4 Best Restaurants in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island

Urban style meets rural delicacies at this upscale restaurant, which occupies a handsome brick building downtown. Not surprisingly, given the name and location, seafood is a specialty here—the local oysters, mussels, and lobsters are all memorable. But there are alternatives for vegetarian and meat-loving locavores (think risotto made with market veggies or grilled PEI strip loin, aged in-house for 50 days served with roasted PEI potatoes). It's a popular spot for tourists and residents alike, and the service is friendly. Upstairs, the Olde Dublin Pub has pub grub, ample ale, and live music on the Guinness Stage seven nights a week from mid-June to mid-September.

In a converted warehouse downtown, this is the sort of place that could pull in a trendy crowd based solely on its exposed brick and wood-beam interior, but the open kitchen also delivers. Local ingredients are used to create dishes with international appeal (think trout with a ginger chili glaze, New York strip with mustard-and-pepper crust, or coconut chicken curry). The restaurant has a solid wine list, and classic desserts like berry cobbler and crème brûlée for sweet-toothed diners. Dietary purists will be pleased by the number of vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free offerings. Upstairs, Marc's Lounge serves cocktails and sharing plates from 5 pm on, with live music.

Chefs at this restaurant, part of the acclaimed Culinary Institute of Canada at Holland College, are second-year students working under the supervision of master-chef instructors; service is provided by hospitality students. It's an opportunity to enjoy ambitious dishes that combine local ingredients with international influences, like grilled leg of lamb with Israeli couscous. Don't let the college location deter you—inside the Dining Room you'll discover a sophisticated dining experience in a spacious, beautifully renovated space, with a choice between watching the action in the open kitchen or gazing at the lovely harbor views through the large windows.

In the 19th-century Roger's Hardware building, this restaurant has both fine dining and casual fare. A pub menu features upscale sandwiches, fish-and-chips, and more, while quality PEI-raised beef and fresh seafood dominate the dinner menu. Old wooden beams, brick columns, and a unique bar top made of black granite inlaid with bird's-eye maple make the place cozy.