Best Bakery and Cake Shops in Oakville

"Just as day drinking at Trinity Bellwoods (ahem, with 9,000 of your closest friends) is a summer tradition that’s best retired for 2020, it might be a good call to skip Bang Bang’s 30-minute-long lineup, too. Instead, consider ordering in from the Ossington ice cream shop. Go the DIY route and get a six-pack of freshly baked cookies and a pint of just-churned ice cream in flavours like burnt toffee, London fog or peanut butter cup, and assemble your own sweet sandwiches."

"Bang Bang is perfect for satisfying an ice cream sandwich craving. There are countless combinations of flavors from cookie type, including Birthday, Oatmeal and RoCocoa, and ice cream flavors, including Orange Cardamom, Lemon Meringue, London Fog and Burnt Toffee. Try a full sandwich with two cookies for $7 or a half sandwich with one cookie for $4.50."

"Located among the many quirky stores and art galleries of James Street North, the Mulberry Street Coffee House enjoys a historic setting, with a romantic interior atmosphere created by old chandeliers, couches and terrazzo flooring. The menu is a perfect match for its overall vintage vibe, and is definitely not to be missed for those with an appetite for lighter and healthier options. Plus, on the other side of the café, you can find De Facto at Mulberry, an art gallery that exhibits works from emerging local artists."

"This was one of Hamilton’s first independent coffee shops to pick up steam on James Street North. Housed in a historic building with local art on the walls, Mulberry has plenty of seating, a menu that values local, organic ingredients and a great drinks menu. Sip on this: Nutella latte made with Hewitt’s Dairy milk."

"Planted in Hamilton doesn’t see dietary limitations as restrictions — they see them as an opportunity to push the boundaries of what is possible with plants. Everything that is served at Planted in Hamilton is both vegan and gluten-free, making them the perfect spot for those with food sensitivities. Their regular menu offers a variety of shareables, salads, sandwiches, mains and sides."

"At Planted, desserts can be enjoyed by anyone, regardless of food restrictions or choices. This vegan cafe offers dairy-free alternatives of the most popular sweets out there including a delicious Tiramisu. Visit Planted and try the Vanilla ladyfingers soaked in coffee liqueur, layered in a rich maple cashew custard and topped with cocoa powder."

"While most of us are self-isolating at home, it can be easy to say “screw it” and nosh on some junk food for lunch. Don’t get us wrong: we love our chips and chocolate too. But when your body needs a break and you want to switch it up to something both delicious and healthy, Planted in Hamilton has got you covered."

"On a small corner in Leslieville, the little Bonjour Brioche Bakery Cafe brings the taste of a true French patisserie to life. Known mostly for its brunch menu options, Bonjour Brioche is a great choice whether you crave a piece of quiche or the sandwich du jour. Try something decadent like the Croque Madame sandwich with toasted brioche, ham, gruyere cheese and a fried egg."

"A favourite among locals, Bonjour Brioche is a bakery café on Queen Street East just east of Broadview. The all-day sandwich and patisserie menu is heavenly!. The scent of freshly baked goods is just the beginning, because the cute café also delivers on taste!"

"A little more laid-back than some other restaurants on this list, Bonjour Brioche in Riverside is a TO destination for brunch, mainly, with stellar omelettes, brioche and other pastries."

"Mabel's is like that friendly neighbour who bakes pies from scratch for you (anyone have that neighbour?). Everything at Mabel's from their famous strawberry-rhubarb pie to their sourdough – still warm from the oven – is made fresh without preservatives. Whenever you step into any of Mabel's Bakery's four locations across the city, you are immediately transported back in time to a quaint little homestyle bakery of yesteryear."

"970 Paramound Drive, Stoney Creek Valley Park is home to the Valley Park Arena. Located at the park is a soccer field, lit hardball field and unlit softball field, play equipment, natural areas, a creek, and a pedestrian walkway with a bridge."

"Stay aboard for the full two-hour tour, or if you're itching to tackle Toronto , hop off at one of the 21 stops, which include many of Toronto's top attractions, such as the CN Tower, the Eaton Centre, Art Gallery of Ontario, Casa Loma and the Royal Ontario Museum. Consult with the guides for optimum planning and when the busses will be stopping at certain locations. Don't miss the boat tour at the Harbourfront, which is included in your ticket."

"The AGO is hard to miss: the monumental glass and titanium facade designed by Toronto native son Frank Gehry hovering over the main building…"

"Just north of Mercer Union, you’ll find Cooper Cole, a stunning minimalist gallery often filled with bold and challenging artworks. Diverging from stereotypically pretentious spaces, this gallery highlights mid-career artists who defy genres yet predominately fall into pop surrealist styles. As soon as you wrap up the gallery experience, you’ll naturally stumble upon The Greater Good Bar, which is virtually next door."

"Cooper Cole Gallery was opened in 2009 by Simon Cole, in place of his previous gallery space,Show & Tell, a successful gallery with a reputation for street art. Cole opened Cooper Cole in order to distance himself and his developing roster of artists from this movement. The rebranded gallery space now showcases diverse works, from abstract and conceptual paintings to sculptural installations."

"They are not always open, so it’s best to call ahead and make an appointment to visit. One of the advantages is that you’ll get a lot of attention as you stroll through this high-end art space."

"Formerly known as Hamilton Place, the FirstOntario Concert Hall and the Art Gallery of Hamilton are situated in Commonwealth Square, directly across from City Hall. The Concert Hall was completed in 1973 and Art Gallery was completed in 1977. Architect Trevor Garwood-Jones designed both buildings in the late modern brutalist style, though the AGH received a contemporary facelift and some interior work by KPMB Architects in 2005."

"One of the oldest public galleries in Canada, the Art Gallery of Hamilton is a delight to every art connoisseur. Home to about10,000 works of art, the gallery sees a huge number of visitors every year. Showcasing mainly Canadian contemporary, historical and European art, the art gallery’s collection is one of the most massive in the country."

"Source: Photo by user Nhl4hamilton used under PUBLIC DOMAIN. This is the 3rd largest gallery in the country and it has a collection of over 10,000 artworks. The Art Gallery of Hamilton features different exhibits every six months, and have programs for families and kids."

"The cakes at Rahier can be described as modern, chic and scrumptious!. The nouveau style of decorating has attracted quite the following since it opened in 1996. The croissants are also laminated to perfection, making them as flaky and buttery as the ones found in Paris."

"McEwan enjoyed the Mata Hari cake, with mango and coconut mousse. “The gooseberry is pretty but perhaps misleading as I couldn’t taste this through the cake. It complemented the flavours well, however.” McEwan was particularly fond of the papaya compote and texture."