Happy Wednesday! Today I've rounded up some of my recent instagrams, as well as included a full guide to Quebec City at the end of this post. I have love love loved Quebec & highly recommend it, especially during this time of year!
amazing hot chocolate from La Maison Smith
What I packed for Quebec!
The outside of La Maison Smith, decorated for Christmas
The view from our hotel
Rue du Petit-Champlain, my favorite street in Quebec!
Other random instagrams...
cream colored cardigan (love the back!) // V-neck camisole
Here are some recommendations for hotels, restaurants & things to do in Quebec City! After being here for a few days, I've fallen in love with the city, but especially can't get over how nice people are. After every city and country I've been to, I can honestly say that the people in Quebec are the nicest. The city is French speaking (even the menus and signs are in French), but almost everyone speaks a little English too, so you don't feel too lost. When I walk the streets, I honestly feel like I'm in Europe! We heard that the two best times to visit Quebec are in the spring and now, at Christmastime. The city is breathtaking during Christmas: lights are everywhere, fresh Christmas trees line the streets, and Christmas music can be heard in almost every store and restaurant. It is pretty magical. Anyways, I'll stop rambling & get on to the recommendations!
Hotels:
Le Manoir d'Auteuil: This is where we are staying! It was built in the 1850's so it has a ton of charm and character, the beds are really comfortable, and the hotel staff is very nice (and they all speak English!). The best part is the price (less than $100/night) and the location: it is within walking distance of everything we have want to see and do. We haven't taken a cab once!
Fairmont Le Château Frontenac: This is probably the most well-known hotel in Quebec City, located right in the middle of Old Quebec. The location is SUPER, and it looks like a giant castle from the outside! The only thing that kept us from staying here is that I read a couple of negative reviews online beforehand. In person it is beautiful though, and has a ton of amenities like a restaurant, Starbucks and spa.
Coffee and Sweet Treats:
La Maison Smith: I love this place! We have stopped by a couple times for their hot chocolate or maple syrup latte - both are amazing. They also have small treats like macarons.
Paillard: Someone recommended the chocolate almond croissant from Paillard - I think it's a very popular restaurant overseas. They have a ton of sweets, but they also serve soup and sandwiches as well.
Restaurants:
Au Petit Coin Breton: This has been my favorite restaurant that we've gone to. It's an authentic French creperie out of Brittany, France. The crepes were amazing (I ordered the fresh strawberry and chantilly crepe), my boyfriend ordered a full breakfast and said it was the best breakfast food he's ever eaten in his whole life. LOL! The atmosphere is also really cool.
Sapristi: We have been here a couple times. It's an Italian restaurant, but they have great local beers and the food is outstanding. The french onion soup is to-die-for - they bake cheesy bread right on top of the soup!
Chez Ashton: We wanted to try authentic poutine while we were here, and this restaurant kept coming up as the best poutine in Quebec. When we got there, we were surprised to find that it is actually a fast food restaurant. We stayed anyway to try the poutine and it WAS amazing!
Chez Boulay: This restaurant is a four-star restaurant owned by Jean-Luc Boulay, featuring Nordic cuisine. We wanted to go to a nicer dinner one night, and this was the perfect romantic dining atmosphere! I highly recommend the gnocchi dish - it was amazing.
Activities:
German Christmas Market: The German market is only open during the Christmas season, but it's an authentic German market featuring small trinkets and lots of delicious German foods.
Petite Rue de Champlain: This is my favorite street in Old Quebec! It's beautiful, located right next to the water but you can see the toss of the Frontenac in the distance. There are some really cool restaurants, bars and boutiques located on this street.
Ice skating at Place D'youville: Our hotel is located right next to this ice skating rink - skates are only $8 to rent and you can skate for however long you like. Definitely warm up with some coffee at "Second Cup" afterwards.
Hotel de Glace: Unfortunately, this hotel isn't open yet, but we heard amazing things about it. They have an entire bar made of ice - even the bar stools. It is a must-see!
Terrasse Dufferin Slides: Unfortunately, the slides aren't open yet either, but this is something I really wanted to do on our visit. You have to buy a ticket for each slide, but it's supposed to be so much fun!
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