10 Great Spots to Eat in Quebec City

It might seem like an unassuming spot for foodies, but there are some truly delicious places to eat in Quebec City, from authentic French-Canadian restaurants to great takeout options, wonderful brunches, awesome happy hour spots, and more!

I spent a few weeks in Quebec City over the summer, and while I did spend most of my time cooking for myself, the foods I splurged on during my trip were all huge hits. This city is perfect for dining outdoors, enjoying a slow morning coffee and pastry or a nice dinner on a restaurant terrace where you can sip wine and people watch to your heart’s content — and there’s truly no shortage of great options to do so! I’m sharing 10 great spots to eat in Quebec City for you to keep in mind for your next trip to this awesome city!

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1. Bistro Hortus

If you’re looking for a great brunch in Quebec City, you need to visit Bistro Hortus! Located right on Rue Saint-Jean, it’s the perfect little patio to enjoy coffee and something sweet or savory to start your day. I personally loved the maple coffee (with boozy maple whiskey cream, of course) paired with the Quebec beef breakfast — it came with braised beef chuck, a red wine-poached duck egg, fingerling potatoes, fig bread crouton, and crispy bacon. Swoon. Plus, all their brunches include fresh fruit, yogurt and granola, breads and jam, and filter coffee/tea! Such a great deal, and the staff were lovely, which is always a plus. I highly recommend for a nice weekend brunch!

What to Order: Maple coffee, Quebec beef breakfast

2. Café La Maison Smith

You’ll likely be stopping into many cafes during your time in Quebec City, and Café La Maison Smith is a very popular one for good reason! They make great coffees and have a nice selection of pastries to choose from.— I usually tend to go for classics like a pain au chocolat, and theirs is really solid. There are a few locations around the city, so you’re never too far to pop in for a quick bite or coffee refuel!

What to Order: Pain au chocolat, maple latte

3. Paillard

Another good option for pastries on the go! We tried some madeleines and a little chocolate loaf (similar to a pound cake) and both were delicious. They had a decent strawberry matcha, too! This is also a great spot for Too Good to Go bags — we got a huge bag of bread loaves for maybe $5 USD, so consider grabbing one to use for a picnic in the park or to compliment dinner if you’re cooking at your accommodation. They also have a couple locations around the city, so it’s definitely an easy spot to find.

What to Order: Too Good to Go bags, strawberry matcha, madeleines, mini chocolate loaf

4. Cochon Dingue

This is a great patio if you’re looking to hop around between a couple restaurants for drinks and appetizers! We shared the duck confit salad and the cheese croquettes, and we each got a seasonal cocktail to try. It was a pretty perfect meal that was satisfying but definitely left room for another restaurant afterward. The salad was one of the best I’ve had, with a delicious fried goat cheese on top, plus a really bright flavor combination of candied pears, tomatoes, and pecans. They have multiple locations too, so whether you’re in the Upper or Lower Town, you can sit outside and share some plates on the terrace while the city bustles around you.

What to Order: Duck confit salad, three cheese croquettes, Dingomojito, Pom’ Spritz

5. Poutineville

This list ranges from sit-down restaurants to takeout options, and though Poutineville is definitely a huge chain (and maybe not the most “authentic” poutine experience you can have in Quebec City), it’s still a big contender for late night French fry cravings. I love a classic poutine as much as the next person, but I love unique variations, too. This butter chicken poutine truly hit the spot! It’s pretty much just equal parts poutine and butter chicken, both made well and simply added together, rather than trying to actually blend the two. That’s where other restaurants go wrong, IMO. Plus, the portion size is ginormous and will absolutely leave you with half the dish to save for later, so you’re really getting two meals for the price of one. You can’t really beat that!

What to Order: Butter chicken poutine

6. Le Chic Shack

Another good spot for takeout in the city, but you can totally dine-in if you want to! Le Chic Shack is located right at the edge of the Upper Town near Dufferin Terrace, so you’re in the heart of Old Quebec if you eat at the restaurant. They have tons of menu items, from burgers to chicken sandwiches and, of course, a number of poutine options. They also have milkshakes, sodas, breakfasts, and more! It was always packed whenever I walked by, so it seemed like a popular spot for a casual meal in the city. Definitely a good one to visit if you crave fried chicken sandwiches often (like me), though I opted for a classic burger and it was delicious! Great fries, too — I’m a firm believer you should be able to see the seasoning on your fries, and Le Chic Shack checks that box for sure.

What to Order: Chic burger & fries, raspberry cola

7. Sapristi

Another spot on Rue Saint-Jean that’s perfect for restaurant hopping and people watching! I have it on good authority (from many a local Facebook group) that the majority of locals in Quebec City frequent the “touristy” restaurants as their everyday spots, too. That made me feel pretty good about just wandering the streets and popping into anywhere that caught my eye. Sapristi was one of those spots, and I’m SO glad we chose it! They have two locations in Old Quebec (one upper, one lower) and serve incredible Italian-inspired dishes at surprisingly reasonable prices for being right in the center of the touristy areas. It’s an awesome spot to grab a drink (or a pitcher) and share a bunch of different plates. If you do, the truffle fries and the fig and chorizo flatbread are insanely good!

What to Order: Truffle parmesan fries, calamari, fig & chorizo flatbread, white sangria

8. Ciel! Bistro-Bar

If you’re looking for a nice dinner spot a little way out of Old Quebec, Ciel! Bistro-Bar is my recommendation! wish we had gotten food here, but even just grabbing a drink was a really cool experience. It’s a rooftop-level rotating restaurant near the Joan of Arc Garden outside of Old Quebec that’s absolutely worth a visit. Our server literally gasped in delight when I ordered my cocktail; I got the “Cassiopeia”, which was floral and a bit fruity, and it looked and tasted just as good as it sounds. It’s obviously a bit pricey considering the experience, but it still didn’t break the bank. I definitely recommend, especially if you’re planning a nicer dinner in the city!

What to Order: The Cassiopeia & the Sangria du Ciel!

9. COWS Ice Cream

COWS is an iconic ice cream shop across Canada for good reason, so I was thrilled to find a location mere steps away from my accommodation! We had to try their fruit flavors made with fresh Prince Edward Island berries, and both the strawberry and blueberry were amazing. They have a cute little cow-themed gift shop inside, and a bunch of other ice cream flavors to choose from, so you’re in for a treat if you visit (no pun intended).

What to Order: PEI blueberry & PEI strawberry

10. Boutique Mary’s Popcorn

I so highly recommend Mary’s Popcorn! Maybe just because it’s one of my all-time favorite snacks — but this became borderline addictive for me during my stay in Quebec City. Ironically, this was also the first place I tried Chicago-style popcorn instead of sometime during my two years actually living in Chicago. I actually much preferred their Quebec-style mix, which uses maple syrup instead of caramel! I love a sweet/salty/savory mixture, and you can find it all at Mary’s. Please go here! I miss it already!

What to Order: Quebec-style popcorn mix