The restaurant is one of four preprties in the La Tanière Group, people behind the 2-star Tanière 3, 1-star ​​Légende, and Vieux Carré cocktail bar. This year, L’Orygine received a Michelin mention. 

Much like the rest of the restaurants in the La Tanière Group, L’Orygine is a beautiful property with a spacious dining room and garden-like enclosed terrace in Old Québec City. Diners have an option of ordering a la carte or enbarking on the Discovery tasting menu – a 6-course dining experience optionally paired with wine or cocktails. The signature cocktail pairing, which can be non-alcoholic, takes on a similar approach, using local, seasonal ingredients, perfectly matched to each course. A healthy portion of the wine selections are also local, further reinforcing the idea of staying close to home.

The mastermind behind the menu is Chief and co-owner Sabrina Lemay, who brings her years of culinary experience to this kitchen with constant passion and a uniquely creative eye. 

On the left, Chief and co-owner or L’Orygine, Sabrina Lemay. On the right and below: interior images of the restaurant. Images courtesy of L’Orygine.

Kateryna Topol: Thank you for taking the time to speak with me, Sabrina, let’s start at the beginning – when did your culinary interests first start?

Sabrina Lemay: At a young age, three or four years old, I always loved cooking with my mother. When I was a little kid I told everyone I wanted to be a chef and a businesswoman. Mix them both. My mom is a really great cook, she always let me play in the kitchen without any boundaries. So not only with Play-Doh, but real food, [fostering this love of cooking].

* * * 

Sabrina did a year of culinary school and upon completion enrolled into a program with Fairmon Hotel which allowed her to learn and travel. For a month and a half she staged at Restaurant Marcon, a 3-star restaurant in Saint-Bonnet-le-Froid, France. The travel expereinces made her realise she was more interested in restaurants, not hotels, so she returned to Québec and joined Saint Amour, in Old Quebec, working her way up to sous chef. 

SL: After that, I spent two years working at La Tanière, where I met my future business partner. Two years later, I was looking for a change and went to work at Le Baluchon in the country. My job was to [revive the restaurant] and put it on the culinary map. After that I returned to Québec City and worked at a family restaurant, Les Sales Gosses, it is closed now sadly. 

It was a small restaurant, maybe 60 seats, and it was a really fun lunch and dinner menu, no boundaries for where food comes from so I was able to cook with exoctic spices and so on. I stayed in touch with my contact at  La Tanière. They were looking to move the restaurant to a new location, which is where Tanière 3 is now, and needed a concept for upstairs, where  L’Orygine is. At the time, I didn’t want to be a part of anything big, because I wanted to travel, but they asked if I wanted to make vegan and vegetable-forward food. In Québec, you don’t see that a lot, so I got butterflies thinking about it. The boundary they set was not to use anything outside of Canada, focusing on Québec, so it was a great challenge. We are celebrating our seventh anniversary this year. 

KT: L’Orygine, it’s not fully vegan though …

SL: No, but there is a lot of vegan-friendly food, I don’t like to exclude people because of their dietary restrictions. At L’Orygine we want to include everyone at the same table. We have a 50/50 split menu, vegan and omnivore, they go hand-in-hand. There are a lot of options for both, and when we have to work with allergy restrictions, we embrace it. We like to work with less butter and less cream, to be able to serve more people with allergies but without compromising the taste.

KT: How would you describe your menu?

SL: We have our own garden, all of the produce comes from farms within 200 km radius, our mushrooms are grownd downtown by La Botte Champignonnière. I like to work with vegetables and so all menus start with one [seasonal] vegetable, we cook a lot with the season. I love to work with nostalgia, I think we can reach everybody with a souvenir of food, play with the available ingredients, play with food. I don’t push to far with … spectacular, I prefer comfort food, like food in my home, and like the idea of changing people’s mind. I like having a client who is apprehensive about vegan food and will leave our restauranting thinking “wow, that was amazing,” and will be open to eating vegan over meat. 

