7 Relaxing Spas in Winnipeg for a Soothing Vacation in Canada's Centre

Inn at the Forks

The Inn at the Forks‘ Riverstone Spa is an oasis of calm. Breathe in the scents of its aromatherapy steam room, balance your body’s energy in the colour-therapy sauna, then revive yourself in the rain-therapy showers. Round out the day with a treatment, from detoxifying Himalayan salt scrubs to tandem massages where your muscles will be treated by two expert therapists. The hot and cold Jade Stone Experience aims to re-energize, increase your circulation and boost your immune system. If you’re in a group of five or more, you’ll receive complimentary mimosas—ideal if you’re away with the girls.

Linger over a meal in your plush robe post-treatment at SMITH Restaurant. Comfort food such as buttermilk-soaked fried chicken and curried shrimp makes up the menu at this chic establishment. The modern decor—think sleek blonde woods, low grey seating and pops of primary colour—creates a hip backdrop for the contemporary jazz and folk acts that regularly play here.

Cozy rooms help maintain your spa-induced afterglow, with exclusive locally made Riverstone Spa toiletries. Make a cup of Java brew, using your own Keurig coffee maker, to drink while looking out over the downtown bustle of Winnipeg. Suites add spacious living rooms with plush sofas to lounge on and bathrooms featuring indulgent soaker tubs and signature custom-blown glass vanities.

Fairmont Winnipeg

Many renowned names from royalty, rock and politics have stayed at the Fairmont Winnipeg. When you’re not rubbing shoulders with world-famous musicians—from Louis Armstrong to Justin Bieber—float in the pool while looking out of the glass atrium ceiling. Both the pool and hot tub are filled with salt water to detoxify the skin.

After a relaxing soak, move on to the VG Lounge and Restaurant for meals made using Manitoban ingredients, including honey produced on the hotel’s very own rooftop garden. Herbs and vegetables grown here also appear in innovative dishes such as the Northern Waters char over mushroom and wild rice, with black garlic mousse.

Hotel rooms are tranquil spaces decorated in calming cream tones with glossy dark wood furniture. Lounge on feather pillows in a fluffy robe while taking in the views of the Exchange District’s early 20th-century buildings below. For an experience that’s just as grand as the architecture built during Winnipeg’s heyday, pick a suite at the Fairmont Gold section of the hotel, where luxurious touches include canapés in a private lounge at cocktail hour.

Mariaggi’s Theme Suite Hotel and Spa

Rooms at Mariaggi’s Theme Suite Hotel and Spa feature themes that spark the imagination. Each one is decorated to seem as if it’s a different country, with genuine artefacts taken from the destination it’s named after. The hacienda-inspired Cuba, for example, is decorated with authentic artwork and a blend of bold forest greens and deep reds that nod to its colourful capital, Havana. Make use of the 20-jet hot tub before drying off in the infrared sauna, right in the comfort of your own 1,000 square feet of space.

If you’re on a girls’ getaway and the Cuba’s not quite big enough, the Jakarta is triple the size and has a four-person Jacuzzi, as well as a baby grand piano for those after-spa get-togethers. The Morocco, meanwhile, is styled after a typical Marrakech riad with its curved alcoves, colourful tiles and waterfall hot tub. Pick from packages where aromatherapy oils and bath salts are delivered to your door or treat yourself to a romantic couples’ massage beneath the exotic palm trees in your room.

Order the candlelit in-room dining experience or head out to explore Winnipeg’s thriving culinary scene. Just a five-minute walk away you’ll find fusion food that pays homage to the city’s diversity, such as salmon-topped pizza at Corrientes Argentine.

Marriott Delta Hotel Winnipeg

If you’re lucky enough to be spending time in this urban destination during summertime, catch the sun beside the rooftop open-air pool at the Marriott Delta Hotel Winnipeg. You’ll be surrounded by towering skyscrapers, giving you a unique perspective of the city.

Visiting during a cooler season? Swim under the airy double-height ceiling of the indoor pool at the hotel’s Odyssey Health Club. Sit and soak in the steamy hot tub or sauna while working up an appetite for a meal at the hotel’s casual eatery. At the Blaze Restaurant and Lounge, you can expect Canadian-inspired dishes such as creamy mushrooms on waffles and Manitoban-style garlic sausage.

Bed down on the Marriott’s signature clean and crisp linens in the guest rooms at this hotel. Bathrooms with heated floors are a treat for feet during cold mornings. To amp up the luxurious nature of your spa stay even further, book the Whirlpool suite, ideal for a romantic getaway with your partner.

The Fort Garry

The Fort Garry is pretty much an institution in Winnipeg. This hotel has been welcoming guests to its chateau-style comfort for over a century. Start your spa journey here, partner in tow, at Hamam at Ten—the only mixed-gender Turkish bath in Canada. In this traditional blue-and-white tiled setting, sip on authentic mint tea while snacking on sugar-coated Turkish delight.

For the complete works, go for an all-day package that includes a facial, invigorating salt scrub and signature massage rounded off by a mani-pedi. Alternatively, pick and mix from Medispa treatments that target specific skin issues and brighten complexions. Steam rooms with light and aromatherapy, along with experiential showers that spritz you with cooling fog and tropical mist, showcase the cutting-edge technology of this space.

Stretch out in one of the 100 weekly yoga classes, or simply take a pre-dinner nap on refined Italian sheets under high ceilings in your generously sized room. Sticking with the organic theme of your stay, order homemade dishes, including delights like freshly baked sourdough bread and hand-spun ice cream, at the hotel’s Palm Lounge restaurant.

Fairfield Inn and Suites Winnipeg

If you’re looking for a cosmopolitan experience, go for the Fairfield Inn and Suites Winnipeg. For the full pampering experience, the Fairfield offers a package including a session at the Scandinavian-themed Thermëa spa, a 15-minute drive away.

Benefit from the healing qualities of the thermal cycle here, switching between the dry Finlandia sauna, Mediterranean-inspired Vaporo steam baths and ice-cold waterfall pool. While your skin tones and tightens, fall into a deep state of relaxation with a circulation-boosting Swedish massage. Choose the detoxifying and purifying Himalayan salt treatment or the Lumëa specialty facial to leave skin looking soft and radiant.

Back at the hotel, spread out on your queen-size bed with linens in cheerful colours as you think about what to have for dinner. Eat locally or head into the city for a meal at one of the restaurants lining Portage and Main, known as the crossroads of Canada for its location in the centre of the country. Why not try a premium steakhouse? Hy’s serves cuts such as barley-fed black Angus in a gold-gilded dining room.

Best Western Plus Winnipeg Airport

Indulge in a sensory experience in the hot tub or heated indoor pool at the Best Western Plus Winnipeg Airport. The foliage-filled spa area has a fresh feel, with multiple windows flooding the space with natural light. Splash out on the Whirlpool Suite for a plush stay and enjoy your private Jacuzzi tub and spa shower in a sleek marble-lined bathroom, featuring his-and-hers sinks.

Once you’ve worked up an appetite, give the vintage-inspired in-house restaurant a try. Order meals like Canada-reared sterling-silver steak under low hanging pendant lights in cozy striped booths. Guest rooms have a similarly retro vibe, with plush patterned carpets and a brown-and-cream colour scheme.

The next morning, refuel before your journey if you’re leaving Winnipeg—a two-minute drive away from the airport, this hotel is the ideal spot for catching an early-morning flight. You can fill up on a breakfast buffet spread of piping-hot coffee, melt-in-the-mouth flaky pastries and fresh fruit.