Paul Dolk Photography: This photo can be purchased from Paul’s Website
There are many places to visit on the island of Newfoundland, however, few places have the density and diversity of experiences that Trinity Bight and the Bonavista Peninsula offers. Trinity is ideally situated for exploring surrounding communities for half-day and full day trips including Port Rexton, Port Union, Elliston, Bonavista, New Bonaventure, Upper Amherst Cove and more. Use this section to plan your trips and activities while staying in one of the Artisan Inn’s rooms or vacation homes in Trinity.
• Menu Format: Choice of two appetizers, two main courses (typically fish or seafood and meat), and a house-made dessert
• Price Per Seat: Dinner at the Twine Loft for the 2026 season is approximately $75-$79 per person plus tax.
• Dietary Accommodations: Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free (celiac), and lactose-free menus available with advance notice
• Dining Experience Length: Approximately two hours
• Reservations: Due to the small size of the dining room, each seat is reserved for the full evening dining experience
• Who Can Dine: Reservations are available for Artisan Inn guests and visitors exploring Trinity Bight and the Bonavista Peninsula. If your party includes guests under 19+ please review our information on dining with minors.
• Service Schedule: Scroll to the bottom of the page and select the dates you are interested in to see our current 2026 service schedule.
• Closing Date: The Twine Loft will be operating until (and including) October 17th. More details at bottom of the page.
• Today’s Menu: View the google calendar at the bottom on this page and go to today’s date to see this evening’s main courses. We typically are able to load the evening menu by the day prior.
What Is Included in the Twine Loft Three-Course Dinner
Each evening guests enjoy a three-course set menu (see sample menu at top of page)
Appetizer – Choose One
Choice of two appetizers, typically including:
• one soup option
• one salad option
Main Course – Choose One
Choice of two main courses, typically including:
• one fish or seafood option
• one meat option
Dessert
A house-made dessert
Why Guests Can Feel Confident Booking a Set Menu Experience
Because our menu is based on fresh ingredients and seasonal availability, the exact dinner menu is usually confirmed the day before service.
When booking dinner, guests complete a dinner information form where they can note allergies, dietary restrictions, and strong dislikes. This allows our kitchen to plan a menu that works well for the guests joining us that evening.
Once the menu is shared, there is still time to discuss the possibility of substitutions or to cancel your reservation if the menu does not suit your preferences.
The cook aims to ensure there is at least one suitable option per course for each reserved guest.
Dietary Needs and Allergies
With advance notice we can prepare three-course menus that accommodate:
• Vegetarian diets
• Vegan diets
• Gluten-free / celiac diets (few of our appetizer or main course recipes include gluten)
• Lactose-free diets
Providing this information in advance helps our kitchen ensure that everyone in your party can enjoy the evening safely and comfortably.
Example of a 3 course Vegan Menu at the Twine Loft
Please note this may not be your option on the day of your meal
Appetizer
Carrot Orange Soup
Main Course
Zucchini Croquets with Cashew Cream Drizzle served with Sauteed Asparagus and Roasted Lemon Potatoes
Dessert
Apple Crumble with Vegan Banana Ice Cream
Dining With Minors at the Twine Loft
Dinner at the Twine Loft is served as a timed multi-course dining experience lasting approximately two hours in a small and acoustically intimate dining room.
The Twine Loft dining experience is best suited to guests who are comfortable enjoying a relaxed, two-hour multi-course meal in a quiet and intimate dining room setting.
For this reason, the experience is generally best suited to adults and older children who are comfortable remaining seated for the duration of the meal.
During the months when we offer two dinner sittings, guests under the age of 19 must attend the 5:15 p.m. seating.
This requirement relates to our lounge license, which allows us to serve drinks on the deck. Under Newfoundland and Labrador liquor regulations, minors may not remain in the restaurant after 8:30 p.m.
We generally recommend that children be 10 years of age or older to dine at the Twine Loft.
While the dining experience is generally best suited to adults and older children, we have certainly welcomed younger guests who are comfortable dining in quiet, multi-course restaurant settings and have enjoyed our set menu meal.
Families considering dining with children are encouraged to contact us in advance so we can help determine whether the setting and pacing of the evening will be appropriate for the child in your party.
Expectations for Younger Guests
Children dining at the Twine Loft must:
• Order from the regular menu at the advertised dining price
• Remain seated at the table during the meal
• Maintain a volume appropriate for an intimate dining room
If children are using devices with audio, headphones must be used.
