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Dining and Drinking

The people of Winnipeg, due to the immense cold the city can experience, have developed a restaurant and bar culture that is beyond what a centre of this size might otherwise. People simply have had to learn to live life indoors for much of the year. For this reason, summers in the city are treated as a precious commodity. Unaccustomed to natural light, squinting Winnipeggers emerge from hibernation each spring to enjoy the excellent patio scene in a dry and mild climate that is the envy of anyone living in more humid locales to the south.

Cultural Diversity

Because of its diminutive size, clearly defined ethnic enclaves are few in number in Winnipeg. However, three main regions that specialize in particular national fare exist. Any trip to the city would be wasted without a stop in Little Italy, or the Corydon Village. Dozens of restaurants and bars grace the five-blocks that make up this sub-community. For an authentic experience, Da Mamma Mia Ristorante is a good place to stop, with its elegant dining and the elderly Italian chef clientele and staff alike call Mamma. One of the hottest summer places in this area, Saffron's Restaurant, boasts the most popular patio in the city and offers Canadianized Italian food, a good cocktail list and cheap beer in a relaxed atmosphere. Known for its Italian treasures, other culinary experiences are possible in Little Italy, like Tango, which provides some of the best contemporary food in the city and Liquid Lounge offers a complete bar with any beverage you could ask for.

The French Quarter

The French Quarter is another area that will appeal to those yearning for a European experience on this side of the Atlantic. Quebec may be the dominant French region in North America, but this cultural experience can also be attained in Winnipeg. The cream of the crop is the highly rated Le Beaujolais, which offers fine continental French cuisine. However, a stop on a city culinary tour should include the lower priced cafe in the Franco-Manitoban Cultural Center, which offers classical French fare along with traditional Canadian francophone dishes.

Although not one of the bigger minority groups in the city, the Chinese community has been steadily increasing in size since the beginning of the last century. Located largely in the historic Exchange District, this group has traditionally prospered in small market and restaurant enterprises. Kum Koon Garden is an excellent choice when dining on Asian fare in this area. Chitaly also offers a unique Chinese-Italian experience and is open late for those who have the munchies after a night at the King's Head Pub.

Osborne Village
The Osborne Village is another region that offers cuisine from other corners of the earth. This neighbourhood embodies the multicultural Canadian spirit offering fare from every continent. Latin America is delightfully represented in the spicy Tex-Mex food of Carlos and Murphy's Restaurant and Bar. Bistro Bohemia Restaurant, rated as a top five restaurant in the city, offers Czech cuisine, giving Central Europe a presence. Tap & Grill brings Greek and Spanish cooking to the neighbourhood, tabling Mediterranean fare. Massawa, with its unique Eritrean and Ethiopian experience, produces the taste of an African safari for adventurous diners. Asian favourites in the area include the diverse offerings of Japan, in the Meiji Japanese Restaurant; Thailand found in the Bangkok Thai Restaurant; and Northern China with the exotic Spicy Noodle House. Surprisingly, there is still enough real estate for North American favourites. River City Brewing Company prepares excellent steaks and monster burgers for those with a hearty appetite. This space is also a microbrewery with a brew master who produces some of the best ale in the city. The swinging set will be right at home sipping one of the over fifty martinis shaken or stirred at G Martini Bar. A favourite local watering hole, Toad in the Hole Restaurant and Pub, deserves mention for its English pub feel and vast array of beer.

Downtown

Winnipeg’s downtown core is a huge swath of territory that stretches from the southern Legislative Building to the northern Exchange District. There are no concentrations of dining and drinking establishments, but there is a multiplicity of gems to be found. Near the Legislative buildings, Dubrovniks offers a sampling of fine foods from various European locales. Also in the area is the Rogue's Gallery, an establishment that challenges most of the senses with live music, local art and exemplary cuisine.

Closer to the downtown core where many high-end hotels such asThe Lombard and the Radisson are located, the Amici Restaurant and Bombolini Wine Bar provides extremely fine Italian dining and wines that will impress the most demanding connoisseur. For a more dressed down event, The Elephant and Castle is a great space for the British Isles experience with its excellent imported ales and hearty fish and chips.

Exchange District

Beyond the busy Portage and Main corridor, lies the Exchange District. The most romantic restaurant in the city, Step N' Out, is a new local favourite, which has an intimate atmosphere that must be sampled. The Fyxx Espresso Bar creates amazing sandwiches for a quick lunch and strong coffee for those who wish to sit, relax and discuss world issues in an unhurried manner. Wise Guy’s, also in the Exchange, is perfect for drinking, dancing and generally letting off some steam.

No trip to the city would be complete without a trip to The Forks, the historic central meeting place for Indigenous peoples, settlers and modern Winnipeggers. For tasty Steak and Seafood and a good selection of cocktails in an elegant setting, Remington’s is a good choice. The Old Spaghetti Factory is a spot that provides the perfect environment for a family event.

Winnipeg is a place that offers the complete range of dining and drink, from intimate settings to raucous nightclubs. It has ethnic enclaves of world cuisine, multicultural regions where anything and everything can be sampled and a diverse downtown core with a vibrant and diverse mix offering a plethora of experiences for travellers of all stripes.

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