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A long time ago in my college days of yore, a friend returned from winter break with tales of a strange land up north. “They speak French, but it’s not in Europe,” he waved his hands wildly. “They have this one hotel that looks like a huge castle, and there’s fries with these cheese things and gravy. And get this — they have another hotel made completely of ice!” Suffice it to say that I’ve been dreaming aboutQuébec City ever since.
Flash forward fifteen years later: when I learned that the annual Women in Travel Summit was taking place in Québec City in 2018, I knew it was the perfect time to go.Québec City — and its hip food and drink scene — surpassed my expectations, and I can’t wait to share all these spots with you. So without further ado, here’s your ultimate guide to whereto eat and drink in Québec City.
To get started, here’s a nifty map of where you’ll be eating and drinking inQuébec City.
↓Hint:Click on the square with an arrow to see the key and layers.
Noctem Artisans Brasseurs
Address:438 Rue du Parvis, Québec, QC G1K 6H8, Canada
Belzébuth, our favorite beer at Noctem, is a stout featuring flavors of grapefruit and red pepper.
It was love at first “cat sighting” for us at Noctem Artisans Brasseurs, a microbrewery you’ve got to hit in Québec City. Beyond the fact that their beer is on point — standouts here included Belzébuth (6% ABV) and Herbosophie (6% ABV; a Saison with sage, rosemary, and thyme) — the brewery has a hilarious, yet endearing, cat theme. You’ll find subtle decor of their four-legged friends all over (great for us, as owners of two cats), but their excellent craft beer will have you lingering for hours.
Meow! Cats can be found in the most unexpected places at Noctem. (Don’t worry, there aren’t actual cats on the premises, though we wouldn’t object.)
The sign on the women’s restroom at Noctem takes Cat Lady to a whole new level.
La Barberie
Address:310 Rue Saint-Roch, Québec, QC G1K 6S2, Canada
La Barberie, here we come!
Founded in 1995, La Barberie is a brewery in the Saint-Roch district of Québec City. Interestingly, there’s no boss here: La Barberie is a cooperative enterprise, with co-op “workers” running the joint.
I really enjoyed samples of their Rousse Anglaise (English Red) and the Mathieu New England IPA, though their Pilsner Bohemienne and Stout Double Chocolat were also tasty. Bonus points for serving beer in this crazy contraption — it made my head spin!
It’s the Carousel of Progress — er, I mean beer!
Beer, glorious beer.
La Korrigane
Address:380 Rue Dorchester, Québec, QC G1K 6A7, Canada
Red beer! (Actually, it’s their Saison Aux Framboises.)
Also located in Québec’s Saint-Roch neighborhood, La Korrigane derives its name from a sailboat which departed from France and journeyed across the Pacific Ocean from 1934 to 1936.The brewery serves a long list of craft beer, from the Saison Aux Framboises (a tart, delicious Saison with raspberry flavors) to Cornik, an Oatmeal Stout Cream Ale.
As WITS attendees, we were thrilled to discover that La Korrigane is owned by a woman andfocuses on fostering positive development in Québec’s craft beer scene. A craft brewery that understands the need for sustainable development?C’est incroyable!
Pro Tip ⇒ I highly recommend taking a Québec City craft beer tour with Broue Tours, which visits the three craft breweries listed above. I received a complimentary tour as a WITS attendee, but all opinions are completely mine. Not even 12 beer samples can change that.
Honorable Mention
These three craft breweries are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to where to drink beer in Québec City. Other spots recommended to us by locals included Brasserie L’Inox, L’Archibald, and Corsaire Microbrasserie, but there’s plenty more to try!
Batinse
Address:1200 Rue Saint-Jean, Québec, QC G1R 1S8, Canada
I am in this shot solely to demonstrate the sheer size of this drink. Seriously. It took three people to finish this co*cktail!
I’ll be honest: we originally visited Batinse for the ‘gram. (I know, I know.) My friend Lauren of Twirl the Globe had seen a “massive red co*cktail” on Instagram, and after scrolling through a dozen photos of the larger-than-life drink, we knew we had to go. (It also helped that it was Cinco de Mayo that day — just one more reason to celebrate.)
