Have your cake and eat it too at these six Manitoba attractions with restaurants

Posted April 18, 2018 | Author Reba Lewis

I’ve never understood the semantics of the old saying “you can’t have your cake and eat it too”. Why not?! After all, what is the point of having a scrumptious piece of cake if I can’t very well eat it? I do, however, adore the old adage of killing two birds with one stone. Now that makes a lot more sense to me, especially when it comes to two things that we all love doing: exploring the province and dining on all of its delectable delights. So let’s do away with the idea of cakes we can’t eat and instead, combine our love for getting out to our local attractions and treating ourselves to some good grub. Here are six Manitoba attractions that let you dine before, after and in-between your adventures.

Canadian Museum for Human Rights + ERA Bistro

Take your dining experience up a sophisticated notch at the modernly laid out ERA Bistro. This restaurant is housed within the walls of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights and serves up contemporary meals with an emphasis on local and certified fair trade food sources. The ambience of this space is so inviting that even after your feast, you’re hardly going to want to leave, so you might as well stick around for a serving of gourmet dessert. Be sure to check out the patio during summertime.

FortWhyte Alive + Buffalo Stone Café

There isn’t much that can compete with scenic lake views and a meal made from scratch with local, organic and sustainable products. And that’s exactly what you’ll get once you enter the Alloway Reception Centre’s Buffalo Stone Café at FortWhyte Alive. With all-day breakfast, soul-warming lunches, fresh soups and salads, all that’s left to do is sit back, relax and enjoy the freshly ground coffee and baked goodies also served onsite.

Thermëa

An invite to any gourmet dinner usually implies getting fancy for the occasion. Not so at Thermëa’s Biströ & Restö. You can enjoy all the trappings of a four-course meal, set against the backdrop of subdued lighting, subtle music, and a warm, welcoming fireplace, all while sitting in your bathrobe in-between thermal cycles.

Oak Hammock Marsh + Oak Hammock Café

For those who head out to Oak Hammock Marsh for the wildlife and the outdoors, the Oak Hammock Marsh Café offers a unique dining experience where you won’t have to compromise too much on your quality time outdoors should you decide to pause for a meal. Continue your wildlife viewing indoors with the help of the table-side binoculars provided as you dine and take in the panoramic views.

Assiniboine Park + The Park Café

The floor-to-ceiling windows on just about every side of The Park Café usher in views of the four seasons and so much light that you feel right at home and cozy in this spacious setting at the centre of Assiniboine Park. Add to that an extensive breakfast menu and appetizing lunch options and you’ve got the perfect pairing. During the summer months, take your dining experience onto the patio for the crisp fresh air and vivid greenery of the park.

Mennonite Heritage Museum + Lively Barn Restaurant

If you’re one for traditional fare, the Livery Barn Restaurant on the 40-acre site of the Mennonite Heritage Museum may just be to your liking. The barn’s setting is reminiscent of good old-fashioned home-cooked meals of the Russian-Mennonite variety. Think, savoury gravies, hearty broths, homemade breads and smoked sausages…you get the idea.

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