If you’ve spent any time at the Park Café over the years, you already know the feeling before you even walk through the door: the hum of conversation, the smell of fresh coffee, the view of the Riley Family Duck Pond just outside the windows, and that easy sense that you’ve arrived somewhere you feel right at home.
That feeling hasn’t changed. But a few things inside have.
This spring, the Park Café has been thoughtfully refreshed with new interior finishes, updated furniture, and other enhancements that bring new energy to a beloved gathering place that’s been part of Assiniboine Park since 2011.
New finishes and updated furniture bring new energy to a beloved gathering place.
A space that still feels like the Park Café
The goal of the refresh was simple: keep the heart of the Park Café exactly where it belongs.
“We’ve been very intentional,” says General Manager Jay Ashmore. “The most important thing is that the guest leaves with a smile on their face. Everything we’ve done was about enhancing that feeling, not changing it.”
For Jay, that connection between people and place is what matters most.
“I’ve never worked anywhere where I still love coming into work after this much time,” he adds. “It still feels special every day.”
That sense of care carries through the entire team.
“We didn’t want to overcomplicate anything,” says Chef Kirk Hanson. “We just wanted to make good food feel even better in a space that already works.”
A menu that feels both new and familiar
Alongside the refreshed space comes a refreshed menu, one that keeps the Park Café’s most-loved dishes front and centre, while introducing some fresh new flavours.
Some favourites remain exactly where they should be: the Shakshuka Skillet, Classic Eggs Benedict, Chicken Gyro, Sweet Potato Garden Burger, Honey Dill Chicken Sandwich, and of course, the always popular Park Breakfast.
There are also some new additions, including a selection of rice bowls, that fit naturally into the café’s all-day breakfast and lunch rhythm.
“We wanted to make this menu feel different, but familiar,” says Jay. “Rice bowls, for example, add a dimension we haven’t had before. They fit the way people want to eat by offering something fresh and satisfying that can be enjoyed any time of day.”
For Chef Kirk, the approach to the menu starts with simplicity and quality. “I always start with ingredients I’m excited to cook and eat,” he says. “From there, it’s about keeping things balanced and letting those flavours come through. We’re not trying to reinvent anything, we’re just doing it really well.”
That philosophy shows up across the menu in locally sourced ingredients – like Gunn’s Bakery bread, Countryside Farms eggs, Ridgeland Aqua Farms steelhead, and Peak of the Market potatoes – and house-made staples like strawberry jam, smoked steelhead, and hand-cut fries and hashbrowns.
Bringing its commitment to local even closer to home, the Park Café also uses seasonal produce grown right in the Park at the Kitchen Garden at The Leaf, ingredients that find their way into seasonal beverages, features, and house-made soups.
“Sometimes people call to ask what the soup is going to be in advance or ask for the recipe,” says Sous Chef Elaine Lester with a smile. “We kind of let the ingredients lead us, so that’s a hard one to answer. We follow our heart and just cook what feels right that day.”
Chef Kirk Hanson, General Manager Jay Ashmore, and Sous Chef Elaine Lester.
Built on good ingredients and good people
Part of what makes the Park Café feel so familiar is its consistency. Guests come back because they know what they’re going to get: good food, made well, by people who care.
Behind it all is a team that has stayed remarkably steady over the years. There’s a shared understanding of the place, the people, and the expectations.
That shows up in the rhythm of service, the warmth of greetings, and the way the team connects with regulars, many of whom are known by name.
“The Park Café is a real gem. We have one of the best views in the city,” Jay says, looking out toward the trees and water. “But what really makes it special is the people – the staff, the guests, the regulars. We’ve built something really welcoming here.”
A refresh worth rediscovering
At its core, this refresh isn’t about change for change’s sake. It’s about thoughtful updates that make a place already full of life feel a little more elevated, without losing what made it special in the first place.
Whether it’s your first visit or your fiftieth, the Park Café is ready to welcome you, just as it always has.
The Park Café is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Join us for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or an afternoon escape. Your table is waiting.
