37 Best Restaurants in Quebec City, Quebec

Seafood lovers, rejoice: Québec City now has its very own ocean-based restaurant, and a great one at that. Helmed by a team of seasoned chefs, this gourmet restaurant provides diners with flavorful, flawless, and generously sized dishes of anything from scallops to clams and marlin tatakis, all nicely complemented by delicate side dishes such as lentils, sorbet (yes, ice cream for dinner!), and edible flowers. It is a light-filled, beautifully appointed venue.

Chef Guillaume Saint-Pierre's love for authentic Italian cuisine led him to open this popular 25-seat restaurant, located off the main Saint-Roch thoroughfares, where he can fully concentrate on that passion with gusto and skill. Italian tradition (there's arancini and vitello tonatto) blend with local flair (there's cacio e pepe with Swiss chard, and scallop crudo). The restaurant has been a huge hit, which means you should reserve weeks in advance, especially on weekends.

Chefs Jean-Luc Boulay and Arnaud Marchand, who are both revered in this town, delight patrons with elegant interpretations of cuisine inspired by northern Québec and made entirely from local ingredients, including reinvented classic desserts, such as iced nougat with cloudberries. A mix of locals celebrating special occasions and tourists fresh from shopping rue St-Jean dine in this elegant dining room on bison tartare, braised beef ravioli with candied red cabbage, and salmon in a flavorful cranberry glaze. The somber color scheme, rustic-meets-modern graphics, and dark wood trim make this one of the more sophisticated bistros in the neighborhood.

This is the place to go for the freshest flavors of Canadian cuisine (think seafood, terroir vegetables, game meat) without the white tablecloth fuss. Chez Rioux & Pettigrew is a casual dining experience in a convivial, inviting venue with exposed brick. Back in 1860, Narcisse Rioux ran a general store here and supplied local restaurants, inns, and hospitals; it only makes sense that the gourmet mission carries on today (complete with trinkets from that former life) in a slightly more hands-on manner. For a bit of everything, opt for their five-service tasting menu, with the wine pairing for an extra C$45. Speaking of their modest yet curated wine list, aficionados will find an interesting selection of orange/maceration wines.

A mix of businesspeople and tourists having been frequenting L'Échaudé for the past 30 years because of its location between the nearby business and antiques districts. For lunch, the flank steak with shallots is a classic, and every day there's excellent fish, tartares, and pasta on the menu. Highlights of the three-course brunch are eggs Benedict and tantalizing desserts. The mahogany lobby and green-and-beige interior are full of warmth, and service is courteous and professional. The interior is modern, with hardwood floors, a mirrored wall, and a stainless-steel bar with backlit river stones underneath; but you'll be lucky to snag a table outside in the warmer months.

Local and regional products are emphasized here, and the food is among the best gastronomical offerings in Québec. Among local celebrity chef Daniel Vézina's creations are crystallized foie gras with truffle snow, and venison tartare. The menu consists of two prix-fixe, five-services experiences; either the "personalized" at C$110 or the "gastronomic" at C$145, both served with remarkable wine pairings (largely private imports) as an option.

Inside the most romantic dining room at Fairmont Château Frontenac, chef Hugo Coudurier has made this one of the city's top gastronomical tables, showcasing unexpected combinations, delicious flavors, Nordic-inspired ingredients (such as wild hare and even Lapland reindeer), and whimsical presentations. Although service can be a bit stiff, the food is anything but, and the rewards on the plate are definitely worth any formality. Reservations are highly recommended. The Sunday brunch is a must, with tons of delicious small bites and more classic offerings.

The high ceilings and imposing vault door give away the fact that this was once a bank, but an amiable staff and inventive bistro cuisine (without pretentious fluff) make this establishment a local favorite who munch on well-prepared shareable plates of seasonal, creative, flavorful shareable plates like smoked aubergine with romesco sauce or veal tartare with lemon and fiddleheads. Wine lovers, this restaurant recently hired the best sommelier in Québec City.

Specializing in Neapolitan-style pizza and antipasti, this stylish pizzeria has been on everyone's lips ever since it opened (thanks to crowdfunding!). Its beast of an oven weighs 2.5 tons and was imported straight from Italy—and it's worth it: the thin-crust pizzas are cooked in just 90 seconds at 900 degrees. Expect sides of flavorful salads, creamy burrata, charcuteries, and cheeses. Also note the excellent cocktail list. If you prefer to eat in the St-Jean-Baptiste neighborhood, Nina recently opened a second location there.

