Winnipeg has always had a culinary scene that punches way above its weight when it comes to flavour, variety, and national acclaim.
But one thing we don’t often focus on is the abundance of unique environments you can dine in––no matter what season. With restaurants that are built on the ice or made from ice in winter; to stunning natural backdrops that enhance your dish in autumn; plus patios, food trucks and water views aplenty in summer; Winnipeg provides a setting you’ll savour (nearly) as much as the food itself.
Winter
RAW:almond (late-January to mid-February)
Located at The Forks on the frozen Assiniboine River, RAW:almond is Winnipeg’s most famous annual pop-up experience. Run and created by architect Joe Kalturnyk and chef Mandel Hitzer, this temporary restaurant is built right on the ice, featuring a full kitchen and two long communal tables seating 24 where diners are treated to tasting menus that can be enjoyed while you are still in your skates (yes, you can skate to the restaurant).
Diverse chefs are invited from all over the world to participate–– including Michelin-starred chefs, celebrity chefs, and plenty of local talent too––while the event is sponsored by Veuve Clicquot should you be looking to add sabering champagne as to your dining experience. Tickets are sold in advance online for the two evening seatings, while weekend brunches from local chefs are usually done on a first-come, first-serve basis. The space is “heated” per se, but considering there is ice under your feet and the structure has a canvas-like roof, you should still dress warmly. Given the communal seating, you’re also sure to meet like-minded locals who have been attending this event since its inception in 2012.
The Den (February to early March)
If eating in a restaurant whose dining room is carved from 500,000 lbs of snow is on your wish list, look no further. Located at Amaze in Corn (1351 MB 200, St. Adolphe, MB) beside the world’s largest snow maze, this jaw-dropping setting is created annually by snow architect Clint Masse. Within The Den, which is just like a giant igloo with all-snow walls carved like a cathedral and tables that are composed of huge slabs of ice from the Red River, you’ll be served a four-course dinner by award-winning celebrity Francophone chef Luc Jean (La main à la pâte) replete with a complimentary signature cocktail.
There is live music each night to accompany dinner, along with a full-service bar. Tickets to explore the world’s largest snow maze (also created by Clint Masse) are also included in your ticket, so be sure to arrive early. Being completely composed of snow, the whole dining room is candlelit, which adds a magical element that heightens the details on all the snow sculptures and carvings found throughout the room. Reservations can be made online.
Spring/Summer
Table for 1200 (late May)
For Winnipeg’s culinary crowd, summer officially kicks-off with Table for 1200, a communal outdoor dining experience run by chef Ben Kramer. Inspired by Dîner en Blanc, this pop-up experience invites participants to dress in all white with black and pink accents and to dress their table up (which links up with all other tables, to accommodate up to 1200 diners) to take part in the design competition. Chef Kramer has run the giant outdoor kitchen since the event’s inception in 2014, with the dishes served family style.
The exact location of the event isn’t announced until the day of, with tickets sold in advance through Storefront MB, who run the event as their annual fundraiser to “raise awareness about the value of architecture, design, and urbanism.” It’s a great event for tourists to meet members of Winnipeg’s design community, plus you get to see so many incredible table designs over the course of the evening. The event is also licensed, featuring several outdoor bars/wine stations.
Food Trucks (April to October)
Each year, Winnipeg’s food truck fleet numbers around 50. Trucks can regularly be found along Broadway during lunch from Monday to Friday, along with throughout neighbourhood pockets during special events. From these you can find a world of flavours, offering up everything from wood-fired pizzas to local Indigenous cuisine, Korean, Mexican, Caribbean, Lebanese, Indian, West African, Southern barbecue, Ethiopian, and so much more. By using our Peg City Grub food truck guide (see link above), you’ll be able to find where each truck is located, and what they’ll be serving when you are in town.
A few years ago, The Forks––which is Manitoba’s most-visited tourism destination––opened one of Western Canada’s largest licensed patios to much fanfare. With seating for up to 250 (plus plenty of spots to chill under the shade of numerous trees), the whole area overlooks The Forks Historic Port, making it a perfect spot to enjoy a meal and drink while watching the boats go by. The patio is serviced by The Common, a large indoor and outdoor bar feature up to 20 unique wines, craft beers and ciders by the glass, along with all the food kiosks from within The Forks Market where new options include modern Filipino fare and a cocktail bar with small plates. You’ll also find staples like tacos, Argentina, Sri Lankan, fish and chips (using local walleye), gourmet hot dogs from Weinerpeg, and some of the best pizza in the city from The Red Ember in the market too. For breakfast on the patio, be sure to check out Tall Grass Prairie for pastries (they mill their own wheat onsite) paired with excellent coffee from Fools & Horses.
While Winnipeg has many glorious patios from which you can dine al fresco in style, The Beer Can is worth its own entry. This seasonal spot is located just up from the Assiniboine River at The Granite Curling Club. It features a wide range of picnic tables and wood bench seating, along with two large bars (one in a shipping container) that sling local beer, wine, and craft cocktails (including excellent margaritas). For food, the menu is executed by the chefs of Kosmo’s Space Cowboy Food Cantina (these fellas also own the much-loved Hoagie Boyz sub shop, along with running Next Door kitchen in Good Neighbour Brewing Company at 116 Sherbrook St.). Expect out of this world burgers, snacks, salads, and daily specials.
The Beer Can is such a great spot to meet locals and spend an afternoon. Come evening there are often DJs, acoustic singer songwriters, and artsy happenings (including live dance performances from members of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, which makes for a great hi-brow meets low-brow sort of night). Plus, the seating within all the trees (which offer ample shade) includes hammocks, yard games, and plenty of spots to chill. It’s also the best spot in the city to meet dogs, which are more than welcome throughout the gardens.
With hundreds of patios located across the city, we do our best to create an annual thematic Patio Guide to help you find your best al fresco option––no matter your taste. From rooftop settings to primetime people-watching spots along Corydon Avenue to spots that straddle the rivers, Winnipeg has a patio for you and your crew.
Fall
Every autumn FortWhyte Alive marks migration season with Goose Flight Feasts, an event that combines a seasonal three-course meal with the four-sense spectacle of thousands of geese and fowl descending on its Lake Devonian at sunset. You can watch the action unfold while eating on the patio––whereby you’ll hear the honking of the geese, the woosh of their wings and the splashing they make as they hit the water––all as the sky turns blood orange behind them as the sun sets. Should it be chilly, you can also view it all from within the Buffalo Stone Café which has large windows looking out onto the lake. The menu is by Diversity Foods, a local company known for its farm-to-table ethos, so expect a showcase for Manitoban-grown ingredients that can include produce grown right at FortWhyte Farms, which you’ll pass on the way in.
FortWhyte Alive itself is a picturesque nature centre located right in the south-west of the city, making it a great spot to arrive before your seating to you can go birding, walk the aspen forest trails, or see North America’s largest urban bison herd. It’s a great experiential culinary option for both groups, and tables of two or four.
Winnipeg is surrounded by farmland and picturesque lakes, with many small farms hosting fall or harvest suppers during autumn. Throughout September and October there are so many to choose from, many of which you should book well in advance to ensure you (or your group) has a seat at the table. Check out this guide from our friends at Travel Manitoba for more info.
