Where to dine after ice time in Hastings County
If there are two things we know in Hastings County in the winter, it’s cold rinks and cozy food and drinks. So when you can pair the two, you’re always getting some of the best of what’s on offer here. Keep reading for a rundown of several of the region’s arenas, curling clubs, and outdoor rinks, and where to grab a drink and a meal nearby.
Deseronto
Rink: Deseronto Community Centre
When it opened in 1975, the Deseronto Arena instantly became a cornerstone of the community. Featuring an 80- by 100-foot ice pad and spectator seating for 500, it’s the perfect spot for watching the Deseronto Bulldogs take on a rival from the Eastern Ontario Super Hockey League.
Drink: The O’Connor House English Tea Room
Warm up in this Hastings-famous tea room in downtown Deseronto. Think lace curtains, linen tablecloths, and fine china. Afternoon tea is an event here, where the teas are turned out on tiered plates alongside finger sandwiches, scones, preserves, whipped cream, and sweets.
Dine: Magnolias on Main
Magnolias on Main in Deseronto offers delicious home style lunches and meals. They are a cozy cafe with fresh baked goods, daily soup specials, sandwiches and of course great coffee and hot chocolate. They also occasionally have live music and events so check out their Facebook page for what's happening.
Tyendinaga
Rink: Outdoor Skating Rink
Pair some laps with fresh air at this outdoor rink at the Tyendinaga Recreation Complex, open from 10 am to 9 pm daily. This isn’t your backyard slab of ice, by the way. It was built on top of a horse ring, and it has a roof and boards. Still, it can be busy, so if there are lots of people, limit your use to 30 minutes.
Drink and Dine: United Restaurant, Deseronto
Though popular for their pizzas and panzerottis, they also provide a broad menu with lunch and dinner options as well as a complete breakfast, making it a great stop before and after a day at the rink.
Tweed
Rink: Tweed Hungerford Community Centre
This is where Tweed comes together in the winter, especially on Friday and Saturday nights. That’s when the town’s top teams hit the ice: the U21 Tweed Hawks of the Eastern Ontario Minor Hockey League and the Tweed Oil Kings, the only community owned team in the Eastern Ontario Super Hockey League.
Drink: Cube Coffee Bar
Cube Coffee Bar is a modern and cozy café located in the heart of Downtown Tweed. They offer a variety of specialty hot beverages and are fully licensed. In addition to serving delicious drinks, Cube Coffee provides a selection of baked goods and hosts popular supper clubs on weekends, along with live music and entertainment.
Dine: Vito’s Pizza / Gateway Family Restaurant / T.N.T Diner / Moe's Diner
When it comes to pizza, Vito's is the place to go. Established in 1980, their pies are made with fresh dough prepared daily and homemade sauces, then baked in stone-deck ovens. If you’re in the mood for homestyle comfort food, visit Gateway, located just a few doors down. They serve all-day breakfast, soups, salads, sandwiches, pastas, and a variety of other entrées. Known for their burgers and poutines, T.N.T. Diner offers a wide range of pub-style delights. Moe's Diner is one of the newest additions to downtown Tweed and has quickly gained popularity for its milkshakes and comfort food, all set in a nostalgic atmosphere reminiscent of classic diners.
Bancroft
Rinks: North Hastings Community Centre / Bancroft Curling Club
These two are a stone’s throw away from each other and a short walk or drive from downtown. The arena is home to the Bancroft Rockhounds, one of the Greater Metro Junior ‘A’ Hockey League’s most recent additions. At the four-sheet curling club, look for bonspiels all winter long.
Drink: Bancroft Brewing Co. / The Muse Gallery & Café / Café BC
The Bancroft Brewing Co. has opened a new and impressive location in Downtown Bancroft, featuring a variety of fresh craft brews and charcuterie. For hot beverages, you can choose The Muse, a delightful café filled with art that offers premium coffee, or Café BC, a delightful restaurant known for its approachable drinks and extensive food menu—be sure to try the twisters!
Dine: The Bancroft Brew Pub / The Granite
If you are looking for delicious pub food and cold drinks after a good ol' game of hockey look no further than The Bancroft Brew Pub, they have large portions of all your favourites from burgers, wraps, wings, nachos and more. At The Granite, expect a more upscale yet still relaxed atmosphere paired with an eclectic menu of everything from steaks to fish to pasta to vegetarian options.