It's worth heading to the outskirts of the St-Roch Downtown district for this unique dining experience, inspired by the French bouchons (as bistros are called in the city of Lyon). "In the pig, everything is good": so goes the French adage that advocates responsible, farm-to-table gastronomy. This is precisely what drives Pied Bleu: every week, the chefs receive a whole pig and come up with proven, creative ways to serve it (the charcuterie plate is a must). Also offered is Le tour lyonnais, a tasting menu for two including six courses, salads, cheeses, and desserts. While there are a few vegetarian options, this is primarily a place of communion for hardened carnivores; they've actually won prizes all over France for their excellent boudin (blood sausage). The wine list is largely European, but reserves a special place for Beaujolais vineyards.  The brunch menu is equally gargantuan and tasty, with a dreamy smoked-fish sandwich and a large rib steak with béarnaise sauce for big appetites.

The trek to Limoilou is worth it, if it's to dine at ARVI. Local critics have deemed ARVI an unforgettable gourmet experience, and it was selected as one of Canada's 35 top restaurants by Air Canada's in-flight magazine. The restaurant's signature open-plan kitchen right smack in the middle of the tastefully designed space guarantees diners unobstructed views of the chef at work. Food-wise, the prix-fixe tasting menu is a steal at just C$88; expect seasonal fare inspired by local terroir.  If you're into wine, fork out the extra C$55 for the wine pairings.

Named for a 19th-century book by Philippe-Aubert de Gaspé, who once resided in the 1675 house, this establishment has a modern menu and a good wine list, but most people come for the authentic French-Canadian cooking. Servers are dressed in period costume and each of the five dining rooms has a different theme, such as the bright and cheerful vaisselier (dish room), featuring colorful antique dishes and a fireplace. One of the best deals is a three-course meal, starting at C$19.95, available until 5:45 every day.

Behind the success of city hot spot Chez Muffy (formerly Panache), Chef François Blais decided on a more casual approach, including having a simple interior, when he opened his own restaurant on avenue Cartier. The "market cuisine" is straight to the point and well executed, and the whole menu fits on a blackboard, with a handful of appetizers, main courses, and desserts that change daily.

One hundred percent organic—that is the promise of L'Orygine, a brand-new bistro in the heart of the Lower Town. With an emphasis on freshness and local flavors, the chef prepares seasonal and shareable plates that are (almost) guilt-free, such as lobster cavatelli and a creative mix of duck and eggplant. The space is beautiful, with an all-glass wine cellar and turquoise seats.

Hearty home cooking, generous portions, and rock-bottom prices have made this no-frills, diner-style eatery in the heart of the antiques district, a Lower Town institution. It's a good place to sample traditional Québécois dishes such as pea soup and cipaille (a deep-dish layered pie using poultry, meat, or seafood), and the homemade and delicious sugar pie, crepes, and other desserts. In summer, there is a small sidewalk terrace where you can sit and watch the shoppers stroll by.

La Buvette Scott is an unpretentious address that pleasantly surprises with its attractive menu and impeccable service. Located in the heart of St-Jean-Baptiste, it's quickly been adopted by locals who have made this place their favorite neighborhood hangout. The warm wooden décor creates a friendly, almost family-like atmosphere. Waiters have complete control over the music and are more than happy to accept suggestions and blast that one-hit-wonder on the record player. Food-wise, La Buvette Scott offers a dozen small and medium-sized seasonal dishes mainly consisting of seasonal vegetables and seafood.

As far as fast food goes, nothing is more Québécois than poutine, that rough-and-ready dish made of fries, cheese curds, and gravy. In Québec City, this regional chain, founded in 1969, is the local favorite for hurried lunchers and late-night snackers. Also well worth trying here is a hot-dog du lac, a "steamie" (steamed hot dog) with mayo, cabbage, and a few fries on top.

At this restaurant, inside the museum-like Auberge Saint-Antoine, dishes change with the seasons, but fresh, locally sourced ingredients are at the core of the classic prix-fixe (C$85 per person) menu. The space has stone walls, attractive wooden floors, and exposed beams from the building's warehouse days, in the early 1800s. The wine list draws from a 12,000-bottle cellar, with well-chosen cuvées coming from all over the world.

This cozy burger joint with brick-and-stone walls has a wide range of topping combinations, daily special burgers, and French fries are served with a dollop of homemade mayonnaise (there are five varieties available) and poppy seeds. Salads, sandwiches, and a daily dessert made fresh by the pastry chef are also available. This original location was so successful that it spawned several other branches, notably in the Vieux-Port area of the Lower Town.

Spectacular views of the whole city are not the only reason to climb up to this rotating restaurant with unobstructed, panoramic views. The service here is friendly and well-managed, and the food is unfussy, creative, and delicious—try the roasted Arctic char with lemon gnocchi and shiitakes or something from the solid brunch menu (on weekends).

