. The scorching bowl is made with each crimson and inexperienced salsa and a scrumptious addition to your desk for sharing with mates alongside chips and contemporary house-made guac!
To high all of it off, we couldn’t resist making an attempt their Mexican Bulldog margaritas. Topped with an upside-down Coronita, it provides that additional enjoyable and festive contact.
Medusa
3901 Hwy 7, Vaughan, ON (View Map)
To finish Day 2 of exploring Vaughan’s flavours, we made our strategy to Medusa, town’s premier spot for conventional Greek grill and seafood, to savour a style of the Aegean.
We opted to start out with the dramatic flaming saganaki, a pan-seared graviera cheese flamed in entrance of you table-side with ouzo that set the tone for a full of life meal. ‘
For mains, the souvlaki dinner with tender pork, lemon potatoes, rice, tzatziki and a contemporary Greek salad was each hearty and comforting, whereas the prawn saganaki introduced vibrant flavours with tiger prawns, feta, cherry tomatoes and toasted sourdough that we used for absorbing each drop of the wealthy sauce.
Dessert was a candy finale with galaktobouriko, a flaky phyllo custard topped with pistachio almond ice cream and crushed pistachios. You’ll go away with a full stomach, a contented coronary heart and the nice and cozy feeling of getting been properly taken care of, making Medusa’s a super cease to shut out your second day!
Day 3: Deli Traditions, Candy Treats and Daring Flavours
Prepared on your last day? Us both. Make sure to savour each chunk.
Centre Avenue Deli
1136 Centre St. Thornhill, ON (View Map)
Kick off your last day in Thornhill with breakfast on the legendary Centre Avenue Deli, a beloved establishment with many years of historical past serving up hearty Jewish deli classics. Slide right into a sales space and revel in a diner-style breakfast like a fluffy spinach and feta omelette or the ever-popular Western omelette.
If deli breakfasts aren’t your factor, Centre Avenue may simply change your thoughts with “un-deli however scrumptious” choices like a easy bacon and egg sandwich. Identified for its beneficiant parts and comforting staples, Centre Avenue can be a pleasant spot to return later within the day for his or her traditional smoked meat sandwich, latkes or a piled-high deli platter.
That Pretzel Dough
2316 Main MacKenzie Dr W unit 3, Maple, ON (View Map)
Subsequent up we made our strategy to Maple. We popped into That Pretzel Dough, a more recent bakery in Vaughan identified for its contemporary pretzels, doughnuts and different irresistible pastries. We grabbed a wide range of goodies to strive together with a big traditional pretzel and a heat gooey cinnamon bun to get pleasure from with espresso contained in the bakery and couldn’t resist snagging some butter tarts to convey together with us for later.
With our treats in tow, we took a fast detour for to North Maple Regional Park to take a noon pause at certainly one of Vaughan’s lovely inexperienced areas. A stroll by the paths makes for a peaceable reset earlier than lunch. With loads of seating and open areas, we settled in entrance of the rolling hills of the park to savour our candy treats whereas absorbing the view.
The park’s wide-open landscapes and peaceable environment made it the perfect spot to decelerate earlier than diving again into Vaughan’s vibrant eating scene.
Essence Bistro
140 Woodbridgee Ave, ON (View Map)
For lunch, get pleasure from a deliciously elevated meal at Essence Bistro. The restaurant house mixes mid-century type with earthy finishes and loads of greenery. Throughout our go to, we tried their Vaughan Flavours prix fixe menu. Beginning with a hen gentle soup, we moved on to the salmon served with romanesco cabbage and carrot salad, wearing a zesty grapefruit dressing. Ending the meal we couldn’t assist however strive the creamy cheesecake topped with contemporary strawberries.
Though the Vaughan Flavours program has wrapped up for the summer time, Essence Bistro’s common menu is simply as contemporary, distinctive and scrumptious. The avocado and egg toast on sourdough was a transparent standout, particularly when paired with the Violet 75 cocktail, a surprising purple mix of gin, prosecco and house-made lavender butterfly pea syrup that tasted each bit as refreshing because it regarded.
After your meal, make sure you browse their store, Essence Juice Bar, situated proper subsequent door for cold-pressed juices or smoothies to seize on the go or to flick through pure magnificence and meals merchandise to take residence with you.
Copacabana
205 Marycroft Ave, Woodbridge, ON (View Map)
Cap off your flavour journey in Vaughan with dinner at Copacabana, a full of life Brazilian steakhouse the place the rodizio menu shines with countless skewers of scorching meats which are carved in entrance of you table-side. From juicy picanha beef and parmesan crusted filet mignon to tender peri peri hen and garlic shrimp, you’ll be leaving with a contented and really full stomach!
We paired the expertise with a glass of VQA wine from Reif Estates, although their cocktail menu can be boasts curated matches on your feast. Alongside the meats, the connoisseur salad bar and share plates like braised beef ribs with cassava purée and crispy brussel sprouts assist break up the meal with some scrumptious selection. It’s the last word spot to have a good time the daring flavours, vibrant environment and beneficiant eating experiences that captures Vaughan’s epic culinary aspect!
Let’s hit the street and savour the flavours of Vaughan!
With so many scrumptious stops ready to be found, there’s no higher time to start out planning your personal foodie journey! Take a look at visitvaughan.ca to map out your journey immediately.
