| Membership | Price |
|---|---|
| Student | $55/year |
| Single | $85/year |
| Single Plus | $120/year |
| Family | $130/year |
| Family Plus | $175/year |
| Contributing | $250/year |
| Supporting | $500/year |
| Sustaining | $1,000/year |
| Benefactor's Circle | $2,500/year |
| Director's Circle | $5,000/year |
| President's Circle | $10,000/year |
Rock Garden Bistro
Situated at the historic David Braley and Nancy Gordon Rock Garden, RBG’s newest restaurant features a French inspired menu with a garden flair that boasts fresh, locally sourced ingredients, many picked straight from our gardens! The bistro’s outdoor patio provides an inspiring bird’s-eye view of the garden’s rejuvenated lower bowl, a perfect spot to relax.
As seasons change, kitchen staff work closely with RBG gardeners to incorporate home-grown ingredients into your garden-to-table culinary experience.
Plan Your Visit
Reservations
Reserve your space through OpenTable! Walk-ins accepted based on availability.
Current Hours
- Wed to Sat 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Sun 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (brunch only)
*Exceptions may apply. See full hours below.
Location
Find the Rock Garden Bistro in the Visitor Centre at the historic Rock Garden!
1185 York Boulevard, Hamilton Ontario.
Exceptions may apply. Check back before your visit. Please note: outdoor Rock Garden hours may differ.
Today’s Hours
Seasonal Hours
- Wed to Sat 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sun 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Feb 9 to May 15)
- Thurs to Sat: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sun: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mon-Wed: CLOSED (May 16 to Sep 1)
Exceptions
- Jan 1 New Year's Day: Closed
- Dec 24 Christmas Eve: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Dec 24 Christmas Eve: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., last admission 2 p.m.
- Dec 25 Christmas Day: Closed
- Dec 26 Boxing Day: Closed
- Dec 31 New Years Eve: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Find the Rock Garden Bistro in the Visitor Centre at the historic Rock Garden!
- 1185 York Boulevard, Hamilton Ontario
- Free parking available in the large lot across the street; accessible parking available directly outside the Visitor Centre.
- Now accessible via Hamilton Bike Share!
- Bus stop accessed by Burlington Transit and Hamilton Transit route 9 (seasonally)
905-527-1158 ext. 336
Our lunch menu is offered daily, except during Sunday brunch hours from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Appetizers
French Onion Soup $16
Spanish Onions | Prosciutto | Chicken & Beef Broth | Crostini | Gruyere Cheese
Pickerel Cake $17
Lake Erie Pickerel | Remoulade | Slaw
Mediterranean Platter $16 – V
Hummus | Crostini | Pita | Marinated Olives | Cucumber | Cherry Tomatoes | Fried Chickpeas
Cheese Plate $23 – VG
Gorgonzola | Brie | Gruyere | Crostini | Seasonal Compote | Berries
Mussels $20
White Wine | Bechamel | Pesto | Pickled Chili | Grilled Country Bread
Lighter Side
Chef’s Daily Frittata $16
Chicken Waldorf $22 – GF, DF
Grapes | Apple | Fennel | Celery | Walnut | Frisée
Beet Salad $18 – VG, GF
Roasted Golden Beets | Pickled Baby Beets | Whipped Goat Cheese | Arugula | Walnut | Beet Chips
Rock Salad $15 – V, GF
Baby Greens | Cherry Tomato | Cucumber | Heirloom Carrot | Radish
Green Eggs & Toast $17 – VG
Sweet Pea Puree | 2 Soft Poached Eggs |Grilled Country Bread | Pickled Honey Mushroom | Rock Salad
Grilled Cheese $18 – VG
House-Made Focaccia | Tomato Jam | Rock Salad
Entrées
Ahi Watermelon Garden Bowl
$19 -V, GF
Marinated Watermelon | Brown Rice | Cucumber | Pickled Apple | Walnut | Carrot | Pickled Chili | Edamame | Sesame Seeds
Croque Monsieur $23
Ham | Gruyere | Bechamel | Brioche | Rock Salad
French Beef Dip $25
Shaved Brisket | Baguette | Provolone | Sauteed Mushrooms | Balsamic Onions | Jus | Kettle Chips
Rainbow Trout $28 – GF
6oz Rainbow Trout Filet | Pommes Dauphine | Roasted Broccolini | Caramelized Lemon Butter
Linguini Fresca $23 – VG
Linguini | Zucchini Noodles | Pesto | Blistered Cherry Tomatoes | White Wine | Grana Padano
Maple Dijon Chicken $28 – GF, DF
7oz Chicken Supreme | Lentil Salad | Beet Gel | Maple Dijon Glaze
Steak Frites $34 – GF
6oz California-Cut Striploin | Frites | Sauteed Mushroom | Chimichurri
Dessert
Sticky Toffee Pudding $13 – VG
Orange Dulce De Leche | Candied Orange
