Blog Articles


Shop Local – Vol 4: Begin your shopping day at the diner, top up at your favourite café, and wrap up with an authentic Italian treat.

Wednesday, December 18, 2024

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The Christmas Countdown is well underway! Visit our Downtown Barrie Business Directory for ALL of your holiday shopping needs.
Check out our featured businesses below! Click on the images to interact.

The Dunlop Street Diner began construction in the fall of 2016. Due to the extensive nature of the renovation of this historical building, it wouldn’t be ready for our first patron until a year later. However, the results of the facelift was well worth the wait. The Diner’s vintage atmosphere, with pictures of Dunlop Street from 100 years ago (with thanks to the Barrie Historical Society) hung around the dining room only help to emphasize the history of the street and in particular the building at 20 Dunlop Street East.
We are known for our gorgeous brunch dishes; creative Eggs Benedicts, one-of-a-kind skillets, and classic brunch favourites.  Our culinary team prepares our menu from scratch using locally-sourced ingredients, which delivers on our promise of exceptional food in a casual atmosphere.

We are a local bakery dedicated to providing good food with real ingredients. We specialize in long ferment sourdough breads and baked goods, crafted by hand in small batches using locally milled flours. Our community is our backyard; we focus on sourcing local ingredients and creating strong relationships with the food entrepreneurs in our area.
Our goal is to support farmers who make regenerative and sustainable farming a priority.  We are excited to make even more connections and source our food responsibility.

Located in the heart of Barrie, Ontario, Bohemia is a cozy café that offers a warm, inviting atmosphere perfect for catch-ups over coffee or solitary moments with a book. Known for their delicious, locally sourced menu and an impressive selection of beverages, it’s the go-to spot for both locals and visitors seeking quality and comfort.

The Lazy Tulip Café is your mindful, independently owned haven for fresh and conscious eating. With two convenient locations to choose from, we’re here to satisfy your cravings and support your well-being.
Our newest dine-in spot can be found at the MacLaren Art Centre, nestled at 37 Mulcaster St. Join us Mondays through Saturdays from 9 am to 3 pm, and on Sundays from 10 am to 3 pm for a delightful dining experience.
At the Lazy Tulip, we take pride in offering a menu brimming with wholesome, health-conscious choices. Everything is crafted in-house, from our whole wheat focaccia sandwich bread to our always-vegan and gluten-free. soups.

We are deeply committed to the highest quality in every product we offer. That’s why we’ve meticulously developed a wide range of roasting profiles, drawing on the expertise of our farmers, technical support from Loring, the makers of our state-of-the-art roasters, ongoing research with Georgian College, the resources of the University of Guelph, and our own years of experimentation and experience.

Barrie’s first ever coffee house and Salon/Barber shop in one! Voted BEST COFFEE SHOP IN BARRIE!

Higher Grounds Coffee House is a non-profit Social Enterprise. Our Coffee Fuels Compassion.

Enjoy the convenience of free 2 hour on-street parking on weekdays. available all December long! Parking is also free after 5pm and free all day on weekends!

Overwhelmed or just plain whelmed by the plethora of places to purchase holiday goods? Not a problem! As always, you can simply order a Downtown Barrie Gift Card! The perfect gift for that special someone who loves to Sip, Savour, Shop and Support Local! Gift Cards are accepted at any business located within Downtown Barrie’s BIA boundary. These businesses can also be found in our Business Directory at downtownbarrie.ca/businesses.