Some neighbourhoods make more sense when you get out of the car. Hamilton Road is one of them. As a REALTOR working with buyers and sellers in East London, I want people to see more than listings: the places to pick up bread, stop for lunch and spend an afternoon.
By Zach Boulert, REALTOR® / Sales Representative · ·
TL;DR — the quick version
Start with sausage bread or crusty buns from London Portuguese Bakery. Look for Hamilton Road’s tree carvings, stop at Balboni’s for a donut and make time for chicken and potatoes at Imperio dos Frangos. Add a look at historic Siddall House and a walk at St. Julien Park, and you’ve got a day that shows a different side of London.
Think of this as a menu of stops—not a timed walking tour. The bakery, Balboni’s and Crouch Library make a useful starting cluster. Siddall House is farther along Hamilton Road, so you may prefer to drive, cycle or take transit between parts of the outing. Check current hours and menu availability before leaving.
1. Start at London Portuguese Bakery
Find it: 420 Hamilton Road.
Start with a simple decision: sweet or savoury? Pick up a pastry, choose something to take home and give yourself a little time to browse rather than rushing straight back out.
My personal picks are the sausage bread and their crusty buns. I’ve ordered them myself, and they’re a big reason I recommend stopping here. The sausage bread is absolutely worth asking about.
If that’s what you’re coming for, call ahead to check availability and ask whether they can set one aside. It’s a much better plan than arriving hungry and hoping there’s some left. The bakery’s business listing confirms 420 Hamilton Road.
Zach’s tip: Leave room for another food stop. This is not a one-snack kind of outing.
2. Meet the Sasquatch and explore the tree carvings
Hamilton Road has public art with personality. The Sasquatch wood carving outside Home Hardware is a good example: it’s the sort of detail you remember long after driving past a row of storefronts.
London’s Tree Trunk Tour includes sculptures along Hamilton Road and at other locations around the city. Artists turn tree trunks into detailed carvings you can enjoy out on public streets—not behind a gallery door.
Make a small game of it: see which carving catches your eye first, then take a closer look from an appropriate public area.
While you’re exploring, notice Crouch Branch Library at 550 Hamilton Road. It’s an important community space, with programs, resources and places for people to connect. The library shares more about its role in its Crouch community story.
These are details I encourage buyers to notice. What’s nearby that you would actually use? Where would you spend time when you weren’t at home?
3. Make room for Balboni’s Donut Shop
Find it: 549 Hamilton Road.
Yes, we’ve already stopped at a bakery. No, that doesn’t mean we’re skipping the donuts.
Balboni’s Donut Shop is another reason to spend some time along Hamilton Road. Pop in, see what’s available and choose something that makes you happy. The Homer Simpson display in my photo gives you a taste of the fun inside.
You don’t need to turn it into a complicated tasting exercise. Pick your favourite—or bring someone willing to split a couple with you.
For anyone collecting London, Ontario hidden gems, this is the kind of independent stop worth adding to the list. Check the shop’s current hours before heading over.
4. My favourite history stop: 583–585 Hamilton Road
For me, 583 Hamilton Road has some of the best history on the street. The City’s 2025 heritage register identifies 583–585 Hamilton Road as Homister House and records a construction year of 1877.
The Hamilton Road BIA’s Homister House Hotel history shares a photograph from around 1907. It describes James Homister’s addition to the hotel, which included a saloon and bar, and identifies the surviving building at 585 Hamilton Road.
That’s what makes this stop interesting to me: you’re not just looking at an older facade. You’re looking at a place that was part of the street’s social life more than a century ago. Open the BIA’s historical photo while you’re there and compare the view from a public area. Don’t assume the building is open for tours.
5. Chicken and potatoes at Imperio dos Frangos
Find it: 741 Hamilton Road.
By now, lunch should be firmly on your mind. Imperio dos Frangos is my pick for Portuguese chicken—and the potatoes are crazy good. In my book, this is the best Portuguese chicken around. That’s my personal recommendation, not an award or ranking.
Chicken and potatoes would be my starting point. Check the current menu for portions, sides and prices. Its location listing confirms 741 Hamilton Road.
What I like about an outing like this is that it gives you a reason to try places you might otherwise drive past. Exploring East London restaurants doesn’t need to mean a formal dinner reservation. Sometimes it’s picking up lunch from an independent business and finding a new favourite.
6. Look back at Hamilton Road’s history at Siddall House
Find it: 1184 Hamilton Road.
For a history stop farther along the corridor, look for Siddall House. According to London Public Library’s local-history record, John Siddall had built the house by 1820. It is one of the oldest surviving houses in the area and was also an early meeting place for a local Masonic lodge.
That makes it more than an interesting old building. It’s a visible connection to the area long before today’s streets and shops took shape.
As someone who helps people buy older homes, I like seeing those different layers of history in a neighbourhood. Take a look from the public sidewalk, respect the property and enjoy the architectural details. This stop is about noticing the house—not assuming it’s open for tours.
7. Finish with fresh air at St. Julien Park
Disc golf course access: 58 St. Julien Street.
After the food stops, a little time outside feels like the right finish. St. Julien Park in London, Ontario, offers a setting along the Thames River and is home to the River’s Edge disc golf course. The Professional Disc Golf Association lists the course at 58 St. Julien Street.
Bring your discs if you play. Otherwise, enjoy a walk, use the established paths and stay aware of players around the course.
It’s a different pace from Hamilton Road’s shops—and that contrast is part of what makes exploring the area worthwhile. You can spend part of your day around small businesses and another part beside the river.
What this tells you about living in Hamilton Road
A good lunch doesn’t tell you whether a house is right for you. But spending time in a neighbourhood helps you ask better questions.
When I’m talking with buyers about East London real estate, I want them to think beyond the listing photos. Would you use the nearby shops and community spaces? Does the location work for your commute and errands? What do you notice when you visit the street at different times? What does the particular house need now, and what might you need to budget for later?
Hamilton Road has places worth getting to know. The next step is matching that neighbourhood experience with a home that fits your life. For a broader look, explore my Hamilton Road neighbourhood guide.
If you’d like to see what buying here looked like for real clients, read how two first-time buyers purchased a 1936 Hamilton Road home. Their story involved a second chance, another offer, and working through inspection and insurance questions before completing the purchase.
Could East London be your next home?
You don’t need to have everything figured out before you reach out. For a personalized neighbourhood tour, local real-estate advice or help finding a home that fits your life, call or text Zach Boulert at 647-877-3792.
Call Zach about East LondonLocal favourites reflect Zach’s personal experience. Business hours, menus and access can change; check before visiting. Photos supplied for this guide; Balboni’s photo by Zach Boulert.