Children may not leave the table between courses to play outside unsupervised.
Bringing Food for a Child
Families may choose to bring a meal for a child if preferred. Please note that because reservations at the Twine Loft are priced per seat rather than per meal due to our limited seating capacity, the regular dining price still applies to each person included in the reservation.
Why These Policies Exist
The Twine Loft kitchen operates with one cook working from two household stoves, and during a single seating we often accommodate multiple dietary menus such as gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, and vegetarian meals in addition to our regular offerings.
Because of this limited kitchen capacity and the small number of seats available each evening, we are not able to offer children’s menus or adjust the pacing of service once dinner has begun.
Accessibility
The first floor dining room of the Twine Loft is wheelchair accessible.
We also offer:
• one wheelchair-accessible washroom
• a wheelchair-accessible waterside deck
Guests using wheelchairs, scooters, or walkers are encouraged to inform us when making their reservation so we can discuss parking and access options.
Because our property uses gravel surfaces for drainage during high tides and heavy rain, we recommend that guests using wheeled mobility aids be dropped off directly at the access ramp in the Twine Loft driveway.
Dress Code
There is no formal dress code at the Twine Loft.
Many guests choose smart casual attire, particularly when celebrating special occasions. At the same time, we understand that many visitors are travelling and packing light, so comfortable travel clothing is always welcome.
Seating and Table Requests
The Twine Loft dining room is designed as a small and intimate space, and many tables offer views of the harbour or historic Trinity.
If reservations are high on a particular evening, dinner may be served on both floors of the Twine Loft. When bookings are lighter, service will take place on the main floor only.
Our reservation form includes a section where guests may indicate mobility needs, which helps us plan the most appropriate table locations.
Because the dining room contains a mix of table sizes and layouts that change depending on the reservations for that evening, we are unfortunately unable to accept requests for specific tables or window seating. Tables suitable for your party size are assigned on a first-come basis.
Making a Reservation
Guests may contact the Twine Loft at 1-709-464-3377 to inquire about dinner reservations.
The easiest way to request a reservation is through our online booking system. Please click BOOK NOW and submit a reservation request through the Twine Loft reservation page.
If you reserve by telephone, you will still be sent a digital reservation form to complete. For this reason, many guests find it quicker to submit their request directly through the online booking system.
We do not accept dinner reservations by email, as important messages can sometimes be missed due to spam filters.
Please note that reservations submitted through the online system are requests only. We will contact you to confirm whether space is available.
You will only be asked to provide a credit card number to hold the reservation once we are confirming your request.
Waitlist: We may add you to a waitlist for one of two reasons.
The dining room is fully booked and we have no more capacity, but cancellations do happen.
We are holding table availability for our own in house guests of Artisan Inn and Vacation Homes, which will be released closer to the dinner date and the waitlist will be contacted.
Confirming a Reservation & Credit Card Holds
The Twine Loft generally requires a minimum of six guests booked on a given evening to operate dinner service. Exceptions may occasionally be made for guests staying in Artisan Inn properties.
Once your reservation request has been confirmed, a credit card number is required to hold the reservation.
Our cancellation policy is as follows:
• $25 plus tax cancellation fee per guest if the reservation is cancelled within 24 hours of the dining time
• Full meal price charged per guest if the reservation is cancelled within 4 hours of the scheduled dinner time
• For groups of five to 12, the full meal price per guest will be charged if the reservation is cancelled within 24 hours
• For groups of 13+ the cancellation policy will be discussed during the booking process.
Whenever possible, we will make every effort to refill seats for last-minute cancellations so that charges do not need to be applied.
Credit card information is securely stored through our payment processing system, Stripe. Once entered, only the last four digits of the card are visible in our system.
If a charge is applied, it will appear on your statement as Artisan Inn Twine Loft.
Pricing Per Seat
Dinner at the Twine Loft for the 2026 season is approximately $79-$85 per person plus tax.
Because of our limited seating capacity and the structure of our set menu service, reservations are charged per seat occupied in the dining room rather than per guest ordering a meal.
This means that if guests choose to share a meal, opt out of a course, or request smaller portions, the price per seat remains the same.
For groups of 6 or more, staff may add an automatic 18% pre tax gratuity to the final bill.
