An old timer

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The Wildcat Cafe was built in 1937 by Willy Wilie and Smokey Stout, only three years after the founding of Yellowknife as an officially recognized city.

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Situated in the heart of what is now Old Town, the Wildcat was a hub where gold prospectors and bush pilots, some of the best in the world, could share a $1 meal, a solid wood table, and a good story.

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The history of the Wildcat is as rich as a poutine can be. Through the years, it has been a cafe, a home-cooked eatery, an ice-cream parlour, and even a bath house–a treat in a place where water needs to be delivered by truck, even today.

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Well used and well loved, the Wildcat had a rough few years in the 1960s, when it was mostly used for storage. In the 1970s, a group of volunteers came together to restore the deteriorating log cabin. Not only did they save it from demolition, but they contributed immensely to making "The Cat" into the iconic building it is today.

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In 1992, the Wildcat Cafe was officially designated a Heritage Site by the Yellowknife's Heritage Committee.

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Living history

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Today, paintings, photographs and postcards of the Wildcat abound.

 

Each year, the City, which now manages the Cat, calls for businesses to operate the cafe during the summer months (traditionally, May to September), provided the menu aligns with the original one (see below).

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This year, it is local chef Niki Mackenzie who won the bid to operate the summer eatery. 

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Inspired by the old recipes, Niki strives to highlight the richness of northern flavours and food. From seal and bison meat to locally sourced birch syrup, her menus are bringing the boreal region to the front of the stage and onto your plate!