The ultimate guide to Québec City for conference attendees

Québec City streets photograph showing the Place Royale

Claudel Huot

Québec City is a meeting destination like no other. With MICHELIN-rated restaurants serving up regional cuisine, charming cafés and chic cocktail bars pouring locally-brewed beverages, and boutiques stocked with goods from Québécois artisans of all kinds, the city offers every guest something special they won’t encounter anywhere else. A Québec City conference experience isn’t complete without a chance to enjoy the best of what the city has to offer. Here’s what you should pencil in your itinerary as a conference attendee.

Where to dine

For large groups

Chez Boulay is a MICHELIN-recommended fine dining restaurant in Old Québec that serves Nordic-inspired dishes featuring local produce and fresh ingredients from Québec’s boreal forest.

La Tanière3 is a two-star MICHELIN restaurant in the Old Port that offers a culinary journey through an unforgettable tasting menu of farm- and forest-to-table dishes that honour the region’s unique terroir.

Aux Anciens Canadiens serves up traditional Québécois dishes in one of the oldest buildings in the city at the heart of Old Québec.

For small groups and one-on-ones

Le Lapin Sauté is a cozy bistro on Petit Champlain that serves elevated rustic dishes with a focus on local rabbit, duck, and salmon. Don’t skip their signature salted honey pie for dessert.

Le Hobbit is a chic MICHELIN-recommended spot on Saint-Jean that makes an incredible brunch featuring their iconic eggs benedict.

For laid-back ambiance

Restaurant Chez Victor is a Québécois favourite with locations in the Old Port and on Saint-Jean where you can enjoy gourmet burgers and an excellent bowl of poutine.

Pizzeria NO.900 Napolitaine has locations in Montcalm and Old Port. It’s one of the top 50 pizza chains in the world. They make incredible authentic pizza with locally-sourced cheeses and meats. For the full Québécois flavour experience, try the Charlevoix pie.

From unforgettable comfort food to unreal fine dining experiences, Québec City has no shortage of exceptional restaurants. Check out more dining recommendations from Destination Québec cité.

Where to have a drink

Maison Livernois serves drinks made with their own gin alongside a seasonal menu of signature cocktails in their intimate Saint-Jean location.

Alphonse pours up artisanal cocktails featuring locally-distilled liquors and fresh ingredients. You can find locations in Old Québec and Petit Champlain.

Le Lit Double, located in a former bank on Saint-Jean Street, offers a great selection of cocktails, private-import wines, craft beers, and a diverse music lineup.

Noctem in Saint-Roch pours pints from their own brewery. Find your new favourite IPA, sip an experimental sour, or try out their latest seasonal selection.

Bar Ste-Angèle is an intimate jazz bar with vintage charm, where local and international musicians take the stage six nights a week, filling Old Québec with soulful melodies and timeless ambiance.

Where to grab a coffee

Café Olive is a hidden gem on Avenue Cartier serving expertly-crafted coffee. It’s counter service with patio seating, so take your to-go cup on a walk to the Plains d’Abraham around the corner.

Cantook is a hip microroastery with three café locations, including one on Rue Saint-Jean. Their experienced baristas serve a unique range of ethically-sourced specialty coffees.

Café la Maison Smith has locations throughout the city, including one at the Québec City Convention Centre. Find locally-roasted beans, fresh pastries, and a welcoming atmosphere here.

Where to encounter history, art, and culture

Québec City’s museums are where the region’s rich history and vibrant contemporary arts scene meet.

Head to the Musée national des beaux-arts to view international exhibitions alongside the work of emerging artists and an incredible permanent collection of Inuit art.

Musée de la civilisation tells the story of what it means to be human through diverse multimedia exhibits at the intersection of art, science, and history.

Musée des plaines d'Abraham and the Citadel of Québec and the Musée Royal 22^e Régiment offer a glimpse into Québec City’s past as one of North America’s oldest settlements and the only city with preserved fortifications north of Mexico.

Wendake is a living museum, a neighbourhood where traditional Wendat culture is woven into a modern Indigenous way of life. Discover the Nation’s past and present through food, performances, guided tours, workshops, and the immersive Onhwa’ Lumina multimedia experience.

Where to go shopping

There’s no shortage of eclectic boutiques in Old Québec and its surrounding neighbourhoods. You can find shops showcasing local artisans around every corner in Petit Champlain and hunt around antique shops and art galleries in Old Port. Explore the original La Maison Simons department store on Côte de la Fabrique then keep walking westward on Rue Saint-Jean, past Côte d’Abraham, to browse for vintage records and books.

Where to go for a run, cycle, skate, or snowshoe

Québec City has a thriving running culture. Join the locals under towering maples on the 1.4 km running track in the Plaines d'Abraham and be sure to take a breather at Terrace Grey for stunning views of the river. There are both paved and forest paths winding throughout the park from Montcalm to Old Québec. In the winter, locals swap their sneakers for skates and snowshoes, which you can rent at the Plains of Abraham skating rink.

There’s also an extensive cycling and walking path down on the banks of the St. Lawrence, accessible from the Plaines d’Abraham and Petit Champlain, where you can watch the sunrise or sunset during your workout.

Where to get into nature

If you’re looking to get out of town for some fresh air, why not head out for a day hike? Québec City’s historical charm is rivalled only by the region’s profound natural beauty. Relax on the forest paths of Parc national de la Jacques-Cartier, have a paddle through Vallée Bras-du-Nord, or take in the spectacular landscape from Mont-Sainte-Anne.

If you need to stick a little closer to town, Montmorency Falls and Mont-Bélair Natural Park near the airport offer walking trails and breathtaking views within city limits.

Where to visit a traditional sugar shack

Visit a traditional sugar shack to see how maple syrup is made and get a taste of maple taffy on snow alongside a hearty lunch of traditional fare including crêpes avec sirop d'érable (pancakes with maple syrup). Sugar shacks can accommodate large groups and many are open for dining year-round.

There are several sugar shacks within a 30-minute drive of Old Québec including Érablière le Chemin du Roy and Cité Agricole, a modern farm-turned-sugar shack experience, to the west, and Érablière du Lac-Beauport to the north. On Île d'Orléans, you can find Le Relais des Pins and Sucrerie Blouin.

How to get around

Québec City is very walkable and sightseeing on foot is one of the best ways to immerse yourself in its old-world ambiance. If you’re staying in or near Old Québec, world-class dining, entertainment, and cultural experiences are just steps away.

For an excellent view of the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, take the ferry over to Lévis, which runs every half hour during the day and every hour at night, seven days a week.

Public transit via the RTC city bus is reliable year-round. Fare is $4.00 cash or $3.70 for a ticket, which you can grab from an RTC point of sale in most drug stores or corner stores.

Taxis and Uber are readily available to get you from A to B around the clock. There’s a flat $41.40 taxi fare between Jean-Lesage International Airport and the city centre.