Big Taste & Big Craft Brew: Best Gastropubs in North Bay, ON

The Brew Pub feels like a friend’s renovated basement – in the best way possible. Tucked next to Prospector Steakhouse, it’s North Bay’s newest craft spot, serving beers from its own Prospector Brewing Co. lineup, including the Wild Blueberry Wheat that’s become a quiet favourite among regulars.

Tuesday’s all-you-can-eat wing night packs the place, while Wednesdays are for rib lovers. “We wanted to keep it simple – good food, good beer, no pretense,” says one of the owners, pouring us a Padre Lauchador Lager. It’s also one of the few downtown spaces with private rooms for groups of up to 50, making it a popular pick for birthdays or office get-togethers.

From laid-back craft vibes, we head to Fox & Fiddle – where things get louder and the night lasts longer.

Fox & Fiddle is what happens when a traditional pub decides to throw a party. Part of a national chain, North Bay’s Fox has carved its own niche as a nightlife anchor – with DJs, sports projections, and enough energy to keep the lights on until 2 AM on weekends.

It’s as comfortable for a casual lunch (the fish tacos and buffalo cauliflower are staples) as it is for a post-tournament celebration. During last summer’s BayCity Ballers event, they even projected the games on the bar wall – turning a pub into a mini sports arena.

Cecil’s is one of North Bay’s premier craft beer taverns – a bar and restaurant in downtown North Bay that’s been brewing its own beer long before it was trendy. Their Shamus IPA and Black Knight Stout are local staples, and the menu is full of hearty, crowd-pleasing favourites like smash burgers, Alfredo pasta, and loaded poutines.

The Grande Event Centre upstairs hosts weddings and conferences, but Cecil’s also knows how to have fun – Sunday trivia nights are packed with regulars. “It’s not just about the beer,” says Julie Daniher, their catering director. “It’s about making sure people feel like they belong here.”

Moose’s isn’t just a restaurant – it’s part of North Bay’s DNA. Since 1996, this log-cabin style sports hub has been feeding everyone from students to NHL fans passing through. The claim to fame? Over 120 wing flavours, from classic honey garlic to the infamous John Candy sauce (a sweet-and-spicy mix you’ll either love or fear).

Come on a Saturday night and you’ll see why it’s a North Bay entertainment landmark: 10 TVs, two giant projectors, and the opening notes of Hockey Night in Canada ringing out over the crowd. It’s family-friendly earlier in the evening, rowdier later, and always unapologetically Canadian

The Block is the definition of a new restaurant that North Bay needed. Opened in 2023 in a restored 1911 building, it’s a gastropub & live entertainment hub with a focus on farm-to-table dining. Ontario craft beers flow alongside seasonal cocktails, and the Barrel Room hosts intimate events while the main floor buzzes with live music North Bay crowds have been craving.

Their lamb curry and seared lake trout have already developed a loyal following. “We wanted to bring something different – a place where the food matters as much as the atmosphere,” says chef-owner Tara McLean.

Nestled on Lakeshore Drive, The Crown and Beaver is what many still picture when they hear “pub” – wood interiors, hearty portions, and a pint that actually tastes like a pint. The menu blends British comfort food with Canadian touches: fish & chips, a curry pot, and a bacon mac burger that’s the stuff of legend.

It’s not flashy, and that’s the point. “Sometimes people just want a place where they know what they’re going to get – and it’s always good,” says one long-time patron we met at the bar.