Quebec City

French-speaking Quebec City strikes a romantic pose, from the historic cobblestoned streets to the mighty Saint Lawrence River.

ELITE INNOVATION

Award-winning Arvi tops the list of gastronomic experiences in Quebec City. Chef Julien Masia helms the open kitchen while cooks double as servers – which is all the better for explaining the regularly changing seasonal menu. This can be helpful when “tuna, corn, and eggplant” translates into an eye-popping slice of bright-red seared tataki-style tuna on a rectangle of pressed sweetcorn and eggplant, with a dark-as-night sauce made with corn and eggplant charcoal. restaurantarvi.ca

CHARLEVOIX CULINARY GEM

Faux Bergers, nestled in the countryside of the Charlevoix region north of Quebec, is well worth the one-hour journey from the center of the city. This charming restaurant offers an unforgettable dining experience with homegrown local produce transformed into culinary works of art. Don’t be surprised if the chef pulls up a seat at your table to talk you through the ingredients of the seasonal tasting menu. This wonderful place will warm you in the biting cold of a Canadian winter. fauxbergers.com

NEXT STOP: COCKTAILS

Settling into a white-veiled, velvet-lined booth at the jjacques speakeasy, it may be hard to tell if you’ve arrived at your destination or if your journey is just beginning. The travel-themed cocktail menu offers classic cocktails (including an impeccable Negroni sbagliato) and originals (try the Orient Express with bourbon, Canadian Rye, date infusion, sherry, and Angostura bitters), as well as a zero-proof selection including grapefruit spritzes with quinine and gentian. jjacques is also a late-night destination for oysters and seafood towers, making for preeminent people-watching and snacking. jjacques.ca

TO MARKET, TO MARKET

Follow the smell of freshly baked bread and roasted coffee to Quebec City’s newest gourmet shopping destination. Though open daily and year-round, Le Grand Marché booms in the warmer months with fresh produce including eyepopping pints of strawberries, blueberries, and ground cherries. Pick up jars of local honey and maple syrup, Quebec microbrews, sparkling cider, raw milk cheeses, artisanal charcuterie, pastries, fish, baguettes, smoked meat, hot sauces, and fresh pasta for an indoor or outdoor picnic at any time of the year. Alternatively, devour the market restaurant’s produce-inspired menu on the outdoor patio in summer. legrandmarchedequebec.com/en/market

SAINTLY FASHION

The adjacent neighborhoods of Saint-Roch and Saint-Jean-Baptiste are local fashion destinations. At Jupon Pressé, discover a curated selection of dresses, flowing shirts, and stylish accessories, with an emphasis on Quebec designers including Eve Gravel, Birds of North America, and Valérie Dumaine. Or find made-to-measure pieces from designer Nathalie Jourdain at Coeur de Loup. Don’t miss Lucia F on Rue Saint-Joseph for chic vintage treasures.

INDIGENOUS ART AND SPICE

Discover Indigenous art and culture in Wendake – the urban reserve of the Huron-Wendat Nation – located just 30 minutes northwest of the Plains of Abraham within Quebec City. At the Huron-Wendat Museum, learn about myths and legends in the Ekionkiestha’ National Longhouse before browsing Indigenous-made jewelry, pottery, books, clothing, and leather goods at its boutique. For epicureans, Les Épices du Guerrier offers unique Indigenous spice blends featuring Quebec balsam myrtle, dune pepper, and maple sugar. museehuronwendat.ca

HISTORIC PLAINS

Walk (or snowshoe or cross-country ski in winter) through the historic fortifications of the Plains of Abraham, the highest point in the area and the site of the British victory over the French in 1759 – a key factor in the city’s designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985. The battle became a turning point in the history of Canada, resulting in Great Britain introducing British law, language, and religion to the French-speaking region. Nowadays, the plains are home to gardens, trails, exhibitions, and panoramic views of the Saint Lawrence River.

BERRIES AND WINE

On Île d’Orléans, a 20-minute drive from the Old Port, past the cascading Montmorency Falls and across the Saint Lawrence River, sisters and fifth-generation distillers Catherine and Anne Monna offer year-round tastings of traditional crème de cassis – a rich liqueur distilled from the sweet and sour juices of the island’s small blackberry. Other fortified blackcurrant wines and liqueurs including gin and vodka are also sold here. The 54-acre property features an eco museum, wine cellar, and dairy bar, which has blackcurrant-vanilla soft serve in summer. cassismonna.com/en

SLEIGH RIDES

There’s no more traditional way to experience Quebec’s winter magic than to book a horse-drawn sleigh ride. Écurie Bel-Air takes you to snowy woods five minutes from the airport, or make a day of it at Cabane à Sucre Leclerc. This sugar shack 30 minutes west of Quebec City offers a traditional maple brunch (think maple sausages, crepes, maple pea soup, ham, and sugar pie) before a horse-drawn sleigh ride through the maple-tapped trees. ecuriebelair.com/en/sleigh-rides; cabaneleclerc.ca

Quebec City’s Winter Carnival is a ten-day outdoor festival that has been celebrating winter here since 1894. During February 7–16, 2025, enjoy ice sculptures, lights, night parades, outdoor concerts, and tires d’érable – hot maple syrup poured on snow, rolled up on Popsicle sticks like pure maple ice pops. carnaval.qc.ca