Experience in Kingston, Canada by Maggie

What is it like to live in Kingston? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

Kingston's a fun, small city with everything you need at your finger tips. It's great for running along the waterfront, shopping, sampling wines from the nearby Prince Edward County region, local beers and restaurants. It has the most restaurants per square foot than anywhere else in Canada! You can get everything from Middle Eastern food to German, Greek or Vietnamese.

What is the student lifestyle like in Kingston?

Kingston has three post-secondary schools: Queen's University, Royal Military College, and St. Lawrence College. Because of the large student population, the student lifestyle is very prominent and well established. Restaurants and bars are affordable and widespread, and there are always loads of different concerts, theatre shows, dance shows and other events.

How much does it cost to live in Kingston?

Student housing is relatively expensive, because of the short supply, but can range widely depending on closeness to the university and downtown. Restaurants are across the board, from the small and cheap thai and vietnamese eateries to the more expensive fine-dining restaurants. Grocery stores also vary: Food Basics and the local market are favourites of students, Loblaws has 10% of days for students each week, and then there is Metro, which is generally the most expensive.

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Kingston? Is there any advice you can give?

Short-term accommodation such as hotels and B&Bs are easy to find in Kingston. More long-term accommodation is not usually difficult to find, although it can be expensive.

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

The food is Kingston is fantastic. There is an extremely wide range, from local restaurants to larger chain restaurants to the local farmers market.

Is it good to eat out in Kingston? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

Kingston is the best city to eat out in. My favourite spots are the Sleepless Goat - an all vegetarian, big-portion, funky atmosphere cafe on the main street; Windmills - a casual fine dining restaurant with a varied food menu and fantastic wine menu; and Tir Na Nog - a pub with surprisingly great food and the largest beer selection.

Is the nightlife good in Kingston? Where is good to go?

Kingston has loads of pubs, bars and clubs all within 15 minutes walking of each other. They all have different things to offer. Tir Na Nog is an irish pub with a lively atmosphere (especially thursday night karaoke)..it has a few different sections, including the more intimate side pub and the outdoor patio called 'Montes'; the Brass is a great local place brewing all of its own beer; Alibi is an intimate bar with a chic atmosphere - it has polished wooden picnic tables to sit at and play one of the many board games or eat whatever food you choose to bring (there is no food menu but it serves fantastic local beers); and the Iron Duke on Wellington has a great and upscale food menu to accompany it's large list of beers.

What advice would you give future students heading to Kingston?

Explore the downtown food scene and keep an eye out for the many intimate music shows that come to The Grad Club. It's a great venue - top rated in Canada AND it has great food, great drinks, and a great atmosphere (and you don't have to be a grad student).