KT: You call it homey comfort food, but all of your dishes are pretty spectacular when it comes to plating 

SL: [Laughs] For me it is simple, but because we are at La Tanière, which is a big show when it comes to food, we [elevate our food as well]. I think for me, it’s more about art and soul, everything on the plate is there for a reason, not just to look good. I know we eat with our eyes but I think everything should taste good too. 

I love to use the same ingredient in two-to-three ways. Let’s look at leeks for example, from the bottom, to the white, and the green. A lot of people think only the white is good, and everything else is trash or compos. I think everything on the vegetable or the meat can have a second or third life. We will use all of the ingredients, but maybe not on the same menu. Sometimes we’ll keep a lot of green of the leeks to dry and use them in pasta two seasons later.

We try to have less waste in the kitchen, to waste almost nothing.

L’Orygine summer 2025 menu. Images by Kateryna Topol.

KT: That’s really cool and something I’ve been thinking about a lot at home as well, like when it comes to carrot stems and making carrot pesto instead of just tossing them 

SL: Yes, it’s true. Like, when it is crab time (it’s a really small window) we do a menu of all crab, from amuse-bouche to dessert – all crab. It’s a little bit funky, but we love it so much. We’ll use the shell, dry it, and put it on salt and on the menu. So we really use the whole thing.

KT: Coming into the winter season, Canadian vegetable availability is quite limited, do you pickle and so on? 

SL: Yes, we do a lot of conserves, freezing and drying fruits, a lot of vegetable powder that we keep from summer. But we also have access to a greenhouse for tomatoes, peppers, mushrooms, and so on. There are a lot of fun ingredients in Québec and we use some root vegetables like beets, rutabaga, potatoes… But we need to be creative, because an abundance is not there.

We have a partnership with a farmer, about 45 minutes out of the city, they grow a lot of herbs in the greenhouse. I love fresh herbs in my dishes and now we can have chives and tarragon, kale and spinach, it’s really great. 

KT: How often do you change the menu?

SL: Four times per year, and sometimes in the summer we’ll have a pop-up menu or change certain ingredients throughout the season, like peaches and melons. 

KT: You have cocktail pairings available for Discovery menu, do you work with the bar team on those creations?

SL: Absolutely. When I do the menu, we sit down and do a bit of a brainstorm, discussing the ingredients. So if you eat the lobster, for the non-alcoholic drinkthey use the green of the fennel, we juice it and they put it in the cocktail. We do a lot of things like that. On the autumn menu, it’s apricots. There’s a small window of apricots in Ontario, like two weeks, so we buy a lot, we dry them to use as a garnish on the cocktail… We also work together with the sommelier, they pair the wine to our food, and sometimes they bring wine that they want to work with, and we do dishes to pair with the wine. 

KT: You mentioned you used to travel a lot, do you still? 

SL: I have a three-year-old girl now and the restaurant, so traveling is a bit difficult. My last trip was to Argentina, I do miss it, going with my bike, my backpack, my plane ticket, and just go. Maybe soon.

* * *

Learn more and book dinner reservations at lorygine.com.

Non-alcoholic cocktail pairring for L’Orygine’s summer 2025 menu. Images by Kateryna Topol.

The post L’Orygine’s Chief Sabrina Lemay speaks to her culinary approach & sustainability in the kitchen appeared first on Paths to Travel.

Germain Hotels was founded in the 1980s by Christiane and Jean-Yves Germain. The idea was to create a hotel experience that puts people first, both guests and employees. To this date, the hotel group is owned and operated by the Germain family, who recently appointed the third generation, Marie Pier and Hugo Germain, as co-presidents of the business. Hotel Le Germain Québec was the second property the family opened. Today there are nineteen properties across Canada.

Over the years, Germain Hotels has established itself as a flagship of the Canadian hotel industry and consistently strives to welcome guests as if they were friends in each location. Hôtel Le Germain Québec is a great example of this hospitality and for that, it is recognised by the Michelin Guide. This boutique property is fronted by welcoming smiles ready to share local recommendations and book your hotel reservations. 

This article might contain affiliate links. Read the disclaimer about affiliate links & PR gifting here. 
This hotel stay was hosted by Hôtel Le Germain Québec, which did not review or approve this story.

