Places to eat in Thunder Bay

Here are some suggestions to get you started.

Bakeries and cafes

Sweet North Bakery is a micro bakery that packs a giant flavour punch. Soups, salads, sandwiches, pretzels, tarts, croissants and baked goods are all made in-house with local ingredients, like the cheese from Thunder Oak Cheese Farm and beer from Sleeping Giant Brewing. Don’t leave without trying the sticky buns and an affogato (espresso poured over gelato). 

The Persian is a "must-try" dessert from Thunder Bay. It's a deep-fried pastry like a cinnamon roll with pink flavoured icing. The Persian originated at the local legendary bakery, Bennett’s Bakery in the 1940s. Today, the coffee shop, The Persian Man sells Persians. There are two locations in Thunder Bay.

Brewpubs, bars and lunch bites

Get your grill on at Red Lion Smokehouse, a barbecue restaurant in TBay’s waterfront district that also celebrates craft beers with 12 taps and over 100 different crafts. 

Another great spot for beer lovers, The Sovereign Room, is a laid-back gastro-pub offering over 50 different domestic and imported brews to accompany its comfort brunch and dinner menu.

Dining at the Bight Restaurant and Bar is a must-do. It’s a spacious, modern eatery featuring fresh, seasonal Canadian fare, outdoor patio and a bar with artisan cocktails in the Water Garden Pavilion overlooking Lake Superior.

Vegan, vegetarian and plant based

Small but significant, Bliss Restaurant is Thunder Bay’s only completely vegan and gluten-free eatery with a plant-based, raw, semi-raw and local sourced menu. Just down the same street on Cumberland, resto-bar In Common serves a unique menu of sharing boards with plenty of veg and vegan options.

Similarly, vegans and vegetarians won’t be disappointed by the robust, plant-based and eco-conscious options offered at The Growing Season Juice Collective in the Bay and Algoma district.

Upscale dining and wine bars

The Silver Birch Restaurant offers a wide selection of Canadian regional dishes featuring local meats, cheeses and product, including fresh fish from Lake Superior and traditional favorites with a northern flare.

Groups of four or more are invited to sample the Chef’s selection of dishes and Tequila at El Tres, an authentic Mexican spot that uses locally-made Heartbeat Hot Sauce.

Recently re-located to Cumberland Street, Thai Kitchen is the go-to for your noodles, spring rolls and curry fix. Plate sharing is a theme at Tomlin Restaurant, so come with your favourite foodie friends and enjoy a carefully crafted, ever-changing, eclectic menu paired with super creative cocktails.

Try the three-course weekday Prix Fixe menu at Lot 66 Restaurant and Wine Bar, a chic lounge-inspired spot on Court Street South. Caribou Restaurant and Wine Bar’s contemporary menu reflects regional influences and leans towards seasonal and local ingredients. It also boasts an impressive wine list.

Breweries, events and farms

Book a brewery tour and sample a fresh brew at the taproom of Sleeping Giant Brewing Co. or Dawson Trail Craft Brewery. 

Brew Ha! Craft Beer Festival, Northern Ontario’s largest craft beer festival, takes place in August on the shores of Lake Superior. Just west of the city in the Slate River Valley don’t miss Thunder Oak Cheese Farm, the very first farm in Ontario to produce creamy Dutch Gouda cheese.

Find some of the best flavours of the Bay under one roof and meet the folks who grow, produce, make and them bake them at the Thunder Bay Country Market, the largest producer-based market in Northwestern Ontario. Open Wednesdays and Saturdays year-round.

Where to stay

You can’t beat the location of the Prince Arthur Waterfront Hotel & Suites. Built in 1911, this historic hotel is in the heart of the Waterfront District, overlooking the Marina Park, Sleeping Giant peninsula, and of course, majestic Lake Superior.

The Courthouse Hotel is a boutique property built into the former Port Arthur/Thunder Bay courthouse and offers fantastic lake views. Delta Hotels by Marriott Thunder Bay is another great option on the waterfront.

In between all the food and drink, you’ll want to explore so be sure to make time to discover everything else that Thunder Bay has to offer.