If people watching from sunny patios is your thing, head to Corydon Avenue. The main strip spans approximately 15 city blocks and is lined with charming bakeries, bars, and boutiques. Can’t miss spots include The Roost – named one of Canada’s 50 best bars for its great food too and a #adorbs atmosphere; The Pennyloaf Bakery (for incredible sourdough and pastries); Saperavi (one of Canada’s very few Georgian restaurants); and Cocoabeans (where everything is gluten-free, vegan and delicious).
Exchange District
A national historic site that has become a hotbed for creative
types, the Exchange District is Winnipeg’s newest hip ‘hood, even
recognized in
Vogue. Amongst circa 1880s handsome brick and
mortar buildings you’ll find fantastic restaurants – like
deer + almond, Clementine, Amsterdam Tea Room, Cordova Tapas and Wine and Peasant Cookery – eclectic shops, impressive museums,
Winnipeg’s theatre district and numerous live music venues.
Osborne Village
The invitingly walkable stretch of this boho-chic enclave boasts a
block party vibe, especially in the summer during street festival
season. Located just south of downtown, small-scale boutiques,
consignment shops and record stores stand hand-in-hand with
some of Winnipeg’s best restaurants and bars. It all makes for
a gem of a place to visit, night or day. For dining you can’t beat
Segovia – Winnipeg’s most acclaimed restaurant, or Sous Sol –
the city’s most tongue-in-cheek restaurant where the French food
rocks, while you’ll fall in love with new shops like
Small Mercies which has jewelry, giftware, and a little café featuring a hidden
courtyard patio that is beyond charming.
Saint-Boniface
Saint-Boniface is the heart of Manitoba’s francophone culture and
an outstanding spot for foodies looking for pastries, chocolates,
coffee and French fare. Visit
Fort Gibraltar and Le Musée de Saint-Boniface Museum for a lesson in Métis and Manitoban
history, then wander the grounds of
Saint-Boniface Cemetery and Cathedral, the eternal resting place of Louis Riel, considered to
be Manitoba’s founder.
Chocolatier Constance Popp remains a
mainstay for unique Manitoba-centric gifts, while groups will relish
dining at
Promenade Café and Wine where the dining room looks
out on
downtown and The Forks.
The West End
The colourful West End continues to grow as a vibrant culinary
and cultural destination in the city, due to the waves of immigrants
who have populated the area. The neighbourhood features nearly
1,000 businesses spread across 200 blocks, including more than
150 restaurants and worldly food markets. Standouts including
Pho Hoang, Sargent Taco, the nationally acclaimed Feast (which
is Indigenous owned and operated), and
The Good Will Social Club and West End Cultural Centre for live music.
