9 Best Restaurants in Saint John, New Brunswick

This large, bright coffee shop in a beautiful historic building is a great place to sit and chill with a perfect cappuccino or latte and enjoy a cinnamon bun. This hugely popular and successful social enterprise supports a local men's shelter. 

Take a good look at the surroundings when you arrive—exposed brick walls, artworks, hardwood floors—because once the food appears, it will have your full attention. Artfully plated dishes, like local goat cheese terrine and house-smoked salmon, lead into main courses that might include yogurt-and-coriander-roasted chicken breast or pan-seared sustainable blue trout with chorizo, caramelized onion rösti, and sautéed greens.

This gastropub is one of the best places to eat in the city—proven by its slew of awards and two appearances on the "You Gotta Eat Here" TV show—and it couldn't have a better location, with a great patio overlooking the downtown waterfront. Drawing on supplies from local farmers, fishermen, and food producers, the menu presents "progressive pub food," and the beer menu includes 35 varieties on tap and 56 bottled options.

A relatively small, locally owned chain, JavaMoose has its own small-batch roasting facility in Saint John and a small chain of cafés, where locals flock for the great-tasting coffee and quick bites such as muffins and breakfast sandwiches. The main branch is on Prince William Street, and they are also in Saint John City Market and the McAllister Place Shopping Centre on Westmorland Road.

If you shy away from Thai food because of its reputation for spicy hotness, do not hesitate to try this stylish restaurant that caters to all tastes and will prepare your pad thai to match your preference for heat, or lack thereof. Thai stir-fries, noodle dishes, and curries, many featuring ginger and coconut, share the menu with both mild and fiery Indian dishes, and are enjoyed indoors or on the patio.

In this innovative little restaurant where everything is cooked to order (so be prepared to wait—it's worth it), the talented chef's commitment to locally sourced ingredients might extend to delicacies foraged from the wild by dedicated staffers. Hand-crafted snacks, available throughout the day, offer an irresistible temptation to return after 5:30 to dine on dishes such as pan-seared tenderloin and molasses-butter-poached mushrooms.

This modest restaurant with a colorful atmosphere—ornamental parrots rule in the dining room—is a slice of home for the former Guatemalan refugees, now proud Canadian citizens, who run it as a worker's co-op. On a menu that ranges from vegetarian quesadillas to Tequila Cactus Pork to Paella, Guatemalan, Mexican, and Spanish recipes are authentically seasoned with garlic, mint, coriander, and cilantro; the pepian (beef stew) and the garlic shrimp are standout options.

Cool yet pleasingly unpretentious, this downtown eatery gets rave reviews from an eclectic mix of businesspeople, shoppers, students, and city visitors. The menu features classic deli fare, including sandwiches piled high with interesting combinations of fillings, hearty soups, imaginative salads, and comfort food such as mac and cheese and flavorsome coconut curry chicken.

As the name suggests, this is a great choice for vegetarians and vegans, but it's popular with nonvegetarians, too, particularly for the beautifully presented and tasty salads—many people come specifically for the incredible carrot cake. Beverages include vegan wines and beer from local microbreweries.