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.

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.

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!

I was so thirsty after a hot day of exploring and this cafe offered a handful of non-coffee,…read morenon-matcha alternatives. I normally don't love ordering iced teas at cafes because I feel like they're overpriced for a simple black to but I was excited to see this cafe offered a unique a ginger apple(?) iced tea which was not too sweet and hit the spot to refresh my hydration levels. I topped it off with a pistachio croissant stuffed with pistachio creme. Logistics: - indoor and outdoor seating - limited street parking nearby

It's open at 630 and it gets busy quick for a reason. The owner and her husband bake their own…read moremuffins and croissants. Coffee and espresso is sustainably sourced and they have a wide variety of teas and coffee. I must stop for your early morning outings or afternoon. Pick me up.

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!

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 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.

No nonsense Toboggan ride, line ups from the end of the line is about 45 mins. Each ticket is good…read morefor one ride / person. You will need two tickets to go down even on the same toboggan. They have about three to four times the number of toboggans to the number of lanes, so there is a constant stream going the whole time. It is a very iconic and speedy ride, definately enjoy if you are in town. If you are just walking by, just go for it, as they do close the ride based on weather conditions. They post updates on the store doors if there are any changes to regular operations. The walkways are slippery, this is the case for all of old Quebec, have the right boots on and take your time. Dragging the toboggan along the path up the ride is not too difficult, but again, watch your footing! Will do this again whenever we are in town and as soon as we can instead of waiting!

This review is just for a short visit for a hot beverage, and not for the toboggan ride. We were…read morestaying at the Chateau Frontenac Hotel and had walked around for a while in the cold and snow in December. We thought it would be nice to grab a hot cocoa and sit indoors after the sun went down. We ordered at the counter and another server prepared our drink for us. We put extra cinnamon in it. Cocoa was decent if not outstanding. Since it was late, only a few people were doing the ride and we couldn't really see them go down from inside the little shack. Anyway, we got what we wanted -- a hot beverage indoors after being out in the cold.

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.

It's a very casual environment - more like a cafe than a restaurant. Everything was clean and the…read moredecorations and the colors were warm and appealing. The menu is not extensive - it's boards on the wall. It makes it very easy to pick or decide if this place is for you or not. We were very excited for crepes and croissants. We were able to get both. We manage to snag enough seats for the 6 of us, we pulled some tables together. It's not a large space, however, there were a couple of parties that had at least 5 people. You order at the counter and then take a seat or step to the side and wait for your name to be called. If you are sitting they will bring the food to you. We ordered a few crepes which we all loved. Nutella, Western, Traditional. Made fresh to order - the kids really enjoyed watching the gentleman make them. They were delicious and beautifully created. The Almond croissant - was flakey and delicious. I would definitely return and recommend.

though it is a French restaurant, it is based out of Austin, Texas. This is a chain joint, located…read moreright outside of Notre-Dame de Québec Basilica-Cathedral. Cute, cool cafe. We ordered- Croissant, Coffee, Crepe. We enjoyed our little snack time, with a sip of coffee and crepe, watching people outside... I like small, cute cafes instead of big corporate chain restaurants. It feels like culture and more personal. This incredibly flaky, scrumptious croissant makes the crispiest sound of 'em all. Filled with buttery goodness, Paillard's almond croissant is also not to be missed.