La Maison Smith at 23 Rue Notre-Dame in the heart of Old Quebec City is pure magic. I'm still…read morethinking about it weeks later. Picture this: soft snow falling on the cobblestone streets of Petit-Champlain, fairy lights glowing, and the warm light spilling out of this beautiful little café. I ducked in both mornings of my short trip and could have happily stayed all day. The interior is perfect Québécois charm: exposed stone walls, wooden beams, cozy lighting, and that unbeatable smell of fresh baking. First morning I ordered the pistachio latte and the quiche Florentine. I would legitimately sell my firstborn for that pistachio latte: silky, perfectly balanced, with a rich, natural pistachio flavor that no syrup could ever match. One sip and I was ruined for life. The quiche was flawless: buttery, flaky crust, creamy spinach-and-cheese filling, baked to golden perfection. Absolute breakfast heaven. I braved a full-on snowglobe blizzard the next morning just to come back. This time I paired the same life-changing pistachio latte with the almond croissant. I'd hand over my other kid for daily access to these croissants (kidding... mostly). Impossibly crisp and flaky outside, cloud-soft inside, generously stuffed with fragrant almond paste, topped with toasted almonds and powdered sugar. I ate it slowly by the window while the snow piled up on Rue Notre-Dame and honestly felt like the luckiest person alive. The baristas were friendly, the vibe warm and unhurried, and everything was flawless. If you're in Quebec City, make La Maison Smith non-negotiable (and budget time to visit at least twice). Five stars isn't enough. This place is winter-morning perfection.

The location of La Maison is pretty central - it's literally in a very touristy part of Old Quebec…read more(Petit Champlain). It also gets pretty busy. Coffee wise - I think it's okay. The latte I get had a weak taste of espresso and tasted a bit more watery than I'd like. I got a pastry in the morning. Nothing special but also nothing bad. Perhaps their other drinks are better but my latte was simply okay. Service was fast and prompt though.

Nektar has a spacious layout with tons of seating and plenty of electrical outlets, which makes it…read morean easy spot to settle in, recharge (literally), and take a breather. The drinks were thoughtfully crafted, and you can tell the barista takes real pride in their work. Friendly service, great energy, and a calm atmosphere that makes you want to linger a little longer. Highly recommended if you're nearby -- it's the kind of café that quietly becomes a go‑to.

Saturday morning and a great cup of coffee is what Nektar delivered…read more We had the medium mokkaccino ( mocha) with almond milk, half decaf ( my love of coffee is for its flavor but I can do without the heart palpitations) and a medium Americano. We also shared a raspberry chocolate pastry which was okay. Maybe better if it was toasted but it wasn't offered as an option. My mocha cappuccino was deep in flavor and cocoa powder, not syrup, was used. Even with the almond milk it was still rich and the milk to coffee ratio was just right. The americano was a good cup. Interior is clean, modern and cozy. Seating is generous and spacious. Their counter is nice and centered. Our barista was efficient and friendly. Would recommend this in the downtown area, about 1.25 miles away from old Quebec.

Paillard is a MUST if you love French pastries or any french food for that matter! The cases are a…read morestream of breads, cookies, croissants, rolls, macaroons, sandwhiches, quiche and the list goes on! I heard about this place so of course I went in. It's hard to pick as each item looks better than the last. Sticking with the basics though, croissant, almond filled croissant and a hazelnut roll. Oh my gosh. The almond filling was amazing. Like a marzipan but lighter and more almond flavor. Generously filled into a sliced croissant. The hazelnut roll;similiar to a cinnamon roll but an elevated taste with real hazelnut paste. Basically everything in that bakery is top drawer as they are using pure ingredients. Definitely stop in and try anything. No disappointments only regrets that you eat more!

Fresh is best and Paillard does this so right! We were checking out of our hotel and looking for a…read morequick breakfast to grab before heading to the airport. The place is huge when you walk in, lots of places to sit and enjoy you baked good. We got coffees to go and two cheese croissants and a toasted smoked salmon bagel. The cheese croissants were fresh, fluffy, buttery and layered. They just do pastries better in QC than home (Vancouver). The cheese was nicely distributed through the croissant too. My salmon bagel was also a star! So fresh, good toppings and great crunch. The bagel was chewy and delicious too. Service was fast and we enjoyed everything we had!

