The Toronto Star has remarked that Winnipeg’s “brag-worthy food scene mixes hipster, local, Aboriginal, Jewish and French with assorted multicultural eats,” which pretty much nails it.
Wining and Dining
We’re a city with more than 1,100 restaurants where over 100 languages are spoken, so it should come as no surprise that a world of flavours is represented by our restaurants.
That being said, in the last five years or so the city has really come into its own as a celebrated culinary destination with numerous chef-owned restaurants, third wave coffee shops, craft cocktail bars and breweries, bakeries and pop-up events.
For convention delegates, there is no shortage of centrally located group dining options.
The Exchange District is where heritage buildings with exposed brick and beam interiors house excellent Italian, small plates, bistros and wine bars. In the summertime, on seemingly every street you’ll find sunny patios that beckon when you are outside conference hours.
Downtown’s busy establishments are all well-equipped – after years of serving large crowds before events at the Bell MTS Place – at getting groups fed fast, and they include gastro pubs, pizza joints, corporate chains, steakhouses, Japanese and fine dining establishments. Downtown’s Broadway is also where you’ll find dozens of food trucks lined up serving locals throughout lunch hour.
Corydon Avenue, Winnipeg’s former Little Italy, has always been a hotbed for culinary activity, and the strip now also includes excellent Filipino, Eastern European and Asian restaurants that are ideal for group dining.
Winnipeg’s most acclaimed rooms are found close to downtown in charming neighbourhoods like Osborne Village, St. Boniface and River Heights, where chef- owned rooms turn out tapas, Neapolitan pizzas, share plates, and farm-to-table fare utilizing our abundance of local farms to full effect.
As well, The Forks – Winnipeg’s most- visited tourist destination – has become an excellent option for a quick bite or fine dining. Inside The Forks Market is a brand-new food, wine and beer hall where some of Winnipeg’s best restaurants and food trucks have opened up smaller kiosks to complement the local beers and worldly wines you’ll find on tap.
Be sure to go to pegcitygrub.com for the latest Winnipeg restaurant news, categorized restaurant reviews, trends and stories.
Nightlife
With arguably the most live music per capita per night in Canada, there’s always a show to be had downtown, in the Exchange District, and in our diverse neighbourhoods.
The likes of Neil Young and The Guess Who cut their chops in Winnipeg rocking the free world in our live music bars. You can experience this scene for yourself at clubs like the legendary Times Change(d) High and Lonesome Club – whose tiny honky-tonk room on Main Street has seen some of the best acts in North America; the West End Cultural Centre and the Pyramid Cabaret whose west end and downtown venues have always been a vocal supporter of the arts; along with fun newer places like The Good Will Social Club, which features live music (or some kind of happening) every night.
The bar scene in the Exchange District and downtown is also top notch. Forth is where drink aficionados go for handcrafted cocktails, while the King’s Head Pub is a Winnipeg classic, with multiple floors and a lively atmosphere. Downtown, just steps from the RBC Convention Centre Winnipeg, you’ll dig the Mad Men swagger of Rudy’s Eat and Drink and the bustling atmosphere of The Pint.
For a posher experience you simply cannot beat an evening at the ballet or the symphony. For more than 75 seasons Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet has been dazzling audiences from across the globe with performances showcasing the power and beauty of movement, while the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra offers more than 80 concerts per year spanning numerous genres.
There’s always a great act to catch at the Club Regent Event Centre’s state-of-the-art facility. The best in stand-up comedy, country music, and legends of rock frequently fill the Event Centre’s calendar, while the space itself – whose floor and seating areas can be adapted at the push of a button – is a great rental for your own special event.
You can also book a personal show for your conference. Members of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, jazz trios, singer/songwriters and indie acts are always available to perform privately at your event making for a memorable evening of entertainment.
