Quebec City is highly regarded as a foodie destination, but it wasn’t until I tried some Old Quebec restaurants for myself that I truly understood the hype.

Honestly, I’m not typically one to gush over food, but the culinary experiences I enjoyed here were some of the best I’ve had on all of my travels!

To help you narrow down the tantalizing options and determine what to eat in Quebec City, here are ten Old Quebec restaurants and cafés to put on your radar.

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Quebec City is known for rich, belly-warming cuisine. It’s that feel-good food that hits just right, especially on a cold winter’s day. When most people think of Quebec City cuisine, poutine is often the first thing to come to mind. After all, these fries-piled-high-with-cheese-curds-and-gravy represent the national dish of Canada.

But poutine is far from the only dish the city is known for!

Meat also plays a major role in the Québécois diet, especially in the form of hearty pies. Since pubs and taverns are big in this city, French onion soup is another one you’ll see on many menus.

As far as breakfast goes, crepes are a big seller – as is pretty much anything doused in maple syrup! In fact, you’ll see maple syrup pretty much everywhere you go, from atop breakfast crepes to inside of giant Canadian-leaf-shaped lollipops!

I believe the word “good” would be an understatement! The food scene in Quebec City is on point, and Quebecers/Québécois take dining very seriously.

Many of the ingredients that go into the dishes you’ll enjoy are locally-sourced from the city and its neighboring areas. This includes everything from cheese, to maple products, to wine and cider.

In addition to checking out some of the irresistible Old Quebec restaurants in this guide, you may also want to consider a food tour to sample the best that this Canadian city has to offer.

Given the ever-evolving nature of travel these days, I highly recommend making reservations before dining, particularly for dinnertime. Although some dinner places will accept walk-ins, always check online before heading out to eat.

Also, since there’s a lot of overlap with restaurants serving both lunch and dinner, I’ve grouped them together into a single section. Carefully read any individual notes I’ve included, as some of the restaurants don’t offer lunch and/or include other offerings such as brunch.

Café La Maison Smith is an absolute must-visit when you’re in Quebec City.

But before you promptly add it to your itinerary, you’ll want to consider which location to check out.  That’s because there are actually seven Smith Café branches located throughout the city and the surrounding region!

So…how to decide?

Personally, this was an easy decision for me after falling in love with the idyllic Place Royale online before our trip. This iconic Quebec City landmark is home to arguably the most popular of the seven cafés – Café La Maison Smith Notre-Dame.

It’s located right in the heart of this beautiful square in the lower town, just steps from some of the loveliest boutique hotels in Quebec City.

Not only is the atmosphere of the Notre-Dame location top-notch, but the food and lattes seal the deal. For me, a true testament to a great café/restaurant is one that draws you back in for more. Needless to say, we dined here twice on the same trip!

On the first visit, my husband and I grabbed an outdoor table to enjoy people-watching in the city’s most historic square. We each ordered quiche (which is making me salivate again as I look at it).

That, and my husband (unknowingly) introduced me to what would become my most favorite latte on the face of the planet: pistachio. (I had initially ordered a traditional latte, but ended up finishing his!)

Apparently, that nutty and delicious flavor that makes for a fabulous gelato can also be added to your morning coffee! Who knew?

Not me, that’s for sure. Well, (un)fortunately, now that I do, the bar has been set super high for any future cafés I visit…

Anyway, we decided to cozy up indoors on our return visit to avoid the rain-soaked outside seats. But not to worry if you also get rained out – the interior of the café is just as charming.

This time, I ordered a pistachio latte of my own and a delicious pain au chocolat to commemorate the trip.

Depending on what time of day you arrive, finding an outside table can be a challenge, especially in the high summer season.

(Alternatively, I imagine that wintertime draws a crowd to the interior.)

That said, if you’re willing to show up a little earlier in the day (or don’t mind waiting for a table to crop up on a busier day), it’s well worth the wait!

Café La Maison Smith is open daily at the following times :

Monday – Wednesday: 7AM – 8PM
Thursday – Sunday: 7AM – 9PM

Café La Maison Smith is located at 23 Rue Notre-Dame, Québec, QC G1K 4E9.

If you’re looking to start your day with a hearty meal, I recommend heading to L’Antiquaire Buffet, also located in the lower town.

L’Antiquaire Buffet – or “The Antique Buffet,” in English –  is a local favorite, having filled hungry bellies for the past 40 years and counting.

With its cheery green exterior and vintage bicycles as décor, you can’t miss this charming façade as you pass by on the street.

My husband and I ordered the tasty eggs benedict, which you can try with practically any breakfast meat/sandwich fillings you can think of. This seems to be one of their most popular menu items.

Heads Up: The portions here are large, so save room!

L’Antiquaire Buffet is open daily at the following times:

Sunday – Wednesday: 6AM – 4PM
Thursday – Saturday: 6AM – 9PM

L’Antiquaire Buffet is located at 95 Rue Saint-Paul Old-Port, Quebec, G1K 3V8.

