North Bay Eats (Well)

These North Bay eateries are pushing the culinary envelope!

What's the best meal you’ve ever had on vacation? Have you ever travelled to have a food experience? According to the American Culinary Travel Report, around half of you just said yes!

People travel for food – that's the fact; one that’s becoming clearer in Northeastern Ontario. "Food tourism" is when travellers pursue "unique and memorable eating and drinking experiences," and it’s becoming one of the primary drivers of travel, according to the Culinary Tourism Alliance.

Without a doubt, I am one of those travellers, having built entire trips around a dinner reservation, a particularly noteworthy street food stand, a craft brewery, or a fresh market. As a food tourist, I want to know where food tourists are headed throughout Northeastern Ontario! 

Welcome to North Bay

In case you’re not familiar with North Bay, it’s a scenic, medium-sized city of 52,000. Nestled along the shores of the gorgeous Lake Nipissing, it enjoys a great reputation due to its fine sport fishing and recreational opportunities. Rich in history, the area is also beginning to develop a culinary identity of its own.

Each of these dining establishments has something different and unique to offer their customers, tourists and locals alike.

Cecil’s Brewhouse & Kitchen

Highlights: Great, juicy burgers (think fried cheese!) and the crisply refreshing Temagami Amber Ale.

Located in downtown North Bay, Cecil’s Brewhouse & Kitchen is a great meeting place, hangout spot, and overall location to grab a bite and an onsite brewed beer.

Serving bar, grill and pub food, Cecil’s take on unique dining experiences shines especially through their beer. Their onsite-brewed beer uses the Smart Brew system, with beers created especially for the brewhouse. It doesn’t get closer to home than that! Cecil’s brand beer is fresh, cold, and available on tap. You’ll know your beers are coming from close to home with names such as Nipissing Lager and the Algonquin White Cap Wheat Beer. Up for a nice, frosty pint anyone?

In order to try as many offerings as possible, try ordering one of the beer flights, which will allow you to sample up to five varieties at once. From the light and refreshing Wyld Blueberry Wheat Ale to the darker and smoother Continental Winter Ale, beer lovers are sure to find something to delight the palate. Don’t worry – if someone in your company is more comfortable with the "old favourites," those are available, too!

300 Wyld Street
North Bay, ON
(705) 472-7510

The Opera Bakery Café

Highlights: Soup & salad combo with homemade bread, gluten-free sweets, and mouthwatering specialty cakes.

Also located in downtown North Bay, the Opera Bakery Café is a great spot to grab a coffee and a quick bite for lunch while sightseeing and shopping.

Located inside a former watchmaker’s shop, the establishment itself is visually unique – the perfect complement to Baker Kiera Hardie’s unique, seasonal and homemade offerings. Another Canadore College Culinary Management graduate, Kiera has even worked for celebrity Chef Susur Lee as a Pastry Chef!  

While the bakery café places an emphasis on light lunches and specialty coffees, patrons can also plan ahead and order specialty birthday cakes, custom wedding cakes and other sweet treats for special occasions – like the 6” Triple Chocolate Cake pictured above (drool).

164 Main Street West
North Bay, ON
(705) 472-9888

------------------------------

While these establishments are by no means the only ones pushing the culinary envelope in North Bay and Area, they stand out in our books. Do you have a favourite North Bay eatery? Let us know – Facebook, Twitter, or via email!

`
About Jordan Nicksy

Jordan is a writer, digital marketer, amateur photographer, and experiences severe wanderlust. After backpacking parts of Southeast Asia, she knew she wanted to work in travel and tourism, and joined Northeastern Ontario Tourism. She is passionate about food & culinary arts, history, spending time outdoors, photography, and travel.

Recommended Articles

Small-Town Charm, Big-Time Acts

Stars and Thunder welcomes major music performers to Timmins

Northern Lights in Northeastern Ontario

Where to see Northern Lights In Canada: Northeas5 Great Spots in The Seven to Find the Aurora Borealis tern Ontario

Northeastern Ontario's Top 5 Festivals & Events

These BIG festivals are sure to be a summer highlight!

Complete Guide to Moosonee & Moose Factory Island

12 essential experiences for visitors.

Join the Ice Fishing Village on Lake Nipissing

A complete guide to huts & bungalows you can rent around North Bay and Callander Bay.

The Northern Lights Trip Planner

3 trip ideas for an illuminating experience in Ontario

Northeastern Ontario Snowmobile Rentals, Repairs & Dealers

Whether you're looking to buy, rent, or repair your current ride, here are all the best places to help get you on the trails this season. 

Spectres of the Past: A Ghost Town Field Trip

Follow this trail of abandoned communities on a road trip through the history of Northeastern Ontario

A Moosonee guide to fishing on the Moose River

A local fishing guide knows every nook and cranny of the upper Moose River

Small-town gems in Northeastern Ontario

Award-winning distilleries, quirky theatres, boating adventures, and historic museums, Northeastern Ontario is yours to explore.

Fly-In Fishing – No Longer Just For Your Bucket List

Our operators will whisk you up, up & away to pristine, remote lakes & the fishing trip of a lifetime!

The most beautiful place on earth?

30 photos make the case for Northeastern Ontario

Where Will The Great Spirit Circle Trail Lead You? To Manitoulin Island

These Glamping Geodomes Are Now Available To Book Near Manitoulin

We sat down with owner and operator Brian Still to learn more about his new luxury glamping destination just north of Manitoulin Island.

Welcome to Moosonee

"Oh my god, it’s salt water. We’re in the ocean!’” 

Increase Your Odds

Visitors to the region often wonder, how do I see the Northern Lights?

The Only Way To Save Your Season

Northeastern Ontario: guaranteed to have snow

Non-Resident Guide to Ontario's Whitetail

Know before you go.

observe the galaxy like never before

Take in the inky night sky, just outside of the city!

7 Artists From Northeastern Ontario

How many of these acts have you seen live?