Restaurants & Bars

At 419 place Jacques-Cartier, right in the heart of Vieux-Montréal, Terrasse Le 419 is one of the liveliest addresses in the Old Port, in summer and in the evening alike. Set in the heart of Vieux-Montréal, Terrasse 419 offers an elegant, vibrant atmosphere with steaks, seafood, signature cocktails and sharing plates. The perfect place for a drink, for dinner or for a lively summer evening. The location is simply unbeatable: on the edge of the legendary place Jacques-Cartier, you get a pretty view along with a lively atmosphere full of pedestrians and street musicians — just the setting for soaking up the singular feel of Vieux-Montréal. The terrace itself is spacious and nicely laid out, offering one of the finest vantage points for watching the life of the neighbourhood. In the kitchen, this is a long way from a tourist trap! The restaurant is known for its tasty dishes: the seafood platter, the impressive 44 oz Tomahawk and the Wagyu steaks draw particular praise for their exquisite presentation and their flavour. The menu happily marries grill classics and seafood: surf and turf, wagyu gyoza (a real treat!), generous platters and sharing plates. The style leans toward the chic steakhouse, while putting the emphasis on sharing food that suits evenings out with friends or family. One of the strong points visitors single out? The attentive, bilingual staff, whose genuine hospitality and personal touches enrich the experience. Whether for a romantic evening, a celebration dinner, a cocktail at sunset or simply to enjoy the atmosphere of the Old Port, Terrasse Le 419 is an address to tick off!

Attaboy, a neighbourhood pizzeria, has established itself as one of the city's essential pizza references. Attaboy is first and foremost a neighbourhood pizzeria. Its approach is humble and devoted to its craft. This restaurant makes nothing but pizza, but it makes it with all the passion it can muster, aiming to turn out the best product possible. The house philosophy is as simple as it is effective: satisfy customers' appetites with a gourmet pizza made of fresh ingredients and sold at a fair price. No fuss, no showing off — just good pizza, carefully executed. And that makes all the difference! On the menu you find a variety of pizzas and sandwiches that will leave you asking for more. Among the signatures, the "Attaboy" pizza (tomato sauce, mozzarella, bacon, mushrooms, onions, green peppers and squeaky cheddar curds), the classic Toute Garnie, and the Meli — tomato sauce, mozzarella, goat cheese, sunflower seeds, cranberries and honey, for a surprising sweet-and-savoury burst. Special mention too for their tasty subs, their poutines (some reviews say they are among the best in Quebec City!) and their famous "Patattaboy," a gordita of fries with sausage, parmesan, hot peppers and sour cream. Good marks for the inclusive options: the pizzeria also offers vegan options, with a coconut-based plant cheese that is genuinely appreciated — one of the only addresses in Quebec City to offer a vegan pizza that is both delicious and affordable. And with friendly, warm service, whether you eat in or order takeout, you always leave with a smile. In short, Attaboy is the embodiment of the "neighbourhood pizza" idea at its most authentic: a focused menu, carefully chosen ingredients and real passion. An address to put in your notebook for a quality comfort-food break in Quebec City!

Tucked away on boulevard René-Lévesque Ouest, in the Montcalm district, the restaurant Aux Deux Violons is one of Quebec City's fine little-known addresses — a genuine small corner of North Africa hidden in the middle of the city. Eating at this restaurant is like a trip to North Africa for the length of a meal. A decor carrying objects from faraway sunlit countries, rhythmic music and Maghrebi specialties, such as Berber-style lamb tagine, couscous and chicken-and-almond pastilla, all make the experience a pleasant one. The atmosphere is warm, convivial, almost familial. It often gives you the feeling of being at home, with attentive staff and good value for money. Dishes such as couscous royal, pastilla, lamb tagine and shish taouk draw frequent praise. On the menu, you are spoiled for choice: couscous (with vegetables, with chicken, with merguez, with lamb shank, royal), assorted tagines, brochettes, grilled meats, falafel, shawarma, lamb méchoui and even a few poutines for the undecided! A welcome extra: it is a "bring your own wine" place, which lets you extend the experience at lower cost. An address to discover without fail for anyone looking to get off the beaten track in Quebec City and to be carried away, for the length of a meal, by the sunlit flavours of the Maghreb!

