If you are looking for a cozy spot to unwind one that immediately comes to mind is SMITH at Inn at the Forks, where Canadiana décor (check out the Hudson Bay blanket banquets and antler chandeliers) complements an excellent drink program (the smoked negroni and Manitoban Fashion – featuring local Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye, are top notch). It’s a great spot to hit up after a skate for a farm-to-table dinner, or to enjoy the finest selection of local beer on tap.
Speaking of local beer, Winnipeg’s brewery scene is now one to boast about, with quite a number of tap rooms and brew pubs on offer. For strictly beer, you really can’t beat Little Brown Jug and Barn Hammer – both of which have stylish tap rooms, Half Pints –Winnipeg’s original microbrewery, Torque – which has won numerous awards, and Nonsuch – the city’s newest brewery, located right behind the Centennial Concert Hall. Brazen Hall always packs in the crowds and has a pretty sweet food menu too, while right across from all the big box stores on Kenaston Boulevard you’ll find Trans Canada, where up to 24 varieties are brewed onsite, along with really good pizza.
For cool cocktail bars look no further than Langside Grocery – a hip haunt in a heritage building in Winnipeg’s West Broadway neighbourhood; Forth – arguably the city’s best cocktail bar, which is also a super chic café during the day; The Roost – which is #adorbs; while side-by-side in the Exchange District by Old Market Square you’ll find European flavour courtesy of Amsterdam Tea Room – whose Scottish co-owner Mark Turner is incredibly knowledgeable when it comes to tea and tea cocktails, and Cordova Tapas & Wine – whose young European owners Gael Winandy (Belgium) and Grégoire Stevenard (France) have created one gem of a room that harkens back to traditional tapas bars you’d find in Spain.
