10 Best Coffee Shops in Thunder Bay, Ontario

These are the best coffee shops in Thunder Bay that I know you’re going to love. Well, I absolutely adored them! I love visiting as many cafes and coffee shops as possible when I travel. I’ve visited Thunder Bay on a few occasions now, and I’ve had the pleasure of sampling caffeinated beverages from so many wonderful establishments.

Many of these Thunder Bay coffee shops have ample seating where you can meet friends or get cozy with a good book. Some of them have great patios in the summertime, too. Other cafes in Thunder Bay are best to grab a coffee on the go. Then, I suggest going for a walk around downtown Thunder Bay or the waterfront to enjoy the scenic views.

Thunder Bay is best known for its amazing outdoor adventures and hiking trails. Grab a cup of iced coffee before a hike or treat yourself to a soothing latte as a post-hike treat. Visiting Thunder Bay in the winter? Warm up with…you guessed it…a hot cup of coffee! Without further ado, here are the best coffee shops in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

Coffee Shops in Thunder Bay: Bean Fiend Cafe

Bean Fiend Cafe is one of the best coffee shops in Thunder Bay. It’s a great spot to stop for coffee, breakfast or lunch, as they also have a small food menu, too. I’ve visited on two separate occasions, once for an Americano and once for an iced coffee. Both were delicious!

Their coffee beans are roasted by Oso Negro Coffee in Nelson, British Columbia. They’re a small batch coffee roaster who specialize in multi-origin roasts that are smooth and flavourful. They are also committed to fair trade coffee and sustainable farming methods.

There’s ample seating inside the cafe, and there are two patios (a little one out front and a garden patio in the back). As for the food, Bean Fiend Cafe uses regionally produced ingredients when they are available, and nearly everything is made from scratch.

There’s a vegan curried yam wrap available for lunch, and they serve granola with fruit in the morning. I opted for one of their vegan date bars for breakfast, which I paired with my coffee. It was really yummy and surprisingly filling.

Thunder Bay Coffee Shops: 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 the flat white that I selected, and they also offer plant-based milks at no extra charge. 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 newest cafes in Thunder Bay and it’s located inside a very unique spot…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.

Thunder Bay Cafes: Bay Village Coffee

Bay Village Coffee is a delightful cafe in Thunder Bay that I really enjoyed. One unique feature is their drive-up service. Pull into the driveway and a staff member will come out to your car to take your order. Then, they’ll hand deliver it to you through your car window. It’s the next best thing to a drive-thru coffee shop, and the first drive-up option I’ve seen at a small independent local cafe before.

I visited Bay Village Coffee for breakfast and had to get a large coffee to start the day off right. For food, I ordered the vegan sandwich on the menu (white bean pate, tahini maple spread, avocado) and it was really yummy. I loved that white bean pate!

As an added bonus, their donuts are accidentally vegan. Sadly, they didn’t have any doughnuts available when I visited, but it’s on my list of things to eat the next time I’m in T-Bay.

Coffee Shops in Thunder Bay: Windy Shores Cafe

Windy Shores Cafe is one of the best coffee shops in Thunder Bay, right down by the waterfront. Grab a caffeinated beverage and go for a walk around one of the most scenic areas of Thunder Bay. Windy Shores Cafe has an expansive menu of espresso drinks, coffee, tea, and Italian sodas in a huge variety of flavours for those looking for something non-caffeinated.

It is a pretty tiny space indoors with limited seating, though they do have a patio out front with some more spots to sit with friends. The staff member working at Windy Shores Cafe was really nice and friendly. It was one of my favourite Thunder Bay coffee shops and I hope to visit again in the future.

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.

Coffee Shops in Thunder Bay: 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.

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, and it’s a very vegan-friendly coffee shop. There’s plant-based milk for the coffee, and there’s always a few vegan desserts in the display cabinet.

The vegan raspberry scones are very tasty, and pair perfectly with a coffee or tea. If you’re looking for a more substantial meal, they also serve a vegan sandwich with black bean spread and sauteed tofu on a vegan pretzel bun.

More Coffee Guides in Ontario (And Beyond)

As a coffee fanatic, I’m always looking for a rich cup of joe no matter where I travel in the world. If I’m visiting a city for a few days or longer, I try to check out as many cafes as possible. Here are my coffee guides to various cities around Ontario and beyond.

• The Best Coffee Shops in Mississauga
• Best Coffee Shops in Toronto
• The Best Coffee Shops in Ottawa
• Coffee Shops in Kingston, Ontario
• Best Coffee Shops in Stratford, Ontario
• Coffee Shops in Belleville, Ontario
• Charming Coffee Shops in Perth, Ontario
• The Best Coffee in Billings, Montana
• Amazing Coffee Shops in Nashville, TN
• The Top 5 Cafes in Portland, Maine
• Best Coffee Shops in Huntington Beach, California
• 25 Amazing Coffee Shops in Glasgow, Scotland
• The Best Cafes in Copenhagen, Denmark

And if you’d rather make your own coffee, here are some great ways to brew coffee on the road, whether you’re at the airport, staying at a hotel, or camping outdoors. More of a tea fan? Here’s how you can host your own English afternoon tea party at home!

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