St. John's NL Day 3

  Saturday August 22 2026 - St. John's NL

Day 1 LINK

Day 2 

It was a magnificent day as we went to 8 AM breakfast. 

We opted for another light meal as we had lunch reservations. John had the yogurt bowl again and I had the pistachio filled croissant.

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We spent some time lounging lounging around before getting a cab to Quidi Vidi.

We had booked the Hop On Hop Off 2-day ticket, but the reviews were not good and we don't do waiting very well, so we cancelled it. At the price of it we can Uber to where we want to go and have much more flexibility.

Quidi Vidi - For the record, it’s Kiddy Viddy! Tucked just minutes from downtown St. John’s, Quidi Vidi is a tiny fishing village that somehow packs in colourful houses, a legendary brewery, hiking trails, and enough charm to make you seriously reconsider your life choices back home. You’ll be planning your return trip before you ever leave the Gut. 

The harbor is called "The Gut" because of the extremely narrow, rock-walled channel that connects the inner harbor to the open Atlantic Ocean.In Newfoundland coastal terminology, a "gut" is a standard geographical term used to describe a tight, narrow inlet or marine passageway.

English and Irish settlers arrived in Quidi Vidi in the 16th and 17th centuries, drawn by the rich cod fishery. Life was hard – harsh weather, isolation, and the ever-present threat of French attacks – but the community held on and grew into a thriving fishing hub. The sheltered harbour made it a gathering point for schooners and fishermen from across Newfoundland during the busy summer season.

Newfoundland is called "The Rock" primarily because of its rugged, stark, and stone-dominated landscape which shapes everything from its scenery to its identity. 

Much of the island consists of exposed bedrock, massive coastal cliffs, and barren rock formations carved by ancient glaciers.Glaciation scraped away most topsoil, leaving a thin layer of earth that makes traditional farming difficult and exposes the stone beneath.

Local residents and visitors use the term as a badge of pride, symbolizing the resilience of the people who settled on such a harsh, unyielding terrain.

The collapse of the cod fishery in the 1990s hit Quidi Vidi hard, as it did so many outport communities across the island. There's a song about  the Moratorium.

The Canadian federal government declared a historic moratorium on the Northern cod fishery in July 1992, halting 500 years of commercial fishing off Newfoundland and Labrador. After lasting 32 years and resulting in Canada’s largest industrial layoff, the federal government officially lifted the moratorium in summer 2024, setting a cautious total allowable catch limit of 18,000 tonnes.

But the village adapted, leaning into its heritage and natural beauty to become the tourism destination it is today. The brewery, the artisan studios, the restored heritage buildings – they’ve all played a role in writing the next chapter.

Built between 1820 and 1840, Mallard Cottage was once home to the Mallard family, Irish settlers who made Quidi Vidi their home in the early 19th century. Parks Canada recognizes the building as a National Historic Site, noting its significance as a rare surviving example of the Newfoundland vernacular houses built by immigrants from southeast Ireland during that period.

Lunch/Brunch at Mallard Cottage - As a nationally acclaimed dining spot located in a restored 18th-century cottage, service here is meant to be paced and savored. Since it was Saturday we were offered the brunch menu.

I had the fish cakes and John had fish (3 pieces) and chips and he forgot to take a pic! We had a pint of their Frequent Flyer lager.

Wandering around.

A life-sized submersible film prop labeled "BLUNTNOSE" and "SJF 41670" displayed outdoors on a metal support stand at The Wharf. A white, multi-paneled mock submersible or diving bell featuring round portholes, international flag decals (including Sweden, Japan, Australia, and Uganda), and a yellow safety grab bar on its right side.

This striking metal fish skeleton sculpture, titled "The Fishery," was created by artists Ian Gillies and Marc Fiset, known as Gillie and Marc! Click here for more Gillie and Marc's.

 The rusted metal and skeletal frame represent the decline and challenges of the traditional fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador, while the durable steel structure symbolizes the resilience of its people and industry.

There are food trucks set up in an area called The Wharf, along with arts and crafts stalls and a beer garden with entertainment.

I had read an article recently that asked when did food truck prices start to resemble traditional restaurants, and it certainly showed here.

I had a lobster roll the other night in a lovely restaurant in town for $36, and I thought even that was pricey. I pay $23 in Toronto for a stuffed roll with fries and salad.

John's fish and chips at the premier Mallard Cottage a few feet away was $27 but that had three generous pieces.

Quidi Vidi Brewery / The Wharf Newfoundland’s largest microbrewery and home to Iceberg Beer, made from pure 20,000 year old icebergs found floating around St. John’s. We sampled iceberg beer in Labrador.

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A sample of their menu.

Twacking in the Village - My new favourite word!

In Newfoundland and Labrador, twacking (or twack) means going shopping or browsing through stores with no real intention of buying anything. It is a leisurely activity done to pass the time, poke around, or window-shop, though you might occasionally spot a little treasure and buy it anyway.

” I’m goin’ up to da mall for a twack.”

“I was just twacking about downtown St. John’s”

Back at the hotel we decided we didn't want another big meal, so we stepped out and got a bottle of wine, sandwiches and potato chips for later.

Quidi Vidi beers.

Click here for some great Newfoundland wines with fun names that we found in Twillingate NL in 2022.

We then relaxed the day away.