20+ Great Restaurants in Old Quebec City

Last Updated on April 7, 2024 by Pamela MacNaughtan

There are plenty of restaurants in old town Quebec City to dine in while you’re here. Everything from low-budget quick eats to fine dining; poutine, burgers, and pizzas to French onion soup, shrimp flambée, and elegant tasting menus. 

As of April 2023, there are over 100 restaurants in Old Quebec, which can make it a challenge to choose where to eat – especially if your Quebec City vacation is only a couple of days long (truthfully, four days is the recommended minimum stay). In this post, you’ll find recommendations on the best restaurants in old town Quebec City, no matter what your budget may be.

Explore delicious restaurants in Old Quebec on your own, or take a walking food tour – this food tour is for moderate budgets, while this one is a high-end food tour both are quite good!

The Historic District of Old Quebec, as it is known officially, became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985. The district, however, was created in 1963 by the National Assembly of Quebec, after years of restoration and preservation of the historic buildings and sites in the area. 

Old Quebec City incorporates four neighbourhoods: Upper Town (Haute-Ville), Petit-Champlain, Place-Royale, and Old Port (which are commonly referred to as Lower Town). The divider between Upper and Lower towns is the rocky cliff known as Cap Diamant. 

Upper Town is where you’ll find the world-famous Château Frontenac, panoramic views from Terrasse Pierre-Dugua-de-mons, and the fortifications of Old Quebec (complete with cannons!). Lower Town is where Quebec City began, with Samuel de Champlain‘s first trading post residing where Notre-Dame des victoires now stands.

What are the best restaurants in old town Quebec City?

Let’s dive in, shall we? The restaurants in old town Quebec City listed below are organized by budget: gotta eat to thrive! (low), I’m a foodie (moderate), and what’s money? (high).

Bon appétit!

** All prices are in Canadian dollars (CAD) and are subject to change.

Gotta eat to thrive! (low budget)

Buffet de l’Antiquaire

This is one of the most popular diners in Quebec, and certainly a go-to place for a hearty breakfast after a night of drinking or a long day of travelling. They serve Québécois comfort foods from 6 am to 9 pm, including heart-stopping breakfast poutine, tourtière, poutine, pâté chinois, and more. Sit at the counter and watch the chefs at work, or slide into a booth. In summer, there is a small patio area out front.

Old Port (lower town) • Québécois diner • 95, rue Saint-Paul • lebuffetdelantiquaire.com • Open daily, 6 am to 9 pm • menu range: $5 to $23

Au Petit Coin Breton

Not much has changed at Au Petit Coin Breton since it opened in 1963, and that is part of its charm. The tables are very close together, the wait staff are adorned in traditional Breton costumes, and the paper placemats are so retro, they’re kind of cool. The specialty here is crêpes, both savoury and sweet. It’s the entire reason why people eat here, and why you should as well. The French onion soup is good too. They also serve delicious traditional breakfasts, salads and gratins. One of my favourite restaurants in old town Quebec City!

Upper Town • Crêperie • 1029, rue Saint-Jean • aupetitcoinbreton.ca • Open daily, 8 am to 3 pm; until 9:30 pm fri to sun • Menu range: $8.25 to $23

Chungchun Kogo Coréen

Chungchun is a popular restaurant franchise, with several locations in South Korea, Japan, and  France (as well as a few other countries). In 2019, they opened up in Toronto, and now they’ve arrived in Quebec City! Chungchun serves Korean-style pogos, commonly known as kogos. They have kogos coated in ramen noodles, squid ink, chicken nuggets, fries, and crispy sweet potato fries. The stuffings change, too. Some are just sausage, but there are options with cheese or cheese and bacon. Vegetarian options are available.

Upper Town • Korean street eats • 1120, rue Saint-Jean • chungchunq.com • Open daily 11:30 am to 7:30 pm, until 10 pm wed to sat • Menu range: $5.75 to $8.50

Chez Ashton

Chez Ashton is a Quebec institution and one of the best places to eat traditional poutine. It was first opened in 1969 by Ashton Leblond in L’Ancienne-Lorette as a fries truck. By 1972, poutine was on the menu and the first brick-and-mortar restaurant opened in 1976. Today. There are 23 Chez Ashton’s in the Quebec City region, all of them serving yummy poutines, as well as burgers, hot dogs, and roast beef sandwiches. 

Upper Town • Quebec fast food • 54, Côte du Palais • chezashton.ca • Open daily, 11 am to 8 pm; until 10 pm fri & sat • Menu range: $4.55 to $14

I’m a foodie (moderate budget)

Bistro l’Orygine

The dining room is light and airy, with turquoise banquets, massive rattan lights hanging from the ceiling, and a wave-shaped bar. There’s a terrace in summer, which fills up quickly. The menu features dishes made with local ingredients, often organic. The menu changes with each season. A 6-course tasting menu is offered, a delectable way to experience many of the dishes on the menu. An à la carte menu is also offered, which includes vegan options. Read the review.

