Bed and Breakfasts in Quebec City | Sweet Dreams in La Belle Province

Step inside your room at the serene Relais Charles-Alexandre, where smooth oak floors, airy curtains and soft lighting are waiting to greet you. If you’ve never dined in an art gallery before, you’re in for a treat come morning: here you’ll graze on pastries, cheeses, fruit and savoury cold cuts among painting-adorned walls while soft music floats in the background.

To continue the artsy vibe, ask your hosts to point you in the direction of Musée National des Beaux-Arts du Québec in the adjacent Battlefields Park, where you can spend the day drifting through the gallery’s thousands of works. Delve deep into Quebec’s artistic past, or delight in the contemporary art on display in the Pierre Lassonde Pavilion.

While you’re there, you’ll want to pay a visit to the gallery’s glass-walled restaurant, Tempéra Québecor. You can watch the world go by outside from here as you nibble on a slice of culinary art like the chickpea cheesecake garnished with apricot jelly and radicchio leaf. Once you’re ready to stretch your legs, take a stroll or quick drive two kilometres up the road to wrap up the afternoon with a riverside stroll along the gazebo-dotted boardwalk of Dufferin Terrace.

Guests looking for something unique will love Old City-favourite La Marquise de Bassano, where a stay in La Bibliothèque room is every book-lover’s dream. Pluck a title from the literary treasure trove before slipping through the soft curtains of your canopy bed. Drift off to sleep knowing that warm oatmeal, freshly baked chocolatines and berry-topped yogurt parfaits will appear on the dining room table when morning comes.

After a lavish breakfast, wander down to the scenic Parc du Bastion-de-la-Reine at the end of street. Start with a morning stroll overlooking the St. Lawrence river and the pitched green rooftops of the Château Frontenac. Immerse yourself in the province’s storied past at the military museum at La Citadelle de Québec, where the fortress’s Musée Royal 22e Régiment houses some 13,000 artifacts, including antique cannons and swords, centuries-old medals and The Grenier Miniatures Collection, a life-like display of hundreds of tiny toy soldiers.

Once you’ve had your fill of history, opt for a leisurely afternoon back at La Marquise. Step through the stained-glass doors and take in the soothing sight of a living room speckled with potted plants and whimsical figurines. Recline on the red velvet chaise lounge as a crackling fire warms your toes—if you’re lucky, one of your hosts might even pop in to surprise you with a glass of wine!

The Auberge Place d’Armes is steeped in history—and you’ll get to take part in it when you stay in one of its 20 custom suites, each named after a famous historical French or First Nations figure. Let yourself be pulled back in time as you sink into a plush reading chair in the Guillaume Couillard room, where a glowing chandelier lights up 17th-century stone walls. For a regal feel, choose the Marie Antoinette room to revel in heated tile floors, a rainfall shower and jetted bathtub (or European shower with body jets)—make sure to admire the wall paneling that once lined the Palace of Versailles!

In the morning, promises of velvety Greek yogurt and buttery croissants will lure you downstairs to the on-site French restaurant, Chez Jules. Or to start the day off with a little extra decadence, order the croque monsieur, a classic French creation made from fresh eggs, ham and cheese piled atop homemade bread and covered with rich béchamel sauce.

Glide over to the boutique-lined streets in Le Quartier Petit Champlain once you’ve had your fill (it’s just seven minutes away by foot). You might just treat yourself to something elegant from La Soierie Huo, where local artists paint vibrant silk scarves by hand. As night falls, make your way back to Chez Jules for a glass of chardonnay paired with a plate of parsley-buttered Burgundy escargot—a nightcap fit for royalty.

From the sleek curtains in the windows to contemporary lamp shades perched on polished nightstands, every room at Café Krieghoff shines with sophistication. Curl up amid chic pillows under the cushy depths of your ultra-soft duvet to fall straight into sound sleep. When morning comes, pull up a chair to a brie and oyster mushroom benny at the cafe downstairs and order a frothy cappuccino.

Step out onto Avenue Cartier and get ready to spoil yourself. If accessorizing is on the menu, make designer hot spot MurMure your first stop—their collection of rainbow-coloured umbrellas, Ted Baker handbags and Pilgrim watches is a must-see. Once you’re done splurging, take a break with a scan of the shelves at La Librarie du Quartier to pick up a few literary gems.

When late afternoon hits and you’re in need of a pick-me-up, swing back to Café Krieghoff to grab a cafe con leche on your way up to your room. Use one of the posh bedside mirrors to get your glam on before dinner—sumptuous treats like seafood tagliatelle and maple crème brûlée await you at Graffiti restaurant, just a two-minute hop down Avenue Cartier. After dinner, follow the beat of the live music under the bright-red awning of Rideau Rouge to cap off the night with some cocktails.