Strawberry Rhubarb Charlotte $13 – V, GF
Strawberry Rhubarb Syrup | Lemon Poppyseed Pound Cake | Coconut Whipped Cream
Lime Strudel $13 – VG
Lime Custard | Phyllo | Poached Blueberries
Available Sundays and holiday Mondays, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Mains
- Croque Monsieur $22
Ham | Gruyere | Bechamel | Served with Rock Salad - Croque Madam $24
Ham | Gruyere | Bechamel | Fried egg | Served with Rock Salad - French Toast $16 (VEG)
Challah stuffed with caramelized banana Nutella | Seasoned eggs | Whip cream | Coulis | Berries - Eggs Benedict $18
Peameal | Poached eggs | English muffin | Hollandaise | Served with Rock Salad - Eggs Florentine $15 (VEG)
Spinach | Poached eggs | English muffin | Hollandaise | Served with Rock Salad - Eggs Royale $20
Salmon gravlax | Poached eggs | English muffin | Hollandaise | Served with Rock Salad - Frittata $16 (VEG, GF)
Roasted pepper | Eggplant | Zucchini | Red onions | Gruyere | Pesto frisée - Rock Melt (VEG)
House made focaccia | Cheddar | Mozzarella | Tomato jam | Served with Rock Salad - Rock Breakfast $17
2 eggs | Choice of protein | Home fries | Toast - Coconut Pancakes $20 (V, GF)
Vegan pancakes | Coulis | Berries | Coconut whip cream - Brisket Skillet $22 (GF, DF)
Shaved Brisket | Home fries | 2 Eggs | Baked tomato | Jus - Yogurt Parfait $14 (VEG, GF)
Greek yogurt | Berries | Spiced honey | Granola - Trail Mix Salad $17 (V, GF, DF)
Berries | Sunflower seeds | Walnuts, | Granola | Blueberry vinaigrette - Breakfast Sandwich $18
Peameal | Fried gouda | Over easy egg | Red pepper aioli | Served with Rock Salad
Sides
- Fruit $6
- Toasted Brioche $3
- Home fries $4
- Peameal Bacon $5
- Sausage $6
- Bacon $5
RBG Lilac Gin
750 ml bottles available for purchase from the Greenhouse Café & Rock Garden Bistro.
Every spring, a heavenly fragrance drifts through Royal Botanical Gardens, marking the official start of lilac season. To extend the joy of lilac season, we’ve teamed up with Manns Distillery in Brantford, Ontario to create our very own lilac gin.
Crafted with a London Dry Gin base and fresh, hand-picked lilacs from the grounds of RBG, this gin has floral notes of lilac, lavender, and rose. Truly an exquisite combination. No artificial colours or flavours used.
Local, Sustainable
At Royal Botanical Gardens, we believe in being stewards of our environment and partners in our community. We source local products (including our own garden produce), partner with local farms and dairies as well as use eco-friendly, sustainable products throughout the facility and grounds.
We ask that you join us in our goal of preserving and enhancing the beauty of our environment by utilizing the recycle stations located throughout Royal Botanical Gardens.
Rock Garden Bistro FAQs
Where is the Rock Garden Bistro Located?
The Rock Garden Bistro is in the Rock Garden Visitor Centre, at 1185 York Boulevard, Burlington. Find the restaurant to the left upon arriving through the main doors.
Parking is available on-site (in the lot across the road), included in your visit.
Is admission required to access the Rock Garden Bistro?
Garden Admission is not required to join us for lunch at the Rock Garden Bistro. Garden Admission would be required should you wish to visit the gardens before / after your meal.
Other RBG dining locations:
- Garden Admission is required to dine at the Greenhouse Café.
- Guests with a Tea House reservation will be granted access to Hendrie Park on date of the reservation, no additional admission required. Please present your OpenTable confirmation upon entry.
Is there a Benefit for Members?
RBG Members receive 10% off their meal at RBG’s three on-site restaurants. To qualify for a discount, please show your membership card while ordering.
Are Reservations Required?
Reservations are not required to eat at the restaurants, but are highly recommended, especially for weekends, holidays, or larger groups. Please note the restaurant may not be able to accommodate larger groups that arrive without reservations.
Rock Garden Bistro reservations line: 905-527-1158 ext. 336
Host Your Event
Whether you just need coffee and snacks, breakfast, lunch or meals for the whole day, our in-house catering team has options for your meeting or event. With delicious options, flexible menus and a focus on locally sourced ingredients, the catering team at Royal Botanical Gardens promise to make your event one to remember.