Dining During Your Visit to Trinity
Many guests plan an evening at the Twine Loft Restaurant as part of a full day exploring Trinity, Newfoundland and the Bonavista Peninsula.
Visitors often join us for dinner when visiting Trinity to:
• Walk through the historic streets and visit the Trinity Historic Sites
• Attend a Rising Tide Theatre performance
• Whale, iceberg and bird watching in Trinity Harbour
• Explore coastal trails around Trinity Bight like Gun Hill and Skerwink Trail
• Explore the UNESCO Global Discovery Geopark
An evening at the Twine Loft offers a relaxed way to conclude a day of exploring the region.
Upcoming Schedule
Dates will only appear once details are added. This calendar is meant to provide up to date schedules close to the day of service, however we may include longer term schedules if they are already set.
The Twine Loft will operate through to October 17th.
Please be advised that there is a shortage of rental cars during peak season. Verify that you can rent a car before you commit to reservations.
Public transportation is limited in the area. There is a taxi system to get you to the Bonavista Peninsula, however, once on the Peninsula, there is no system to get you around the Peninsula.
GETTING TO TRINITY
Please be advised that there are two towns of Trinity in Newfoundland. Our Trinity is located in the Eastern Region of Newfoundland and Labrador on the Bonavista Peninsula. This area is also known by its destination route name, The Discovery Trail. When searching online, please make sure you are searching TRINITY, TRINITY BAY.
The other Trinity is located in Central Newfoundland and is Trinity, Bonavista Bay
Driving Directions:
Trinity is located 1 hour from The Trans Canada Highway/Highway 1
1. Take the exit for Route 230 (near the town of Clarenville)
Drivers have the option of driving directly from Highway 1 to route 230 or they can cut through the town of Clarenville taking Route 230A that eventually meets up with Route 230. There is little difference in time between these two options, however, the second option is more scenic and more convenient if you plan to stop in Clarenville, which has larger grocery stores and a large NLC (Liquor Store) for supplies.
2. Drive 50.8km along Route 230 and turn right onto Route 239
3. After 3km you will see a large bay of blue and white buoys (this is a mussel farm)
4. There is a left-hand turn after this bay that leads into the historic town of Trinity.
GETTING TO THE ARTISAN INN
Once you have reached the Royal Bank you will take a sharp hairpin right turn The Twine Loft is the second building on the right located behind a green building called the Barbour House. All guests must register at the Twine Loft (self-check-in is not an option for vacation homes) and our staff will bring you to your reserved room or house.
The Bonavista Peninsula is a place where music, theatre and art are sewn into the fabric of our being. Here are just a few options for where to take in quality art or experience musical or theatrical performances on the Bonavista Peninsula. Many businesses and not-for-profits announce artistic events throughout the summer season. If you are interested in what is going on be sure to ask us when you register.
RISING TIDE THEATRE
Photo courtesy of Rising Tide Theatre
There is so much to be said about Rising Tide Theatre located in Trinity that we have created its own page under our Explore Trinity. 2018 marks the 40th year anniversary of the Theatre Company. Its director, Donna Butt, has received the order of Canada for her contribution to the arts in Canada.
RISING TIDE SEASONS IN THE BIGHT THEATRE FESTIVAL: EVERY NIGHT JUNE – LATE SEPT
RISING TIDE NEWFOUNDLAND TRINITY PAGEANT: WED & SAT JULY-LABOUR DAY
RISING TIDE DINNER THEATRE: WED & SAT JULY-LABOUR DAY
ST. PAUL’S SUMMER CONERT SERIES
Come experience the exceptional beauty and incredible acoustics of St. Paul’s.
Admission: By donation, to be used for maintenance of the church
Upcoming Concert Dates: Wednesday July 7 – 7:00pm – The Scallywags (bluegrass, country / NFLD)
Wednesday July 31st – 7:00pm – Maureen and Friends: A Celebration of Newfoundland Music
Sunday August 4th – 7:30pm – The Ennis Sisters
TWINE LOFT ART EXHIBITS
Art Exhibit at the Twine Loft
The Twine Loft uses its walls to exhibit original Newfoundland art and a majority of the pieces are for sale. If you are not a guest of the inn or dining with us, you are welcome to come look at the art between 10am and 5:30pm when meal services are not taking place.
View our Art Exhibits page under our Restaurant section to learn more about featured artists.