Faraday
Rink: Dungannon Recreation Centre (Located just outside Faraday in Bancroft)
Although L’Amable’s Dungannon Recreation Centre is best known as the headquarters for the Rally of the Tall Pines, it also has an outdoor skating rink in the winter. Bancroft’s North Hastings Community Centre has public skating, but head here for a lot more fresh air with your laps.
Drink and Dine: Pine Star Restaurant
If you need a classic roadside diner, tuck into Pine Star Restaurant, which is just a few clicks north of L’Amable. The breakfast is always good, as are the burgers.
Wollaston
Rink: Coe Hill Recreation Pavilion
In the summer, it’s the home of a popular flea market, but in the winter the Coe Hill Recreation Pavilion turns into a popular outdoor rink. With a roof and boards, it’s the perfect place to lace ‘em up even when the weather is a little messy.
Drink: The Monarch and The Milkweed
The Monarch and The Milkweed offers delicious butter tarts, cinnamon rolls, and other baked goods. They also serve breakfast wraps and, of course, hot coffee, making them the perfect stop before or after a day on the rink.
Dine: The Barn Chefs / Gas & Country Restaurant
Whether you go for The Barn Chefs’ charcuterie, cheeses, breads, pastas, preserves, or desserts, you can’t go wrong with any of the Italian delicacies created here. Pizza lovers can head just down the road to Wollaston Gourmet Pizza for some of the thickest and most delicious pies around.
Marmora
Rink: Marmora Community Centre and Arena
This is a classic smalltown arena found just north of Highway 7. It can be cold out on the ice, but that just means the ice is really good. And if you do get a little chilly, head upstairs to the big viewing area to warm up.
Drink and Dine: Tap & Tonic / Theo’s Pizzeria
Tap & Tonic serves an excellent selection of traditional pub food as well as plenty of cold beers on tap. Downtown Marmora also has Theo’s Pizzeria, a town favourite for its doughy pizzas and fresh and generous toppings. They also have a great atmosphere and tables for dining in.
Rink: Madoc and District Recreation Centre
Home to the Centre Hastings Grizzlies, the Madoc arena is another timeless smalltown barn. It has big dressing rooms and lots of seating — perfect for public skating on Saturday and Sunday afternoons in the winter.
Drink: Hidden Goldmine Bakery / Gold Rush Brewing
Not so hidden anymore, the Hidden Goldmine Bakery is one of the most loved cafés and bakeries in Hastings. The coffees and teas are fantastic, but you have to pair them with a butter tart (or six). For beers, head over to the newly opened Gold Rush Brewing with its large and clean, modern taproom that takes its inspiration from the mining history of the region.
Dine: Finn's Pub / Firehall Food Fun & Friends
After some time on the ice, you are sure to work up an appetite, so stop into Finn's Pub, located in Madoc directly across from the Skatepark, this fan favourite offers a large selection of tacos, fish and chips, pasta, wings and plenty of other delicious selections. They even offer breakfast if looking to fuel up before the game. Another great option is Firehall Food Fun & Friends, this newly opened restaurant has a large menu with a great atmosphere.
Stirling
Rink: Stirling Rawdon and District Recreation Centre / Stirling Curling Club
The Stirling arena had its biggest moment back in 2012, when it won Kraft Hockeyville and $100,000 for arena upgrades like a better air-filtration system, bigger dressing rooms, and recycled rubber flooring. The four-sheet curling club is another hub, boasting upstairs and downstairs viewing areas, a lounge, and popular bonspiels throughout the year.
Drink: Farm Girl Cafe
Farm Girl Cafe is the ideal location to enjoy a warm beverage after a day at the rink, or to grab a coffee before the game. They offer delicious desserts, as well as a variety of soups and sandwiches.
Dine: Jimmy’s Special Pizza and Fish and Chips / The Smokin' Barrel Bar & Grill
Jimmy’s has been a staple in downtown Stirling for many years. It’s known for great customer service, small-town charm, and the food in the name, but it also has great burgers, wings, and subs. If it’s your first visit, go for Jim’s Special Pizza: pepperoni, mushrooms, onions, bacon, green peppers, salami, and olives.
For great wings and craft beer, head to The Smokin' Barrel Bar & Grill. They also serve traditional comfort foods, but if you're looking for something to take with you, be sure to try one of their fried chicken buckets.
Check out our Hot Chocolate Map
Hot chocolate makes the perfect companion for a day at the rink. Be sure to explore our hot chocolate map to find the best places to enjoy a warm cup of cocoa in Hastings County.
