The Forks is one of Winnipeg’s few attractions that was explicitly designed as a classic “tourist trap” which might make it seem like a strange choice for remote work. However, while it’s one of the city’s most lively spots on weekends throughout the year, it does tend to be quite slow on a weekday afternoon.

Also, the posters on r/Winnipeg specifically suggested the second floor in The Forks Market building. And now that’s kind of an interesting suggestion. It seems that a few years ago after losing a major tenant, they removed all the walls and added a tonne of seating and tables. While it serves as overflow for The Commons food hall on busy days, an old Facebook post reveals it was explicitly designed as a chill work/meeting space.

The Forks only really has one legit coffee shop Fools & Horses, so they’ll be the primary subject of the food and coffee portion of this review.

Vibe – 3/5

Dingy train station vibes!

As a lifelong Winnipegger, giving The Forks a less than stellar review is a bold move! But remember, this is specifically a review of the remote work experience on the second floor.

I love The Forks! The Commons, specifically the outdoor patio, is one of my favourite in the city, period!

With that out of the way, let’s talk about the dingy vibe.

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First of all, it stinks, literally. The Forks Market building originally housed the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway’s Stables and I believe it served as a machine shop after that. It seems like that half century or more of stench continues to be released from the brickwork. This aroma combines with the grease exhaust from the food prepared below to form quite the unpleasant concoction. I’m smelling it emanating from my clothes as I write this.

Second, the second floor seating area seems like a forgotten corner of the market. While I did notice cleaning staff an security check-in a few times in the two hours I was there, the general vibe is dingy and forgotten. The floor is just a little grimy. The walls are barren. It could really use some plants and artwork to liven up the place.

The ‘train station’ vibe is actually what saves this section from a lower score. The soaring ceilings and tall windows create that distinct public transit hall atmosphere. This feeling is amplified by the eclectic mix of people you’ll find here: random shoppers getting off their feet, professionals focused over laptops, a dad catching a nap on a couch, random teenagers killing time. There’s something oddly comforting about this liminal space.

Coffee – 3/5

Fools & Horses doesn’t make a cortado, rather they sell a “gibraltar.” I’d always thought this was a random nod to the nearby Fort Gibraltar.

Wikipedia has this to say about the gibraltar:

The name gibraltar originated in San Francisco, where roasters…started the cortado trend by serving the drink in Libbey Glass Company glassware by the same name.

The drink I received doesn’t quite match the wiki article’s description, so I’m still partial to my Fort Gibraltar theory.

The coffee itself was fine, though pulled a bit long maybe.

Food – 3/5

A reminder that this is a mini-review of Fools & Horses’ snack options specifically, not The Forks in general (The Commons food court is a solid 5/5!).

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Fools & Horses stocks donuts from Oh Doughnuts, as well as other snacks from an undisclosed location. During my mid-afternoon visit, the pastry case held about 5 remaining donuts – not bad. The other treats were wrapped in plastic, suggesting they’re at least a day old 👎

I had a vegan “Twix” doughnut. It was very good.

Seating – 5/5

The seating is the real selling feature of this place and I suspect what r/Winnipeg most likes about this place. There is a lot of it and it’s relatively secluded from the mall-like atmosphere of the rest of the market.

There’s a large number of solid wooden tables for four, big enough that I wouldn’t feel like I was intruding if I had to share with another laptoper. There are also a number of couches and arm chairs. As well as a few large swivel chairs, a few of them overlooking the food court.

I found the tables to be slightly uncomfortable to sit at, so switched to a swivel chair and it was most excellent.

As you can see there a large amount of lighting, both from the overhead fluorescents as well as the large windows. Watching a peaceful snowfall would be downright cinematic.

Location – 5/5

It’s The Forks! Right in the heart of the city. A good amount of car and bike parking.

A couple of tips though:

Bike Valet
If you cycle down, Winnipeg Trails offers a bike valet service in their shop right next to the patio. They ask for a $2 donation in exchange. So you don’t have to worry about leaving your bike outside.

EV Charging

There are a total of 6 free EV chargers, but four of them are kind of hidden:

• 2xJ-1772 – directly in front of the Forks Market building.
• 1xJ-1772, 1xNACS – on the first floor of the parkade.
• 1xJ-1772, 1xNACS – behind the Inn at the Forks building (AFAIK this is Parks Canada parking, not reserved guest parking).

