It’s almost Valentine’s Day, and love is in the air! This week is all about celebrating the people who make life special and cherishing time with those you love most. There are countless ways to create unforgettable memories, but we’re partial to a romantic night out in the Exchange District.
To help you plan the perfect evening, we’ve put together a list of top date night spots that are perfect for Valentine’s Day and beyond!
Game Night Date Night
Across the Board Game Café
Across The Board Game Café is the perfect spot to cozy up with a game and good company. This café offers a massive game library with over 1600 titles, including strategy games, party games, and solo challenges. While you play, enjoy a freshly made bistro-style meal, a local beer, a caffeinated beverage, or one of their signature cocktails. It’s a fun place to take a date who enjoys excellent food, drinks, and some friendly competition.
211 Bannatyne Avenue
@acrosstheboardcafe
Select Start
The Exchange District’s newest darling, Select Start, is an elevated barcade. Its stunning design (by Fireside Design) mixes retro-futurism, vapourwave, and Japanese video game history with vibes curated from sci-fi movies like Bladerunner, Tron, or Alien. Bask in the glow of warm lights while you play coin-operated video games that bring a healthy dose of nostalgia, from Mario Kart to Mortal Kombat to Donkey Kong. To complete the experience, try one of their feature cocktails or nosh on an elevated Japanese-inspired bar menu. At Select Start, you choose your own adventure.
110 Market Avenue
@selectstartwpg
https://www.selectstartwpg.com/
A Taste of Winter
Old Market Square and Bodegoes
Enjoy the outdoors with a date night at Old Market Square. Bring your skates to enjoy the Old Market Square rink, which lights up beautifully with bespoke lighting after dark. It’s a special experience to skate amidst the heritage buildings in the heart of the Exchange District.
Work up an appetite on the rink and head to Bodegoes for a selection of world foods. The locally owned Bodegoes boasts a menu full of dishes that blend international flavours, perfect for whatever mood strikes. Try their noodle stir-fries, burritos, pitas, chicken fingers, flatbreads, soups, salads, and more.
211 Bannatyne Avenue #102
@bodegoes
https://www.bodegoes.com/
Dinner and A Show
Borgo Antico
Borgo Antico is the perfect date-night spot for lovers of authentic Italian food. Hand-rolled and die-cut pasta is served in a cheerful and intimate atmosphere. It’s helmed by Giacomo and Susan Appice, former owners of Tre Visi and pioneers in the Winnipeg restaurant industry, so you know you’re in excellent hands. Try Italian classics, like cacio de peppe, tagliatelle bolognese, and pollo alla francese. You can grab a classic cocktail like an Aperol Spritz or Negroni Spagliato or try your hand with some Italian wine. Don’t forget to treat yourself to an affogato, budino al ciocolato, or pannacotta for dessert. With a few different seating times per evening, you can easily enjoy a hearty meal before heading to a show.
173 McDermot Avenue
@borgoanticowpg
https://borgoanticowpg.com/
Hermanos
Hermanos is Winnipeg’s South American steakhouse that offers a dining experience inspired by Argentina, Uruguay, and other South American countries. They specialize in steak, so beef lovers can try their hand at the Brazilian Ribeye, Classic Argentinian strip, or Argentinian Surf & Turf paired with complementary wine. Beyond that, you can indulge in unique chicken dishes, an array of colourful salads, delicious tapas, and lots of seafood options, all with South American flavours. Save room for dessert and try a Latin Crepe or Gianduia, a lightly frozen hazelnut cake over a cookie crumb base.
179 Bannatyne Avenue
@hermanos.ca
https://www.hermanos.ca/
Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre
After dinner, your next stop could be catching a show at the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre. The RMTC is Canada’s oldest English-language regional theatre, founded in 1958 when two theatre companies merged. Today, it’s Manitoba’s epicentre of professional theatre, hosting a robust program of plays that tell incredible stories.
This week, you can check out Indecent, a play-within-a-play told through song, music, and dance. It tells the story of the production of God of Vengeance, including its journey to Broadway and the producer and cast who risked their careers — and their lives to present it.
Or try Mix Tapes From my Mom, starring local theatre favourite Corey Wojcik, who shares a deeply personal story of the day he travelled back and forth between two hospitals for very different reasons. Complete with a live band, this show features songs you know and a heartwarming story.
174 Market Avenue
@mtcwinnipeg
https://royalmtc.ca/
Centennial Concert Hall
Another excellent place to catch a show is the Centennial Concert Hall. The stunning example of Brutalist architecture is home to the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, and many other events and experiences.
You can enjoy the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra’s Aretha: A Tribute Show this week. Brooklyn-born singer Capathia Jenkins and three-time Grammy nominee Ryan Shaw bring the Queen of Soul’s hits to life under the baton of guest conductor Lucas Waldin. It’s a perfect date night for music lovers who are ready to groove and sing along to classic songs.
555 Main Street
@centennialconcerthall
https://centennialconcerthall.com/