If you are looking for the ultimate winter stay in Winnipeg, look no further than Inn at the Forks.
Inn at the Forks is a locally owned and operated property from Sparrow Hotels (also owners of the Mere Hotel and Norwood Hotel, and operators of the Wyndham Garden Winnipeg Airport) which has everything you need to get the most of Winnipeg’s creative and cool winters. (And yes, we are both literal and figurative in our use of ‘cool’).
Here are just a few reasons why Inn at the Forks is a great place to rest your head in our winter wonderland.
The vibe and views
The hotel is so a propos for winter. The whole vibe of the place is pure Canadiana –– from the Hudson Bay Company-inspired banquettes in its SMITH Restaurant, to the design of the mezzanine and all the wood details throughout the hotel.
All the public areas feature floor-to-ceiling windows, so you can see the splendour of the snow-covered Forks. Day or night, you’ll love looking out onto Arctic Glacier Winter Park, which literally wraps around the hotel with its on-land skating trails lluminated by twinkling lights hanging from trees and posts. Rooms on the north side of the hotel provide postcard views of the iconic outdoor hockey rink at the CN Stage with its WINNIPEG sign backdrop framed by the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, our architectural marvel.
All of the hotel’s rooms are quite large, with great views of The Forks and the rivers no matter what side of the hotel you are staying on.
The location
One step outside of the Inn at the Forks lobby and you are already in it to win it when it comes to the city’s top winter draw.
The main access to the Nestawaya River Trail, via The Forks Harbour, is just steps from the hotel. Chances are you didn’t pack your skates, so go rent some within The Forks Market from Iceland Skate Rentals. Or, walk right down to the ice and rent an ice bike from Kendrick’s Outdoor Adventure, offering a range of rental options right on the ice. From there, you can either head west on the Assiniboine River or south on the Red River, joining hundreds of locals who will be gliding past all the magnificent (and sometimes whacky) warming huts found along the trail.
For cultural experiences, the hotel is also just steps from the internationally celebrated Canadian Museum for Human Rights; the Agowiidiwinan Centre –– which invites visitors to delve into Indigenous history and the Numbered Treaties; and incredible works of public art.
Plus, Inn at the Forks is just a five to 10-minute walk from all of downtown’s top amenities, including Canada Life Centre for hockey games and concerts, and The Exchange District for theatre, cafés and galleries.
SMITH Restaurant
For anything from après skate craft cocktails and share plates, to breakfast through dinner, SMITH Restaurant is a dining destination for both hotel guests and locals alike.
For an après skate, check out the 'SMITH crafted' cocktails list featuring a range of housemade bitters and syrups. All drinks here should be accompanied by the restaurant’s legendary pounded cheese to start, as it is the ultimate winter board with its luscious aged cheddar spread kicked up with a cider vinegar reduction and garlic chips. SMITH always has a vast selection of local craft beers on tap, while you’ll even find Low Life Barrehouse’s piquette sparkling rosé on the sparkling section (amongst other rave-worthy bottles like BC’s Blue Mountain brut).
The menu also showcases plenty of local companies and Manitoban ingredients, including Greenland Garden tomatoes and Bearcat Fisheries walleye fished from the pristine waters of Kisseynew Lake, Manitoba.
For breakfast and brunch, SMITH is focused on local, serving Little Sister Stargazer espresso and Nature’s Farm eggs –– a local company celebrated for its sustainable, free-range eggs with those eye-catching, almost orange yolks. You can’t go wrong with the breakfast sandwich or any of the Benedict options, all of which will get you ready for your day of exploring Winnipeg.
Riverstone Spa
Should you be looking to relax during your stay, you can also do that –– in most sublime fashion – right within the hotel. Inn at the Forks’ Riverstone Spa is known for its range of treatments that run from head to toe. Of particular note is the signature aromatherapy hot stone massage using volcanic basalt, while the tranquil facility itself will have you unwinding from the moment you enter with its babbling water features and dimmed lighting.
Inn at the Forks is located at 75 Forks Market Road. For reservations go to www.innforks.com or call 204.942.6555.
