The Best Coffee Shops in Thunder Bay, Ontario

St Paul Roastery

Looking for freshly roasted coffee in Thunder Bay? St. Paul Roastery is one of the best Thunder Bay coffee shops that also roasts their own beans.

The owners take great care to properly source their coffee beans from small farmers, and the quality of the coffee is very high.

You can stop by for a flavourful cup of coffee or purchase a bag of their coffee beans. St Paul Roastery also offers free local delivery within Thunder Bay for all coffee purchases over $40.

When you visit the cafe, you can order a cup of coffee, pour over coffee, cold brew, your favourite espresso beverages, and tea.

I really loved their flat white, and they also offer plant-based milks at no extra charge. I've also since returned for an iced Americano, equally as good.

While it isn't a large cafe, they offer indoor seating at a few tables and along the front window.

The Habit Coffee & Bakeshop

The Habit Coffee and Bakeshop is one of the most unique coffee shops in Thunder Bay as it's located inside a church. Urban Abbey took over the 100 year old building for $1 and turned it into a community hub and space.

The coffee shop supports their charity efforts and helps with the costs of keeping the building up and running. The Habit Coffee & Bakeshop is primarily operated by the generous support of volunteers.

They serve high quality and delicious coffee using beans roasted by Vancouver's J.J. Bean Coffee Roasters. All proceeds go towards their service to the community and keeping the community space open to all.

The coffee shop itself is beautiful. The booth seating is made out of old church pews, and they've maintained a lot of the history of the building. There are really pretty stained class windows and a minimalist design overall.

Best of all, the coffee is awesome. Unfortunately, there weren't any vegan baked goods so I wasn't able to sample them, but their pastries looked really yummy.

Bay Village Coffee

Bay Village Coffee is a delightful cafe in Thunder Bay that I really enjoyed. They've got great coffee, friendly employees, and rich and flavourful coffee.

This is a family owned and operated coffee shop in Thunder Bay. They've been open since 2018 and continue to thrive as a beloved community space.

Bay Village Coffee has a great selection of desserts and sweet treats, including vegan options. While I've only tried the coffee here, I'll need to make room for dessert next time.

Up Shot Coffee House

Locally roasted coffee, vegan baked goods…there's so much to love about Up Shot Coffeehouse. The coffee is rich and brewed to perfection.

There are lots of specialty lattes on the menu, and the cafe itself is decorated so wonderfully. If I lived in Thunder Bay, I have a feeling that Up Shot Coffeehouse would be my local go-to spot.

Not only is Up Shot Coffee House an amazing place for coffee, but they have some delicious vegan baked goods, too.

It's one of the most vegan-friendly cafes in Thunder Bay (check out my Thunder Bay vegan guide if you'd like more info on plant-based food and drink the city). When I visited, all of the baked goods were 100% vegan.

I had one of their strawberry scones (scones can be tricky to find made vegan!) and it was really flavourful. The scone paired perfectly with my coffee. Next time, I'll have to try one of their savoury jalapeno cheddar scones.

Dolce Coffee House

Here's another fantastic coffee shop in Thunder Bay that I know you'll love. Dolce Coffee House has a beautiful and spacious outdoor patio, as well as tons of indoor dining spots, too.

It's one of the biggest coffee shops in Thunder Bay, perfect for meeting friends or perhaps even bringing your laptop to get some work done.

I ordered an iced coffee with oat milk for takeaway. If you've got a sweet tooth, you're in the right place. Dolce Coffee House also has a few vegan treats available.

I immediately noticed a vegan brownie and a vegan blueberry crisp. Some of their gelato might be vegan as well, be sure to ask while you're there.

Calico Coffeehouse

I'm not going to lie, I was drawn to Calico Coffee House because there's a picture of a cat on the sign. Calico Coffee House is a cozy little spot in town where I could easily see myself spending hours working away on my laptop or chatting it up with friends.

I ordered an Americano here and it was great. I didn't see any vegan desserts, but they definitely had plant-based milk options.

There was interesting local art up on the walls, and there were even some handmade crocheted outerwear for sale in the store, too.

Cafe Ora

Cafe Ora is a cute coffee shop in downtown Thunder Bay. There's a decorative Instagrammable wall covered with greenery. In fact, the entire coffee shop is decorated beautifully with books and art.

This coffee shop has a small menu for breakfast and lunch (unfortunately, not vegan-friendly, so I was unable to dine here). They do offer plant-based milk for the coffee.

This would be a great place to meet with friends or family. You could also get cozy with your laptop and get some work done.

Uncommon Baked Goods

Uncommon Baked Goods is located inside the Goods & Co Market, which actually has lots of vegan options, too. This cafe has espresso, Americanos, lattes and cappuccinos (with plant-based milk as options). While there's a limited menu, it's really all you need!

While they have really yummy coffee (with beans roasted by St Paul Roastery), the focus here is on the baked goods.

There's a number of cookies, bars, cakes and treats with vegan and gluten-free options. I ordered an Americano and one of the peanut butter cookies, and it was the perfect pair. It's an awesome choice for a midday pick-me-up.

The Sweet North Bakery

The Sweet North Bakery has two locations in Thunder Bay with a third opening where the old Starbucks used to be at the Indigo store in town.

Pair your coffee with a sweet treat from their bakery, serving up yummy eats made from scratch. I recently enjoyed a vegan ginger molasses cookie and a soft pretzel.

The Early Refill Coffee

While slightly outside of Thunder Bay, The Early Refill has two locations in Rosslyn and Kakabeka Falls. This is a really unique spot for a coffee shop: it's inside a pharmacy!

The coffee here is one of the best in the Thunder Bay area (I believe they use Detour Coffee beans, one of my favourites in Ontario). Try one of their seasonal flavoured lattes or simply order one of the classic espresso drinks.

There is a small seating area near the coffee bar. You can also pick up any pharmacy items or go shopping for unique, locally handmade gifts. (This place has really got it all!)

Where to Stay in Thunder Bay

I've stayed at a few different hotels on separate trips to Thunder Bay. For a convenient and comfortable choice, stay at the Delta Hotels by Marriott Thunder Bay.

This Thunder Bay hotel is right on the waterfront with modern and spacious rooms. There's also a Starbucks inside the hotel, as well as bottomless coffee available at their breakfast restaurant.