If crepes (a.k.a “pancakes” to the Québécois) are your jam, then charming Casse-Crêpe Breton is where you want to start your day!

For over 35 years, this creperie has been serving up both sweet and savory crepes as well as specialty drinks (of the alcoholic and non-alcoholic variety) from morning until evening.

While this is definitely a popular breakfast spot, they offer everything from lunch and dinner crepes to dessert crepes, so you can really enjoy it for any meal!

You can check out the menu here to see all of the sweet and savory options.

Casse-Crêpe Breton is open daily from 7:30AM to 8:30 PM.

Casse-Crêpe Breton is located at 1136 Rue Saint-Jean, Quebec, QC G1R 1S4.

When we first passed Le Lapin Sauté while strolling through the lower town, I immediately needed to stop to capture a photo of the charming exterior. The vibe of this place is just divine – a little slice of the French countryside inside the city.

Did you know that “Le Lapin Sauté” translates to “sauteed rabbit” in French? Well, you can probably imagine what I’m about to say next – they specialize in rabbit dishes! (Yikes!)

Now, I’ve never eaten rabbit in my life and I certainly wasn’t about to start on this trip. So if you’re anything like me, not to worry. They have plenty of other delicious options on their menu.

Since this was our last night, my husband and I decided to live it up with an appetizer as well as two large entrees.

To start, we shared the delicious fondue pot. Thankfully, the pot was miniature, otherwise this deliciously-filling starter could have sufficed as our whole meal!

For my entrée, I ordered the pasta with lemon basil sauce. It comes topped with goat cheese and it was absolutely mouthwatering. I’m salivating again just thinking of it.

My husband ordered the Quebec beef burger and was more than satisfied.

Beyond the delicious food, our server was so accommodating and friendly. She openly shared her first-hand insight about the city and her love for the charming Île de Orléans – more to come on that in a future post!

Le Lapin Sauté is open at the following times:

Tuesday & Wednesday: 4PM – 9PM
Thursday – Saturday: 11AM – 9PM
Sunday: 12PM – 8PM

The restaurant is closed on Monday.

Le Lapin Sauté is located at 52 Rue du Petit Champlain, Québec, QC G1K 4H4.

I’d read some really fabulous things about La Bûche online before our trip and it still managed to exceed my expectations. Located in the upper town, La Bûche may look unassuming from the outside, but it’s a true delight within.

While this restaurant refers to itself as a “sugar shack,” don’t let that fool you; there are plenty of wonderful savory options here! You can have a look at their menu.

For instance, La Bûche serves the best shepherd’s pie I’ve ever had. Hands-down. And that’s saying a lot, considering I eat it quite frequently in the wintertime! I’m not joking when I say I ate every last morsel on my plate, which, if you know me, is highly unusual. (I’m ashamed to admit that I’m typically the doggie-bag type.)

La Bûche prepares shepherd’s pie completely differently than what I’m used to – with the meat on top and a side of “fruit ketchup.” Think of this like jellied cranberry sauce but a bit more savory and way better. Truly, this meal was the highlight of the trip for me.

Speaking of wintertime, I absolutely loved the wintry vibe of this rustic cabin-esque restaurant. Even though we ate here in early June, I imagine the experience would only be elevated during belly-warming-food season.

There’s one small thing about La Bûche that struck me as odd, and that was the restroom situation. I’m not quite sure how to describe it, but it’s like a bathroom you’d find at a concert venue.

It’s located downstairs toward the back of the restaurant. Once you get down the stairs, you’ll notice a large bathtub with a hanging shower head sitting smack in the center of the room. Yes, bathtub. (Not to worry, it’s not for bathing. It’s for washing your hands.)

Surrounding the tub are several individual bathroom stalls with no clear delineation for men vs. women. You just sort of pick one. Honestly, I’m not sure if it was the graffiti-ridden doors or the general vibe, but my initial thought was that I’d somehow taken a wrong turn for the men’s room.

Anyway, after you do your business behind the closed door of your choosing, you’ll return to the communal bathtub to wash your hands. All I can say is, good luck figuring that one out! I made the mistake of turning the faucet knobs at the head of the bathtub and nothing came out.

Fortunately, our server happened to come downstairs at just the right moment. She showed me how to turn on the water from the hanging shower-head thingy.

Honestly, the whole experience was super weird. Needless to say, my husband thought it was great.

In any case, the unusual bathroom is by no means a reason not to dine here, I just want you to be prepared so you won’t embarrass yourself at the tub like I (think I) did!

La Bûche is open daily from 8AM – 2PM and from 5PM – 9:30PM.

La Bûche is located at 49 Rue Saint-Louis, Québec, QC G1R 3Z2.

If you’re looking to cozy up with a pint and some pub-grub, it doesn’t get much more intimate than Pub L’Oncle Antoine.

