PREAMBLE & PHOTOS BY CHRIS TIESSEN
Stratford has a way of seducing the senses. This small city on the Avon, best known, of course, for the internationally acclaimed celebration of Shakespearean theatre, is no stranger to performance. But the drama here extends well beyond the stage. It’s found in the details that animate Festival City: in the way spaces are curated, food is plated, cocktails composed, and shop windows styled.
Design is everywhere — and it’s deliberate.
Stratford is a city that embraces beauty in both its bold gestures and its quiet moments. In April, the TOQUE team spent a day and night exploring its vibrant design scene. This photo essay is a tribute to the creative spirit of this city, where craft, culture, and aesthetic intention quietly take centre stage, and where every experience feels just a little more considered.
12:35PM – We kick off our Stratford design tour just outside town with two standout stops: Wild Hog (2785 Line 34) and Perth County Moto (2980 Forest Rd). Wild Hog is a family-run market and café housed in a stunning modern barn-style building that offers local produce, meats, house-made meals, gift ideas and more. With a window display showcasing butchered cuts and a lofted café space, it’s like Dundurn Market turned up several notches. Just down the road, Perth County Moto blends vintage motorcycle culture with style, featuring classic choppers and racks of Fasthouse and Loser Machine Co gear — a favourite destination for style and moto enthusiasts alike.
1:51PM – After Wild Hog and Perth County Moto, we head straight to Ontario Street for a must-stop at Werk Shop (111 Ontario St) — one of Stratford’s cathedrals of cool. We browse new arrivals from Herschel, Fjällräven, Baggu, and whatever else catches our eye.
2:34PM – New Herschel caps on, we stroll to Brch & Wyn (245 Downie St), one of Stratford’s most beautifully designed spots. Set below grade in a restored century building, owner Jonny Kirwin has created a light, airy café and wine bar with pastel tones and floral touches — a sort of ‘White Lotus’ meets Wes Anderson joint. The food and cocktails are just as polished: croissant sandwiches with fried egg and arugula, spicy chicken bites, gourmet flatbreads, and bright, fresh drinks. It never misses.
3:56PM – After Brch & Wyn, we wander past Stratford’s iconic city hall and step into Dale + Company (17 Market Pl), a beautifully curated home and lifestyle boutique. From bed and bath to art, books, lighting, and kitchenware, every corner invites exploration. Then it’s off to our accommodations for the night: the River Suite apartment at Perth County Inn (4 Ontario St). Outfitted with punchy wallpaper, a Pac-Man arcade console, sleek furnishings, art books, and a magazine stand (featuring TOQUE, of course), this two-bedroom, 700+ sq-ft space nails that sweet spot between playful and polished. Right up our alley.
5:12PM – After a quick recharge at our apartment, we head out for late-afternoon bites at Café Bouffon (70 Ontario St), followed by dinner at The Starlight (64 Wellington St). Each space offers a distinct transportive charm — vintage Parisian elegance at Bouffon and rustic Art Deco flair at Starlight. The food? Outstanding. We pair tartare and fries with cocktails at Bouffon, then dive into oysters Rockefeller, ravioli, cheeseburgers, and a standout roasted carrot dish with pints at Starlight. Both the cuisine and ambiance are nothing short of show-stopping.
9:11PM – After dinner, we make our way to our favourite cocktail spot: Relic Lobby Bar (6 Ontario St), conveniently located right beneath our apartment. With its Hemingway-esque vibe and expertly crafted drinks, it hits all the right notes.
10:01AM – The next morning, we grab americanos and baked treats at The Outpost (2 Ontario St) — a charming new provisions spot from the team behind The Flour Mill in St. Marys. And then we head back to Guelph — refreshed and inspired.
Editor’s note: The Outpost is no longer in Stratford. Visit their main hub in St. Mary’s at the Flour Mill.
