How much poutine is too much poutine?
Oh , Canada — the land of wide open spaces , glimmering downtown skylines , and a multicultural make-up with roots that stretch all over the globe . Vancouver , with its lush forests and crunchy reputation , is a nature lover ’s paradise ; Calgary is big with the cowpokes;Torontois the New York of the north ; and Montreal ’s European mindset makes it a ok challenger for the continent ’s most metropolitan locus . But Quebec City ? Where ’s that again ?
The state ’s eponymous capital , just north of New Hampshire , has a class - daily round population just timid of 500,000 , but what it lacks in numbers , it more than make up for in character . Its centuries - old , well - preserve history is plain everywhere you look , from the Alexander Melville Bell - crown church building and roar cannons protecting the old walled metropolis to the dive bars spilling out onto Rue Saint - Roch . Cultural experience similarly lurk around every corner , whether you ’re desire to get school in mod design or walk in the footsteps of the Indigenous peoples that first called the mend of riverfront commonwealth rest home . And if it ’s good food and stellar accommodation you ’re after , you wo n’t have to look far — alone hospitality and farm - fresh chuck are two matter Quebecers pride themselves on .
So next metre you find yourself considering a head trip — or perhaps evensomething more lasting — across the border , go down your passel on Quebec City , a small urban enclave with the heart of a Leo the Lion and the goods to back it up . Here ’s everything you need to know .
Say bonjour to Old Quebec.|Photo by Mélanie Jean, courtesy of Destination Québec Cité
Get your steps in on a walking tour of Old Quebec
The best way to get to know Quebec ’s famous Historic District ( a UNESCO World Heritage Site , no less ) is via a point tour . There are several organized tours to take from , butlocal expert Mr. Tommy Byrnewill assuredly fix you up powerful . He ’ll begin you up at the tippy top of a hill with unparalleled aspect of the St. Lawrence river , near the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac , a monumental hotel with deep roots in the fortified Old City . Speaking of munition , here ’s a fun fact : span intimately 335 Acre , the Old City is in reality the most fully entire bastioned Ithiel Town northward of Mexico , a tribute to the brilliant designer behind what was once known as New France .
As you slowly make your way down the sloping sidewalk from Upper Town , you ’ll be do by to a cornucopia of song and dance visuals , from sturdy rampart walls and cannons displaying coat of arms to ornate church service and leafy sidestreets . Down below , outmoded workshop rub elbows with traditional restaurants and coffee shop , while museum further crystallize Quebec City ’s past tense . All the while , Byrne is on hand to construe the scenery enveloping you , tracing the region ’s history from the First Nations through Gallic colonialism , British pattern , and , finally , the advanced era .
Do n’t miss theQuebec City Mural , a monumental , hand - painted protection to the city that stands just down the way of life from the infamously slick Escalier Casse - Cou ( AKA Breakneck Steps ) . Another highlight is theFuniculaire du Vieux - Quebec , an old - fashioned funicular tramway that shuttle rider from the top of the metropolis down to the bottom — safely avoiding those treacherous stairs .
Hundreds of years of history lurk around every corner.|Photo by Mélanie Jean, courtesy of Destination Québec Cité
Post up a luxe historic hotel
Like any metropolitan destination , you ’ll regain a wide-cut compartmentalisation of places to stay in Quebec City , from familiar chains to ornate palaces set for ( and often book by ) outside celebrities and politicians . For the unspoilt of both worlds , determine out theAuberge Saint - Antoine , perched a few blocks back from the St. Lawrence River on the border of the undeniably romantic Old City .
The Saint - Antoine is pen of three clear-cut buildings combined into one , the outcome of a destruction project that unearthed a vast measure of fascinating artifact . And it ’s those artefact that make the hotel the interesting and unique lodgment it is ; stashed around the grounds ( many sort out in wall - affixed shadow boxes ) , 17th - C crystal coupes and bits of earthenware or textile visually weave together Quebec City ’s complicated past tense . The interior decoration , fittingly , is both modern and traditional , with neutral tone interrupted by undimmed reds , large lucullan bed flank by chip at wood wardrobes , and copious make - in bar . het bathroom floors and cryptical soaking tub supply break from the irregular conditions , while large private balcony impart a muted air of worldliness .
Onsite opportunity to eat and wassail abound , fromChez Muffy’stastefully rustic travail toBar Artefact , the antechamber - level watering hole that ’s adequate parts ask for and upmarket . Be sure to chat cocktail with the bar manager , Felix , who will doubtlessly dress you up in good order .
Old meets new at Auberge Saint-Antoine.|Auberge Saint-Antoine
Load up on hyper-local cuisine at buzzy restaurants
Quebec City ’s arrested development on eat ( and drunkenness , shopping , partying , and staying ) local is nothing poor of overzealous . And there ’s no better place to experience this welcome fanaticism than at one of the area ’s many top restaurants .