It may have taken a small army to vanquish the “Grosse Rita” co*cktail — all right, three people in total — but it was completely worth it. Add to that some mouthwatering food (read: a decadent burger withpork cheek bacon, sautéed mushrooms, and melted brie cheese) and the fact that we ate dinner while sitting on a chair swing, and you have a recipe for a real winner here.
Bistro Le Sam
Address:1 Rue des Carrières, Québec, QC G1R 4P5, Canada
co*cktail with a side of foie gras? Don’t mind if I do.
Bistro Le Sam, located in the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, is one of the best places to drink in Québec City. Not only are the views of the Saint Lawrence River stunning, but the co*cktails are as creative as any we’ve seen in NYC.
Take Le Fruit Défendu (CAD $28), for instance. While the co*cktail itself (Christian Drouin’s Gin de Calvados, Amaro Montenegro, Tonka-flavored apple butter, lemon juice, maple syrup, fig & cinnamon bitters, and speculoos) is well balanced, the kicker here is that the co*cktail is actually served with a side of foie gras.If that doesn’t scream decadence, I don’t know what does!
For those who don’t like foie gras (we also realize that the food itself is controversial), try their Release the Kraken co*cktail (CAD $16). Featuring Kraken spiced rum, Bacardi Oakheart, lime and mace syrup, lime leaf bitters, ginger beer, and honey-flavored whipped cream, it’ll transport you to a tropical island in the springtime. (Note that their menu changes seasonally; check Bistro Le Sam’s website in advance.)
Whipped cream in a co*cktail does a body good.
Bistro L’Atelier
Address:624 Grande Allée E, Québec, QC G1R 2K5, Canada
Though I didn’t personally get the chance to stop by Bistro L’Atelier, I spoke to several bloggers who raved about the co*cktails they drank here. Favorites included L’Alpha, a co*cktail including Campari, Patron tequila, and raspberries; and the Bloody Mutant Ninja Turtle, which is kind of like a Bloody Mary with sake and a host of other surprise ingredients.
Honorable Mention
Some other co*cktail bars you’ll want to check out in Québec City include Bar Artefact, which proudly disproves the notion that bars in hotel lobbies are terrible, andBar Sainte-Angèle, which boasts live jazz on certain nights.
Pub Saint-Alexandre
Address:1087 Rue Saint-Jean, Québec, QC G1R 1S3, Canada
Promise us you’ll get the French onion soup.
Pub Saint-Alexandre is everything you want in a good night out: live music, french onion soup, the company of good friends, and Québécois beer. (What? Toto, I’m not in my 20s any more. Going clubbing until 3 AM is not my definition of a good night out.)
In all seriousness, if I lived in Québec City, Pub Saint-Alexandre would be my go-to spot on weekends. Staff are friendly, the music gets people movin’, and the French onion soup really does warm your bones. ‘Nuff said.
Bar LeSacrilège
Address:447 Rue Saint-Jean, Québec, QC G1R 1P5, Canada
Hmm, suspicious that I don’t have a picture of this place? That’s because we actuallydid have a late night out here (contrary to popular belief, thirtysomethings can pull one of these once in a blue moon). Secret intelligence suggests that I may have blurry cell phone photos of people having fun here, but the world may never know.
What I will say is that Bar LeSacrilège is a popular spot for locals and tourists alike. By night, you’ll find a laidback crowd dancing to ’90s tunes and drinking affordable beer. By day, you’ll notice that the seats are church pews and — gasp — green potted plants actually hang from the ceiling!
Taverne Grande Allée
Address:585 Grande Allée E, Québec, QC G1R 2K4, Canada
Another excellent choice for a late night out in Québec City, the fun doesn’t stop at Taverne Grande Allée until 3 AM. With its exposed brick walls, cozy ambiance, and affordable fare (special appearances by poutine and bitterballen), it’s a place that welcomes both your nightlife-loving friend and your coworker who just wants to sip tea and talk.
