Quebec Restaurants

Step into Mélisse and you’ll feel like you’re in LA: light wood; a bright, high-ceilinged space; and lots of plants. (Also LA-like: eating on the patio, weather permitting.) Breakfast and lunch are light and focus on seasonal produce (tartines, salads, satisfying egg dishes), while dinner is full of shareable plates, like grilled veggies and charcuterie, plus more substantial items, like grilled pork shoulder peppered with cherry tomatoes and pistachios. The 100 percent organic wine list is short but brilliant.

The idea behind Champlain, at the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, was to put forth Quebec’s finest...

Chez Boulay is pure Quebec—by way of Scandinavia. Traditionally Nordic ingredients—elderberry flowers, juniper berries, sea buckthorn, elk, and trout—make their way onto beautifully presented plates in the most pleasing ways.

An 1822 maritime warehouse along the St. Lawrence River is the setting of Chez Muffy, which takes classic French and...

Le Clocher Penché, in downtown Quebec City, works with local farmers to create its veggie- and fish-heavy menu, and many of the dishes are almost too pretty to eat.

One of Quebec City’s more formal restaurants, Légende is worth the splurge for the chef’s six-course tasting menu. While you’re at it, spring for the wine pairing, which is beautifully curated by the sommelier and makes the whole affair next-level. Dishes are constantly changing depending on what’s freshest and in season but may include smoked Arctic char, lobster ravioli, and seared venison. The eclectic décor includes abstract paintings from local artists hanging along the exposed-brick walls.

The pies at Nina are as Neapolitan as you’ll get outside of Naples. Even the wood-fired oven was imported from Italy, and the restaurant’s two owners are certified by the APN (Associazione Pizzaiuoli Napoletani, whose certification is bestowed on pizza makers who follow a strict set of guidelines). There are eighteen varieties, but our favorite is the margherita, simply but perfectly made with tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, and olive oil.

Paillard is the place for a quick, unfussy, utterly delicious bite. The croissants, sandwiches, wraps, and coffee are always freshly made; standouts include the mushroom soup and the daily quiche selection. Bonus: There’s often a live accordion player on-site so you might want to make your quick meal last longer than you planned.

It’s hard to walk away from Restaurant La Traite without feeling you’ve experienced a mystical and mysterious dimension.

Within the historic hotel Château Frontenac, Le Sam is named for Samuel de Champlain, who founded Quebec City in 1608. At a place where the views over the St. Lawrence river are this good, the food might as well be an afterthought, but the hearty, simply-prepared seafood-focused dishes here are spot-on. Go for the classics, like the Atlantic halibut fish and chips or the lobster salad, served with crunchy veggies and a blackcurrant vinaigrette.