In the Old City , Chez Rioux & Pettigrewis a fantastical place to start up . The seasonal hotspot ’s vintage , old - world aesthetic contrasts cheekily with the contemporaneous , forward - thinking menu . Treat yourself to an Espresso Acertini , a gaming on the uber - trendy Espresso Martini , drawing on espresso , coffee liqueur , Madagascar vanilla , andacerum , an up - and - come regional spirit made from distilled maple sirup . As for food , the peak take guests on a whimsical journeying through area farms and other manufacturer via coursed selection that extend the gamut from bread made with organic Quebec cream to a freshly caught flounder enclothe with beurre blanc and locally harvested seaweed .
For something a touch more out of the ordinary , book a table atTanière³ , the late recipient role of a 5 - diamond rating from CAA - AAA . The existential eatery literally guides guests from one room to another as they ply them with cheffy , knavishly plate , and painstakingly designed dainty . The blind taste data formatting keeps even returning crowd on their toes , from the here and now they down the amuse — Arctic char spot with spruce and activated charcoal grey , perhaps — to the last nybble of sweet mignardises ( earthnut laced with haskap berry or ginger and bee pollen ) .
You almost need tweezers just to eat it.|Chez Rioux & Pettigrew
look for something a little more low - key ? Head toSaint - Roch , a homey flower child oasis with an abundance of brewpub , ramen shops , and other laid - back choice . While there , do n’t missLa Cuisine , a quirky outpost serve up comfort dishes , beer , and wine in what appear to be a born-again house . The tangerine tree walls , richness of knicknacks , and open vintage kitchen guarantee each trough of French onion soup arrives with a tidy side of nostalgia .
As for poutine , that ever - craveable uniting of hot , thick - cut French fries , spongelike tall mallow curds , and fragrant , savoury gravy , Quebec City is your veritable oyster . milled burger jointLe Chic Shackmakes a mean epicure version whilePoutinevilletakes a DIY advance , stocking more than 40 topping and 11 unlike cheeses for your commixture - and - lucifer delight . Back in Saint - Roch , Chez Gaston’sdiner - style version packs quite the gut clout , regional chainChez Ashtonexemplifies the “ if it ai n’t split ” ethos in the best way potential , andCasse - Croûte Pierrotkeeps the poutine political party going 24 60 minutes a day . Ca n’t get enough ? Neither can Quebecers — just aboutevery major fast food franchisein Quebec proudly list poutine on their menu , including McDonald ’s , Wendy ’s , Burger King , A&W , Dairy Queen , and PFK ( that ’s Québécois for KFC ) .
Drink your way around pastoral l’Île d’Orléans
A short drive from the heart of Quebec City , along the cascading hillside and over the mighty Île d’Orléans Bridge , lies the picturesqueÎle d’Orléansin the middle of the river . The island is a food- and boozing - enthusiasts ’ paradise , line with family - work wineries , cideries , orchard , cafes , James Leonard Farmer markets , and even a cassis manufacturer that ready good role of the farming ’s penchant for get plump pitch-black currants .
Start your solar day trip atCassis Monna et Filles . The bi - level distillery and restaurant lash up an array of cassis , the pitch-black currant - ground liqueur name above . Sip through the full flight of steps — each bottleful boast layers of sweet , lemonlike , spiced , and sottish flavors — before heading up the stairs to the scenic restaurant overtop the roll field below . All - currant - everything tops the menu , with sandwich , hearty access , and , of path , dessert showcasing the prized yield . If you leave without trying the homemade black currant soft serve glass cream , you ’ll surely rue it — no matter how bracing the weather condition outside .
Later , pop into theIsle of Bacchus , a pioneer Quebec winery with a square basement and a well-disposed staff that ’ll be more than felicitous to show you around . The enterprising performance extend locally harvested and fermented reds , whites , and rosés , alongside the area ’s ever - popular ice wine-colored , a syrupy honeyed - style made from late - time of year grapes ( they ’re left out to block after the first frost readiness in , lead in their required in high spirits wampum content ) . Be certain to pick up a few bottles of your best-loved before make your way back to the mainland .
Smell some flowers, frolic in fields, get a little tipsy…|Vignoble Isle de Bacchus
But before you leave , cease off at the Greenwich Village of Sainte - Pétronille on the island ’s western border . There , you may set for a selfie against a sweeping background that feature the stunning Chute Montmorency ( AKA Montmorency Falls ) , a thundering waterfall and pop hiking destination just across the St. Lawrence . Or you could simply break to relish in its glory , sans camera telephone set .
Go behind the scenes at a captivating museum
Like art ? manage for some acculturation ? You ’re not alone . The showstoppingMusée Nationale des Beaux - arts de Québec(or MNBAQ ) is not to be overlooked , with its monumental and far - reaching ingathering of house painting , sculptures , and other creative expressions from the responsibility and beyond . gestate a lesson in art history , date to Quebec ’s 17th C origins and run all the agency up through the modern era , with plenty of thought - provoking exhibitions — including a standout Inuit art display — along the mode .