Honorable Mention
If nightclubs are what you’re after, then your best bets in Québec City include Le Dagobert and Maurice Nightclub.
Since it’s never advisable to drink on an empty stomach, may we humbly present some pretty darn good restaurant options to choose from in Québec City.
Le Chic Shack
Address:15 Fort St, Québec City, QC G1R 3Z8, Canada
Poutine… mmmm.
We may have stopped here for dinner because it was close to the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, but Le Chic Shack is worth seeking out regardless of where you’re staying.
Open since 2012, Le Chic Shack is known for their poutine, burgers, shakes, and salads crafted from local ingredients. Top picks here include La Braisée — poutine with red ale-braised beef, Parmesan, cheese curds, pickled onions, horseradish aioli, and fresh herbs — and their boozy milkshakes.Maple salted caramel milkshake with maple whisky? Oui, oui!
Chez Ashton
Address:Various locations; we visited the one at 54 Côte du Palais, Québec, QC G1R 4H8, Canada
Mmmm. More poutine, please!
Because we all know that poutine is one of the six major food groups, it should come as no surprise that we’ve got another poutine entry on this list.
Like Taylor Swift songs, college football, and that movie with Tommy Wiseau, poutine wasn’t something I originally liked until I had a pint of beer. Then the universe shifted, the stars aligned, and Igot it.Cheese curds, gravy, and fries? Mais biensûr, mon chéri! Makes perfect sense.
Want to try poutine, but don’t have the time to wait? Chez Ashton is the perfect choice: they’re fast, and their cheese curds are made fresh daily. Plus, it’s open 24 hours, so you have no excusenot to go. As David Tennant would say in Doctor Who, “Allons-y!”
BeClub Bistro Bar
Address:17 Rue Saint-Stanislas, Québec, QC G1R 4G7, Canada
Pure coincidence that our wine totally matches our food.
You know you’re eating a memorable meal when the only sound you hear is yourself chewing. Every brain cell I had was laser-focused on thisinsanely good smoked meat sandwich with a side of poutine (topped with, you guessed it, smoked meat) that I had for lunch at BeClub Bistro. It was filling, but damn, it exploded with flavor. Bonus: they have gluten-free options available if needed!
L’Échaudé
Address: 73 Rue du Sault-au-Matelot, Québec, QC G1K 3Y9, Canada
Bone Marrow at L’Échaudé
L’Échaudé is a classy, upscale French bistro intheLower Town of Old Québec that’s perfect for date night. From the salmon tartare and tender bone marrow to the scallops, homemade black pudding, and roasted duck breast, there’s something to please everyone’s palette.
Pro tip: there’s no way you’ll be able to pick just one option from the dessert list, so save yourself the trouble and order the dessert tasting plate for two. Double your pleasure, double your fun!
Desserts for two — or four?
Le Moine Échanson
Address:585 Rue Saint-Jean, Québec, QC G1R 1P7, Canada
Sicilian lamb and anchovy meatballs at Le Moine Échanson
If you’re an oenophile, look no further than Le MoineÉchanson in Québec City. This bistro serves upscale French cuisine alongside a diverse array of natural wines. We particularly loved the 2016 Le Clos Des Grillons Primo Senso Rouge from Côtes du Rhône in France (wow, that’s a mouthful). Staff here have encyclopedic knowledge of wine and can help you select a wine that suits your tastes — and, thankfully, won’t judge you if you can’t pronounce it.
Honorable Mention
Of the restaurants I missed in Québec City,Paillardcame up most frequently. Their breakfast, especially their croissants, earned glowing praises from fellow travel bloggers.Chez Muffyand its farm-to-fork cuisine comes highly recommended as well.
Essential Info:
Where should you stay in Québec City? Check out all options here.
I personally stayed at Fairmont Le Château Frontenacand the Hilton Québec.
Want a guidebook for Québec City? Check out Fodor’s, Moon, or Lonely Planet.
What else have I written about Canada? Find out here.
Have questions for me? Hit me up on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Pinterest!
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