Part 15: A Day in Downtown Part 2
Welcome back to the second installment of our “Day in Downtown” series! This series is an unofficial guide for those wishing to have a great day in the downtown core, providing you with some suggestions for places to visit if you are looking to get something to eat and drink, do some shopping, or have a fun experience. The first installment of this series came out in the spring, and now that we are in the summer there have been a variety of new and exciting developments in the downtown core. The warm weather is sure to make any day better, so continue reading to get some suggestions about how to have a great day in downtown!
A great start to a summer day in downtown would be a delicious and refreshing drink, and Redchurch Café + Gallery would be the perfect place to visit. Located at 68 King Street East, this café has a variety of delicious drinks and snacks that are sure to make your day better and give you a burst of energy. While they carry classics like americanos and lattes, you should make an effort to try one of their seasonal features while they are still available. Their seasonal features include frozen lemonade, strawberry kiwi iced tea, iced caramel latte, and iced milkadamia mocha, and more. These cold drinks are sure to be the perfect refreshing treat for the hot weather, and make sure to grab one of their bakery items for the side. Redchurch has a patio out front as well, so grab a drink and one of their snacks, sit on the patio and enjoy the warm weather while you can. You can find more information about Redchurch Café + Gallery and view their menu through their website here, and then follow them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
The next stop on a great day in downtown should involve getting something to eat, and you do not need to look any further than Chillis & Chimneys for this. Located at 105 King Street East, this Indian restaurant provides its customers with flavours inspired by the West and Far East, in addition to a warm and welcoming environment. Their extensive menu includes kebabs and tikkas, biriyanis, vegetarian and non-vegetarian curries, wraps and more. This restaurant is a relatively new addition to the downtown core, but their menu and inviting atmosphere are sure to make them a new favourite for those that pay them a visit. Make sure that you visit them, order something delicious and enjoy your time in this amazing restaurant soon. You can find more information about Chillis & Chimneys and view their menu through their website here, and then follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
If the next stop on your day in downtown tour involves treating yourself to a new item for your wardrobe or house, you should make an effort to visit LEN: Democratic Purveyors of Fine Art & Beautiful Things. This retail store is located at 22 Wilson Street, and the large amount of exciting stock means that you are sure to find something that you love any time that you visit. One of their most popular (and relevant) items is their “Hamilton Hates You Too” line, which includes t-shirts, tank tops, tote bags, mugs and more. You can show pride in your city and push back against critique in style. LEN: Democratic Purveyors of Fine Art & Beautiful Things also offers art prints, other clothing items, home products, books and more, all dedicated to a variety of pop culture topics. Regardless of what you are looking to purchase, you are sure to find something you cherish. You can browse LEN: Democratic Purveyors of Fine Art & Beautiful Things’ stock and order online through their website here, and then follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
The summer is a great time to update your look, and Vagabond Saints is here to help. Located at 10 John Street North, this tattoo lounge and space offers its customers a variety of personal care services, including tattoos, piercing, and nail services. Whether you are looking for a large commitment like a tattoo or a small update like a manicure, the talented team behind Vagabond Saints is there to support you and ensure that you find the right option based on your needs and wants. You can find more information about Vagabond Saints, including their booking policies, prices and more information about their artists, and book an appointment through their website here. You can also follow them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
The perfect end to a great day in downtown could be trying a new experience, so why don’t you go get your photo taken at Recess Photo Studio? Located at 111 King Street East, this new photography studio is Hamilton’s first self-portrait photo studio. Recess Photo Studio provides the camera, lights and backdrop, and you can then take as many photos as you want with the help of a discrete clicker. There are three portrait session options to choose from, a headshot, full body and pet session. Whether you are looking for a new professional headshot or an updated family photo, Recess Photo Studio is a great stop for a great day in downtown. You can find more information about Recess Photo Studio and book a session through their website here, and then follow them on Instagram and TikTok.
The hot summer weather allows you to have a better and more enjoyable day out, and visiting any one of the incredible businesses in the downtown core is sure to make a good day truly great. This blog post contains only a few of the incredible options in downtown Hamilton that you can visit for a great day out, but more will be explored in later blog posts. You can find a complete directory of the businesses within the Downtown Hamilton BIA here, any of which are sure to impress. Downtown Hamilton has everything you could ever need for a fun day out, so plan your next visit soon!
If you are a Downtown Hamilton BIA member business and would like to be featured in a blog post, please email Emily Gilruth at operations@downtownhamilton.org.