This spot feels like it is definitely a must go on your Guelph to do list! Our server was accommodating and kind. She was simply the best. The location is an old house and the holidays amplified the cozy atmosphere to 100. The fire place was great and warm and I loved it. The food was amazing and the portions were ginormous. Would definitely recommend the Mac and cheese the spices were perfect. read more

Food was delicious, especially the poutine. It went great with the ales I ordered. Service was welcoming and attentive. The patio was spacious and the heaters made it perfect for hanging with friends outside. read more

This is a go to place in Guelph and I get it! It doesn't disappoint. Located downtown in an older residential turned commercial building, it is welcoming to all age groups and even, as reassured today, welcoming to little kids. The service is fast, pleasant, and caring. The food is usually great. There are dishes that are more to my preference than others, but overall a consistently good food experience. The kid's portions are quite small, so make sure to choose regular if you have a big eater! read more

See all

It is currently lockdown in the middle of winter when patio or car eating are the only options. Heated patio here, visited on -9C, need the jacket on. I stopped in for a bite, after reading a review complimenting that patio was suitable for spring and autumn...so why not winter. We called in and asked if their patio was open, then learned we could reserve spots. It was-9C with wind chill and some sun. They were accomodating to slot us in for 2.30-3.30pm and even when we were slightly late they honoured and held our reservation. We ordered the wings at $15 for 7 pieces and the swet potato fries for $12 (plsteful). The wings were well fried and generously coated with honey garlic, we were asked if we wanted it on the side or all over. The wings were served with two sticks of celery and one carrot and a blue cheese dip. The sweet potato fries were skinny and fried with a light coating that was extra crispy and served with an aioli sauce. The location has menus on the wall and QR code. The heaters near the menu on the ceiling was on but the ones facing the opposite direction was on. A bit drafty, I would recommend sitting closer to the covered patio side. The location has some comfy blankets to use, but not much is done to sanitize customer to customer so we enjoyed our own jacket. The restaurant recommended to bring some blankets but we were on the go and didny have any. The parking lot has spots, but I would presume most customers would be drinking and responsibly walking or riding taxi. read more

Went for a chill Saturday lunch with my Dad - I was visiting him and thought I should get him out to a place he hadn't been in a while. Decided on The Wooly - and they didn't disappoint. They have a small menu, and the food they have they do well! Great list of craft beers, tasty food (we started with the antojitos, I had the cheese burger, my dad had the maple cranberry wrap), and friendly attentive service! I think the last time we went was in very very early 2020. Will definitely be back. read more

The Wooly Pub - Cozy atmosphere! - Pubs Near Me - Guelph, Ontario

See all

The service was great and fast. The vibe is pub style, pretty chill. I had the chicken parm sandwich it was good. But it wasn't amazing. It had the potential to be amazing. But I wanted a little more flavor. read more

Came out to the patio during COVID. They had extended the patio over the parking lot which gave plenty of room. They lay out vegetarian and kids meal options which was great. They have 3 or 4 different veggie burger options when we were there. We ordered the veg cheese burger, sweet potato fries and the kids mac n cheese. Everything was ok. Ordered a white wine sangria which had a strong orange juice tasted so not recommended. Service was friendly. The star of the show was the salted toffee cake dessert. This is a must have! read more

See all

The wooly pub is a great place to hang out. We went on a Thursday and it was a bit busy at the time. There are limited seats here inside and out. The bar is also rather small with only a handful of seats. However if you manage to get one, they have a great beer selection of local Ontario beers. We had the wings and poutine for appetizers which were good. Then I had the local fish and chips. The fish wasn't my favorite but I am glad I tried it. read more

