First time in St. John's — what locals actually recommend
If it's your first weekend in St. John's, this is the locals' shortlist — the sights worth the queue, the food you can't skip, and the neighbourhood walks that show you the place.
Top spots in St. John's
Jellybean Row
CultureDowntown
Rainbow-painted rowhouses of old St. John's.
Mummers Festival
CultureDowntown
Disguised, masked, door-to-door Newfoundland Christmas tradition.
Cape Spear
OutdoorsDay trip
Easternmost point of N.A. — go for sunrise.
Iceberg Alley Boat Tour
OutdoorsHarbour
10,000-year-old ice drifting past your boat.
Quidi Vidi Village
Food & DrinkQuidi Vidi
Fishing harbour + iceberg-beer brewery.
Signal Hill
OutdoorsEast End
Cabot Tower hike with cliffs, whales and the Atlantic.
Where to eat
Chinched
$$$Charcuterie + small plates · Downtown
House-cured everything, packed nightly.
Mallard Cottage
$$$Heritage Newfoundland · Quidi Vidi
200-year-old cottage, cod tongues and moose.
Merchant Tavern
$$$Modern Canadian · Downtown
Old bank, oysters, killer cocktails.
Raymonds
$$$$Newfoundland tasting · Downtown
Long considered Canada's best restaurant.
Frequently asked
- Standouts right now: Signal Hill, Quidi Vidi Village, Cape Spear. The shortlist is curated by people who live in St. John's and refreshed regularly so it reflects what's actually open and worth your time.