By Simon Royer, REALTOR® at RE/MAX Icon Realty

Cambridge gets underestimated a lot. People drive through on the 401 and think they know what it is. They don't.

This city has three distinct downtowns, a river running through all of them, trails that connect all the way to Paris, and a food scene that punches well above its weight. Most of it never makes a list anywhere.

Here are the spots that locals know about and probably don't talk about enough.

A quick note before we dive in. This list comes from my own experience living and working in Cambridge. I have almost certainly missed someone's favourite spot and I am genuinely sorry if yours is not on here. Cambridge has more going on than any one person can keep up with. If I missed your go-to, message me. I want to know about it.

The Food

George's Restaurant

If you want to understand Cambridge you need to eat at George's. One of the oldest Chinese restaurants in the city, possibly the oldest. The kind of place that has been feeding Cambridge families for generations and keeps doing it without any fanfare. No trendy rebrand, no Instagram aesthetic. Just good food and a loyal following that has been showing up for decades. And if you have not heard of the 18 for 1 meal deal, ask when you get there. It is exactly what it sounds like and it is legendary.

One more thing. Do not give the staff a hard time. I did karate with a few of them over the years. They are lovely people and they pack a serious punch. You have been warned.

Ben Thanh's

Cambridge has a strong Vietnamese food scene and Ben Thanh's is the one locals keep coming back to. Fresh, flavourful, and consistently good. If you have never had a bowl of pho on a cold Cambridge winter afternoon, you are missing something.

The Gator Tail

Best wings in Cambridge. That is not a casual claim. The Gator Tail has been making that argument for years and the regulars will back it up. But the real secret is the homemade cheese sticks. Order them. You will understand immediately.

Thirteen

A proper sit down dinner in Cambridge. Good food, good atmosphere, the kind of place you take someone when you want to impress them without driving to Kitchener or Guelph.

Brown's Social House

A small local chain but one that Cambridge has embraced. Solid food, good drinks, and a room that actually feels social. A reliable go-to when you want something more than pub food but less than a full occasion.

Uno Marketplace

Do not let the outside fool you. Uno Marketplace is one of those places that looks like you might drive right past it and that is exactly why the people who know about it feel like they found something. Authentic Mexican food that earns its reputation one taco at a time. If you judge this one by its curb appeal you will miss out. Go inside and order something. You will immediately understand why the locals who know about it keep going back.

Monogram Coffee Roasters

Serious coffee in Cambridge. Monogram roasts their own beans and it shows in the cup. The kind of coffee shop that attracts people who actually care about what they are drinking. If you are a coffee person this one is not optional. Worth knowing about whether you are working from a laptop or just need a proper cup before hitting the Paris Trail.

LA Franks

Seasonal, cash only, and worth every minute of the wait. LA Franks sets up along the Grand River in downtown Galt during the summer months and draws a lineup that tells you everything you need to know before you even taste anything. Hot dogs and sausages done right in one of the best outdoor settings in the city. If you show up and there is a line, get in it. It moves and it is worth it. When summer ends so does LA Franks, so do not put it off.

DiPietro's Grocery

If you have not been to DiPietro's you are not shopping right. The longest meat counter in the area, a selection of European and Canadian favourites that you will not find at any chain grocery store, and Portuguese custard tarts that are genuinely worth a separate trip. Go for the meat, stay for the tarts. Trust me on this one.

The Gaslight District

The Gaslight District deserves its own mention when it comes to food and atmosphere. What used to be an industrial and retail site along the Grand River is now one of the most interesting dining and entertainment destinations in Waterloo Region. The restaurants there change and grow but the setting alone is worth the trip. If you have not been recently, go back. It keeps getting better.

And More Coming

Cambridge is not standing still on the food front. A new Hibachi restaurant recently opened on Hespeler Road and a new Italian pizzeria is coming to downtown Galt. The restaurant scene here is growing faster than most people realize. By the time you read this there will probably be something new worth trying that was not here when I wrote it. Keep exploring.

A Taste of What's Coming: Hespeler and Preston

Hespeler Village and Preston have their own food scenes worth exploring and honestly deserve their own guide. A few worth knowing about now: Sazon brings bold Latin flavours to the area, Ernie's Roadhouse in Hespeler Village is a local favourite with real character, and Choun Kitchen makes what might be the best banh mi I have ever had. Full stop. I am working on a dedicated guide to both neighbourhoods but do not wait for that to go check these out.

The Outdoors

The Paris Trail

Most people do not realize this trail exists and that is a shame. Starting along Water Street in downtown Cambridge the Paris Trail runs approximately 16 kilometres along the Grand River following what used to be an old rail corridor all the way to Paris, Ontario. You can walk it, run it, or bike it. The river views along the route are genuinely beautiful and the connection to Paris at the other end means you can make a full day out of it if you want.

This is the kind of trail that people move to Cambridge for and then tell everyone about. If you have not done it, put it on the list for this summer.

Puslinch Tract

Technically just outside Cambridge but close enough that most Cambridge residents claim it as their own. A great trail system for biking and hiking with enough variety to keep it interesting no matter how many times you go back. The kind of outdoor space that reminds you why living near Cambridge is actually a pretty good deal.

Fishing Along the Grand River

The Grand River runs right through Cambridge and it is genuinely good fishing. Trout, bass, and more depending on the season and the spot. Locals who fish here tend to be protective of their favourite spots which tells you everything you need to know about the quality. If you know, you know.

The Galt Farmers Market

One of those places that reminds you why small city living actually works. Local produce, local vendors, real food. Worth making a Saturday morning habit out of it if you live anywhere near Galt. The kind of market where you actually talk to the person who grew what you are buying.

The Summer Secret

Downtown Cambridge Patio Season

Every summer Cambridge closes off sections of the downtown cores to traffic and the restaurants spill out onto the street. It transforms the whole feel of the city. Hespeler, Galt, and Preston each have their own version of this and each one has a different character. If you have only ever driven through Cambridge on a grey Tuesday in February, you owe it to yourself to come back on a warm summer evening when the patios are open and the streets are closed. It is a completely different city.