Stratford travel 2023: where to stay, eat, shop

The Stratford Festival attracts about a million theater-goers each year, shining the spotlight not only on the skilled performers, but also on the small riverside town that hosts them. This season, the festival’s 71st, features 13 productions ranging from feel-good comedies to captivating retellings of Shakespearean classics.

But while the critically acclaimed festival is arguably the town’s biggest claim to fame, Stratford, Ont. – my second home for over two years – offers plenty of reasons to linger after attending a show. Come for the bustling festival season, but stay for the burgeoning restaurant scene, serene gardens and downtown filled with galleries and boutiques. Here’s what you need to do on your next trip to this small arts and culture hub.

What to see this season

The Stratford Festival’s season runs from April to October, and this year ‘Rent’ wowed audiences with a talented young cast, including Broadway’s Andrea Macasaet. The 1990s rock musical about a group of East Village performers living through the height of the AIDS crisis feels as poignant as ever. (Tip: Discounted tickets in the “Bohemian zone“front rows start at just $29.)

Director Chris Abraham’s take on “Much Ado About Nothing” delivers the big laughs this Shakespearean comedy is known for, while also intelligently altering the text to give more voice to the female characters. Playwright Brad Fraser’s intriguing reinvention of “Richard II” is sure to turn heads with its unusual setting, which nods to 1970s and 1980s New York.

Where to stay

The Perth County Inn artfully combines the historic details of the 19th-century building with modern furnishings. Smaller rooms feature queen beds, Bose stereo systems, and smart TVs, while the gorgeous River Apartment can accommodate a group with its two-bedroom layout. The inn is walking distance to everything you want to visit in town, inclusive the Relic lobby barthe cool Cuban-inspired cocktail bar next door.

Where you can have the best dinners

Completed farm-to-table bistro Lovage can take on Toronto’s best spots: it’s headed by chef Jamie Crosby, who trained at Copenhagen’s famed Noma and teamed up with Ontario locavore legend Michael Stadtländer. Expect serious cooking in a hip setting, made even better by a wonderful wine list.

blue Bird is another newcomer leading the evolution of the dining scene in Stratford. Ranging from “dan dan” spaghetti squash to ham and cheese croquettes, the restaurant’s ready-to-eat menu is uninhibited by genre. Dishes are mainly served in sharing style, the ideal format to sample the many culinary influences.

Where to have the best post-show drinks

The crowd-pleasing cocktail list Braai bar includes well-executed classics, such as the Caesar and spritzes, and excellent non-alcoholic options. A casual offshoot of the Braai House restaurant, it’s a stylish place to avoid the post-show munchies, with South African influences to nibble on.

Beer aficionados need look no further than Mercer kitchen for pints after the show. The restaurant and beer hall’s ever-changing tap list highlights breweries across the county — such as London, Ont.’s Anderson Craft Ales and Scotland, Ont.’s Meuse Brewing — while the long, global menu of bottles and cans is organized by beer style.

What to do in and around the city

The charming, walkable center of Stratford is worth a stroll. Stop in Wills & Prior to swoon over aesthetic homewares, or head to the recently reopened Matilda Gallery & ArtBar for works by Stratford artists (current exhibition runs through July). Across the street is Stratford Market Square, which hosts regular outdoor events during the summer, including live music nights and a weekend farmer’s market.

Destination Stratford’s self-guided routes offer other fun routes to discover the city. The newly launched Sip & Savor Trailfor example, focuses on products made in and around Stratford, including craft beer from Jobsite Brewing Co.

Or explore the culinary side of the city in a more hands-on way: cooking classes in the Stratford Chef’s Schoolwhich is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, is open for public enrollment during the summer, between semesters of its chef training program.

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