PORT REXTON
10 Minutes from Trinity
TWO WHALES COFFEE SHOP
The Two Whales Coffee Shop doubles as a vegetarian restaurant and gallery space, featuring multiple exhibits, often of Newfoundland artists, throughout their operating season. They also host musical performances multiple times a month. To find out which artists are being featured or concert schedules, visit their website.
The Fisher’s Loft Conference centre often hosts art exhibits in the main conference room. On occasional evenings throughout the summer authors host book readings.
The English Harbour Arts Centre is a not-for-profit charitable organization dedicated to the promotion of artistic and cultural education and the preservation of historic and cultural spaces. They are committed to operating an economically self-sustaining institution for the arts that provides learning opportunities for people of all ages and levels of artistic experience. Their multidisciplinary program includes art holidays, workshops, residencies, community outreach, special projects and public events. The English Harbour Arts Centre hosts various performances by some of Newfoundland’s most celebrated musicians including The Once, The Fortunate Ones, Matthew Byrne, The Ennis Sisters and many more.
Art Gallery, Workshops, Screening Room, Artist Residencies, Community Events
Union House Arts (UHA) is a new community artspace operated through the Sir William F. Coaker Heritage Foundation. UHA is committed to supporting work being produced by artists and craftspeople in Newfoundland and Labrador through place-specific dialogues and collaborative programming in Port Union.
Summer hours are 11-5 Thursday – Monday, until the Biennale starts August 17th. Then the schedule changes to 10am-5pm daily.
The Garrick is a multi-use, 200-seat theatre and meeting space in the Town of Bonavista. Owned and operated by the Bonavista Historic Townscape Foundation, this year-round cultural facility offers comfortable theatre seating, state-of-the-art sound and lighting equipment including full digital cinema, and exceptional acoustics. At The Garrick you can find the best in performing arts and film.
Discover the many reasons why Trinity is the perfect place to stay while exploring Eastern Newfoundland’s Bonavista Peninsula. Trinity is one of the most walk-able town’s of Newfoundland, taking only 25 minutes to stroll the circumference of the town with various white-picket fence lined streets criss-crossing throughout its centre. The majority of attractions and activities are located on the opposite end of town to the Artisan Inn’s accommodations, allowing our guests to take advantage of the peace and quiet of an out-port community while being only a few minutes away by foot from Rising Tide Theatre, whale watching, historic sites and shopping.
Puffins by Paul Dolk: To purchase this print, visit Paul Dolks Website
The Bonavista Peninsula is one of the few places in North America where you can get up close to a puffin colony, without having to get on a boat, although, you can do that too if you wish.
ELLISTON: BIRD ISLAND
Bird Island is one of the best places to view Puffins from land in Newfoundland. It’s location is accessible free of cost, but we encourage our visitors to contribute a small amount to the donation box as there is some infrastructure and upkeep required for the site and area.
When you arrive at the Puffin site, there is a 5-minute walk from the road to the cliff that faces the island where to Puffins nest. Depending on the time of the day, their mood and the size of the crowd, the puffins may fly to your side of the cliffs.
Elliston has become very popular with visitors. If you would like to experience the puffins in a less crowded environment, we suggest taking a tour with Tuckamore Discovery Tours, or ask the Artisan Inn Staff when you check in where some other, more locally known, spots to view puffins are.
For directions to Elliston from Trinity please visit our page
Information about puffins from Canadian Geographic:
The Atlantic Puffin is a pigeon-sized sea bird, the smallest species of puffin. Their black head, back and wings contrast sharply with their white underside, while their blue, orange and yellow beaks and bright orange feet give them a splash of colour.
Puffins are poor fliers and evolution has not yet helped them to develop a graceful landing strategy. While not as useful in the air, their wings make them excellent underwater swimmers.
Puffins live for the majority of the year at sea, but come to land to breed and burrow on the Bonavista Peninsula between late May and late August. Puffins normally keep the same mate and burrow from year to year and, on average, live for up to 20 years.
Puffins by Paul Dolk: To purchase this print, visit Paul Dolk’s Website
Trinity Bay and Bonavista Bay serve as nature’s playground during the Spring and Summer months in Newfoundland.
Twenty-two species of whales, dolphins, and porpoises swim the waters along the coastline of Newfoundland and Labrador during the months of May to August. The Bonavista Peninsula is a perfect location to see and appreciate these magnificent creatures of the sea.