Place-Royale (lower town) • Local cuisine • 36, rue Saint-Pierre • 418-872-4386 • lorygine.com • Open wed to sun 5 pm to 10 pm, 9:30 am to 1 pm for sun brunch • mains: $26 to $95 • Reservations recommended

Restaurant Sagamité

Savour Indigenous cuisine at Sagamité in Old Quebec City. This restaurant opened in 2019 after a fire ripped through the restaurant in Wendake (set to reopen in May 2023). Try Indigenous dishes like yatista, sagamité soup, or höndawihch. They also serve tomahawk steaks, tartare, pasta stuffed with venison and bison, and more. It’s an unforgettable dining experience. It’s the best restaurant in old town Quebec City for Indigenous cuisine.

Upper Town • Indigenous cuisine • 68 ½, rue Saint-Louis • 581-491-6999 • sagamite.com • Open daily, 8 am to 10 pm; until 11 pm fri & sat • Mains: $21 to $170

Lapin Sauté

This charming French restaurant is right in the heart of Petit-Champlain. The house is made of fieldstones, and there are vines, terra cotta pots, and rabbits decorating the façade. The dining room is cozy, and can feel a little crowded, but the food is worth it. The menu features cassoulets, rabbit poutine, rabbit leg, and rabbit pot pie, to name a couple. In summer, there is a lovely terrace space next to Parc Félix Leclerc.

Petit-Champlain (lower town) • French cuisine • 52, rue du Petit-Champlain • 418-692-5325 • lapinsaute.com • Open tues 4 pm to 9 pm; wed to fri 11 am to 9 pm; sat & sun 9 am to 9 pm • Mains: $20 to $34

Bistro St-Malo

Similar to most restaurants in old town Quebec City, Bistro St-Malo resides in a stone house with thick walls and exposed wood beams running across the ceiling. The dining room is small, and there is a patio in the front in summer. The menu is mostly classic French, with the occasional Mediterranean dish appearing on the menu here and there. The restaurant is known for its mussels marinara, as well as sweetbreads, cassoulet, and osso bucco. The French onion soup is quite good, too. Be sure to save room for dessert and order the tarte tatin – it’s truly incredible. Read the review.

Old Port (lower town) • French & Mediterranean cuisine • 75 , rue Saint-Paul • 418-692-2004 • bistrostmalo.com • Open tues to sun 5 pm to 8:30 pm • Mains: $26 to $40 • Reservations recommended

Chez Boulay

Facing rue Saint-Jean, Chez Boulay is a popular Old Quebec City restaurant for nordic/boréal cuisine. Dishes feature ducks, fowl,  wild game meats, and fish like salmon, char, walleye, and trout. There are also plenty of root vegetables, berries, and herbs foraged in the boréal forest. Completed dishes are packed with earthy flavours. Think of it as refined comfort food. Prêt-a-manger meals at Comptoir Boréal are prepared by the Chez Boulay kitchen (same owners). Vegetarian options are available.

Upper Town • Nordic Cuisine • 1110, rue Saint-Jean • 418-380-8166 • chezboulay.com • Open daily, 5 pm to 10 pm; 11:30 am to 1:30 pm thurs & fri • Mains: $27 to $40 • reservations recommended

Matto

This family-owned Italian restaurant is incredibly popular with both tourists and locals and for good reason. It’s in the same building as Hôtel 71 and provides room service to the hotel. The restaurant is black and gold, with warm lighting and loud music. It’s cozy and exciting, and if you’re dining alone, sitting at the bar is highly recommended. There is a small private dining room which can be reserved. The menu has a delicious array of antipasto, fresh pasta, pizzas, and more. The pappardelle with mushrooms in white wine sauce, and the agnolotti are particularly good. The escargot à la sambuca, when offered, is highly recommended. Read the review.

Old Port (lower town) • Italian cuisine • 71, rue Saint-Pierre • 418-266-9444 • ilmatto.ca • Open daily, 5:30 pm to 10:30 pm; open for lunch on fri 11:30 am to 2: 30 pm • Mains: $18 to $48 • Reservations recommended

La Buche

At La Buche, you can have a Quebec sugar shack experience without leaving the city. There are regular tables, large picnic tables, gingham napkins, and long wood sleds lining the ceiling. There is also a quirky bathroom. The menu is filled with Québécois comfort foods, with a slightly gourmet twist. Try tourtière, pea soup, shepherd’s pie, and more – as well as the pouding chômeur topped with bacon and foie gras for extra decadence. Come for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner, and make sure you’re hungry. Read the review.

