All you need to know when visiting the Soo for Sports
By Sault Tourism
Whether you’re here for a tournament, camp, coaching course, or race, you’re in for a treat. Beyond your main event, there’s plenty to explore and enjoy in Sault Ste. Marie.
We understand how hectic traveling for sports events can be, so let us make your visit smoother and more enjoyable in a way your team and team managers will appreciate. Read on for help with:
Where to Eat?
Let’s start with some essentials – food. Sault Ste. Marie has a wide range of restaurants, cafes, pubs and breweries. You’ll find all the information you need here.
Below is a specially selected list categorized of establishments known to welcome groups, organized in a way that hopefully relates to your needs. If you see an asterix*, it means that establishment also has private rooms.
Restaurants with games / activities
Centre Ice
The restaurant inside the Pee Wee Hockey Arena.
Hard Line Grill*
The restaurant inside the YNCU Curling Centre.
Ice Breakers*
Inside the John Rhodes Community Centre
Northcrest Lanes
Ten-pin bowling with pub-grub food
Soo Blaster
Eat, drink, play. A fun-zone with a restaurant. Pool, air hockey, video games and more!
Wacky Wings
Family-friendly wings and pub style menu with entertainment arena.
* = private rooms or areas available
Larger Groups / Family Friendly
The Blockhouse Pub
All day breakfast, gourmet sandwiches and grilled cheeses and pub fare.
The Boiler Room*
Specializes in wood fired pizzas with other gastropub style meals
Casey’s Grill Bar*
Casual pub style dining located inside the Water Tower Inn.
Chuck’s Roadhouse Bar & Grill
Chuck’s is known for their laid-back sports bar atmosphere and savory steaks.
Chummy’s Grill
Indigenous owned and operated offering daily features, hearty portions, all day breakfast and pub favorites.
Gino’s Fired Up Kitchen*
Wood fired pizzas, build your own pasta dishes and a wide range of classic pub fare.
Montana’s BBQ & Bar
The home of BBQ and pub fare featuring a large atmospheric dining room with waterfront views.
For Smaller Groups or Adults
Aurora’s Restaurant
Family owned and operated Italian restaurant.
Giovanni’s Restaurant*
Family and group friendly restaurant featuring authentic Italian cuisine.
North 82 Steak and Seafood*
Famous for seared steaks, seafood and Greek inspired menu items.
The Root (golf course)
A variety of hearty and elegant meals from pastas and seafood to steaks and roast beef.
Sandro’s Restaurant
Handmade Italian pasta dishes and North American comfort food.
The Mill Steakhouse & Wine Bar
The fine dining option in the Canal District
Mulligan’s Irish Pub
Features classic Irish specialties like fish and chips, cottage pie and an array of burgers and sandwiches.
Something Special!
Embers on the Ridge*
Unique up-scale fine dining options located on Crimson Ridge golf course
Golden Dragon
A wide selection of Chinese food and specializing in their dinner buffet.
Peace Restaurant
Vibrant Asian Fusion based bar and restaurant with an ever-changing menu
Quattro Vinotecca
Upscale dining featuring steaks, fish, pastas, and wide range of elegant entrees
Shogun Sushi
Offering a wide selection of fresh, authentic Japanese food.
Sunset Noodle House
Authentic Vietnamese Cuisine in a cozy atmosphere.
The Taj
High quality Indian Cuisine in a modern up-scale dining atmosphere.
Local Caterers
Looking to eat-in? The Soo has plenty of great caterers / take-out options for you!
A-E
Absolutely Delicious
Homemade…serving breakfast and lunch daily!!! Desserts…frozen meat pies, homemade lasagna ready
Alina’s Kitchen
Family owned Italian Restaurant
Take-out only
Aurora’s Pizza and Spaghetti House
Delicious Italian and American fare – all made fresh and in-house – for the whole family
F-L
Feeding Your Soul Cafe
Homemade…serving breakfast and lunch daily!!! Desserts…frozen meat pies, homemade lasagna ready
Giovanni’s Restaurant
Authentic Italian cuisine.
Grand Gardens
Delicious Italian take-out and catering establishment
M-Z
Marconi Multicultural Centre Classic Italian menu
Paesano Foods
Italian food and takeout menu
Primavera Catering and Banquet Hall
Serving traditional Italian food, handmade ravioli, or something like a double burger.
Sandros
Delicious Italian take-out and catering establishment
What To Do In The Soo?
Maybe you have a few hours been between games, or maybe you want to extend your stay by a day or so. Depending on when you visit, there will be a wide range of options to make your trip to the Soo fun and enjoyable.
Team Building Ideas
Does your team need to stay active between games? Are you looking for a fun activity that everyone can take part in? Here are some team building suggestions.
KBX Performance Club is a sports training facility that offers gym and on the field/ice training for sports such as hockey. Goat Yoga is very popular with visiting teams who want to try something different and fun. Swing Away Batting Cages operates out of Strathclair Park. Bellevue Park is 17 hectares big, so plenty of space to run around in. It includes a splash pad, 4 play area and there are also picnic tables and benches – perfect for outdoor lunches. A great team building event is attending a hockey game at the local OHL team, the Soo Greyhounds – catered boxes can be booked too!
Sault Ste. Marie also has has 24 lanes of ten-pin bowling at North Crest Lanes. Soo Blaster has video games, pool, air hockey. There’s golf simulators Up and Down Lounge and axe throwing!
What Do in Winter
Searchmont is one of Ontario’s best ski hills with over 700 feet of vertical. Hiawatha Highlands is a winter wonderland with cross-country skiing, fat biking and snowshoeing available. The City maintains a number of outdoor rinks in winter months, and The Rink at the Canal District has bookable as well as free public skating options.
For indoor activities check out the always-popular Bushplane Museum or the excellent Ermatinger Clergue National Historic Site. y and more and Station Mall has a number of stores, a big Galaxy Cinema and a food court.
What Do in Spring, Summer or Fall
Sault Ste. Marie is one of Ontario’s best adventure towns. Mountain Biking, hiking, paddling, boat tours, sandy beaches – and that’s just within the city limits! There are plenty of activities you can do in just a couple of hours, and more if you have half a day or more to spare. The summer months is also when our outdoor events really ramp up – classic car cruises, beer festivals, poutine and rib fests… when you visit, visit our Events page for all the latest happenings.
Here are a few ideas to hopefully get you inspired.
Accommodation
If you haven’t yet arranged accommodation, visit the Stay page of our website for a full list of hotels, motels and campsites within the city.
And of course, head to our home page, or our Travel Inspiration page for even more ideas of what to do when visiting the Soo!
Merchandise and Swag
T-shirts, keyrings, stickers… don’t leave without a piece of swag or a keepsake! You can pick up some great merch at the Bushplane Museum’s awesome (and large) gift shop, the Ontario Travel Centre, at the Ermatinger Clergue National Historic Site, or at the ‘Hound Pound’ of the Soo Greyhounds inside the GFL Gardens.
Here are the places where you can pick up some merch.