In Sainte-Foy, on the chemin des Quatre-Bourgeois, hides one of Quebec City's best-kept culinary secrets: Bistro La Cohue. La Cohue has been welcoming food lovers since 2004, whether for a business lunch, a supper with friends or a romantic evening, not to mention its famous weekend brunches. A true institution which, contrary to outward appearances (the place sits in a commercial district), holds an absolutely astonishing culinary experience in store. The cooking, classic bistro with a strong French influence, reflects the passion and drive of the whole team that prepares and serves it. On the menu: classics executed with mastery — salmon and beef tartares, blood sausage, pan-seared scallops, cod… Every dish is prepared with care and comes carefully presented. The wine selection, chosen with attention so it marries the menu, includes favourites and a few specially chosen imports. The atmosphere, intimate and warm, suits every occasion. The restaurant, recently renovated, offers an elegant and welcoming setting — perfect for talking quietly. Special mention to the owner, Bruno, whose eye for detail and attentive service contribute a great deal to the establishment's reputation. Bistro La Cohue is ranked #2 of the 1,032 restaurants in Quebec City on Tripadvisor, with an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 — recognition that is amply deserved.

In the middle of the Île d'Orléans, in Sainte-Famille, stands one of the best-known snack bars in Quebec: la Fine Cantine Chez Mag. Known across Quebec for its essential lobster poutine, its famous lobster roll and its celebrated gourmet burger, this address has reinvented the traditional Quebec casse-croûte by adding a touch of fine-dining polish. Behind the success of Chez Mag are the owners Louise Paradis and Steve St-Pierre. Before the couple went into business together, Louise worked as a sales rep for fine food products, while Steve came up through Quebec City's most visible kitchens, like the Montego, the Bistango and Graffiti. It's that marriage of fine-dining know-how and love of the neighbourhood snack bar that gives the place all its character. On the menu, classics brilliantly reworked: mushroom poutine, smash burger, lobster roll, lobster poutine, onion rings and fries. The big star? The "Poséidon", a lobster poutine for two, with bisque sauce, a double portion of lobster, fried squid, piri-piri mayo, lime coulis and mullet roe caviar — a genuine work of edible art! The fries, for their part, are made on site from fresh potatoes. The success has been such that Chez Mag opened a second location in Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pocatière, on Route 230, halfway between Quebec City and Rimouski. The spot has a magnificent view of the river and the mountains of Charlevoix — a perfect stop to break up the drive in style! Be ready to line up, though: the place is enormously popular, especially in high season. But believe us, it's well worth the wait. A food stop not to be missed when you're passing through the Île d'Orléans or driving the Bas-Saint-Laurent!

If you're looking for an experience a notch more upscale and built around surprise, the Mystery progressive dinner is for you! The concept was born of a growing demand for more upscale routes, ones where food lovers could take their time. Where the épicurien routes run like clockwork, here the point is to relax at every stop. 

Here's how it works: this generous and varied bistronomy dinner lets you enjoy three signature courses and their pairings (alcoholic or not) at three selected partner restaurants. Preceded by an apéro and crowned with a sweet finale, the mystery progressive dinner is the ideal occasion to discover the different flavours of the neighbourhood. About an hour is set aside at each stop to savour a bite and a drink chosen to match it in flavour. 

The highlight? Unlike routes where the stops are known in advance, the mystery progressive dinner is built around surprise. A map is handed to you a few minutes before the restaurants open. You make your way from one address to the next without knowing where you'll land — every door you open becomes a small magic moment! 

The experience runs on a precise schedule and is done on your own in even-numbered groups of 2 to 16 people, depending on the area. The mystery progressive dinners are held Thursdays and Fridays from 5 p.m., and Saturdays from 4 p.m. A genuine culinary treasure hunt that turns an ordinary night out into an unforgettable adventure.

Tucked into the peaceful municipality of Saint-Agapit, less than 20 minutes from the Quebec City bridges, the Domaine de l'Oie Toquée embodies country living at its best. Since 2003, chef-owner Gaston Couillard has welcomed visitors to his property and cooked up delicious dishes built from the products of his farm. A former co-owner of the well-known restaurant Le Galopin and former head chef at Château Bonne Entente, chef Couillard traded urban bustle for a life closer to the land, without losing any of his culinary refinement.

