If you are visiting Quebec City, you should definitely plan a walk in the historic Old Quebec. While you explore this UNESCO-protected heritage district on foot, reminiscent of the most beautiful cities in Europe, your mouth will water and your appetite will quickly come. That is why we have prepared a list of the best restaurants located in Old Quebec, whether you are there on a romantic trip, with family or friends.

Old Quebec is an attraction in itself, a must-see on your trip to the national capital of the province of Quebec.

It all begins with your entry into the district via one of the famous gates of the old fortifications dating from the 17th century, such as the ramparts, the citadel and other defensive works. Afterwards, you can discover historical monuments and museums.

Among other things, you can visit the Citadel, which was built in the 19th century, the Château Frontenac hotel, the Dufferin Terrace promenade, which overlooks the city or take the funicular to Lower Town and the Petit Champlain district, where you will find a stone church dating from 1688 and Place Royale.

Québec City is the first French-speaking city founded in North America, by Samuel de Champlain, in 1608. Even today, it demonstrates the colonization of the Americas by Europeans, Québec having been the capital of New France and later that of the new British colony.

The tourist offer of Old Québec is pleasantly complemented by a visit to one of the many restaurants located in this historic district. Here are some suggestions where it may be interesting to stop during your stay.

Champlain Restaurant

Located in the majestic Château Frontenac, the Champlain restaurant offers an unprecedented historical and gastronomic experience in Old Quebec. In addition, you will be treated to a unique view of the city center, on one side, the St. Lawrence River, on the other and even towards Île d'Orléans, all in its veranda or its oak wood room.

But also, you will have a glimpse of the four glass cellars containing the exceptional bottles of wine that have allowed them to win several awards.

On the menu, you can choose the discovery experience, either a tasting in four or six courses, or the à la carte options.

For example, a Gaspésie Bluefin tuna (with berry and plum dashi), a Quebec venison filet (with grand veneur sauce and chanterelles) or the vegetarian Brassica dish (braised pakchoi in vegetable broth, maitake and sunflower).

The restaurant is open in the evening from Tuesday to Saturday, but also open for Sunday brunch, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. If you are going out with your family, your children can choose from the children's menu.

Le Continental

Just a few steps from the Château Frontenac is the French restaurant Le Continental. This Old Quebec classic has been feeding people since 1956 (one of the owners started working at Le Continental at the age of 13!) in an intimate setting, a personalized approach and its flambé culinary shows.

For groups or the most gourmet of couples, you can start your meal with a seafood platter to share. If you want to save more room for the main course, the other starter choices range from a plate of Quebec cheeses to thin slices of smoked salmon and Parmesan cheese fondues.

On the menu, you can eat shrimp flambéed in front of you, a filet mignon and other meats cooked on the grill or a beef tenderloin tartare.

Here, it is best to book in order to ensure a table.

Restaurant Le Clan

Here is a restaurant full of promise and which has been the talk of the town since its opening in 2021, chef Stéphane Modat wishing to promote local artisans and producers. Thus, you will be able to travel through all that is most gourmet in Quebec!

The decor immerses you in the heart of a chic hunting lodge, with mysterious beasts on the walls.

The restaurant's discovery concept focuses on a four or six-course menu, with or without wine pairing, whether affordable or complete.

On the menu, expect red deer (with sweetgrass, daylily, cattail, buckwheat and daisy), scallops (with Neuville corn, pea pod gel and zalouk condiment), guinea fowl (with Anna potatoes, chanterelles, morel sauce, onions and blackcurrants) and, to top it all off, a dessert à la frais (with sweet feverfew and crème fraîche).

A reservation is also recommended for this type of restaurant, located in a setting as splendid as that of Old Quebec.

Restaurant Le Saint-Amour

Le Saint-Amour is the project of the popular chef Jean-Luc Boulay, who we can regularly see in the media and who is one of the judges of the show Les Chefs presented on ICI Télé, and his partner Jacques Fortier. The two men launched this restaurant in 1978 and it has now become an institution in Old Quebec.

The menu is French in style, but is largely influenced by the fine products of the regional terroir. To drink, know that the Saint-Amour cellar contains no less than 15,000 bottles from around the world, one of the ten largest selections in the country.

There is a discovery menu or an à la carte menu. In this last leaflet, you will find a squab from the Turlo farm (a breast cooked in a balsam fir crust with candied leeks, Saskatoon berries and pressed blood juice), a Quebec lobster (with haskap, sucrine, kohlrabi sauce and sweet clover), a rack of lamb (with green peas and snow peas, strawberry purée with Espelette pepper, braised shallots and natural juice) or a vegetarian option (Artois blue potato, zucchini flower, lovage, carrots and egg yolk).

For the quality of the dishes offered, the prices are also affordable.

Au Petit Coin Breton

Just reading the name of our last suggestion, you probably expect a creperie. Right on target! Le Petit Coin Breton offers you the best Breton cuisine in Quebec, nothing less.

Open since 1963 and now run by the third generation of the family, Le Petit Coin Breton still focuses on respecting traditions and the quality of ingredients.

The restaurant is open every day from 8 a.m. and therefore awaits you for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

At lunch, you can try the Breton crepe with turned eggs with Parisian ham, vegetable of the day and Hollandaire sauce or the one with Brie cheese with spinach and turned eggs.

For meals of the day or evening, why not a crab and asparagus crepe with Hollandaise sauce, egg and cheese salad or the one with apple compote and cheese with a ham and cheese salad.

Several other options are also available.