Winnipeg is the kind of city that rewards you for arriving hungry.
Over two delicious days, we explored neighbourhood cafés, creative cocktail bars, chef-driven restaurants, local breweries and one of the city’s most beautiful green spaces, discovering a food scene that feels creative, welcoming and full of personality.
If you’re planning a weekend getaway to Manitoba’s capital, here’s how we’d spend 48 delicious hours in Winnipeg.
Day One: Explore The Forks and Eat Your Way Through the City
Start Your Winnipeg Adventure at The Forks
Before diving into Winnipeg’s food scene, spend some time exploring The Forks, one of Canada’s most historic gathering places at the meeting point of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers.
There’s plenty to discover here. Wander the riverfront, browse the public art installations, watch skateboarders in the plaza and, of course, snap a photo at the colourful Winnipeg sign.
For a deeper understanding of the area, start with the self-guided audio tour at the Canopy, narrated by Niigaan Sinclair, or join a guided tour at the Agowiidiwinan Centre to learn more about treaties and Indigenous history through the Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba.
If your schedule allows, leave some time for the nearby Canadian Museum for Human Rights. Its striking architecture and thought-provoking exhibitions make it a meaningful addition to any Winnipeg itinerary.
Once you’ve explored, grab a locally roasted coffee and get ready for an evening of eating your way through the city.
Start the Evening with Rooftop Cocktails at The Roost
Our first food and drink stop brought us to The Roost, a cozy neighbourhood cocktail bar tucked into the second floor of a 110-year-old house in Winnipeg’s Little Italy.
With its intimate rooftop patio, welcoming atmosphere and inventive cocktail menu, it’s the perfect place to ease into an evening in the city.
Our standout was the Cartoons & Cereal, a nostalgic cocktail made with Earl Grey-infused rum, Campari, guava, lime and house-made Froot Loops syrup. Playful and unexpected, it was unlike anything else we drank on the trip.
Pair a cocktail with a few seasonal small plates, including their pillowy pork bao buns, before heading to dinner.
Make Dinner an Experience at Baby Baby
Next, make your way to Baby Baby, one of our favourite dining experiences in Winnipeg.
The lively dining room, open kitchen and playful menu immediately set the tone. Dishes are designed for sharing, which makes this the kind of place where ordering a little bit of everything feels like the right decision.
We started with an Amaretto Sour Slushie before diving into fresh oysters with yuzu rosé mignonette, a buttery little lobster roll and crispy fried broccoli that quickly became one of the most unexpected standouts of the meal.
To finish, we shared the whole sea bass topped with passionfruit beurre blanc, pistachios, crispy rice and fennel. Light, vibrant and beautifully balanced, it was the perfect finale.
Every plate gave us something new to talk about, and by the end of dinner, we were already discussing what we’d order on our next visit.
Find the Hidden Door to Solera
The night isn’t over yet.
After dinner, make your way to Solera, an intimate cocktail bar hidden behind Tabula Rasa.
We started with The Apiary, a rich yet beautifully balanced cocktail featuring hazelnut oil fat-washed rye, honey grappa, lavender, bee pollen bitters and smoked chamomile.
Then came Enchantment Under the Sea, arriving beneath a cloud of delicate bubbles. Our server invited us to sprinkle sugar over the top, creating a shimmer as the bubbles disappeared into the cocktail below.
Creative, theatrical and just plain fun, it was the perfect way to end our first night in Winnipeg.
Day Two: Brunch, Local Beer and a Garden Escape
Start with Brunch at Clementine
After a night of eating and drinking your way through Winnipeg, there’s only one way to start day two: brunch.
Clementine Café is tucked beneath a historic building in Winnipeg’s Exchange District, and there’s a good chance you’ll find a lineup outside. Don’t let it scare you away.
We ordered the Fried Chicken on Toast, Braised Beef Chilaquiles and Turkish Eggs, and every plate gave us another reason to understand why this has become such a beloved Winnipeg brunch spot.
The Turkish Eggs were an unexpected favourite, bringing together silky poached eggs, creamy hummus, chili butter, fresh zhoug and grilled sourdough.
Our advice? Come hungry and embrace the wait. You’ll be glad you did.
While you’re in the area, spend some time wandering the Exchange District, where historic architecture, independent shops and local businesses make it easy to explore between meals.
Slow Down with Lunch and Local Beer at Nonsuch
By afternoon, make your way to Nonsuch Brewing Co., where the food is every bit as memorable as the beer.
The beautifully designed taproom immediately caught our attention, but on a sunny Winnipeg afternoon, the patio is an equally good place to settle in.
We paired a Belgian Blonde and award-winning Raspberry Sour with burrata served alongside ripe tomatoes, Calabrian chilli vinaigrette, crispy garlic and fresh sourdough.
Simple, fresh and packed with flavour, it was exactly the kind of laid-back lunch we wanted before our final stop of the trip.
End Your Winnipeg Getaway at The Leaf and Gather
For your final afternoon, head to Assiniboine Park and give yourself plenty of time to explore The Leaf.
The striking glass structure is impressive before you even step inside. Once through the doors, wander through lush indoor biomes filled with tropical plants, colourful blooms and butterflies before making your way to Canada’s tallest indoor waterfall.
It feels worlds away from the city outside and offers the perfect change of pace after a weekend spent hopping between restaurants and bars.
Then, bring the experience full circle with a meal at Gather Craft Kitchen & Bar.
Inspired by global flavours and Manitoba’s seasons, Gather celebrates ingredients from nearby farms as well as herbs, vegetables and botanicals grown within The Leaf’s gardens and living collections.
One plate we still haven’t stopped thinking about is the Roasted Carrots, served over silky buttermilk dressing with kale, salsa macha and fresh dill. It transformed a humble vegetable into one of the most memorable bites of our Winnipeg visit.
Paired with the gardens surrounding you, it’s a fitting reminder that some of the best culinary experiences begin with a connection to what grows around us.
Why Winnipeg Is Worth a Foodie Weekend
Two days in Winnipeg gave us just enough time to realize how much more there is to discover.
What stood out wasn’t simply the number of great meals. It was the personality behind them. From bartenders turning cocktails into an experience and chefs putting their own spin on familiar ingredients to local brewers creating spaces you’ll want to linger in, Winnipeg’s food scene feels distinctly its own.
And that’s what makes the city so much fun to explore through food.
Come for a weekend, arrive hungry and leave some room in your itinerary for the places you discover along the way.
Because 48 hours might be enough to get a taste of Winnipeg, but chances are, it won’t be enough to try everything you’ll want to eat.
