Top 5 Things To Get You Into the Christmas Spirit in TBAY (A guide to feeling festive ASAP)
Amanda Bay
December 16, 2025
If your perfect fall day includes crisp air, golden leaves, flaky pastries, and comfort food that warms you from the inside out, you need to plan a trip to Bake Shop on Boundary. Tucked away just a short drive from Thunder Bay, this dreamy little bakery sits on a hill in the the Slate River Valley and serves up swoon-worthy views of the Nor’Wester mountains.
Run by husband-and-wife team Parker and Emily Smith since 2016, it’s definitely the place to grab a cozy lunch surrounded by fall colours. Emily, who grew up in Neebing, always dreamed of creating a place where people could slow down and savour good food. After falling head over heels for French artisan pastries, she brought that inspiration home, and you can taste it in every single bite.
The bakery has major country charm, known for its fresh bread, pasta, pastries and pizza, all made completely from scratch. Even the mozzarella is hand-stretched, and the pasta is rolled fresh daily. Oh, and the local produce from Debruin’s Greenhouse and Belluz Farm just down the road and the beef from their own family farm.
So what to order this fall? The menu changes weekly, but you can always expect drool worthy comfort food. There’s a rotating pasta feature, fresh sandwiches on fluffy house-baked buns, and customizable pizzas with three crust options. Our go to is Naples style that is ultra thin.
But the true showstopper? All hail the Stromboli! B.O.B’s pizza dough stuffed with marinara, melty mozzarella, salami, pepperoni, roasted peppers, and red onion, then brushed with olive oil and baked to perfection. It’s a little crispy, a little cheesy, and totally unforgettable. The touch of salt sprinkled on top… it cannot get any better.
Other must-tries include the Otter Creek Roast Beef Sandwich (basically a cozy beef dip). It’s a B.O.B panini topped with beef roasted slowly and thinly slides, topped with in-house made roasted garlic horseradish aioli, caramelized onion and arugula.
Then obviously you can’t leave without a sweet treat… the Cinnamon Brioche Swirls are a must. And if you’re stocking up for later, grab the buttery chocolate croissants from the freezer section that you can take and bake at home. They’re made with legit French butter and taste like something straight out of Paris.
Fall weather in Northwestern Ontario can be unpredictable, but you don’t have to worry here. The Bake Shop has a pavilion (with heaters) that overlooks the mountains, so you can stay warm while still soaking in those gorgeous fall colours.
The food alone is worth the drive, but the setting makes it extra special. You’ll wind through the Slate River Valley to reach the bakery, where autumn leaves are putting on a show right now. To top off your day, explore nearby trails like High Falls, Mink Mountain, or the James Duncan Trail before or after your lunch.
Where: 920 Boundary Drive, Neebing
When to go: Open Wednesday to Friday, 11 AM – 7 PM
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CEDC © 2025. All rights reserved.
Website developed by Firedog Communications.
CEDC © 2025. All rights reserved.