How An Arctic Town With More Polar Bears Than People Became A Culinary Destination
In Churchill, Manitoba—where polar bears outnumber the 900 human residents—there's more to discover than just wildlife. This remote Arctic town, best known as the "polar bear capital of the world" and for its breathtaking Northern Lights, is fast becoming an unexpected culinary hotspot. At Dan's Diner, for example, diners are treated to a seven-course meal that showcases local Arctic ingredients like juicy bison meatballs, leek and potato soup, and cloudberry-infused elk steak, all enjoyed within the cozy confines of a Tundra Buggy—an all-terrain vehicle with massive tires designed to traverse the frozen tundra. Nestled beneath the Aurora Oval, one of the world's premier locations for viewing the Northern Lights, this dining experience is as magical as it is delicious.
Churchill attracts over 500,000 tourists yearly for its wildlife—the polar bears, beluga whales, and Northern Lights—but its unique sub-Arctic ingredients draw in food enthusiasts. Ingredients like elk, moose, Arctic char, caribou, cloudberries, and fireweed, rarely found elsewhere, are celebrated in local dishes. At Dan's Diner, one of the standout courses recreates a meal once enjoyed by fur traders centuries ago in this very region, tying the culinary experience to Churchill's rich history.
Traditionally an extremely hard to reach, remote destination, Churchill is becoming more accessible as a $60 million joint investment from the federal and Manitoba governments is revitalizing the Port of Churchill and its railway. And 2025 will see a solar maximum, offering the brightest and most awe-inspiring Northern Lights displays in over a decade, causing a likely travel boom to Churchill as a must-visit destination for nature lovers and culinary adventurers.
Churchill Manitoba's dining options showcase the best of local ingredients, here are five top spots.
Dan's DinerAt 58° North latitude and under the Northern Lights, this pop-up dining experience appears at the height of the Northern Lights season in February and March. Pioneers of the iconic Tundra Buggy®—a hallmark of Arctic exploration—and Conservation Tours guided by polar bear and beluga whale scientists, Frontiers North is the first to introduce fine dining to Churchill. Guests can anticipate a multi-course meal served inside a renovated Tundra Buggy, blending gourmet cuisine with an unparalleled Arctic experience.
Churchill's newest restaurant Ptarmigan opened in 2023 and serves regionally inspired dishes such as elk medallions and seared Arctic char. Open year-round for breakfast, lunch and dinner the menu features items such as mushroom toast with farm fresh eggs, roasted cultivated mushrooms on Manitoba rye bread, bison burgers with garlic aioli and carmelized onions, charcuterie boards and soups of the day. Vegetarian and vegan options include tofu topped with edamame, beet hummus, and wasabi mayo and quinoa rice bowls
Lazy Bear CafeMuch of the fresh ingredients at Lazy Bear Cafe are locally sourced from their own Boreal Gardens Research Farm—the northernmost farm in Manitoba, practicing 100% sustainable organic farming. Signature dishes include the pan-fried Arctic char—Hudson Bay fresh caught and endemic to the Arctic, braised peppered elk and slow roasted Manitoba bison. The menu changes regularly but watch out for the lazy burger with the restaurant's signature sauce and muddy ice flow dessert—brownie stuffed with ice cream and a river of chocolate and whipped cream.
Tundra PubOpen seasonally July-August and October-November, the Tundra Pub is a favorite locals spot and great spot to grab a local beer, handcrafted cocktail and listen to live music or watch an open mic performance. After hours exploring Churchill's wildlife and tundra terrain, it's a cozy retreat inside the Tundra Inn for regional subarctic inspired home-cooked meals. Order the popular borealis burger with spicy mayo, bison stew, elk meatloaf or bison gringa tacos. Breakfasts are buffet style.
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