Things to do in Québec City
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Jamais Vu
On a quiet stretch of Rue St-Joseph, Jamais Vu is a cozy little restaurant that whips up tasty crepes, fresh salads and smoothies. Favorites include the ham with béchamel and asparagus, the Greek salad and a satisfying croque monsieur. Dessert crepes are a nice cap to the meal.
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Chez Son Père
One of the city’s best-loved boîtes à chanson, this spot boasts a great atmosphere and is probably the first place locals will send you if you’re interested in seeing this rollicking kind of French folk music. Cover charge varies; sometimes it’s free.
reviewed
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Ciccio Café
Tucked just off Rue St-Jean (up a steep hill), this hidden gem serves excellent Italian fare in a charming but low-key setting. Reliable old-world favorites include linguini with clams, as well as slightly creative touches like rib steak with Roquefort and a rich scallop and shrimp risotto.
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Yuzu
This stylish but warmly lit restaurant (lightboxes, bonsai trees) spreads a tempting array of sushi and creative dishes (tempura soft-shell crab), plus a multicourse tasting menu with foie gras thrown in for good measure. A young, somewhat hip crowd stops in before hitting the nearby bars.
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Cyclo Services
This outfit rents bikes and organizes excellent bike tours of the city and outskirts to places like Wendake or La Chute Montmorency. The knowledgeable and fun guides frequently give tours in English. There are good cycling maps covering the vicinity.
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Observatoire de la Capitale
Head 221m up to the 31st floor for great views of the Old Town, the St Lawrence River and (if it’s clear enough) even the Laurentian Mountains. It all helps to get your bearings, while the information panels along the way will get you up to speed on some of the local history.
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Mountain Equipment Co-Op
The mountain man (or woman) in all of us needs his fix, especially if you’re planning to conquer the great Québec wilderness. Enter this sprawling shop, the largest from the renowned Canadian brand. It even has an outdoor resource center to help you plan your adventure.
reviewed
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Le Boudoir
Part restaurant, part nightclub, all scene, this posh but low-key lounge in the hip St-Roch district is pretty much the place for well-heeled locals to party. On weekends, two DJs let you choose between downtempo and dancing, while games include billiards, Wii and Pac-Man!
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Le Lieu
With art installations, sound art, video art and other multidiscliplinary exhibitions, this St-Roch artist center is more than a gallery. Visitors are welcome to browse and experience this local art community hub, which also aims to share Québec art with the world.
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Opéra de Québec
Under the artistic direction of Grégoire Legendre, this world-class company presents classics like Aida, Pagliacci, Madame Butterfly, La Traviata, Carmen and more. Shows take place in the majestic Le Grand Théâtre de Québec.
reviewed
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Chez Maurice
Set up in a gutted, châteaulike mansion and cheekily named after hard-ass former Québec premier Maurice Duplessis, this entertainment complex has three separate partying spaces. There’s a nightclub, and a cigar lounge with 200 sorts to choose from.
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Espace 400
Revamped in 2008 to the tune of $24 million to create a fresh public venue for the city’s 400th-birthday festivities, this Old Port waterfront pavilion is an official Parks Canada discovery center. Concerts, shows and performances of all sorts are held here.
reviewed
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Mont-Ste-Anne
A hugely popular ski resort with 66 ski trails, 17 of which are set aside for night skiing (from 4pm to 9pm). You’ll find all sorts of other winter activities here, including snowshoeing, skating and even dogsledding. You can rent skis and snowboards too.
reviewed
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Station Touristique
Smaller than Mont-Ste-Anne and only about 20 minutes from Québec City, there are 32 slopes here for downhill skiing and snowboarding. Night skiing runs are usually open from late November until around mid-March. Take Hwy 73 north until the Stoneham exit.
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Carthage
This BYOB (bring your own bottle) Tunisian restaurant offers couscous, meat and vegetarian specials, all lightly spiced. Tables and chairs fill the colorful room while at the tables by the windows patrons kneel on cushions in traditional Middle Eastern style.
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La Rotonde
This contemporary dance center presents shows from touring companies from around the world as well as local dancers, including experimental and cutting-edge works. It also offers workshops and classes, and is pivotal in keeping dance alive in Québec.
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Croisiéres Aml
You can get a new perspective of the city aboard these small vessels. AML offers a range of dining and sightseeing cruises, including a popular 1½-hour trip along the St Lawrence (adult/child $32/17) and a two-hour brunch cruise (adult/child $45/24).
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Chez Temporel
Hidden away on a side street just off the beaten path, this charming little café serves tasty sandwiches, homemade soups and quiches, plus prodigious salads, fresh-baked goods and excellent coffees. It attracts a curious mix of locals and travelers.
reviewed
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Parc National de la Jacques-Cartier
There’s a range of snowshoeing and cross-country skiing trails and circuits here, from easy to difficult. Those who’ve done the trails say the winter scenery is picture-perfect. The park is about 40km from Québec City along Rte 175.
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Croisiéres le Coudrier
Its sightseeing cruises (1½ hours) run all the way to Île d’Orléans (adult/child $32/15). Other offerings include dinner cruises (adult $75) and special three-hour cruises during Les Grands Feux Loto-Québec.
reviewed
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Boutique Oclan
International brands like Miss Sixty, Michael Kors, Buckler, JP Gaultier and more meet high-end Québec designers like Philippe Dubuc and Mackage at this little basement fashion cave. Charismatic owner Jean-Francois Renaud is quite a personality.
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Maison Drouin
This old house was built in 1730 and is one of the most fascinating stops on the island as it was never modernized (ie no electricity or running water) even though it was inhabited until 1984. Guides in period dress give tours of the house in summer.
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Les Tours Voir Québec
This group offers a handful of excellent tours covering the history and architecture of Old Québec City. The popular two-hour ‘grand tour’ takes in the highlights of the old quarters (adult/child/student $22/11/20). Reserve ahead.
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Le Petit Coin Latin
For a French-style breakfast, try this excellent, European spot near Rue St-Jean for croissants, muffins or eggs. In summer you can eat the low-priced lunch specials out on the patio. A wide variety of fresh salads and soups rounds out the menu.
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Aviatic Club
This elegant wine bar and restaurant is nestled in the historic Gare du Palais train station and attracts a professional crowd. A rotating list of 50 wines is served by the glass, and a vibrant terrace, featuring live DJs, is open during summer.
reviewed