The Wooly Pub was wonderful, we immediately felt welcome and at home on a fairy busy Saturday evening. We had a small wait at their compact bar area, where they have an impressive selection of craft beer and cider from Ontario, including 4 beers on cask. I had a delicious reuben made with pork belly on artisanal rye bread. Hubby had a delightfully messy bacon cheeseburger. Both came with homemade fries. We finished off with sticky toffee pudding served with vanilla ice cream. When we got the bill, the pudding was $0.00. I asked our server who to thank, and he said it was him. I said thank you, but why? Just because he wanted to. ;-) We returned to the bar as hubby wanted to try another beer. There, he sat next the bar manager Paul, who upon my husband's admiration of a beer goblet, gifted it to him. When my husband tried to buy a t-shirt and they didn't have any in XL, the bartender gave him a L with the old logo on it for free. Wish they were closer or we lived closer, this would definitely be our "local". read more

See all

Two experiences within a few weeks time, the first time we thought was maybe just a fluke- but unfortunately I'm reviewing our visits because my recommendation is to avoid. Canada Day we visited for dinner because it was a busy day, and our food was inedible. We got wings and a meal that came with a side of fries. When the food came I tried right away to rescue the entree from a huge pool of water on the plate that was clearly there from the piece of carrot and celery put there. Not only were they soggy from water but just gross tasting because they were extremely salty, inedibly salty. It was disgusting! The fries were ok but there was barely any on the plate. The wings were tough with barely any meat, and dried out so that if there had been sauce it didn't seem like it. The sauce also did not taste good. We tried to tell 2 different servers and they shrugged us off. I really thought this was probably a fluke- but... Our next visit was about 2 weeks later when we decided to try again on another busy day out for Sunday dinner. We avoided the foods we had ordered before and the food was just MEH, but the service was absolutely terrible. After waiting quite a while for food we needed drinks refreshed when food came. The server came by and took our new drink order which included water too, then she took a half full glass of one drink away, this was odd but I wasn't upset until no new drinks came at all. In fact the server never came back even once. We had to get though our meals with no drinks and I was pretty mad. When I finally flagged someone down to pay they tried to chat me up super friendly as I'm entering tip information and I caved on leaving zero tip which is what I wished I'd done. I've tried to contact management about this and no one has answered in a weeks time so now the reviews are going to get posted everywhere. There are many other places to eat downtown. The Wooly too so expensive to offer such hit and miss quality, and does not consistently have good service and clearly management doesnt care about customer satisfaction. read more

Wooly has been our go to pub for over 20 years . Our child didn't a grade 4 project on her favourite restaurant and it was here . Lol . Great local beer selection . Would be 5 Star but the wings have taken a step down and they removed the Apricot wheat beer from their selection :( read more

Also known as The Wooly, this is not our normal haunt (Baker Street is our go to), but we always end up here if they are full next door. The food is always decent and they have a wicked craft beer list. The staff are super nice. The pork belly poutine is delicious and it is worth the visit (not just as a second choice) for that alone. They had a great Covid patio setup and seem to have adapted well to the demands. We felt safe and welcomed. read more

Had a great night here out with the girlfriend last month. Really enjoyed the beers, servers are all knowledgeable about the choices and the draft selection is great. Absolutely love the smash bomb atomic IPA, was pleased to see it on tap. As for the food we had the "roasted peanut hummus" which I found to be over seasoned and misleading as well since it was nothing like a hummus should be, but it still got eaten. Also tried their "Sea salt and pepper" wings which is supposedly their specialty.. They were good but too expensive in my opinion, shouldn't cost that much for a pound of wings. Girlfriend had the bison burger which was delicious but the patty looked really small My suggestion would be to get some Dieu du Ciel beers on tap if you really wanna have something unique, that would be awesome Will definitely be returning read more

The Wooly Pub - sampler - Pubs Near Me - Guelph, Ontario

We expected delicious food and drink (went on a friend's recommendation) and we weren't disappointed. Our server was awesome! She went out of her way knowing we were first timers. This is definitely on the top of my list to revisit when in Guelph! read more

It pains me to give the Wooly 2 stars but based on my last two experiences that's all it deserves. The owner/manager needs to take heed - there are very good competitors nearby with better food and better service. You have a great location but it's being squandered with the food that you serve which is mediocre at best. Re- heated fries and frozen dinner quality meat pies are dragging you down my friends! Good beer selection but I can get that at 4 locations within 2 blocks of you! read more

