Winnipeg Neighbourhood Guide 3: West Broadway/Wolseley

Known affectionately as "The Granola Belt," Wolseley has a long and fascinating history as a residential district. Thanks to concerted community efforts to fight Dutch Elm disease, it's canopied by great, hardy elms: making it one of the most beautiful places for a fall stroll in the city. And right nearby, West Broadway has been blowing up over the past year or two. With a crop of hip new businesses and a brand new bike lane along Sherbrook, its dingier days seem long gone. Wolseley/West Broadway is rapidly becoming one of the hottest destinations and most desirable areas in the city.

Eat
Fitzroy
Seriously one of the better cheeseburgers I've ever bit into. Jon grinds his own beef, so yeah, you can get that patty medium or rare. The food is simple, but flavourful with quality you can taste and the beers and spirits are nicely curated.

Boon Burger
With its all-vegan burger menu, this is a fantastic (and rare) choice for vegetarians, vegans or people like me who just enjoy a good veggie meal now and then. The menu offers a lot of variety and everything I've tried has been fresh, wholesome and delicious.

Oh, and their soft serve is a thing of beauty.

The Tallest Poppy

It's back and people are excited. The decor is eclectic and homey, the staff are friendly and the breakfast is great. I had the Talia breakfast. The bacon was fantastic, the toast was thick cut, perfectly crispy and amazing dipped into my poached eggs, and the salad was fresh and flavourful.

They're still working out some efficiency quirks (seating lagged a bit and our bill was mislaid) but it's only been a week, folks, they're going to work it out. Using the honour system to seat waiting tables creates a friendly, communal vibe. I dig it.

The Nook
Winnipeg loves a greasy spoon, and this one fits the bill with a vintage eclectic spin. Busy, buzzing and familiar all at once.

Wannabee's
If you want breakfast cheap and fast, go here. This place is about as blue collar as it gets, with plastic cups, plenty of fried meats and most breakfasts costing less than 5$. The hours are a bit strange and the place is TINY, but the open kitchen, friendly staff and solid food are worth the hassle.

Stella's Cafe and Bakery
Yet another excellent spot for a great brunch. A wide ranging menu with something for everyone and fresh ingredients. Pop next door and take home some bread or delicious baked goods.

Drink
Thom Bargen
A hip place to grab a great cup of coffee. They offer quite a bit more seating than most of the specialty coffee shops in town, so it's a great spot for a meeting or study session with a pour over in hand. They also carry a fair bit of coffee gear and beans for your home brewing needs.

The Handsome Daughter
Much to my disappointment, The Handsome Daughter has hit a few snags with their opening date, so I haven't yet had the opportunity to belly up for a drink. But people are talking and I have high hopes that this divvy new place will finally put an end to the revolving door of new business turn-over in this spot.

I'll update you the minute it opens.

Shop

Wilder Dry Goods
Located at the rear of Thom Bargen, Wilder sells beautifully made bags with durable, equitably sourced materials. Their bags are designed with everyday use in mind; they're hella tough and they'll only look better with age.

You can also poke your head in back to see the boys at work making beautiful new products.

Organic Planet
This tiny little organic co-op oozes hippy ambience, and is seriously a place worth spending your money on those foods that just taste best organic. I lack the commitment (and honestly the cash) to eat organic all the time, but when it comes to seasonal produce, why not, right?

The Shoe Doctor
This is where I bought my Blundstones five years ago (when this was pretty much the only place in the city you could find them) and four Winnipeg winters later, those boots are still withstanding the test of time. If you've spent a winter here, you know how amazing/rare that is in a shoe :)

They also do affordable and reliable shoe repairs.

Humboldt's Legacy
A great spot to pick up earth-friendly home products - think organic cotton linens, eco cleaning products, hemp shower curtains and more. The staff is knowledgeable and passionate about the environment, but you'll never feel shamed by them. They honestly just want to be part of a positive shift away from waste culture. And their stuff is beautiful.

Indulge

Tall Grass Prairie Bakery
Two words: cinnamon bun. Seriously dudes, just do it.

Read
The Neighbourhood
Cozy up with a warm beverage and a gently used book from the shelves of this cafe/bookstore. A great, homey place to spend an afternoon or evening.

See
Art City
By supporting and giving voice to local artists in the city and putting on great events while they're at it, Art City adds something special to Winnipeg's art culture. Check their website for info on upcoming events and to learn how you can support.

Westminster
Among the most beautiful old churches in the city: complete with stained glass, towering ceilings, organ music and church bells. If you ever have the opportunity to attend a wedding or a Christmas concert here, do it.

Balmoral Street Houses
Just south of Broadway Avenue along Balmoral lies a cluster of beautiful old historic houses. Stroll along, read the placards and appreciate Winnipeg's long history.

Working on this series so far has really help me to appreciate Winnipeg so much more, and I hope it's doing the same for you. I'll be back after Thanksgiving long weekend with more posting goodness.