Vida Cucina Italia

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

Italian Fine Dining Inside a Winnipeg Landmark

Vida Cucina Italia occupies a well-earned place inside the historic Fort Garry Hotel on Broadway, bringing serious Italian cooking to Winnipeg's fine dining scene. The restaurant is led by Chef Fabrizio Rossi in the kitchen and guided by owner and managing partner Ida Albo, whose vision has shaped Vida into something the city hadn't quite seen before.

The attention to detail starts before the first course arrives. House-made grissini — crisp, delicate, baked in-house — reach the table as the evening's opening gesture. It's the kind of quiet care that signals what's to come.

A Wine Program That Earned Global Recognition

In just its second year of operation, Vida Cucina Italia was honoured with Wine Spectator's 2025 Best of Award of Excellence — one of the most respected distinctions in the restaurant wine world. The program, built by Wine Director Christopher Sprague and Sommelier Daniel King, spans over 350 carefully selected options drawn from leading producers across diverse regions, with significant vintage depth. Staff training and a genuine commitment to wine education are woven into the experience.

Sprague puts it plainly: "Our goal was to build a wine program that brings the world to Winnipeg — curating selections from across the globe and making them accessible and exciting for our guests." For Albo, the recognition carries weight beyond the restaurant itself: "It's a proud moment for the city, showing that world-class culinary and wine experiences are thriving right here."

Dinner, Private Events, and the Table You're Looking For

The Italian cuisine at Vida is built around the à la carte menu, with fresh pasta and dishes like calamari e gamberi — Rhode Island calamari and sweet prawns with lemon aioli — representing the kitchen's straightforward, ingredient-led approach.

For groups of nine or more, two private dining formats are available: Convivio, a family-style sharing experience starting at $85 per person, and Menu Degustazione, a plated tasting menu starting at $95 per person. Chef Rossi builds custom menus for each group, drawing from Vida's core offerings. Sundays and Mondays are reserved exclusively for private bookings.

Whether you're coming for a quiet dinner for two or a larger celebration, Vida Cucina Italia delivers the kind of Italian fine dining experience that holds its own on any stage — and the Wine Spectator recognition confirms it isn't just a local story.