Good food! Awesome wings! Great beer selection. $100 for 3 people w. Wine and beer. Try the fish taco served on naan bread . Nice vibe and a popular local spot Really good beer selections on tap with local and micro breweries. Can get busy on any given night for obvious reasons and they do have a small patio in the back. The "Wooly" as it is locally known is the place to hang out with friends and family. The quality of the food is top notch here. Not your typical pub grub. read more

The Wooly Pub - Pubs Near Me - Guelph, Ontario

Went to this place for a chill environment for dinner and definitely got it. They have a great list of beers and a nice pub environment. The lighting was kind of low but I guess what you can expect for a pub. As for the food, I had the steak and mushroom pie which was okay however the meat as well as the pie shell were kind of tough. However the people I was with had pasta that they said was delicious as well as really good burgers. I will say I wouldn't go back and have the item I had, however I would be happy to go back and try more of there better items. One final piece that gave me a great impression of the place however, was that our waiter gave us complimentary ice cream to share because we went for an celebration. The service really was what made this a place somewhere I would love to go back to. read more

See all

Rating based on the cozy atmosphere, great service, and impressive beer collection. Food was just ok. Being from the states, the BBQ sauce tasted more like ketchup. Wait was long to get seating, but appreciated the heated porch out back where we could have drinks while we waited. read more

There are less than a dozen places in Guelph that are truly worth eating at. The Woolwich Arms is towards the top of that list. Anytime that I'm in town, the Wooly is a required stop. The food is just terrific - it's all organic, local, and little (if anything) is frozen or premade. I strongly suggest looking at the specials of the day; you'll often see things that explode off the chalkboard menu. I've never had a special that wasn't excellent. The beer selection is nice, with a lot of it local. I heartily suggest getting a 'tasting set' of the beers, where you'll get a series of similar beers to enjoy side by side. The Wooly also has regular special tasting days which I'd highly recommend attending. The crowd is more mature than most of the places downtown. While it can get loud in the evening with the sheer number of people that are there you never get the feeling that a frosh is going to be ill or a table is going to get out of hand. In short, if you're looking for one of the best pubs in the city, head to the Wooly! read more

I LOVE the Wooly! Now known as the Woolwhich Arrow it's owned by the same people as Borealis. If you're looking for a casual pub style atmosphere with less of the greasy pub food, this is a place to check out! Their food is all locally sourced, everything from the meats, to the seasonal vegetables to the cheeses! They have all free range drug free meats and a lot of organic options. The last time I was in they even had hook and line caught halibut on the menu. The inside flap of the menu lists all of their suppliers right down to literally the peanuts. :) The menu also seems to change a bit at least once a year to keep up-to-date and to always provide the best of what's in season. On top of that they always have amazing specials. One thing I noticed on my latest outing that made me love them all the better was each of their burgers have option of being local beef, chicken, bison OR housemade vegetarian patties. This time around I went with the husband. It was his first time there and he seemed equally impressed and him being a culinary graduate immersed in the industry that says a lot to me! I tried their chicken curry with peach chutney he had the bison chili and we shared one of the specials to start, the salmon dill cakes (if these are ever available when you are there you'll be doing yourself a huge favour ordering them!!). The portions are always large but not so huge to make you feel like you couldn't finish the plate. Another plus that the previous reviews have mentioned are the local craft beers that are available, their house Harvest Ale is always a treat as well as the mini taster trays which they change up periodically so you can always try something new! All told, three dishes and one drink (hubby doesn't drink) 50$ and I always feel that for the quality of the food, the price is a STEAL. :) The Woolwhich Arrow should definitely be on any list of places to try in Guelph! read more

Just watched the most horrible customer service I have ever seen. Actually heard a server tell a customer to "I'm not going to read the menu for you" the older gentlemen beside me were just asking her to read the specials (which they asked about) and repeatedly told them to "read the board" even though they told her they had forgotten their glasses. She then proceeded to tell them to "hold on, I'm talking to him". I can tell you as the "him" she was not talking to me and was asking me if I wanted a refill. Mac and cheese I had was 4 out of 5. Service reigns supreme for me so 2 stars it is. read more