Some species spotted in Trinity Bay and Bonavista Bay include: Humpback Whales, Sperm Whales, Minke Whales, Pothead Whales and Killer Whales (Orcas). White-sided dolphins and Bluefin Tuna are frequently spotted during the Fall.
Boat tours also provide the opportunity to see the many majestic icebergs floating past Trinity during Spring and early Summer. The prime time to see icebergs is between late May and late June.
Finally, the Peninsula’s unique geological features offer an added bonus on every trip.
Marieke Gow Photography
Those who come to visit during the month of June and early July are sometimes lucky enough to spot icebergs, whales and various sea birds, including: the Atlantic Puffin and Bald Eagles all at once!
To see daily records of whale sightings in our areaCLICK HERE.
The two communities that offer boat tours with the focus of seeing wildlife are Trinity and Bonavista.
TRINITY
Three boat tours are located within walking distance of the Artisan Inn
Photo Taken on Sea of Whale Adventure Tours. The #1 boat tour on trip advisor for the town of Trinity
Vessel Type: Larger vessel type with indoor and outdoor seating and a washroom on board Phone: 1-709-468-8438 Address: 15 Roper Street, Bonavista NL Located in the parking lot of the Matthew Legacy site.
Places to Whale Watch From Land in Trinity Bight
While boat tours offer a first class whale watching experience, getting you up close and personal with wildlife, not everyone has the greatest sea legs. We can never guarantee a whale sighting, however, we can tell you where the locals often go to watch Humpbacks feeding once they have arrived for the season. Our staff receive updates from local boat tours and summer residents when pods are feeding close to shore in certain area’s. We do our best to communicate anything exciting that we are aware of when we register guests at the inn or during morning breakfast.
Fort Point Lighthouse and Beach
We recommend getting a lunch to go from Trinity Mercantile Coffee Shop and heading to Fort Point Lighthouse for a picnic. Whales are often seen feeding during the month of July just off the point’s beach.
Driving Distance from Trinity: 19 Minutes
English Harbour / Horse Chops
Located 19 minutes from the Artisan Inn
This is the area many locals go to watch whales from the cliffs. The beach in English Harbour is also a popular spot to watch the capelin when they start to roll. locals are often seen here with buckets to harvest the small silver fish for a meal.
Driving Distance from Trinity: 19 Minutes
Skerwink Trail, Trinity East/Port Rexton
Marieke Gow Photography
Whales often feed below the cliffs, offering hikers a bird’s eye view. One cannot drive up to these spots, but instead, must hike the outer trail for the best vantage points.
Driving distance from Trinity: 13 minutes
Please note that whales are wild animals and their feeding times and locations can never be guaranteed.
Find Driving Directions to all communities mentioned
Experience the hospitality of an inn with the privacy of a home. Artisan Inn Vacation Homes, all located within walking distance of our main building, the Twine Loft, provide guests with private spaces and self-catering facilities while also receiving the attentive customer service the Artisan Inn is known for.
Sorry! Our vacation homes are not pet friendly.
Notes on Rates
To find the rate that applies to your desired stay, go to BOOK NOW and enter your dates into the calendar, select the property of interest and enter the number of guests.
-When can one get the best deals of the season? – May & October -When is the highest rate advertised typically charged? Early/Mid July – Mid/Late August -When does length of stay impact the rate?
During May & October enjoy our best rates for any stay 2 nights or longer.
One night stays are sometimes permitted, however a rate higher than what is advertised on the booking system will be applied.
Early/mid July – Mid/Late August bookings of 5 nights or longer have discounts applied.
During other times of the season discount rates apply for stays 4 nights or longer.
Artisan Inn & Vacation Homes was established in 1991 as a 2 bedroom heritage B&B called Campbell House. Over a span of 30 years the business has grown to include rooms in Barbour House ( Trinity Room, Cove View Room and Studio Suite) the Twine Loft restaurant and 7 vacation homes all within historic Trinity. The name Artisan Inn was given to include all aspects of the business under one name.
In addition to the rooms and suites in Barbour House, the Campbell House is now rented as a private suite including 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms living area, patio & coffee station. While Campbell House is a private home, we list it as a suite because it does not have a kitchen with oven or stove top.
Planning a small to medium sized group tour to Trinity? Contact us to find out what combination of rooms or vacation homes will work best for your group’s needs.
