After months of unbearably cold weather, it’s finally starting to warm up here in Edmonton. Of course, I couldn’t let a beautiful sunny day go to waste, so I got up early to wander through Whyte Avenue — a well known entertainment district in Edmonton. If it’s your first time visiting Edmonton, I highly recommend going here. It’s bustling with local shops and eateries.
OLD STRATHCONA FARMER’S MARKET
My first stop was just a few steps away from Whyte Ave — the Old Strathcona Farmer’s Market. It’s a weekly indoor market showcasing local vendors selling food and craft products. It’s open all year-round on Saturdays from 8am to 3pm. It has a lively atmosphere and you can find a lot of food samples here!
Pasta Delight: The owners here don’t skimp out on the amount of free samples they give. They sell everything pasta — from homemade noodles to pesto. My personal favorite is the Artichoke Pesto.
Olive Me: These guys specialize in stuffed olives which are incredibly addictive. My boyfriend and I loved the Californian: olives stuffed with almonds and dressed with lemon, garlic, and basil.
Steve and Dan’s Fresh BC Fruit: Not only do they sell delicious fruit, they also carry a variety of items ranging from fresh vegetables to nuts, 100% apple juice, and sparkling juice.
Cookie Crumbs: Every time I visit the market, I always buy treats here. They sell waffles and waffle pucks in a variety of flavors and fillings. My favorite is the Red Bean and Mochi.
IZAKAYA DORINKU
For lunch, my boyfriend and I went to our go-to restaurant in Whyte — Izakaya Dorinku. With wooden furnitures, Japanese storefront decors, operating vending machine, and a wall of anime figurines — Izakaya Dorinku definitely gives a great Japanese pub atmosphere.
This was actually my first time to eat Dorinku’s lunch menu. As always, I loved the food — except for the Tonkatsu Set. The deep fried pork cutlet was incredibly dry. Which is unusual, because this is the first time I was disappointed here.
I recommend trying the Chicken Karaage, Jewelry Bowl, Ebimayo, Udon Carbonara and Pressed Wild Salmon Sushi from their dinner and special menu.
Wondering where to grab your dessert and coffee at Whyte? Check out La Boule Patisserie & Bakery!
JOHN FLUEVOG SHOES
This was a nice surprise while walking through the streets of Whyte. Inside contained a huge display of John Fluevog’s custom shoes. Each one is unique and handmade!
This shop welcomes photography — so feel free to take as much photos of the shoes and interior here!
Here are some other shops that we came across while exploring Whyte:
Vivid Print: This shop showcases local artists in Edmonton — they sell a variety of arts and prints like postcards and paintings.
Wee Book Inn: A little bookstore that has a few cats just lounging around. The interior really isn’t anything special. Their website lists the cats that hang around there and tells you about their personality.
The joy of going to Whyte Ave is honestly just walking and exploring what the locals have to offer — from cat cafes to antiques and local clothing shops. Personally, my favorite time to go to Whyte is in the morning. But coming here at night is great as well!
