If dining on delicious things within a lush setting is part of your Winnipeg summer itinerary, look no further than Assiniboine Park.
The city’s largest park –– DYK: it’s bigger than both NYC’s Central Park, and Vancouver’s Stanley Park?!? –– offers all kinds of al fresco opportunities. From tree-shaded outdoor bars to hidden courtyards within brunch institutions to west-facing patios where you can indulge in champagne, New Brunswick oysters with lemon-ginger pearls, and some of Winnipeg’s most colourful plates, Assiniboine Park’s culinary scene has you covered.
Even the Zoo dishes out deliciousness, all while providing a sophisticated bar program that allows you to carry a cold one (brewed in Winnipeg, of course) around as you watch all the animals.
As you’ll read below in our latest guide, Assiniboine Park and Zoo really has thought of it all, from breakfast through to dining late into the evening. Plus, dogs are welcome on both the Gather and Cargo Bar patios!
At Assiniboine Park Zoo
If you’re bringing the family to Winnipeg this summer, Assiniboine Park Zoo is surely on your agenda. With blockbuster exhibits like Defenses of the Animal Kingdom, the return of giant animatronic insects in its forested path, and all the Zoo’s regular stars like the polar bears, tigers, white handed gibbons, stellar eagles, muskox, kangaroos, prehensile-tailed porcupine (look at that nose!), meerkats, lynx … okay, you get the picture –– your whole family is sure to be smitten.
While you’re there, be sure to take advantage of all the tasty stuff on offer.
For starters, for adults, the whole Zoo grounds is licensed, which means you can look to the “For the Grown Ups” side of the menu at Tundra Grill and the various kiosks found throughout the Zoo. There, you’ll find a nice selection of local beers from Trans Canada Brewery, plus Caesars, coolers and white wines that will make your animal-spotting-stroll through the summer sunshine that much better. Should it be cool, how about a selection of liquors to make a boozy coffee, like Bailey’s and RumChata?
Tundra Grill itself features one of the most spectacular sightlines in the city. Its floor-to-ceiling windows look right out onto the massive Journey to Churchill polar bear enclosure, which means your beef dip, chicken fingers, veggie dogs, poutine and rice bowls all are accompanied by views of North America’s largest land carnivoran – some of whom have been known to stand up and look right into the dining room!
Strategically located throughout the Zoo, you’ll encounter a number of food kiosks. Hot dogs are served at Aunt Sally’s Farm from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Hawaiian shaved ice is served beside the Leatherdale International Polar Bear Conservation Centre; Winston’s Ice Cream Shoppe specializes in housemade ice cream sandwiches and is right in front of the Defenses of the Animal Kingdom exhibit; lemonade and mini doughnuts can be found next the Xtreme Bugs exhibit; and the Bison Snack Shack –– home to a number of hot and cold items, including giant pretzels and healthy wraps –– will reopen for the season on July 1, greeting you as soon as you enter the Zoo’s main gates.
You can also now order food from the Zoo online, ensuring you don’t have to delay exploring while you wait for you dish to get dished at Tundra Grill. Look for the online ordering signs throughout the zoo (the first one is right after the entrance), as these signs have a QR code that will take you to the online ordering system.
The colourful creations of Gather Craft Kitchen & Bar
If you haven’t been to The Leaf in the summer sunshine, you haven’t really been to The Leaf. At this time of the year—particularly within the Hartley and Heather Richardson Tropical Biome—the massive plants, palms, and flowers are more emphatic than a six-year-old on stage at a dance recital. You can see right into all this green glory when you are dining at Gather Craft Kitchen & Bar, The Leaf’s onsite restaurant.
Gather’s extensive menu takes its cues from popular dishes from around the globe, all while featuring some hyper-local ingredients in summer that have been grown right in The Leaf’s outdoor Kitchen Garden. Chef Mike de Groot’s menu has a little something for everyone, from small plates like vegan “chorizo spiced” tacos with mole and garlic chili crunch; burrata served with salsa verde and the best local tomatoes from Greenland Gardens; and the brand-new Brazilian fried cheese puffs on Old Bay cheddar dip. For mains, you can go with anything from a 12 oz ribeye with chimichurri and demi-glace, to a classic seared scallop risotto with roasted mushrooms that would have regulars mutinying if they took it off the menu, and the Gather house salad that is every bit as bright as the building’s butterfly garden.
The desserts and craft cocktails too provide so much vibrancy and flavour – from the orange carrot cake with orange sorbet, mandarin preserve, popcorn, and fresh orange to the “Not for the Faint of Heart” cocktail made with 1800 Coconut Tequila infused with jalapeños, Triple Sec, lime juice and pineapple foam. Be sure to ask about the cocktail feature and feature dessert, as the kitchen often employs tropical ingredients that have been grown right in the biomes.
Given all these colourful options, an apropos seat can be found on Gather’s west-facing, dog-friendly patio where you can find shade under an umbrella or watch the sunset disappear beyond the horizon.
The best bit: Gather is open daily from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., so there’s plenty of time to enjoy the patio, no matter what time of day or night. Gather is typically busy during peak lunch and dinner hours, so reservations are strongly recommended. The patio is open on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Nice neighbours: The Park Café and Cargo Bar
Assiniboine Park also has two great culinary options that are located outside of its world-class attractions.
In the middle of the Park, sandwiching the Riley Family Duck Pond is where you’ll find The Qualico Centre and Cargo Bar.
The former is home to the brunch institution, the Park Café (open daily, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.), which features massive north-facing windows that look onto the pond, along with one of the city’s best hidden patios. This patio, located just off the dining room, is surrounded by a little forest, creating a lovely little spot for breakfast through lunch, or a casual pitcher of green apple sangria.
The Park Café’s menu is a treasure trove of excellent breakfast and lunch dishes. There’s a nice array of eggs Benedict served with the crispiest home fries, smash burgers slathered in rosemary garlic aioli, sandwiches, and plenty of vegetarian options like a veggie gyro (made with roasted mushrooms) and the sweet potato garden burger. The kids’ menu is aces too, with dollar pancakes, French toast with whip cream, and of course, chicken fingers with honey dill. There are also several desserts, including the new cookie ice cream dream and banana parfait.
If you are looking for something quick, there’s also the Park Treats takeout window located just outside the kitchen. This spot slings iced coffees, ice creams, wraps, burgers and hand-cut fries, along with dog treats too!
Across the Pond (the Riley one, not the Atlantic), Cargo Bar provides such a nice environment to spend an afternoon or evening for both people and dogs. Most of the seating is located under trees for ample shade (plus there are umbrellas at larger tables), and everything comes from a shipping container replete with a rooftop patio. On the menu, you’ll find craft cocktails, a nice selection of local beers, wine and plenty of mocktails, too. For food this year, Cargo Bar is running tacos, a few tapas-style dishes and mini charcuterie boxes.
You can enjoy all these delectable numbers while looking out on the Duck Pond, the massive field in front of the Lyric Theatre and the surrounding forests and gardens. Seriously, it’s a setting that you will relish. Cargo Bar often plays host to singer-songwriters, live performances, and even Bachata Tuesdays (a form of dance from the Dominican Republic), which is a total joy to see and experience.
Given that Cargo Bars hours can be weather dependent, it’s best to check Instagram for updates. That said, when it’s not raining, Cargo Bar is open on from noon to 10 p.m. (but closed on Mondays), making it a great spot to catch a sunset.
