From a family-owned Italian shop serving sandwiches on fresh made focaccia to a bagel joint that makes all their baked goods from scratch, there are many delicious grab-and-go lunch options to try in downtown Kingston. All these spots are near Kingston’s waterfront so you can enjoy your lunch by the lake.
Quick guide to grab-and-go lunches:
Grab-and-go places are in and around Princess Street
Lunch items include sandwiches and salads as well as Italian options
Some places offer indoor seating, and outdoor benches are available around downtown u
155 Princess Street
This beloved Kingston bakery is known for its shelves of colourful cakes, creamy cake bars, kitchenware, and vibrant flowers. While Card’s has been serving birthday cakes to Kingston locals since 1987, the family-owned bakery also offers a variety of soups, wraps, and sandwiches served on fresh bread during lunch hours. Their daily lunch specials are typically displayed on a chalkboard beneath the shop’s distinct blue-and-white awning, so stop by today to see what’s on the menu.
FUN FACT: Card’s Bakery began in Edith Card’s kitchen in 1960, where she baked sticky buns, pies, and loaves of bread from scratch. She later passed her beloved recipes down to her daughter, Nonna, who opened Card’s first storefront in downtown Kingston in 1987 at the corner of King and Johnson Street.
MENU HIGHLIGHT: The cream of broccoli soup and banana bread squares
44 Princess Street
Pan Chancho is part local food market, part bakery, and part brunch spot—all packed into one space. Walking in, you’re greeted by stacks of freshly baked pastries, fridges filled with ready-made sandwiches, and glass displays of warm and cold meals that rotate daily. It’s busy, cozy, and overflowing with an eclectic array of dishes and products.
Located near Confederation Park (209 Ontario Street), Pan Chancho is the perfect place to grab lunch before heading down to the waterfront to eat by the lake.
FUN FACT: The founders of Pan Chancho—Rose Richardson and Zal Yanovsky—also opened Chez Piggy (68 Princess Street), a fine dining restaurant set inside a nineteenth-century limestone horse stable. Chez Piggy serves Pan Chancho’s house-made bread and even uses the bakery’s colourful patterned napkins, which you can also purchase at the café. When he wasn’t running restaurants and bakeries in Kingston, Yanvosky played in a band called The Lovin’ Spoonful. Learn more about Pan Chancho and Chez Piggy’s unique story here.
MENU HIGHLIGHT: Dragon Noodles (find them in the glass display!)
166 Princess Street
In addition to its giant cinnamon buns and seasonal drinks, CRAVE serves bagel sandwiches and offers a large fridge stocked with grab-and-go lunches, including pesto pasta, wraps, and hearty salads—all visible as soon as you walk into the coffee house and bakery. You can build your own bagel sandwich or choose from curated menu items like The Stinger, made with cream cheese and hot honey, or the Lox & Lox.
If you have time, we recommend enjoying your lunch on the patio during the spring and summer months.
FUN FACT: CRAVE makes all of its baked goods in-house and is known for creative, trend-forward treats like the “crookie” (a croissant-cookie hybrid), mini banana cream pies, and birthday cake–flavoured lattes.
MENU HIGHLIGHT: The Stinger and seasonal cookies (try their lemon crinkle cookie during the summer)
306 Bagot Street
Nosh Bagels quickly became one of Kingston’s most sought-after bagel spots, serving Montreal-style bagels made fresh from scratch at their quaint Bagot Street shop. The smell of freshly baked dough drifts onto the street, drawing in loyal locals and visitors eager to grab a warm bagel paired with one of the day’s cream cheeses.
All of their bagels are diary, egg, soy and nut free. Make sure you arrive early because they sell out fast!
FUN FACT: Nosh offers both classic cream cheeses—like dill and onion—as well as seasonal flavours, like blueberry. Stop by today to see what they’re serving
MENU HIGHLIGHT: Everything bagel with onion cream cheese
236 Wellington Street
Mermaid Avenue Sandwich Factory is easy to spot thanks to its turquoise mermaid lounging across a rustic wooden sign out front. They offer both full and half sandwiches on their house-made bread and have vegetarian options. From breakfast sandwiches to stacked deli creations filled with meats and cheeses, there’s something for everyone inside this modern coastal restaurant. You can order in-person at the store or call ahead (613-531-3438).
FUN FACT: Mermaid Avenue Sandwich Factory was founded by two best friends in Kingston who have a shared love for sandwiches and the artist Wilco, so much so that they named all the sandwiches after songs by the band!
MENU HIGHLIGHT: The Casino Queen
234 Wellington Street
This family-owned grocer and sandwich shop provides customers with both a taste and feel of Italy. Inside, glass displays are lined with hunks of aged cheeses, cured meats, fresh pastas, and imported Italian specialty products, giving the whole space the warm charm of an Italian neighborhood market. Alongside their fresh pastas and grocery offerings, they serve standout sandwiches on house-baked focaccia which you’ll be sure to smell while strolling past the store.
FUN FACT: The name “Pasta Genova” is an ode to the store’s founder Virgil Allergini’s hometown of Genova, Italy. After moving to Kingston, he opened the establishment in 1988 and has since passed ownership onto his family.
MENU HIGHLIGHT: The spicy Italian deli sandwich
BONUS:
60 Brock Street
If you’re looking to round out your lunch with a freshly baked dessert, head over to 23 & Co.. Owner Krista Gill has been selling her chewy, delicious cookies around Kingston for years, and in 2025 she finally opened a storefront that quickly became a favourite among both locals and visitors alike. The cookies sell out fast, so be sure to arrive early to secure your perfect post-lunch sweet treat!
FUN FACT: You may notice that many of the cookie names are hockey references, such as the Oreo cookie called “S’coreo.” That’s because Krista first started making cookies for her husband, Todd Gill, before his games with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
MENU HIGHLIGHT: “The OG” (classic chocolate chip cookie); Krista also rotates her menu daily, so there’s always something new to try!