Decked in bay windows and perched along Grande Allée Est is the townhouse-style Manoir Mon Calme. Help yourself to a bottle of cool spring water from the communal fridge when you arrive before heading up to your spacious room. You’ll feel refreshed in the airy space, where warm lighting and soft fabrics encourage you to take your time to settle in.

You’ll want to make your way over to the Notre-Dame de Quebec Basilica-Cathedral on Rue de Baude while you’re here (it’s just a 16-minute stroll from Manoir Mon Calm). A World Heritage Site of UNESCO, the cathedral’s striking stained glass and golden sculptures will leave you awestruck. But architecture isn’t the only sight worth seeing here: loop back down Grande Allée Est and stop at Ciel! Bistro on Cours du Général-de Montcalm to take in a jaw-dropping 360-degree view from the city’s only revolving restaurant. With dishes like smoked eel with caviar and grapefruit on the menu, you’ll want to savour every indulgent mouthful as the city drifts by, 27 floors below.

When you feel sleep calling, float down the elevator and across the street to stretch out under the warm comforter in your bed back at Manoir Mon Calme. In the morning, wander down the antique-adorned hallway toward the dining room, where you’ll be treated to dishes like homemade crêpes, poached eggs and French toast—the ideal fuel for your next adventure on the lively streets of Grande Allée.

From the lantern-lit entryway to the ornate mirrors and delicate chandeliers in its rooms, Hôtel Le Clos Saint-Louis brims with elegance and romance. As you enter the Saint-Louis Suite, pass by the antique writing desk and step into the English countryside: the living room in this cottage-inspired suite features a wall mural of a meadow, “porch” lights and floral-patterned reading chairs.

Once you’ve unpacked, take a stroll down the road and back in time to the site of North America’s first permanent French settlement, Place-Royale. It might only be a 10-minute walk from the doors of the B&B, but the gable-roofed stone buildings in this cobblestone square will leave you feeling as if you’ve gone away to France. You can round out the day with a show at Le Capitole Theatre on rue Saint-Jean, where the stage has been graced by some of French Canada’s top performers and classic musicals like Les Misérables.

In the morning, mosey downstairs to the hotel’s breakfast room for a hearty helping of Québécois tradition. Favourites include the dramatically named Le Cœur Vaillant (The Brave Heart), which consists of a plateful of ham, toast, fruit and two freshly cracked eggs made to order. Top it off with a piping hot aromatic coffee, or if you really want to go fully French, a pastry dipped in hot chocolate.

Tranquility abounds inside the vine-draped Acacias Bed and Breakfast on rue Marie-Rollet. With comfortable furnishings like futon couches and queen-size beds bursting with pillows, you’ll feel right at home in this modern three-bedroom “cottage in the city.”

Greet the day with warm conversation over a cup of freshly brewed coffee in Acacia’s cozy kitchen, where fare like fried eggs, bowlfuls of granola and towers of fresh fruit fills the table. If you’re looking to do a day trip outside of town, ask your hosts how to get to Île d’Orléans. Just a 20-minute drive away, this tiny island is full of pastoral charm. Once you cross over the Île d’Orléans bridge, make your way to Cidrerie Verger Bilodeau for a cider-tasting in a family-owned apple orchard. Don’t forget to buy a bottle or two of your favourite flavours before you leave! For a really special treat, add Boutique Le Relais des Pins to your list and end the day sampling maple taffy in snow, even in the summer!

If all that island excitement leaves you feeling weary when you arrive back at Acacias, roll around the corner to La Girolle to reboot. The best thing about this restaurant? It’s “apportez votre vin”, meaning BYOW or Bring Your Own Wine, so you can take along your île d’Orléans cider to pair with a plate of smoked salmon, scalloped risotto or another of their fine French dishes.

Step through the black-and-gold canopied entryway and into the welcoming lobby of Auberge La Chouette. A gracefully curving bannister will call you up the spiral staircase toward La Capricieuse room, where you’ll be greeted by an antique armoire at the foot of the bed under the glow of the sparkling chandelier that hangs above.

In the morning, soft sunlight filtering in through tall windows will wake you gently from a restful slumber. The scent of freshly brewed coffee wafting into your room will remind you that light breakfast fare—think freshly sliced bread with jam, fruit salad and refreshing glassfuls of juice—will soon be making an appearance in the common area. When you’re good and ready for a memorable afternoon, make your way down to Chouinard Pier, just a 14-minute jaunt away at the foot of rue du Marché Finlay. Step aboard the Louis Jolliet and let a costumed guide narrate your brunch cruise (ask your hosts at La Chouette about calling ahead to book a tour) from Old Quebec to Montmorency Falls and Île d’Orléans.

Once you’re back on dry land, warm up with a spicy bowl of chicken tom yum soup or a heaping plate of beef Saigon at La Chouette’s on-site Asian fusion restaurant, ASPARA. When the sun goes down, you’ll be more than ready to retire to your room and surrender to your bed, where dreams of waterfall brunches on the grand St. Lawrence await.