Part 23: A Day in Downtown Part 3
Welcome to the third installment of our “Day in Downtown” Series, the last one for 2023! The purpose of this series is to act as a guide for individuals wishing to have a great day in the downtown core, providing readers with some suggestions of places to visit if you are looking to get something to eat and drink, do some shopping, or find a fun experience. The previous two installments were released in the spring and summer, but we have now entered a colder season and there are different activities to dispel the dreary weather. Continue reading for some suggestions about how to have a great day in downtown!
A great start for your day in the downtown core would be grabbing a delicious warm drink, and you do not need to look any farther than RELAY Coffee Roasters, located at 27 King William Street. This café is sure to lift your spirits on a cold and dreary day, with a delicious menu that includes coffee, cold brew, iced tea, lemonade, beer, hard teas, while they also offer items such as cookies, savoury biscuits, breakfast waffles, and dessert waffles. They also sell bags of their small batch roasted coffee to take home for yourself, in addition to other coffee and tea brewing materials and their own merchandise such as pins and prints. As a special treat for the holiday season, they are hosting a Christmas Tea Service on Sunday, December 10, for those who wish to celebrate the season in style. This tea service features a variety of sandwiches, scones, desserts and a pot of tea or a French Press of your favorite RELAY Roast. There is also an option for a smaller serving of more child-friendly sandwiches, scones and sweets with a smaller pot tea for any children who wish to participate. At the time of publication tickets are selling out fast and there is low amount left, so find more information and book here now! You can find more information about RELAY Coffee Roasters and order online through their website here, and then follow them on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).
While in the downtown core there will always be are a variety of delicious restaurants to try, and HAMBRGR is sure to impress. Located at 49 King William Street, this restaurant primarily focuses on burgers (as the name suggests), but their full menu is quite extensive and includes a wide variety of items that you are sure to find delicious. You can choose from poutines, salads, fries, a variety of sharable appetizers and plenty of different burger options. One of the aspects of their menu that stands out and makes them unique from other restaurants is their constantly changing signature burger, the Chef Smash. The current iteration of this burger is named A Knee-Jerk Reaction and includes a 7oz Patty, Jerk Pulled Pork, Pineapple Salsa, Mozzarella, Pickled Jalapeños, Shredded Lettuce & Mayo. It is available at all HAMBRGR locations until November 29, so make sure that you pay them a visit soon and try it before it’s too late! For those that are looking to find a new favourite restaurant, take a moment to to pop into HAMBRGR, try some delicious food and enjoy the electric atmosphere. You can find more information about HAMBRGR and make a reservation through their website here, and then follow them on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).
The cold weather is the perfect excuse to update your wardrobe and if you are looking to do a little bit of retail shopping while in the core, you should make an effort to visit Leathers at 157 King Street East. This clothing store focuses on providing their customers with high quality leather goods, with a wide range of stock that includes items such as jackets, boots, gloves, hats, purses and more. Regardless of whether you are looking for a new addition to your own wardrobe for the upcoming winter or are looking to purchase some amazing holiday gifts for someone else, you are sure to find everything that you are looking for at Leathers. You can find more information and browse their stock online here, and then pay them a visit in person soon!
If you are looking to treat yourself or someone you know to a pamper session, make sure that you visit The Brow Room, located at 61 King Street East. This salon only opened in the downtown core earlier this month, but they are already making a positive impression on the area! They offer brow corrections and shaping for those who have had brow trauma, in addition to lash lifting, body waxing, and spray tan services. They offer weekly promos with a specific deal for each day of the week, ranging from Lash Lift & Tints on Tuesdays to Fluffy Brows on Fridays. You can find out more information about these weekly promos here. The talented and supportive team behind The Brow Room will leave you feeling and looking great, regardless of which service you choose. You can find more information and book an appointment on their website here, and then follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
If you are looking for a fun experience in the downtown core, mark your calendars for the Downtown Hamilton BIA’s Christmas Tree of Hope Lighting, hosted in collaboration with the City of Hamilton and Corus Entertainment! Join us on Friday, December 1st, from 5 pm – 7 pm to witness the transformation of Gore Park as it lights up to mark the start of the holiday season. Visitors can snack on some delicious treats before visiting Santa and two princesses for a meet and greet. There will be festive aerialists roaming the park, and you can enjoy a live musical performance from the Salvation Army Mountain Citadel Band while taking a spin on the exhilarating Ferris Wheel. In addition, Gore Park will be completely decorated for Christmas, creating a winter wonderland that will jump-start your Christmas spirit. The Ferris wheel will keep on spinning in Gore Park from December 1st to December 10th, 12 pm – 8 pm daily and it is completely free. Please note: operation of this Ferris Wheel is weather dependent and there is a minimum height restriction of 48″ (4 feet). Single riders are not permitted. All passengers must fit comfortably within the lap bar passenger restraint safety devices. Loading is directed by the device Operator to maintain a “balanced load” for the proper operational function of the ride cycle. You can find more information about this event here.
This blog post contains only a few of the incredible options in downtown Hamilton that you can visit for a great day out. 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.