Bay of Quinte Tourism

Pop-Ups on the Bay: A Must-Visit Spot in Belleville

colourfully-painted shipping containers filled with food vendors in west zwick's park at pop-ups on the bay

POP DOWN TO WEST ZWICK’S PARK

Two men sit at a picnic table in a park eating food, smiling at the camera
Author Hardik Patel (right) and a friend enjoy their picnic in West Zwick’s Park.

As a foodie and someone who loves trying out new things, I recently had the opportunity to check out Belleville’s Pop-Ups on the Bay which showcases some of the best local and international cuisines. The pop-ups are in West Zwick’s Park and have attracted a diverse range of food vendors, each with something unique and mouth-watering to offer. Their hours of operation are Wednesday to Sunday from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm.

Upon arrival, I was greeted by the cheerful sounds of live music from an event at the park’s pavilion and the delicious scent of food wafting through the air. I saw an assortment of food stalls offering everything from Samosas to wood-fired pizza, chicken shawarma, and cookies to local favourite chip trucks, smoothies, and ice cream. Every vendor had their own unique food and drink selection, each more tempting than the last.

Among the vendors, I first visited Falafel Royale, offering middle eastern cuisine. I ordered the authentic chicken shawarma, which came with fresh chicken, perfectly spiced and cooked to perfection, making it a tempting mix of spicy and savoury flavours that simply melted in my mouth. Next, I visited other vendors and ordered more delicious food items to try. The food with every bite provides a burst of juicy and authentic flavours.

falafel, a wrap and pickled vegetables on a blue picnic table in the image on the left, on the right sits a pizza, poutine and fruit smoothie
Left: Falafel and a chicken shawarma wrap from Falafel Royale. Right: Brick Oven Pizza, poutine from Gator’s Fries and a beverage from Benji’s Cafe.

After enjoying the savoury flavours, I headed over to grab something sweet. The Golden Scoop had a variety of flavours, and I opted for a classic, creamy vanilla. I did not stop there though; I always complete my meal with a nice refreshing Indian masala chai drink but I could not find it there, so I thought what else could be better than a fruit blend from Benji’s Cafe.

a mini golf course on the grass in a park
Mini golf is also available at Pop-Ups on the Bay.

While enjoying great food, I was able to chat with some of the vendors and learn more about their backgrounds and businesses. There was a sense of community and camaraderie among the vendors and visitors, making Pop-Ups on the Bay an unforgettable experience.

After spending a few hours indulging my taste buds, listening to music, and enjoying the park surroundings, I felt satisfied and inspired by the creativity of the vendors and the flavours they brought to the park. After eating lots of food, you can enjoy a nice walk through the park’s beautiful waterfront trails.

I highly recommend visiting this spot if you’re interested in sampling a wide variety of delicious foods, waterfront views, meeting new people, and enjoying some live music.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

I would suggest checking the pop-ups website, Facebook and Instagram as Zwick’s Park has events lined up throughout the summer and you don’t want to miss your favourite events along with some delicious food. On occasion, a few vendors shut down their services due to severe weather, but they do live updates on their social media. I would highly recommend taking your kids, family and friends on your next visit here. Every pop-up vendor has a tap/debit/credit system to accept the payment but it’s safe to carry some extra cash with you as some of the special events at the park may only accept cash.

 

 


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Bay of Quinte Region is an alliance of interdependent communities, bound together by a common history, shared economy, and the water that surrounds and defines us. We hope to welcome you soon.

© 2023 Bay of Quinte Region | © TripAdvisor 2023

Bay of Quinte Region is an alliance of interdependent communities, bound together by a common history, shared economy, and the water that surrounds and defines us. We hope to welcome you soon.