The Woolwich Arms, aka The Wolly, is a little pub in an old house on the outskirts of downtown. The atmosphere is laid back and the crowd is more mature than some of the undergrad dominated spots downtown. The space consists of a few connected rooms with the main room having a TV usually showing sports at a fairly unobtrusive volume. Good selection of local beers on tap. The menu looks like standard pub fare with a bit of a local/organic twist but I can't comment on the quality as I've never eaten here. read more

We love The Wooly. Read the other reviews to learn about the beer selection, because I just drink the hard cider. For vegetarians you'll find a good veggie burger, spinach dip, baked mac'n'cheese (get it with mushrooms, no bacon for veg), and one or two other items. Sometimes the soup will also be vegetarian. They do have poutine with veggie gravy, but the gravy is bland as can be and, as my friend says, it ends up tasting like an old boot. I seriously wish they would add a little veggie bouillon to the gravy as that would fix it right up! Anywho, we keep coming back for the atmosphere as much as the veggie burgers and amazing mac'n'cheese. They have a small parking lot out back, and that's also where you'll find the handicapped accessible entrance ramp. Note that there is no reserved handicapped parking there, though. There is also a patio back there for the warmer months. Those on wheels will need to make several 90degree turns in quick order to get to the seating areas. They will pass the restroom along the way. Seating consists of tables and chairs in 2 main rooms, plus some bar seating in the third (bar) room. A few are the tall tables, most are standard 2 and 4-top tables and a wheelchair could pull up to them easily. There are also a few tables where a pew is along one half. And, finally, there are a few tables outside. The chairs inside and out have no arms and are pretty sturdy. It can get busy there, especially when there is live music and if the weather keeps people from using the outdoor tables. It's worth it, but just know you'll likely have to wait for a while to get a late evening seat in the colder months. Everybody loves The Wooly! read more

The spring of 2012, my friend and I were making a last round to restaurants we've never been to during our 7-8 years at Guelph and my, were we glad we stopped by Woolwich Arms. So when we first walked in...it was a weekday at noon time and there were a LOT of young to middle-aged dudes in there. So that's where all the men of Guelph apparently hang out. So needless to say, it was a little bit..um...awkward. However, the good food definitely made up for it all! Wooly's definitely serves up high quality pub food. There are a lot of organic, local foods there so I was overall very satisfied with their selection. Like many places in Guelph, it is vegetarian friendly too. Hospitality is great there as well! Would love to revisit this place on day! read more

High quality pub food with a focus on keeping things local. Wellington Cask Ale was terrific. Appetizer was Nachos Supreme - nothing wildly imaginative, but fresh and flavorful. Mains were Buffalo Maple Chili and Mac & Cheese (spend the extra buck for the bacon and mushrooms) - both were delicious, impossible to choose which was better. On a Saturday night there were lots of people but still a few tables open. We were off in a room which I believe was called the Moose Nook - one other group at the other end of the room, so actually pretty quiet. I could see it getting loud with a full floor though - it's basically a converted home. I could see maybe someone describing the service as slow, but I'll be honest - I always prefer a wait staff that lets you breathe. I never found myself asking, "Gee, I wonder where that waiter is?" Otherwise he was friendly and answered all our questions about the menu. read more

Seen this place on yelp and thought we would give it a try. Arrived around 1:00 on a Saturday, place was a little busy but we got a decent table. The restaurant is a converted house, there are a few rooms you can choose it sit in, we picked the room on the far right. Right away one thing I noticed was that the room smelled old... That was a bit of a turnoff. The menu was small, we ordered the beef burger with fries and the crispy chicken sandwich with fries. Food came not too long after we ordered. My friend liked her burger, but said she had better. My chicken sandwich was nice, needed a little more ranch sauce. The slaw they put on the bottom was nice, but it was a bit wet and made my bun soggy pretty quick, no one likes soggy buns. We both thought the fries were great. Getting our bill and paying took longer then expected as the restaurant started to get really busy around 2:00 pm. All in all it was a good lunch, nothing mind blowing, but good quality grub. read more

