Grocery Shopping
Food Basics · 33 Barrack Street
Food Basics is the cheapest option, but has a mediocre selection, varying qualities of produce, and often runs out of things mid-week. Stock up on your staples here.
Loblaw’s · 1100 Princess Street
Loblaws is the best store in town, with the largest selection and quality produce, and the availability of President’s Choice brand is a plus. If you are looking for specialty items like fancy cheeses or exotic produce, you need to go to Loblaws. 10% Student discount on Tuesday! Bussing or carpooling may be required.
Metro · 310 Barrie Street
Metro is right downtown and open 24 hours, but the convenience comes at a premium. It’s an expensive store but has quite a decent selection and some good quality products. Plus, they offer ready-made pizzas and store-made gelato.
Asian Market · 354 Princess Street / Oriental Grocery · 445 Princess
These two are great stores for those Asian ingredients you can’t get at Loblaws or Metro, like chilies and Thai basil.
Cooke’s Fine Foods · 55 Brock Street
Those looking for spices and silk, the likes of which ye have never seen, will like this place. Featuring gourmet coffee and British pantry items, Cooke’s has been in business for nearly 150 years.
Tara Natural Foods · 81 Princess Street
Tara’s has great organic pantry and frozen options. Get your tempeh here. They also sell spices and other ingredients by weight - way better than buying that 100g package at Metro when you only need 1 tsp!
Bakeries:
Card’s Bakery · 261 King Street
Wolfe Island Bakery · At the market in Market Square on Saturday mornings (not during the winter)
Pan Chancho Bakery and Café · 44 Princess Street · 613-544-7790
LCBO · 34 Barrack Street
This is located next to the Good Life gym downtown. It’s pretty large and has a great selection of wine and beer, complete with Kingston’s largest vintages section. There are three other LCBOs scattered throughout Kingston, all with slightly varying inventories.
The Wine Rack · 318 Princess St
With a selection of all of your favorite wines and open as late as 11, the Wine Rack will be a popular place to pick up something for your classy (or not so classy) evening.
The Beer Store · 500 Princess Street
The Beer Store has a wide selection of beer, albeit at a higher price than LCBO, and kegs available to order, should the need arise.