I should also mention that unlike many other places I’ll be reviewing, car parking is not free. It’s $2.50/hr.

Overall – 18/25

Overall the second floor of The Forks is a solid bet, if you’re into liminal spaces and don’t mind a little grime.

Fools & Horses is totally fine, but if you’re thinking about maybe grabbing lunch or a beer from The Common’s vast selection of local brews, I’d say skip F&H.

As with other downtown locations I’ll be reviewing, if you’re driving or bussing, plan to head out before 4:00 to avoid rush hour traffic. I learned this the hard way, leaving at 4:45 and getting a stark reminder of why working from home is such a privilege.

In the end, there’s something fitting about doing modern remote work in this historic railway building – it’s a uniquely Winnipeg mix of practical necessity and historic grandeur.

This is the first post in my new “Laptop-Friendly Café Guide.”

Nestled in the library building of Canadian Mennonite University at 2299 Grant Ave. They’re open 8am – 7pm on Weekdays and 9am – 4pm on Saturdays (closed Sundays and holidays).

I’ve worked here a number of times in the past and there’s good reason so many posters on Winnipeg Reddit suggested this as a location to work from.

Vibe – 5/5

Folio Café is the type of place you’ll as likely to find an 80 year old Mennonite Grandma who uses a plastic McNally Robinson bag as a purse meeting up with her retirement age daughter; as you are students cramming in a snack between classes. Which is to say, while it is technically located on a college campus, it’s not necessarily primary patronized by college students.

The café is in the large atrium of the modern library building, which giant two story floor to ceiling windows. It must be absolutely stunning in on a nice summer evening or a little earlier in the fall when the leaves in the adjacent Assiniboine Forest.

It’s a cool space. Good vibes.

Coffee – 3/5

The coffee is promising but leaves room for improvement.

The brew (and sell) Little Sister beans — I like Little Sister and intend to visit them later on this series. While their menu covers all the standard coffee drinks plus seasonal specials, some technical execution issues hold them back.

Case in point: my cortado was at least a 1:2 espresso-to-milk ratio, if not verging on flat white territory. For cortado purists (myself included) who prefer the traditional 1:1 ratio, this might be a slight disappointment.

Food – 5/5

The food offering is where Folio truly shines. Their pastry case, still well-stocked at 1:30 PM (a rare sight in Winnipeg), features treats from the exceptional Hildegard’s Bakery. The apple chai scone I sampled lived up to Hildegard’s sterling reputation.

Beyond pastries, they offer a variety of sandwiches and delicious smelling soups. But perhaps their secret weapon is their impressive gelato selection — possibly one of the city’s finest, though I’ll need more research to make that definitive claim.

Seating – 4/5

There’s a tonne of seating here! I had no trouble finding a spot despite a number of tables being occupied by students working on homework or seniors on longer coffee visits.

The seating loses points on account of:

• The bar-height tables facing the windows suffer from mismatched chair heights, making them uncomfortable for laptop work.
• Most tables are large rounds designed for 4+ people, which can make solo seating awkward during busy periods, thought I did not experience this during my visit.

Honourable mention goes out to the comfy study chairs on the second floor balcony. They were occupied by students, so I did not get to try them out.

Location – 3/5

I wanted to give this location a 5/5.

It’s in one of the most picturesque parts of the city, right next to Assiniboine Forest and near the park. It’s well connected to the bike network and relatively straightforward to bus to. It’s also very convenient for me to get to.

However, its position in west Winnipeg means it’s a substantial 30-minute drive from many parts of the city.

The parking situation also poses challenges: the lot has a strict 2-hour limit, and the nearest street parking requires a 10-15 minute walk.

Overall – 20/25

Folio Café’s popularity among Winnipeg Reddit’s remote workers is well-earned.

The college atmosphere is super conducive to working remotely. And the fact that it’s used by the general public means you’re not going to feel out of place spending time there as a non-student.

Combined with exceptional food options and ample seating, it’s a solid choice for remote work—especially if you’re in anywhere west of Route 90.

Additional Note: CMU is affiliated with Mennonite Church Canada and the Mennonite Brethren Church of Manitoba, you may have preconceived notions about what a religious affiliation implies, but the campus–and Folio Café in particular–maintains an inclusive, welcoming atmosphere. During my visit, I noticed the café proudly displayed a trans flag at the bar, reflecting their commitment to creating a space where everyone feels welcome.