Located in the popular Place Royale, this exposed-brick-cellar-meets-tavern dates back to the 17th century. Of all the Old Quebec restaurants we tried, this one was hands-down the coziest and most unique.

While the menu is notably slim, one item reigns supreme – the French onion soup. It’s basically what the pub is known for, food-wise.

Now, I’ve had a lot of French onion soup in my life and I’d be lying if I said that this particular one was the best.

…But it was still good!

Unlike many of the other eateries in this guide, Pub L’Oncle Antoine is not meant to be gourmet, artisanal, or anything even remotely fancy-shmancy. That’s just not the point of it.

Instead, it’s all about the cozy vibe, the beer on tap, and the communal aspect. Dining/drinking here almost feels like being part of an exclusive underground club. It’s what I imagine it would feel like to travel back in time to the favorite hangout place of the founding fathers or something.

Did I mention there’s a fireplace? While this didn’t come into play while we were here in June, I can only imagine that this is the hotspot come wintertime, no pun intended!

Pub L’Oncle Antoine is open daily from 11AM – 1AM.

Pub L’Oncle Antoine is located at 29 Rue Saint-Pierre, Quebec, QC G1K 3Z3.

If the idea of history interests you but you’d prefer to splurge on a more upscale dining experience, consider Chez Muffy.

Set in one of the city’s most historically significant maritime warehouses in the Auberge Saint Antoine, this farm-to-fork restaurant dates back to 1822.

The menu is focused around innovative cuisine, drawing flavor inspiration and ingredients from the hotel’s farm on idyllic Île d’Orléans.

*Chez Muffy does not serve lunch.

Dinner is served daily from 6PM to 9PM and reservations are required.

While the hotel also serves breakfast from 7AM to 11AM, I suggest inquiring within to confirm whether this is exclusively for guests of Auberge Saint Antoine.

In addition, brunch is expected to return to Chez Muffy in fall 2022.

Chez Muffy is located within Auberge Saint Antoine at 10 Rue Saint Antoine Québec QC G1K 4C9.

For riverside dining without breaking the bank, Le Café du Monde is the move.

This Parisian-inspired bistro prides itself on offering affordable French classics as well as á la carte seafood on its menu.

Many guests flock here to enjoy the restaurant’s ample outdoor space in the warmer months. And with these lovely views of the St. Lawrence River, you can hardly blame them!

Le Café du Monde is open at the following times:

Wednesday – Friday: 11:30AM – 9:30PM
Saturday & Sunday: 9AM – 9:30PM

The restaurant is closed on Monday and Tuesday.

Le Café du Monde is located at 84 Rue Dalhousie, Québec, QC G1K 8M5.

Housed within Hôtel Port-Royal – one of the charming boutique hotels in Old Quebec – Louise Taverne & Bar à Vin is a gourmet-tavern-meets-wine-bar.

With its fusion of modern and historic elements, it’s the perfect place to kick back with a drink and a good meal in the Old Port neighborhood.

While I’ve placed this gem in the lunch/dinner category, Louise Taverne & Bar à Vin is one of the few options on the list that offers it all – breakfast, lunch, and dinner! You can check out their diverse menu of comfort dishes for yourself.

Louise Taverne & Bar à Vin is open at the following times:

Monday – Friday: 7AM – 10AM / 11:30AM – 2PM / 5PM – 10PM
Saturday & Sunday: 7AM – 2PM / 5PM – 10PM

*The restaurant is closed from 10:00 AM – 11:30AM on weekdays.

Louise Taverne & Bar à Vin is located at 48 Rue Saint-Paul, Québec, QC G1K 3V7.

With this final suggestion for Quebec City restaurants, it’s time to pull out all the stops! Le Saint-Amour is a fine dining establishment decked out in a cheerful and welcoming Art-Nouveau style.

It boasts a whopping three dining rooms, including a gorgeous interior courtyard with giant hanging plants.

The menus consist of gourmet French cuisine with a focus on local Quebec products.

While creative culinary liberties are taken to create an innovative dining experience, the quality and freshness of ingredients is always at the forefront.

Le Saint-Amour is open at the following times:

Wednesday – Saturday: 5:30PM – 11:30PM

Le Saint-Amour is closed Sunday through Tuesday and they do not serve lunch.

Le Saint-Amour is located at 48 Rue Sainte-Ursule, Québec, QC G1R 4E2.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this tantalizing virtual taste of some of my favorite Old Quebec restaurants.

While this guide is intended to help you narrow down some delicious dining experiences, it’s meant to be a starting point. With a city as focused on culinary delights as Quebec is, it’s essentially impossible to cover it all with just ten options!

Have you tried any top Quebec City restaurants I haven’t mentioned that deserve a place on this list? Let me know in the comments below!

Working up an appetite for more Quebec City content? Check out my other guides:

• 17 Charming Boutique Hotels in Quebec City
• 15 Iconic Quebec City Landmarks & Instagrammable Locations
• Plan the Perfect Day Trip from Quebec City to Montmorency Falls