From Urban Plates in Winnipeg to Wilderness Flavours in Churchill
If you’re looking for a travel adventure that pairs amazing food with wild landscapes and a dose of Canadian authenticity, you’re in luck: Manitoba delivers. From the metropolitan dining scene in Winnipeg to remote-tundra meals in Churchill, our province offers both flavour and wilderness in one journey. And if you don’t already have the logistics sorted, travel company Landsby offers curated trips that tie it all together.
Before we dive into specifics, let’s pause on what makes Manitoba’s food scene different:
- Manitoba’s culinary identity is rooted in its prairie agriculture, its Indigenous ingredients (wild rice, bison, tundra berries) and its multicultural communities.
- In Winnipeg you’ll find everything from global flavours to refined restaurants, alongside local comfort foods and historic diner classics.
- Up north in Churchill you’ll relish meals based on local game (elk, bison, Arctic char) and wild foraged ingredients, served in settings that feel remote and authentic.
Now, let’s map out a two-part foodie journey: one day (or more) in Winnipeg, followed by a “north-and-wild” experience in Churchill.
Part 1: Winnipeg – Urban Vibes with Prairie Flavour
1. The Neighbourhoods & Vibe
Start your food journey in Winnipeg’s vibrant dining scene. The historic Exchange District and West End are excellent starting points — both buzzing with locally owned cafés, bistros, and bakeries that reflect the province’s agricultural roots and cultural diversity.
2. Must-Try Dishes & Local Icons
- Fat Boy burger – A Winnipeg staple: burger topped with chilli meat sauce, pickles, lettuce, mayo, and mustard.
- Wild rice, bison, lake whitefish, and foraged mushrooms – Prairie ingredients you’ll see on menus throughout the city.
- Schmoo torte – The quintessential Winnipeg dessert, layered with whipped cream, nuts, and caramel sauce.
- Perogies and kubasa/kielbasa – A nod to Manitoba’s Ukrainian heritage, available everywhere from diners to fine dining.
3. Top Restaurant Suggestions
- Feast Café Bistro – A cornerstone of Winnipeg’s Indigenous food movement, founded by Chef Christa Bruneau-Guenther. The restaurant showcases modern dishes inspired by ancestral ingredients. It’s both a delicious meal and a meaningful connection to place.
- Clementine – A creative brunch spot known for inventive plates and outstanding coffee, located in a cozy underground space in the Exchange District.
- Deer + Almond – Chef Mandel Hitzer’s share-plate restaurant that helped define Winnipeg’s modern culinary identity, using local ingredients with a global flair.
- Nonsuch Brewing Co. – A brewery-restaurant where Belgian-style beers pair with elevated prairie cuisine.
- The Forks Market – For a casual tasting adventure, explore multiple stalls offering everything from Arctic char tacos to locally made gelato.
Related: Read The Original Feast and A View From Here: Winnipeg for even more Winnipeg inspiration.
Part 2: Churchill – Remote Dining & Northern Flavours
If Winnipeg is your urban food playground, then Churchill offers the opposite: wilderness, northern lights, and cuisine that draws its flavour from the tundra and boreal edge.
1. The setting
Churchill, located on Hudson Bay, is remote and wild. It’s a place you go for wildlife (polar bears, belugas), auroras, and an experience of nature — and dinner becomes part of the story. The restaurants here are fewer, seasonal at times, and often incorporate local game, fish, and traditional Indigenous ingredients.
2. Why this is special for food lovers
- The ingredients are local in the truest sense: fish from nearby waters, game from the land, berries and mushrooms from the tundra.
- Dining isn’t just about the food: it’s about the atmosphere — a log-hearth café, Northern Lights overhead, isolation and wilderness.
- It’s a change of pace from the city: here you’re trading in slick interiors for authenticity and story.
3. Tips for the Churchill leg
- Check seasons: some eateries are only open summer through fall.
- Be prepared for remote logistics: flights or train to Churchill, limited dining options, and variable availability.
- Dress for dinner and beyond: you may be dining after a day of wildlife viewing, so layering is wise.
- Make dinner an experience: pick eateries where the story (local ingredients + remote location) is part of the meal. We can help!
At Landsby, we offer a range of experiences that bring together the best of Winnipeg’s culinary creativity and Churchill’s northern wonder. Whether you’re drawn to the vibrant restaurant scene and Indigenous-led dining in the capital or the wild landscapes and cozy cafés on the Hudson Bay, our Manitoba journeys are designed to connect both worlds seamlessly.
One of our favourite ways to experience this contrast is through Subarctic Wonders: Exploring Churchill’s Northern Lights — a journey that begins in Winnipeg before venturing north into the subarctic. You’ll explore the city’s cultural and culinary highlights, then fly to Churchill for nights under the aurora and meals inspired by the land itself. It’s a trip that captures the spirit of Manitoba: urban energy, wild beauty, and heartfelt hospitality.
We believe the best travel experiences tell a story — of people, place, and connection. Through our curated itineraries, we invite you to taste Manitoba in all its forms, from bannock and bison to aurora-lit dinners in the North.
