The Best Cocktail & Mocktail Spots in Winnipeg
If you’ve been following me, you already know I love a good cocktail. However, after participating in Dry January, as well as ebb and flows with my relationship to alcohol, I have a new appreciation for the mocktail. I’m noticing non-alcoholic offerings popping up, and I love that this is inclusive of those who choose not to drink.
Regardless of what’s in your glass, here is a list of sip-worthy places to check out in Winnipeg:
Patent 5 Distillery
This historic Exchange District building is a former livery stable. Livery stables offered horses and vehicles for hire. Park yourself here at a dimly lit table, and experience passion for the distillery craft, as well as effortlessly cool vibes. Over the pandemic, they had to get creative. They offer take home kits for upping your at home cocktail game.
I love their Elettaria Spiced Gin.
Teetotally awesome options:
The have an entire Zero Proof Menu.
Langside Grocery
Intimate, vintage study vibes, with a cozy backyard patio. This is another historic building that has been preserved beautifully! You may recognize this building as Pearly’s Market, if you are currently tuned into The Porter on CBC.
Teetotally awesome options:
They will make mocktails on request. They also have tea and espresso-based coffee options.
Bonnie Day
If you loved Forth Bar, like I did, then you will follow Josey Krahn wherever he may go! He is the Bartender in residence, and has recently concocted a new cocktail menu. Bonnie Day has the most quaint, ivy-lined patio or moody, eclectic interior. Whether you end up indoors or out, it’s a great place to sip on something delicious with good friends!
Teetotally awesome options:
The carry Fentiman's Rose Lemonade or Ginger Beer. They will also adapt other cocktails using Solbrü - an alcohol-free Elixer.
Preservation Hall
Don’t let the proximity to Home Depot deter you. Once you enter Preservation Hall, you will be swept away. It’s a beautiful spot for dinner and drinks, a great place to bring visitors, and my fave destination for buck-a-shuck oyster night. In the summer, you can soak up the sun on the patio, which overlooks a creek.
Teetotally awesome options:
The have a Zero Proof Menu. I enjoyed Love Potion No. 8 - Hibiscus flower, raspberry simple syrup, and dealcoholized sparkling rosé.
The Roost
A treehouse, perched atop the Corydon strip, this is the place to go for a truly instagram worthy cocktail or mocktail experience! I was jazzed to see that they are bringing back Clearly Canadian Soda for a few of their drinks! My fave choice is the Wishing Well (mezcal, gin, rosemary + tonka bean syrup, lime, salt, water).
Teetotally awesome options:
They have a dedicated mocktail menu. Try the Soother, for what I imagine is a total 90’s throwback: Clearly Canadian soda, sour cherry juice, lime, and blackberry shrub.
And for the morning people (this is not usually me, but I will wake up for a good brunch):
Juneberry
I can attest that the Lemon Blueberry Spritz is delicious (Tanqueray Gin, Grand Marnier, Lemon Simple Syrup, Blueberries, Soda, Charddonay Brut).
Teetotally awesome options:
On top of a great cup of Flatland Coffee, their cold refreshments all sound amazing. I would like to try the “Peach Punch” Iced Tea, Iced Raspberry Matcha Latte, or Espresso Mule.
Clementine Cafe
For their drink menu, they’ve adapted their slogan to “drink this, it will help”. I recently tried the tamarind lemongrass soda, and I will be ordering it again (after coffee of course)! They have various mimosa’s and breakfast cocktails. The Passionfruit Margarita sounds tasty!
Teetotally awesome options:
Try the Tamarind Lemongrass Soda (I compare it to a sour jolly rancher), tea or coffee, fresh squeezed oj or grapefruit juice.