Upper Town • Québécois cuisine • 49, rue Saint-Louis • 418-694-7272 • restolabuche.com • Open daily, 12 pm to 9 pm • Mains: $18 to $41 • Reservations recommended

Le Chic Shack

A short walk from Château Frontenac, Le Chic Shack has been a hotspot for several years. They have communal tables, as well as tables for one two, or four people. If available, sit at the bar tables in front of the windows, which are removed on hot summer days. There is a patio in summer, but seating is limited. The menu is gourmet poutines, burgers, fries, and salads. You can also order boozy milkshakes or hot chocolate. Miam!

Upper Town • Poutine and burgers • 15, rue du Fort • 418-692-1485 • lechicshack.ca • Open daily, 12 pm to 9 pm • Mains: $9 to $22

Alphonse cuisine & cocktails

Once home to the Desjardins bank, Alphonse cuisine & cocktails opened up during the pandemic, and continue to thrive. Two walls of floor-to-ceiling windows bathe the restaurant in light, and it’s perched across from Hôtel Clarendon, making it a great place to take a break while exploring. The penny-baled bar is quite spectacular. The menu is small and several dishes change with the season. Try the Brussels sprouts caesar salad or Nicoise salad, both are delicious and menu staples. Read the review.

Upper Town • French bistro • 19, rue des Jardins • 418-694-0707 • alphonse.ca • Open tues to sat 11:30 am to 10 pm, until 11pm fri & sat • Mains: $18 to $39 

Bello Ristorante

This popular Italian restaurant is close to the Saint-Louis Gate and La Citadelle. Bello was opened by Yannick Parent, who is also behind La Bûche and a couple of other restaurants in old town Quebec City. Black and gold are the restaurant’s colour scheme, and the terrace is a popular spot in summer. The menu is a delicious journey with risotto, fresh pasta, wood-fired pizzas, and tartare.  

Upper Town • Italian cuisine • 73, rue Saint-Louis • 418-694-0030 • belloristorante.com • Open daily, 11:30 am to 3 pm; 5 pm to 10 pm • Mains: $16 to $60 • Reservations recommended

Le Bedeau

A new addition to Old Quebec in 2022, Le Bedeau is owned by the same team behind Chez Boulay and La Botanists. It’s a long skinny restaurant with warm tones and mirrored walls that make it look bigger. It’s a great spot for cocktails, and the menu serves mouth-watering tapas dishes. There’s patatas bravas, scallop crudo, muhammara with focaccia, veal carpaccio, and more. The cheese and charcuterie platters are quite spectacular as well. It’s a perfect spot if you are looking for a light dinner, a couple of glasses of wine, and perhaps a cocktail.  

Upper Town • Wine & Tapas • 1098, rue Saint-Jean • 418-641-1236 • lebedeau.com • Open wed to sat, 5:30 pm to 10 pm • Mains: $9 to $22 

Don Vegan

This is an eclectic and funky restaurant across from Place FAO and one of the only vegan restaurants in old town Quebec City. Cozy up to the bar and admire the vibrant artwork, or if it’s summer, sit out on the patio. The menu is small and features foods from a variety of cuisines. There is miso ramen, burrito bowls, bibimbap, and beat tartare – to name a few. The food is delicious, even omnivores enjoy eating here.

Old Port (lower town) • Vegan • 97, rue du Sault-au-Matelot • 418-694-9994 • donresto.com • Open mon to fri 11:30 am to 10 pm; sat & sun 10 am to 2 pm and 5 pm to 10 pm • Mains: $20 to $26 • Reservations recommended

Q-de-sac

Tucked into a corner of rue Cul-de-Sac (also known as umbrella alley – which may or may not return in 2023), Q-de-Sac is a resto-pub. It’s rustic inside, often with spots playing on the TV. In summer, the outdoor patio is almost always full. The menu is filled with wood-fired pizzas, hearty poutines, burgers, and more. The French onion soup is particularly good, as it’s baked in a wood-fired oven.   

Petit-Champlain (lower town) • Pizza & Poutine • 10, rue Cul-de-Sac • 418-692-4862 • restopubqdesac.com • Open wed to sun, 11:30 am to 9 pm; until 4pm on sun • Mains: $18 to $33 

Chez Rioux et Pettigrew

Opening its doors in 2017, this restaurant is known for its menu of local cuisine, which leans heavily on dishes of meat and fish. Order à la carte, or try the $79 tasting menu (which is always a surprise). The menu changes based on what is seasonally available, and ingredients are almost always locally sourced. Try the char or duck breast when available. There is a yummy Sunday brunch, too. 

