Esplanade Riel, Pedestrian footbridge in downtown Winnipeg, Canada

Esplanade Riel is a side-spar cable-stayed footbridge over the Red River, linking downtown Winnipeg with St. Boniface beside the Provencher Bridge. A single slender pylon rises from the deck near the far bank and leans slightly, its cables fanning down to the walkway. At the pylon's base sits a low, rounded pavilion with a pale domed roof and glass walls.

The bridge was constructed between 2003 and 2004 following designs by architect Étienne Gaboury. It became part of a major redevelopment initiative at The Forks, a key site in Winnipeg's urban renewal.

The bridge honours Louis Riel, the Métis leader, and links the francophone district of St. Boniface with downtown Winnipeg. Its restaurant space has hosted local and French tenants: Salisbury House, then Chez Sophie sur le pont, run by Stéphane and Sophie Wild from Alsace, and later Mon Ami Louis.

The bridge provides easy pedestrian access and offers direct crossing over the Red River, particularly convenient from The Forks area. During your walk across, you get clear views of the river and surrounding city landscape.

A semi-circular plaza at the bridge's base once housed an unusual restaurant built directly on the structure itself. This establishment was a one-of-a-kind feature in North America and attracted visitors curious about dining in such an unconventional location.