Small dishes served in the purest tradition of izakayas (Japanese taverns) in a venue that's flooded with light and minimally decorated with birch and green plants. On the menu, just classics: yakotori (mini skewers), sashimi, okonomiyaki, and dumplings, as well as a tataki that changes daily. The cocktails are as pretty as they are tasty (case in point with the Japanese Eyeball), but the real star here is the list of imported sake. If it's particularly cold outside, why not try your luck at Ramen Honō next door for a comforting soup.

Steak frites (steak with fries) is on menus everywhere in Québec City and in lots of other places throughout the world, but this popular and lively establishment has a 30-year reputation as the master of the dish—L'entrecôte is a particular sirloin cut, usually long and relatively thin. Diners at this red-and-blue-trimmed house choose between three steak sizes, and each comes smothered in the restaurant's signature peppery sauce with a heaping pile of crispy fries. Other French fare graces the menu, such as tender duck confit and smoked salmon salads. For C$35 and up, depending on the size of the steak, the table d'hôte (prix fixe) is a good value. It ends with decadent chocolate profiteroles, proving that this restaurant is more than just beef.

At this lovely crepe shop, buckwheat flour crepes are filled with simple ham and cheese, or fancier combos like duck confit with onion marmalade, while a wheat crepe with salted caramel and sweet Chantilly cream makes a good dessert. The large shop also has bistro items like cod beignets, charcuterie plates, and cassoulet, and there's a nice selection of ciders and beers.

Next to the cruise terminal in the Old Port, this massive, Parisian-bistro-style restaurant with etched-glass dividers and palm trees has a spectacular view. The outdoor terrace in front overlooks the St. Lawrence River, while the side verrière (glass atrium) looks onto l'Agora amphitheater and the old stone Customs House. The menu, which isn't spectacular by any means but absolutely gets the job done, includes such classics as steak frites, rotisserie chicken, calamari, and duck liver pâté with raisin jam.

This busy, noisy Paris-like bistro featuring artwork by its namesake Canadian painter and patios in front and back has been around for more than 40 years and is a big local literary hangout, with a selection of great coffee, tea, and desserts. Open every day from early morning to late evening, Krieghoff serves specialties that include salmon, quiche, la Toulouse (a big French sausage with sauerkraut), steak with French fries, boudin (pig-blood sausage), and la Bavette (hanger steak).

At this refreshing alternative to the Old City's ubiquitous white-linen bistros, you can get fast food that's also high quality. Burgers made from grass-fed cattle served on soft artisanal brioche buns make this a prime locale for lunch goers. With long tables, red accents, and paper-towel rolls in place of napkin holders, the interior has a retro touch without feeling overly folksy or forced. Save room for dessert, which includes heavenly dark-chocolate milkshakes, chocolate ganache, or peanut-butter ice-cream sandwiches.

The premise already has foodies salivating: "anthropomorphic universe" of local and organic cuisine. Chef Stéphane Modat, whose fame on this side of the pond is largely due to his masterful time in the kitchen of the Fairmont Château Frontenac, surrounds himself with precious collaborators (the name of the restaurant, "the clan," is by no means a coincidence) and brings his characterful verve to boreal gastronomy. Back in his open-plan kitchen, Modat can't be bothered by decorum; dress in slacks or in shorts, dress however you like, just show up and enjoy the ride. This is the kind of place where it's best to just trust the process—and savoir-faire—and enjoy every miraculous bite. The menu is not posted online and changes daily according to market arrivals (the geographical coordinates of each producer and gardener are listed on the menu), but the mussels, harvested in the icy and remote waters of Côte Nord, are certainly among the best in the world.

The café dishes at this cheerful chain, whose name translates into the Crazy Pig, include delicious tartares, steak with fries, hearty soups, a selection of international dishes like satays and "général Dingue" chicken, as well as substantial desserts like sugar pie with vanilla cream. Sidewalk tables and indoor dining rooms artfully blend the chic and the antique; black-and-white checkerboard floors contrast with ancient stone walls. The best-kept secret in Québec City is the full breakfast, served here all week.

If Québec City had a dining hall of fame, Le Continental would be there among the best. Since 1956 this historic spot, steps from the Château Frontenac, has been serving solid, traditionally gourmet dishes, such as tableside-prepared orange duckling and filet mignon, which is flambéed in a cognac sauce and then luxuriously covered in a gravy seasoned with mustard and sage. Try the truffled sweetbread ravioli or the foie gras with vegetable confit.

At one of the city's most romantic and treasured restaurants, chef Jean-Luc Boulay entices diners with such creations as the Foie Gras experience (with five variations of this French delicacy) and Arctic char with buttermilk sauce and lemon vervain oil. For dessert, try their seasonal hazelnut chocolate crème brûlée. They are also famous for their robust wine cellar, which contains over 15,000 bottles from around the world making it one of the largest in Canada. Paul McCartney and Sting have both eaten (and most certainly drank) here. Sauces are generally light, with no flour or butter. The C$150 discovery menu has nine courses.