Québec City hotels

Towering over busy Dufferin Terrace and looking out past the fortification walls to the Saint Lawrence River, Le Château Frontenac is one of the best hotels in Quebec City for those looking for a truly iconic stay. Walking into its grand hall, first erected in 1893, is a spectacular experience in its own right.

The hotel has more than 600 rooms and suites that all reach the height of luxury – come in summer during the Grands Feux fireworks festival and you can watch the dazzling display straight from your window.

There are six restaurants to choose from, including the chic Bar 1608 – I love pulling up a stool and people-watching. A bonus to staying at any Fairmont property is that guests can access an extensive activities program that includes walking tours, wine and cocktail workshops and yoga classes for a small extra fee.

Staying at this luxury hotel in Quebec City’s Lower Town feels almost like spending the night at a museum. Throughout the lobby and halls are glass cases filled with archeological finds discovered beneath the historic property, which was a maritime storage depot in the 1800s. One of the artifacts is among the last original French canons in the city. Each of the 95 rooms in this Relais & Châteaux property – one of the best hotels in Quebec City – is styled uniquely. My favourite is the 007 room, which is furnished to suit a certain British spy. The restaurant, Chez Muffy, is superb. Many of the ingredients used in the tasting menus are grown on the hotel’s farm, making this one of the top choices in Quebec City for foodies. Auberge Saint-Antoine’s location is excellent too, situated right next to the Museum of Civilization and Old Quebec’s cobblestone streets.

This vintage boutique spot in Lower Quebec is a tale of two properties. At one end of this former bank, you’ll find Auberge Saint-Pierre, a hotel styled to feel authentically Quebecois, with chintzy wallpaper, copper pipes and radiators, as well as exposed brick and stone walls. Don’t worry though, it still has all the modern comforts you’d expect of a top hotel, as well as warm and welcoming staff. On the other side of the building is Hotel 71, a chic accommodation catered more to the business crowd. Its modern decor, work desks, and rainfall showers are a stark contrast to the stone Lower Town exterior, but it works. The hotel has an on-site restaurant, Il Matto, which serves modern Italian food and is close to other top restaurants, including the boundary-pushing, high-concept Tanière.

This boutique hotel is, as its name suggests, atypical, making it one of the best hotels in Quebec City for those looking for something a little different. Located in a quaint, historic building in Old Quebec, rooms are compact, so the creative owners decided to attach queen beds to the ceiling – they come down at the touch of a button when you’re ready to call it a night. During the day, a table pulls down so you can work remotely. The rooms also have vibrant paintings made by local artists, making this one of the best hotels in Quebec City for art aficionados. Rustle yourself up some breakfast and chat with fellow travellers in the shared kitchen and communal dining area. Or head up to the rooftop terrace and garden to hang out and rest your legs after a busy day exploring.

Follow the copper turret on the corner of Saint-Jean and Aiguillon Street to this cozy boutique hotel. Low-key furniture and decor give the vibe of living like a local, while the rooftop with panoramic views over the neighbourhood is the perfect place to enjoy breakfast or stop off for an evening drink. This is one of the best hotels in Quebec City for history – it was built in 1898 and formerly owned by a tinsmith. But the real selling point is its proximity to local Quebec City life and culinary institutions. Walk down the road to taste an éclair from Patisserie Simon, which opened in 1943. Or have a meal made with the finest seasonal ingredients and natural wine at Buvette Scott. Further down the road, step into Épicerie J.A. Moisan to pick up snacks for a picnic, the local grocer first opened in 1871.

This boutique hotel in Quebec City pays tribute to the province’s artistic and French roots, with stylish decor that makes you feel like you’re in a Parisian artist’s pied à terre. Design accents are everywhere, but the most noticeable is the punchy cobalt blue found in splashes across the hotel, including in the hallways, striped bedframes, carpets, and kitchenettes. Chairs featuring Bengal tigers wearing top hats and oblong-shaped golden bathroom mirrors add to the fun. Located around the corner from Quebec’s grand Hotel de Ville (City Hall), this is one of the best hotels in Quebec City for its location, and many of the rooms have balconies with stellar views. The recently-opened speakeasy-style Le Bijou restaurant adds to the ambiance, and despite being a small property, the hotel manages to pack a fitness centre into the basement.

This fancy spot is one of the best hotels in Quebec City for luxury lovers. You’ll feel like a star as you walk down the lobby’s curved staircase, against a backdrop of chic navy blue drapes, to dinner – ideally in your finest eveningwear. This classy hotel has plenty of luxurious accents, including eclectic lighting, snazzy contemporary furniture, and marble floors and bathrooms. But perhaps the best thing is the views. Le Capitole has floor-to-ceiling windows in the hallways and guestrooms, as well as in the indoor pool, to make the most of those sweeping city vistas. A truly romantic spot, it’s one of the best hotels in Quebec City for couples. It’s also pretty great location-wise, with the hotel bordering Place d’Youville public square, which has a skating rink in the winter, and Artillery Park.

I’ll never forget the weekend I spent at Hotel le Saint-Paul on a romantic getaway with a former girlfriend. The 19th-century building is full of authentic Quebec City charm, with exposed brick walls, feather-soft beds and luxuriously appointed bathrooms – all for a fair price. Needless to say, my stay was a romantic one. Hotel le Saint-Paul is in an ideal Lower Town location, close to the marina and train station. Don’t miss nearby Le Monastère des Augustines, the first hospital north of Mexico founded in 1637. The monastery is now a hotel and museum, where you can visit to explore the artifacts in contemplative silence – look for signs to guide you through your meditation.

Hotel Le Germain Quebec is one of the best hotels in Quebec City for business travellers. Each room and suite features plush beds with cozy goose down comforters and feather pillows and a workstation with an ergonomic chair, as well as a Nespresso coffee machine. If you need to unwind, order a massage directly to your room, while those looking to keep up their exercise routines, there’s a 24-hour fitness centre. Visitors planning to visit Quebec City’s finest sights will also love Hotel Le Germain Quebec’s prime location, situated near the Museum of Civilization and the lovely artisan shopping strip of Quartier Petit Champlain. If you’re visiting in the summer, head over to the open-air terrace bar in the Old Port, La Cour arrière du Festibière, for drinks and fun in the sun with locals.

Built in 1876, this former Victorian home and apothecary – originally created to house Quebec’s ‘nobility’ – is now a lovely boutique accommodation known for being one of the best hotels in Quebec City. You’ll notice the homely vibe at this independently-owned hotel as soon as you enter the lobby, where you’ll be greeted by friendly staff before heading up to your room through a smart red leather door. All 13 rooms are decorated with authentic vintage furniture that pays tribute to the noblemen who once stayed here and have features like exposed brick or stone walls, striped furniture and local artwork. Even the bathroom tiles look vintage. Next door, visit the famous Price Building for the best views over Quebec City. Also, don’t miss the chance to visit one of my favourite under-the-radar sights in Quebec City, Morrin Centre, a breathtaking English-language library built in 1808.