A quaint café about 7 minutes away from the Château Frontenac…read more The staff was friendly and very patient with me while I tried to order in French. She replied with English for me when I was struggling at the end. I appreciated her patience while I tried. We ordered a vanilla latte and a matcha latte. A plus for having lactose free milk even if it's for an extra cost. Both drinks were really good and the matcha was not too bitter. The raspberry cheesecake (un gâteau du fromage aux framboise) was creamy smooth with a perfect balance of sweet and tart. A great place for a cup of coffee and a sweet treat to help you continue to traverse the hills of old Quebec.

We thoroughly enjoyed 2 breakfasts here.  My husband enjoyed the chocolate almond pastry along with…read moresome delicious hot chocolate.  I had great breakfasts with an apple crumb pastry, a pecan maple muffin and a small cranberry orange loaf with walnuts.  (if you ask they will warm up the pastries for you) Everything was delicious and the staff is so friendly.  Thanks so much!

Pleasant and friendly staff. The croissant was beyond good, it was perfect! Light, flaky, the…read morealmond filling was perfect without being overly sweet. Such a treat! Cappuccino was perfect, small size was just right!

I had a great breakfast the other day at this café. I ordered an iced latte with maple syrup and a…read morekey lime pie slice, and the key lime pie was so sweet and syrupy. I love key lime pie, and order it whenever it is available. This did not disappoint! The woman working the counter was very friendly and polite. This is a cute café when you're looking for a quick and easy meal.

In the heart of a tourist street that it seemed to also have locals. They roast their own beans and…read moreserve for here orders in real cups. Limited seating inside and out but we were able to snag a bench. Limited selection of pastries, so we went down the street, which was a wise choice.

Love this little hip coffee joint! The first time I went was two years ago as we were travelling…read morefrom Vancouver and my husband loves a good cup of coffee. He found this spot and we loved it. So this year I took my mom and sister when we travelled again to QC! It was just as I remembered, their coffee is super tasty, I got a flat white and my sister got a latté. I love the decor inside with all the coffee bags and the wooden interior. Service is always friendly too and they make the coffee quick. Highly recommend this spot! Also who doesn't love saying CANTOOK over and over - just rolls off the tongue!

We had a nice breakfast at La Maison Smith. We enjoyed a delicious vegan sandwich and an almond…read morecroissant. Coffees were well made including a flat white and their drip coffee. Nice ambiance to enjoy a relaxing but non- fussy breakfast. Service was fast, friendly and efficient.

La Maison Smith, a cozy Escape in Old Québec…read more Stopped in for a little downtime (and a break from the freezing Québec winds), and La Maison Smith delivered exactly what I needed. Perfectly tucked into Old Québec, it's the kind of café you wander into once and immediately want to claim as "your spot." The menu has everything--coffee, tea, and even alcoholic drinks if you're feeling extra cozy. I went with a London Fog and a Maple Latte, both served in giant, soul‑warming mugs. Absolute comfort in liquid form. The space is bright and roomy with high tops, small tables, and counter seating overlooking the street--ideal for people‑watching or thawing out while pretending you're in a postcard. A lovely little refuge in the heart of the city.

We sampled a bunch of different menu items. The classic beef tartare, one of the listed favourites,…read morecan be divisive and not for everyone. Personally, it was a treat for me trying out something different, but I do not think everyone would appreciate its almost raw meat and liver-like texture. The Tartare comes with fries, a salad, and crouton to round up the order. We upgraded the side of fries that came with the Tartare into their Tout Cochon poutine. I was happy with that option that way I was able to sample their house poutine without needing to dedicate a full meal order for it. I can say this was among the best poutines I have had. The gravy was rich and flavourful. The poutine was also loaded with a variety of different proteins like the Gaspor farm ham and the bacon-wrapped sausage. The perron cheese curds also perfectly topped off the whole dish. Our last order was the Quebec pork chop marinated and grilled with maple and tamari. It was served with apple chutney, sweet potato mash, and seasonal vegetables. It is exactly as you would expect with the ingredient details of the dish's name. You get a lot of different flavour profiles and textures with the meal order. Some saltiness with the pork chop then some sweetness with the apple chutney. Meaty tenderness with the pork chop, mushiness with the potato mash, and then some slightly crunchiness with the seasonal vegetables. We dined on Sunday lunchtime the day before Family Day. There were people waiting to be seated by the time we arrived, but fortunately our group of only 2 people has a table spot available so did not need to wait. We were led down flights of stairs to the lower floor which was level with the street below. The whole place with its classic walls and decor exudes with classic charm.