What truly sets the place apart is its farm-to-table philosophy taken to its peak. The Domaine is at once a country restaurant, a private chef service, a consulting chef and a caterer, where the meals are made from his own livestock and his kitchen garden in season. 

The experience unfolds in a warm, intimate atmosphere on Fridays and Saturdays, by reservation only. A charming detail: it's a bring-your-own-wine, so don't forget to slip your favourite bottle into the basket before you leave.

If you're looking for an address in Quebec City that really stands apart, let me tell you about jjacques. First thing to know: you're going to have to hunt for it a little. No sign, just a big metal door in the ruelle Notre-Dame-des-Anges, right in the heart of Saint-Roch. You ring, and someone lets you in. Speakeasy atmosphere — the tone is set before you've even sat down. Once inside, it's another world. Behind the closed door and the opaque curtains, you step into a dreamlike universe, a space cut off from time where the bar and the kitchen come together. Colours, textures, low light — you really feel as though you've found a hideout nobody else knows about (spoiler: everybody knows about it, you need a reservation). The big question you ask yourself while reading the menu: is this a restaurant, an oyster bar or a cocktail bar? The house lets you decide. On the food side, it's all about sharing: seafood, small plates, and their famous seafood towers, worth the trip on their own. The oysters are fresh, the scallops melt in your mouth, and even the cuts of meat hold their own. On the cocktail side, that's where the magic really happens. The list is built around the theme of travel, with some twenty original cocktails, alcoholic or not, on top of the classics. And it's no accident that jjacques has ranked among the 50 best bars in Canada according to Canada's 100 Best since 2022 — rated the 10th best bar in the country in 2025. My advice: book ahead, come in the mood to discover, and let the staff guide you. It's the kind of evening you're still talking about the next day.

Off to Limoilou this time, on the famous 3e Avenue, to tell you about an address that suits its name so well: La Planque. By definition, a planque is a hidden, welcoming place where you can take shelter — shelter from our Quebec storms, from our routines, from our worries. The whole concept is right there in the name. Opened in 2012, La Planque brought the neighbourhood back to life at a time when 3e Avenue was still far from what it is today. In the middle of a lively neighbourhood, among the little shops and bohemian cafés, La Planque keeps its cards close. And that's still true: you step into a place with real character, no frills, but where everything has been thought through. On the plate, this is market cooking built on Quebec products and the seasons. The menu, short and always shifting, mixes comforting bistro dishes with inventive creations from the chef. On Tuesdays and Wednesdays, don't miss their famous blind tasting — you let yourself be led, and it's frankly one of the best deals in town. The wine list, built by Marie-Claude since 2015, does honour to producers from here and from France, with finds at every price. The atmosphere? Four worlds under one roof: the bar, the mezzanine, the kitchen, or the famous underground planque — a soundproofed room to hide away in, literally. Whether you come for dinner as a couple, an evening with friends or a five à sept that stretches on, there's a corner for you. Worth noting as well: La Planque now appears in the 2025 Michelin Guide — fine recognition for a team that, for more than ten years, has made 3e Avenue an essential food destination.

Tucked away on rue Saint-Pierre, a couple of steps from Place Royale, L'Orygine occupies a historic building in Old Quebec and shares its premises with La Tanière, just below. The restaurant serves creative, organic cooking that puts Quebec's terroir front and centre, in a bright, pared-back room that evokes freshness and authenticity. In the kitchen, chef Sabrina Lemay signs an inventive cuisine built around local ingredients. The tasting menu, alongside a short seasonal à la carte, puts vegetables in the foreground without setting aside meat and fish — and can always be adapted to a vegan version. That, in fact, is the house signature: bringing vegetarians, vegans and meat eaters to the same table around a shared food experience. The place also stands out for its lovely summer terrace, its list of Canadian wines and its creative cocktails made with Quebec products. An essential address for anyone looking for cooking that is unpretentious, refined and deeply rooted in its territory.