Old Port (lower town) • Quebec cuisine • 160, rue Saint-Paul • 418-694-4448 • chezriouxetpettigrew.com • Open daily, 5:30 pm to 10 pm; brunch on sun 9 am to 1:30 pm • Mains: $19 to $36 • Reservations recommended

Pub d’Orsay

Steps away from Notre-Dame de Quebec Basilica-Cathedral, Pub D’Orsay is a very popular bistro with a heavy wood bar in the center of the main floor, comfy banquette seating, stained glass windows, and extended seating on the second floor. Truthfully, it kind of looks like Cheers. Come for mussels, steaks, burgers, escargots, and French onion soup. They have nachos and wings, too. In summer, be prepared to wait in line for a table.

Upper Town • French bistro • 65, rue du Buade • dorsayrestaurant.com • Open daily, 11:30 am to 9 pm; until 10 pm fri & sat • Menu range: $15 to $35

beClub Bistro

beClub is in an 1827 stone house, a couple of steps from bustling rue Saint-Jean. The restaurant is small but has two floors for dining. The menu is equally small and features bison carpaccio, barley risotto with tuna tataki, steak, and charcuterie. The restaurant is known for its club sandwich, but at its current price of $20, it may be better to skip the sandwich. 

Upper Town • French cuisine • 17, rue Saint-Stanislas • 418-692-5488 • beclub.ca • Open tues to sat 5 pm to 10 pm • Mains: $20 to $85 • Reservations recommended

What’s money? (high budget)

Tanière3

This is one of the more unique dining experiences in Quebec City. There’s a door in a quiet alley, which requires a password to enter, and a stone cellar with an arched ceiling and warm lighting. The restaurant offers two tasting menu experiences, the dining room or sitting in plush white chairs around a bar overlooking the chefs in action. The menu is 15 to 20 courses, each one offering a small impressively gourmet creation. If you have allergies, it’s best to mention them when making your reservation. This is hands down, the most amazing restaurants in old town Quebec City.

Place-Royale (lower town) • Local cuisine • 36 1/2 , rue Saint-Pierre • 418-872-4386 • taniere3.com • Open thurs to sun, 5 pm to 10 pm • Mains: $190 to $240 • Reservations required

Aux Anciens Canadiens

One of the most iconic Old Quebec City restaurants, Aux Anciens Canadiens is located in a late 17th-century white house with a red roof and trim. A neighbourhood staple for over 40 years, this restaurant is known for its Québécois cuisine. The menu includes dishes such as wild meat creton, two styles of tourtière, bison bourguignon with creamy blueberry wine sauce, and more. Order à la carte or table d’hôte (which is $37 for lunch, $58 for dinner).

Upper Town • Québécois cuisine • 34, rue Saint-Louis • 418-692-1627 • auxancienscanadiens.qc.ca • Open daily, 12 pm to 9 pm • Mains: $37 to $56 or table d’hôte $60 

Restaurant Le Clan

Chef Stéphane Modat opened the doors to Le Clan in 2021, and it has quickly become a favourite in Old Quebec. The restaurant is tucked into a quiet building on rue des Jardins, with the kitchen just inside the door. The dining room, which is up the stairs, is cozy and intimate. The tasting menu is a scintillating culinary journey, and they now offer a handful of à la carte options as well. All dishes on the menu feature ingredients and foodstuffs from the province of Quebec. Read the review.

Upper Town • Québécois cuisine • 44, rue des Jardins • 418-692-0333 • restaurantleclan.com • Open 5:30 pm to 10 pm, mon, thurs–sun • Tasting menu: $69 to $99; mains: $25 to $52 • Reservations recommended

Chez Muffy

Located inside Auberge Saint-Antoine, Chez Muffy is named after one of the owners, Mrs. Price, whose nickname is Muffy. The restaurant resides in an old stone warehouse and has views of the Saint-Lawrence River, and a cozy country French feel. The menu leans heavily on local foods, many of which are grown on the restaurant’s farm. They offer a 4-course Table d’Hôte (no more à la carte), which changes from time to time. Visit their website for current offerings. 

Old Port (lower town) • Country French • 10, rue Saint-Antoine • 418-692-1022 • saint-antoine.com • Open daily, 6 pm to 8:30 pm • 4-Course table d’hôte: $120 • Reservations recommended

Le Continental

Le Continental is one of the most iconic restaurants in old town Quebec City. It opened its doors in 1956, serving classic French cuisine in a dining room adorned with dark wood, and tables covered with crisp white linens. It’s old-school French dining at its finest, and even Anthony Bourdain has dined here! Caesar salad is prepared tableside, as well as flambé dishes – the shrimp with whisky is spectacular. It remains a favourite spot with many Québécers.

Upper Town • French cuisine • 26, rue Saint-Louis • 418-694-9995 • restaurantlecontinental.com • Open daily 4 pm to 10:30 pm • Mains: $43 to $104 • Reservations recommended

What are your favourite restaurants in old town Quebec City?

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