Elsewhere , the Grand Théâtre de Québecis a latterly renovated perform humanities locale with gorgeous facilities and a virtuoso - studded roster . Constructed by Polish designer Victor Prus in his touch brutalist flair , it debuted for the Confederation Centennial in 1971 . The 2020 redevelopment proceed the absolute majority of the original details intact , twine the building in a shimmering glass velum that both protects the aim ’s historic integrity and pushes it in a futurist focus . On any present evening across the field ’s two principal phase , you could catch the opera house , symphony , ballet , or a play , in addition to big - name touring acts like fabled songstress Martha Wainwright and classic rock graven image Kansas to hometown hero Celine Dion .
To douse your toe into slightly more way-out waters , schedule a period at theMusée de Fort . The small Old City storefront museum house a flyspeck , 400 - square - foot , to - scale fashion model of the circumvent historical district , gross with a sound and light show detailing each of the six sieges that threatened the walled metropolis . While temporarily shutter , its extremely anticipate tax return is well worth the wait if you ’re drawn to hidden stone ( just do n’t draw a blank your glass ) .
Forget what you thought you knew about curation.|Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec (MNBAQ)
Learn about the Wendat Nation on a star-lit night walk
The story of Quebec ’s autochthonic universe is built-in to the metropolis ’s labyrinthian evolution , shaping everything from its culinary heritage , other industry , and Department of Agriculture to its military endeavors and periods of European line of work . Get up nigh and personal with the region ’s Indigenous cultivation with a sojourn toWendake , a nearby Greenwich Village celebrating the patrimonial life and custom of the Wendat Nation .
A survive story web site of sorts , Wendake ’s current crown jewel is the Onwha ’ Lumina , a shine walk stretching just shy of three quarters of a mile . A mixture of shine lights , heavy , and video projections bring the well-lighted footpath to life beneath the starry skies , immerse node in the history of the Huron - Wendat masses . During day hours , tours of traditionally constructed buildings — plus handwork workshops , storytelling , song and dance execution , and art exhibition — round out out Wandake ’s stack bill of offerings .
Shop, party, and people-watch in trendy Saint-Roch
If you brew it , they will follow — at least , that ’s one hypothesis behind centrally situate Saint - Roch ’s transformation from a jolting - around - the - edges industrial corridor to a snappy hangout for untested professional and the aging faithful likewise . Located just outside the walls of the Old City , the region buzzes with energy from the second the sleek , third wave coffee shops likeMaelstrømopen their doorway each morning until the last remaining karaoke - belter hangs up their mic late into the Nox .
Like the rest period of Quebec City , Saint - Roch is supremely walkable , and it ’s easy to spend an afternoon vagabondage in and out of the brewery , specialty shop , vintage computer memory , and coffeehouse set up along the wide avenues .
Here , funky eateries like the aforesaid La Cuisine , sandwich specialistPhil Smoked Meat , and meekly elevated bistrol’Affair est Ketchuprub elbow with lauded fine dining establishments likeBattutoandJJacques . The wood - terminate PIE atNina Pizza Napolitainecan throw down with New York ’s fine , and if you ’re looking for quality Japanese fare , check outTorii Izakaya .
Shine a light on some knowledge.|Onhwa' Lumina
Thirsty ? Quebecers love their beer , and Saint - Roch is ground zero when it get along to the sudsy stuff . Dating to 1997,La Barberieholds court as the field ’s craft elder statesmen , but despite its aged - citizen status , its innovative fleet is anything but stuck in the mud . From jet - black-market stouts to yield - forward sours to crispy lagers and citrus tree turkey IPAs , there ’s something for everyone . ( During the summer months , expect out for the frozen Ultraslush Raptor . )
Other worthy players include the charmingly old - schoolLa Korriganeand the cunning , cat - themedNoctem Artisans Brasseurs . For cocktails , MacFly Bar Arcadeblends bargain mixed drinks with retro pinball game machines , and Maelstrøm is caffeinated by daytime and boozy by night . And if you require a real - deal Quebecer experience , duck’s egg intoTaverne Jos Dion , a informal walk - through taphouse that has been peddling imperial quarts of beer ( AKA “ pintes ” ) and salty smoked meat since 1933 .
Get the lay of the land from a private helicopter
No matter the time of year , Quebec City ’s various urban landscape and fence natural topography is good enjoy from above — far , far above in a United States Department of State of the art helicopter , that is . Book a ride withComplexe Capitale Hélicoptèreand take to the sky for a electrifying and implausibly scenic expedition . You ’ll soon be gazing down at Montmorency Falls and the mighty St. Lawrence River , zooming over the Old City ’s majestic computer architecture , and soaring past the vineyards dotting Île d’Orléans . The launching inkpad shares space with the airport , so it make for an excellent leave spell before heading back home .
Saint-Roch is the neighborhood for cheersing.|St-Roch Québec
It’s like getting mountain views without the sweaty hiking.|Complexe Capitale Hélicoptère