The Wooly Pub - Beef burger - Pubs Near Me - Guelph, Ontario

See all

This is definitely one of the best pubs in Guelph. Their menu has normal pub food options (wings, burgers, sandwiches) and it isn't huge, but you really can't go wrong no matter what you choose. All the food is locally sourced and very tasty. They also have surprisingly good poutine, I highly recommend the pulled pork option. The beer list is great and constantly changing, most of it from Guelph and the greater Toronto area. They usually have something on Cask as well, if that's your jam. The service I've had is almost always excellent, even when in large groups or on a busy day. Unfortunately, the quality of their food and service is not carried over to their facilities. The bathrooms are pitiful and gross, the bar area is awkward and often cramped and the restaurant as a whole looks like it hasn't received much attention in about a decade. Despite this, the food and beer options make this place well worth a visit. read more

Tried this place out on a Thursday with my other half. Good sized group of people already filling the place. Service nice and fast and friendly. Food was average, but the big let down was no cask tapped. Will try again and update review. Update: We had another go around and it was on a weekday. Still great service and this time 3 casks available. Server had samples for me to try before getting my pint/'s Really enjoyed the wing's read more

Very good food very good atmosphere awesome service! This is my new go to place in Guelph read more

Excellent local pub serving locally-sourced foods. Great selection of beers as well.

Great food and beer! It can get really busy, especially at dinner time, so arrive early!

Love the local food and brews! The staff here is super nice and great with regulars. I've tried almost everything on the menu and loved it. The fancy poutines are awesome! The daily specials are pretty much always delicious and there are options for every (pub type) eater. The beverages are awesome and the daily beer features are fun. They even make great mocktails. I strongly recommend this pub! read more

The Wooly is a decent pub. The beer selection is quite good. The food is decent, but it's just pretty standard pub fair. I've always had pretty good service. It can get very busy here so I recommend reservations. Overall, I'd say the Wooly is average - not bad, not great. read more

This place is ok. Just plain ok. The service is passable as is the menu. Plain old ok.

Good beer, good staff, good music. As local as it gets, a wonderful casual place to just kick back and relax

Best place ever. Pulled pork poutine, Flying Monkey beer. Can it get better?

The service is friendly, the beer comes quickly, and the wings are spicy! There is no music, which I know is common in a pub, but I always find it odd. Definitely not enough to turn me off though. Would definitely recommend checking out The Wooly. read more

Great Food - unique selection and a great selection of local and unique beers. Service was also great. We've been for dinner and also just for drinks. read more

Fantastic place to eat and drink (and what else would you want to do in a pub?). The beers on tap were plentiful and delicious. The bar tender knew his stuff too so that made for great conversation. Once we got the menu we were blown away by the burger selections. If there was ever a place to try a vegetarian style burger this is definitely the place to do it. And if you're still a meat eater then having a place to go to that makes ethical choices about their ingredients and keeping it local is a huge bonus. Top notch place for sure. read more

Locally sourced, inventive and delicious. It's a great treat to try the fabulous dishes the 'Wooly' has to offer. Their local brews were impressive, and we highly recommend the Harvest Ale and the Pumpkin Ale. Had the burger with cheese and apple chutney and fries; it was delicious! However, the service left us disappointed. Our party of 3 went on a Saturday night at 7, and we waited 20 minutes to talk to our server. We should have ordered an appetizer because our food took over an hour to arrive. Delicious food, but the service was very slow and often times our server was unfriendly, abrupt, or ignored us completely. She didn't check to see if we were okay once our food arrived and left us with our empty plates and wanting our bill for 20 minutes afterwards. We really wished she had checked on us, as we would have loved to order a second pint for our 2 our visit. Will return sometime, but with hopes that management has seen this review. read more