Port Perry, Ontario's small-town charm worthy of being showcased (2024)

As the saying goes, there are no guarantees in life. That said, visitors to Port Perry are virtually assured of free parking.

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The vehicle lots and on-street spots offered at no cost downtown are the first benefits that day-trippers can score upon arrival in this small town about 85 km northeast of Toronto on the shores of Lake Scugog in Durham Region.

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Factoring in the considerable scenery, shopping and dining, it only gets better for visitors who should come away entirely charmed. Adding to the community feel is the fact that many business owners can readily be found serving and interacting with customers.

We were smitten from the moment we arrived, starting with a stroll along both sides of bustling, historic Queen St. to poke around the many distinct shops and cafes. A tipple at the cozy Old Flame brewery (the landmark building was built in 1884) was the perfect interlude before memorable dining at Marwan’s Global Bistro, a place that would be worthy of the trek on its own.

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Our overnight stay at the cute Piano Inn & Cafe, in the heart of the Victorian-era downtown, capped what can perhaps best be described as a visit to a Hallmark movie set.

“I don’t want to say we’re a Hallmark movie because we’re not,” said Sharon Runnalls, Port Perry Business Improvement Association member and co-owner of Branching Out Florists. “But it’s got that relatable feel to it.”

Port Perry has, in fact, served as a backdrop for various movies, including from Hallmark. The Piano Inn & Cafe is a registered film location, and the restaurant is featured in various films and TV shows such as the Amazon Prime series Reacher.

It comes as no surprise that this town, perhaps something like a cross between Stratford and Dundas, Ont., would want to be showcased. It’s worthy of any attention it receives.

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FLAT-OUT SPECIAL

According to owner-operator Christy Stone-Curry’s estimation, the Piano Inn & Cafe has been featured in no fewer than 80 films, TV shows and commercials.

The flat-iron building, more than 100 years old, purchased by Stone-Curry’s grandfather in 1972 and transformed into its anchor cafe business 22 years ago, is part of Port Perry’s 19th-century heritage downtown.

“I always spin it as ‘you’re eating in a film fest,'” Stone-Curry said of her popular lunch spot, which originally housed a piano that sparked the namesake.

The piano has since been removed because it was not practical for film shoots, but the history of the place remains very much intact. More than one million bricks were hand-scraped, Stone-Curry said, as part of the building’s award-winning restoration.

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At the inn, we stayed in the studio, one of five unique accommodations. There was ample space, pleasant decor and ample vantage points to look out and enjoy the quiet of the downtown below our apartment space.

“It’s a lovely place to be,” Stone-Curry said of Port Perry. “People really know each other here. There’s a lot of pride in ownership.”

GLOBAL GASTRONOMY

The food, drink and aesthetic at Marwan’s Global Bistro serve as a love letter to owner Marwan Dib’s travels.

Dib has travelled the world extensively, including time spent in Thailand, Brazil, South Africa and Egypt.

The bistro’s menu is directly inspired by those influences, with an array of offerings to appease every palette. Everything from Thai green curry, beef shawarma paninis, cheeseburgers and Moroccan red lentil soup can be enjoyed.

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We opted for award-winning appetizers, including the macaroni and cheese, which was perfect in its simplicity, and the super-cheesy Old Flame and cheddar soup.

Our mains — butter chicken for me, shawarma panini for my wife — felt like fitting global choices and didn’t disappoint.

Not to be outdone by the food menu, Marwan’s scores in every way with its adventurous co*cktail offerings. We loved the Lebanese Breeze — a strawberry gin-based concoction in homage to Dib’s Lebanese heritage — and raised our glasses in approval to something called the New Old Fashioned. It’s a take on the Old Fashioned but with salted caramel syrup, making it an ideal sipper as dessert, or in our case with dessert, a decadent, made-to-order molten lava cake.

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The bistro showcases an extensive wine list that includes many hard-to-find bottles, as well as an impressive 23 bourbons and 20 scotches.

“I have a collector’s spirit,” Dib said.

“We try to bring a little bit of the city life to Port Perry,” he added.

The Port Social, also owned and operated by Dib, is physically connected to the bistro, has live music and is perfect for pre- or post-dinner gatherings.

Marwan’s celebrates 10 years in business on Queen St. this Canada Day.

HISTORY, ALL OVER TOWN

The unique uniformity of the downtown buildings in Port Perry can be credited to a pair of fires, first in 1883, then an even more disastrous one in 1884.

Brock’s is one of the anchor businesses reborn from that disastrous fire. It rose from the ashes of William Brock’s general store, which was opened in 1881, before the fire, and is celebrating 143 years in 2024, today run by fifth-generation family members, sisters Marina and Juliana Brock.

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The building, which spans four storefronts, also housed a bank. Be sure to check out the old bank vault, which is now a men’s changeroom at Brock’s, which specializes in clothing and shoes for women, men and children.

Stroll along the waterfront in Palmer Park before admiring the historic grain elevator, built in 1874 and said to be the oldest of its kind in Canada.

Drop in at the nearly six-decades-old Hank’s Pastries to try their most popular treat, an “as big as your face” apple fritter. We tried one, for research purposes, of course, and it measures up.

For additional treats, swing by the Mrs. Fields Bakehouse Cafe, the company’s first storefront in Canada.

Long known for its mall locations, franchisers John and Jennifer Noble recently pivoted from food courts to streetside.

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Just about every business in town seems to be celebrating a milestone and The Pantry Shelf is no different. This staple on Water St. is marking 25 years specializing in breakfast, lunch, made-in-house bakery items and catering.

‘JUST HAS THAT FEEL’

Before she owned her floral business downtown, Runnalls, who lives in nearby Sunderland, visited downtown Port Perry on the regular, for shopping, dining and strolling.

We asked her to describe her ideal day in the town with a population of about 10,000, located north of Oshawa.

“I’d start my day with a coffee at That Place on Queen,” Runnalls said. “I would probably shop at Brock’s for shoes, for sure. I’d go to Modella, then probably have lunch at the Piano, or The Pantry Shelf. I’d go to the brewery (Old Flame) for sure.”

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Runnalls said that at least 50% of the downtown businesses are owned by women and that Port Perry, simply put, is a gem worth checking out.

“People come back. It’s not a pass-through town,” she said. “It’s one of those places where you can come and you’re actually served by the owner. I don’t think I’d be anywhere else, honestly. It’s just a good vibe. It just has that feel.”

ishantz@postmedia.com

X: @IanShantz

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