Stopped here for lunch during our tour with about 50 minutes to eat before catching our St…read more Lawrence River cruise. After a long morning, I was starving and needed something substantial. I ordered the half rack of ribs, which was a mixed bag. The flavor was good, but several ribs were so burnt they were completely inedible--straight to the discard pile. They came with a well-dressed Caesar salad featuring seasoned croutons and delicious shaved bacon, plus sliced fried potatoes that were crispy and not greasy in the least. The thick layer of BBQ sauce wasn't quite my style--I'm a dry rub girl--but I was too hungry to care much. No photos because I devoured everything. My dining companion had a chicken sandwich she raved about. She ordered a Nordic spritz while I indulged in some Quebec cider. Honestly, I expected more pork options given the restaurant's name, but they fed us quickly and efficiently, which was exactly what we needed. No real complaints except for those burnt ribs. The interior has eclectic, cool-looking decor that's worth checking out. Our waitress provided quick and efficient service as well.

Amazing latte and service on a very cold Montreal winter day. Will definitely come back if give…read more The chance!

Great place to grab a drink and pastries! They have so many flavors of donuts to choose from…read more I ordered an iced chai latte and ordered half a dozen donuts (strawberry shortcake, tiramisu, matcha, passion fruit, chocolate earl grey, and citron). The strawberry shortcake was my favorite but they were all pretty good! The chai was great as well. Other than the food, the overall decor and ambiance of the cafe was great as well. Very modern. The staff was friendly and the clothes/tote bag they had was very cute as well!

On our very first night in Québec City, we wandered into Chez Boulay Bistro Boréal looking for…read moredinner. We didn't have a reservation, but were fortunate enough to find seats at the bar--and honestly, it was perfect. For me, it was even preferable to the dining room, allowing us to watch the team at work while enjoying the warm and inviting atmosphere. We began with the Duck Foie Gras Terrine with pine forest spikenard, brioche tartine with larch and buckwheat praline, and a garnish of apples and aronia. We also added the sautéed foie gras, which elevated an already exceptional appetizer into something truly memorable. For our main courses, I chose the Québec Braised Beef Cheek with miso celeriac purée, roasted celeriac, wintergreen herb relish, and wild caraway veal jus. The beef was meltingly tender and deeply flavorful. My dining partner selected the Elzéar Venison Pâté en Croûte with balm poplar, Isle-aux-Grues plum mustard, hawthorn relish, and pimpina gel. Beautifully executed and rich with distinctly boreal flavors, it was both refined and comforting. We also shared a side of the duck breast lacquered with cranberries and schisandra, served with polenta flavored with dune pepper and braised winter lettuce. The standout for my dining partner was the polenta, formed into a crisp log with a beautifully crunchy exterior and soft center. He declared it his favorite preparation of polenta ever. From the attentive service to the inviting ambiance, everything was outstanding. Located in the heart of Old Québec on Rue Saint-Jean, Chez Boulay provided a delicious and memorable welcome to our holiday week. It was the perfect introduction to the cuisine, ingredients, and hospitality of Québec. Great food, great service, great atmosphere--simply perfection. Highly recommended. We would happily return on our next visit to Québec City.

We found Chez Boulay on Yelp. We did not have reservations but the staff were able to seat us at…read morethe bar. The restaurant was hopping and all the tables were full on a Wednesday evening. We ordered their signature beef cheeks accompanied by the house wine and the halibut offering. The beef cheeks together with the house wine were an amazing combination. The halibut was perfectly cooked, well seasoned and was accompanied by delicious kale and squash sides. The wait staff knowledgeable about the food and super-attentive in a way that enhanced our experience. Service was definitely fast, friendly and efficient.