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 about Québec 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 where to eat and drink in Québec City.

To get started, here’s a nifty map of where you’ll be eating and drinking in Québec City.

↓ Hint: Click on the square with an arrow to see the key and layers.

Where to Drink in Québec City: Craft Beer Edition

Noctem Artisans Brasseurs

Address: 438 Rue du Parvis, Québec, QC G1K 6H8, Canada

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.

La Barberie

Address: 310 Rue Saint-Roch, Québec, QC G1K 6S2, Canada

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!

La Korrigane

Address: 380 Rue Dorchester, Québec, QC G1K 6A7, Canada

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 and focuses 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!

Where to Drink in Québec City: Cocktails Edition

Batinse

Address: 1200 Rue Saint-Jean, Québec, QC G1R 1S8, Canada

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 cocktail” 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” cocktail — all right, three people in total — but it was completely worth it. Add to that some mouthwatering food (read: a decadent burger with pork 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

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 cocktails are as creative as any we’ve seen in NYC.

Take Le Fruit Défendu (CAD $28), for instance. While the cocktail 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 cocktail 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 cocktail (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.)

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 cocktails they drank here. Favorites included L’Alpha, a cocktail 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 cocktail 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, and Bar Sainte-Angèle, which boasts live jazz on certain nights.

Where to Drink in Québec City: When You Want to Have a Fun Night Out Edition

Pub Saint-Alexandre

Address: 1087 Rue Saint-Jean, Québec, QC G1R 1S3, Canada

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 Le Sacrilège

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 actually did 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 Le Sacrilège 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.

Where to Eat in Québec City

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

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

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 I got it. Cheese curds, gravy, and fries? Mais bien sûr, 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 excuse not 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

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 this insanely 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

L’Échaudé is a classy, upscale French bistro in the Lower 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!

Le Moine Échanson

Address: 585 Rue Saint-Jean, Québec, QC G1R 1P7, Canada

If you’re an oenophile, look no further than Le Moine Échanson 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, Paillard came up most frequently. Their breakfast, especially their croissants, earned glowing praises from fellow travel bloggers. Chez Muffy and 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 Frontenac and 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!

Did you like this post? Pin it! ↓↓