Where to Eat

• YellowBelly Brewery and Public House

  One of St. John’s newest pubs, the YellowBelly has quickly made a name for itself with delicious stick-to-the-ribs fare and an on-site craft brewery.

  288 Water St. at George, 709-757-3784, yellowbellybrewery.com

• Bacalao

  Located in a former merchant family’s home, this restaurant serves traditional favourites with a twist, like rare medallions of Labrador caribou accompanied by a sauce spiked with the kosher Rodrigues Barrens Blend.

  65 Lemarchant Rd., St. John’s, 709-579-6565, bacalaocuisine.caFrom: Kosher Quality

• Chatters Café

  Steam rises from the non-stop espresso machine at Chatters Café, where double espressos are as popular with the city’s early birds as with last night’s George Street revellers.

  112 Duckworth St., 709-576-6363From: Canada’s Next Great Neighbourhoods

• Rodrigues Winery

  Rodrigues Winery serves kosher saltine crackers to cleanse your palate after one of its wine tastings. An hour southwest of St. John’s and open year-round, it offers tours in English, French, Bulgarian and Hindi.

  Whitbourne, 709-759-3003, rodrigueswinery.comFrom: Kosher Quality

• Basho

  What do Japan and Newfoundland have in common? Seafood. No wonder, then, that this Japanese fusion restaurant serves up everything from lychee martinis to lobster sushi when in season.

  283 Duckworth St., 709-576-4600

• Sun Sushi

  Storefront sushi and basic tables mix to create a local favourite. And don’t worry if you show up late; this downtown restaurant won’t turn you away if you arrive at closing time for the takeout trademark Red Dragon rolls.

  186 Duckworth St., 709-726-8688

Where to Drink

• The Narrows Lounge, Sheraton Hotel Newfoundland

  You’re probably not coming here for the It factor – the Falcon Crest-era decor was undoubtedly tacky when it was new. No, you’re coming for the salty bartenders, the dramatic views and the stiff drinks. Try Mr. Kelly’s fish ‘n’ chips. Juicy and tender inside a fantastically crisp beer batter, the fish is a standout, but it’s the homemade French fries and tartar sauce that make the party. To drink: Iceberg vodka on the rocks, made with water harvested from 12,000-year-old icebergs. If you can harvest your own iceberg ice cubes, all the better.

  115 Cavendish Sq., 709-726-4980, starwoodhotels.comFrom: Canada's Top 15 Hotel Bars

Arts & Culture

• Red Ochre Gallery

  When you visit Red Ochre Gallery, owner Brenda McClellan will likely be busy hanging new works by abstract painters such as Elena Popova at her gallery, which specializes in Newfoundland and Labrador fine art.

  96 Duckworth St., 709-726-6422, redochregallery.caFrom: Canada’s Next Great Neighbourhoods

• Posie Row

  Just down the street from Red Ochre Gallery, Posie Row stocks funky headgear alongside shimmering silver jewellery.

  210 Duckworth St., 709-722-2544From: Canada’s Next Great Neighbourhoods

Shopping

• Tvål

  Sold by the slice and cut from a round cake, the all-natural soaps – offered exclusively by this East Coast cosmetics destination – bring the beach into the shower without all the sand.

  280 Water St., 709-579-7627, tvalskincare.com

• Fred’s Records

  Afternoon audiophiles search the trove of local music at Fred’s Records for bargains. If you’re lucky, you might catch indie musicians, like Adam Hogan of Hey Rosetta!, delivering copies of their latest.

  198 Duckworth St., 709-753-9191, freds.nf.caFrom: Canada’s Next Great Neighbourhoods

• HOME on Water St.

  According to co-owner Donald Moores, this shop’s well-curated selection of household objects “is the result of everything we know about making a home feel special.” The store is the world’s larder, with David Fussenegger bamboo throws from Austria, Pillivuyt asparagus serving dishes from France and Geoffrey Lane candles from British Columbia. Simple decor, soothing background music and the scent of lavender redefine the notion of retail therapy.

  156 Water St., 709-738-8228

• Living Planet T-Shirts

  At landmark emporium Living Planet T-Shirts, all the designs are by Newfoundland artists. A Soviet-inspired “Accordion Revolution” shirt or a “Free Nfld.” design goes for $25.

  197 Water St., 709-754-9300, livingplanet.caFrom: Canada’s Next Great Neighbourhoods

• Neptune Sea Products

  Along with dozens of varieties of smoked kosher fish – from Arctic char and capelin to salmon and rainbow trout – Neptune Sea Products offers up spicy orange ginger cod. Call for details on where to buy in Canada.

  800-716-4946, neptuneseaproducts.comFrom: Kosher Quality

Attractions

• Gower Street

  To get a snapshot of St. John’s architectural heritage, go for a stroll along Gower Street, which is flanked by old row houses and Victorian homes. A quick walk up from here takes you past the Roman Catholic Basilica and to The Rooms, the provincial archives, art gallery and museum.

  709-757-8000, therooms.ca

• Signal Hill Historic Site and trails

  Newfoundland is called the Rock for a reason: climb Signal Hill at the east end of the city, and you’ll realize exactly why. We suggest visiting historic Cabot Tower, the site of the first radio contact between the New World and Britain, then taking a hike. The challenging 1.3-kilometre North Head trail traces a section of red rock cliffs and the Narrows, the entry to St. John’s Harbour.

• The Johnson Geo Centre

  What’s better on the Rock than a rock museum? The Geo Centre is built right into the side of Signal Hill, and offers a geological scavenger hunt of the province and of the whole planet, complete with touchable samples.

  175 Signal Hill Rd., 709-737-7880, geocentre.ca

• George Street

  No trip to St. John’s would be complete without a jaunt to George Street. The city’s party central, it boasts dozens of side-by-side bars and taverns, with closing time pushing 3 a.m. If things are too slow at one watering hole, simply get up and try the neighbour down the road. Ask cabbies for specific recommendations: Friday and Saturday nights, all cabs lead to George Street.

• Cape Spear

  This is as far east as you can go and still be in North America. In spring and early summer, Cape Spear offers excellent iceberg watching; the rest of the year, admire the massive waves that the sea hurls ashore (just don’t get too close). This rugged spot is a half-hour drive from the city.

Getting from the Airport

St. John’s International Airport is only about 10 minutes from the city centre by taxi; fares run around $25 to the major hotels. There’s no airport bus service or limousine on site.

Taxis

Cabs are plentiful and convenient. If you’re lucky, you’ll meet Mike Rodgers, the Bugden cabbie who’s kept a guestbook in his car for decades. Thousands of people have signed the pages in several volumes, and you can thumb through the latest edition to find guests from as far away as Peru, China, Greece, Finland and Vietnam.

Public Transportation

In the city, St. John’s Metrobus offers a number of city bus routes, at fares of $2.25 for adults and $1.75 for children. Check out the routes at metrobus.com.