Top Cafes in Hamilton, Canada

We had the pleasure of visiting this lively spot during the Super Brawl Festival, and it quickly became one of our favorite stops. In a sea of festival vendors, this place stood out for offering affordable drinks and food without compromising on quality—a rarity during such events.

We indulged in tequila shots, priced at an incredibly reasonable $6 each, as well as some classic rum and coke and vodka with juice, both priced at $12. The drink options were both budget-friendly and well-mixed, which added to the overall experience. To accompany our drinks, we ordered their fish and chips, and it was a pleasant surprise—crispy, flavorful, and satisfying, making it one of the highlights of the day.

Located on prime real estate on James Street, right in the heart of the Super Brawl festivities, this spot offers great convenience. Whether you’re watching the action unfold or just soaking in the festival atmosphere, grabbing a seat on their patio elevates the experience. The outdoor setting is perfect for people-watching while sipping on your drink of choice.

The only area where this place could improve is cleanliness. The tables felt a bit sticky, and while it didn’t ruin the experience, a little more attention to tidying up would make a big difference.

Overall, it’s a fantastic place to enjoy affordable drinks, good food, and prime festival vibes. With a bit more attention to cleanliness, it could easily become a top spot for festival-goers.

Not happy. I waited in line outside while being ignored until I finally asked to order for take out just to be told to order at the bar. The person working the bar didn't seem interested in taking my order.
After I finally got it in I waited about 40+ minutes to get my food.

I ordered the piri piri chicken poutine and the piri chicken salad.

I was overcharged.

When I got home I realized I got the wrong order. No poutine. Chicken thighs and side of fries.
The salad doesn't have much chicken on it nor vegetables.... So I paid $15+ for salad?? What the hell!!

I know not to bother calling them since when I was waiting for my food I overheard them saying that they don't answer the phone!

Every plate that went out to a table looked great, I guess they don't care about to go orders.

The waitresses all seemed slow and confused about tables and what needed to be done where.

That was my first time there and I won't be going back. What a waste of time.

Excellent place for friends get together! Food tastes great, employees with sense of humor😄
[by the way…my friend put the candle ornament on the floor, we didn’t take it back to home😆]

Ten years ago, when I first stepped into this restaurant, I was a high school student new to Canada. Holding my first paycheck, I found myself in this Portuguese restaurant, staring at a menu I couldn't quite comprehend. The waiter at the time recommended the Spanish seafood rice, and I was pleasantly surprised by the flavors. A decade later, passing through Hamilton, I revisited this restaurant, instantly transported back to my high school days, even the prices. The food here is definitely worth the cost, and the chef's skill is exceptional. Today, I ordered the seafood rice, fried squid, and charcoal-grilled sea bass—all incredibly delicious. The charcoal grilling technique used for the fish gives it a tender texture and a fragrant aroma, reminding me of my time in Portugal. This is a restaurant that might be underrated in ratings, but I believe it has kept loyal customers like myself since 1996.

This is a surprising Portuguese meal, each dish is above average, no disappointments! Great value for money, dishes like seafood rice and grilled sea bass would cost more than twice the price in Toronto! Highly recommended!

Always an amazing experience here. Jorge is a perfectionist Beef a casa was so on point and perfectly executed. Service is amazing. Claudia is super great. But let’s talk about the food. a ALWAYS great. Great wine selection and again anything you order is going to be awesome.Also Jorge has won awards since 1996.

The restaurant has a great interior but was half empty. Our server was super personable. The sangria was delicious. We ordered the rabbit and the seafood pasta. After about 15 minutes our server came back and told us they were out of the rabbit so my partner switched to the steak. The stuffed bread appetizer was delicious. Our main came out and I was brought the rice, not the pasta. Our server was super apologetic. Although I really wanted the pasta, the rice was delicious.

The best theatre space in Hamilton. The karaoke nights are a blast. The cocktails are offensively good.

At a time when the world is in sad turmoil, we need The Staircase & its fun events more than ever to keep our spirits up. And it's the only place in town for improv classes. Recommended!

Saw an improv performance this weekend. Small theater where you are always close to the action. Wonderful.

We came here for my birthday dinner with the family because we had heard good things about this place. Parking is a pain for the area but we figured it out. We ordered some appetizers and mains for all of us. The dishes were large and plentiful, so no one went home hungry. The best dishes were the sardines and the rabbit, very tasty. The rest were other seafood dishes that were bland and needed seasoning and herbs flavours, my seafood pasta looked beautiful but lacked the flavour you would expect from all the shellfish. That was the only disappointment, the ambiance and the service were wonderful and felt very local and homey. We will come back another time and see if this was just a one-off.

Great theatre space and café! Theatre seats have fantastic sightlines. They are however somewhat uncomfortably tilted back - if there are folding seats placed at the front you might want to consider that, or be ready to sit forward to relieve the pressure on your back.

Went here to see The Monsters of Schlock in October with my sister. She has been to other events here and was thrilled to share the experience with me. I was not disappointed! I had however missed the email I had been forwarded about the late show being cancelled. We came in to eat before it.....the staff was quick to figure out (without us saying anything) that this was the case and quickly got us into the early show which was just getting underway and was sure to invite us back to another show in the week at no expense. Top Notch customer service! On our return later that week we enjoyed some cocktails and a Massive Nacho plate that 4 of us had a hard time finishing! Be sure and have their signature spiral fries!

Food delicious! The draft selection is full of Collective Arts and other local craft beers. The staff is very friendly and the entire atmosphere is so cool and welcoming. We rented the theatre and had an awesome time. I will definitely be repeating the theatre rental and I hope to get back here for some delicious vegan eats, or a even a show in the near future.

We’ve been ordering from the staircase since day one and I have to say that I have never been disappointed! We’ve only ever gotten takeout, and it’s always been amazing - the food is delicious and such generous portions! And unlike traditional takeout, the quality is always there! No soggy mess, not thrown together and hope for the best. Good food, good presentation, amazing staff! Keep up the good work!

We sampled lots of items on the menu and they were all great. My favorite drinks were the peach iced tea and the charcoal raspberry shake. Caesar salad was really good. The fries were "too good to share"- the spice was perfect. The quesadillas were awesome and very filling and ideal for sharing. I'd recommend the brownie for dessert. We sat outside but the the interior is worth checking out. So many creative details! We're looking forward to renting the theatre for an upcoming birthday celebration. Great service and such a fun place!