About 1886 Lake House Bistro

A lakeside bistro with a pioneer story, cottage-casual vibes, and a menu rooted in Northern Ontario.

It all started when …

In the 1880s, George Morrison— a bookkeeper from Oxford County—traveled north by ox-cart to Lake Nipissing. He built a raft, crossed to the south-east bay with his family and belongings, and settled among towering Eastern White Pine as logging took hold in the region.

On June 1, 1881, he opened a post office in his general store and named it Callander, after his parents’ Scottish birthplace. The community was officially incorporated in 1886. In 2003, the municipality adopted the name Callander (formerly North Himsworth) because, as then-mayor Bill Brazeau said, “Nobody knew where North Himsworth was.”

Small beginnings. Big lake. A name that stuck.

Cottage casual, year round

Set on beautiful Callander Bay with views of Lake Nipissing, 1886 Lake House Bistro blends black-and-white photography, butcher-block tables, and barn-board accents into a relaxed, come-as-you-are space.

  • All welcome: après-ski or beach day, date night or family dinner

  • Dress code: none—work gear, weekend best, or flip-flops

  • Reservations: not required—just drop in and get comfy

OUR KITCHEN

Open for lunch and dinner with a Children’s Menu for guests under 10.

A classic bistro menu with a comfort-forward twist, built on seasonal ingredients sourced from nearby farmers in Powassan, Trout Creek, and Sturgeon (when in season).

OUR PLACE

We’re proud to be part of Callander’s living story—where lake life, good food, and friendly service meet.

We acknowledge the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Nipissing First Nation, the territory of the Anishnabek, within lands protected by the Robinson Huron Treaty of 1850, on which we are learning, working, and gathering today.

“We visited this restaurant twice during our trip, and both times the food was unbelievably delicious! Our servers, KJ and Angie, were absolutely amazing ; friendly, attentive, and made our experience even better. We travelled from Ottawa and honestly didn’t expect to find such a fantastic dining spot in the small town of Callander, but it completely exceeded our expectations. Highly recommend to anyone visiting the area. You won’t be disappointed!”