 Shared spaces at the Hôtel Le Germain Québec. All images by Kateryna Topol.

The Vibe & Shared Spaces 

The shared guest spaces include two rooms: the lounge behind the front desk and a dining area around the corner. The lounge is fitted with multiple sitting areas, soft couches, and a grand fireplace. To the side, is a large table, perfect for those looking to take advantage of the hotel’s game collection. The back room has a small sitting area and two large tables suitable for family gatherings or meetings. Large arched windows flood the room with light from two sides, nourishing the abundant greenery around the space. Germain Hotels have a special appreciation for art, and so naturally, plenty of it can be seen around the property and in room decor. 

On the lower level is a small gym, equipped with a few cardio machines, a multi-purpose weight station, and a dumbbell rack. While there isn’t a spa on-site, the hotel does offer massage services in the room (solo and duo) by appointment. 

Bar & Breakfast

Breakfast is served daily in the hotel lobby lounge 7 AM to 10 AM and includes a great selection of baked goods, savoury options, yoghurt, cereal, and fresh fruits. Each morning the team will also offer you a warm daily special. During my visit, it was a knotted bread made with leftover chocolate croissant dough (one of the many sustainable kitchen efforts), “it’s best enjoyed with some maple syrup,” the host recommended. Breakfast in bed is always an option if requested the night before. 

The self-serve coffee station is available all day, and the lobby lounge has a fun, minimal menu, also available on the private back terrace. On the bar menu are a few savoury snacks, like cured sausages, redfish, and foie gras from Les Canardises farm, and an aperitif platter. The beverage selection includes wines by the glass or bottle, quite a few cocktails, mocktails, beers, and spirits. 

The guests also have an option to order food from two nearby partner restaurants, Pizzéria NO.900 and Échaudé Restaurant, a Michelin Guide restaurant. 

Inside the Suite 

There are three types of rooms at the Hôtel Le Germain Québec: The Prestige (king bed, large sitting area), The Signature (king), and The Classic (king, queen, or two double beds). All rooms have an unobstructed view of Port of Québec with plenty of sunlight streaming into the suite (blackout blinds are available). The decor differs slightly from room to room, but they all have a working area, a place to sit, stocked fridge, and a modern bathroom. 

The dark wood accents carry through into the white tile bathroom outfitted with a soaking tub, soft towels, and luxurious cotton bathrobes. All rooms are also stocked with an amenity kit complete with feminine hygiene products and even a nail file, something we don’t see often. 

Turndown service is offered every night. 

Sustainability & Social Causes

Germain Hotels are very serious about sustainability and have been building it into the business from the start. These efforts can be seen in refillable bath amenities, glass water jugs in the room (filled up for you at turn down), locally sourced products, and many other less-seen initiatives throughout the chain. Hôtel Le Germain Québec specifically holds a Biosphere Certification, Green Key Certification (3 of 5), and HERE we recycle + “Performance” level certification for best practices in waste management. 

Book directly on germainhotels.com to take advantage of flexible checkout. Receive a price match for a lower rate found on another website with a 10% discount top up. Compare rate to: Expedia | Booking.com | TripAdvisor | Hotels.com 

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This article might contain affiliate links. Read the disclaimer about affiliate links & PR gifting here.
Last updated: September 5, 2025.

Getting to & Around Quebec City

Whether you’re coming from Toronto, Montreal, or another major city, the easiest way is to fly directly into Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport (YQB). A slower and more scenic option is VIA Rail, at this time the journey from Toronto is roughly 8 hours. There is a new plan for a Québec high-speed rail project which would cut this journey down to 3 hours, but it will take a few years to realise. Once in the city, the public transit options are limited to the RTC bus routes (learn more about public transit), however, if you are in a rush, a taxi or an Uber is a better option. For the most part, you can easily access most of the city on foot, but not without a few fairly steep hills. 

Rest areas at the Québec City airport lounge.

From charming streets to waterfall views: 
What to see & Do

Old Québec is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is naturally the top tourist destination. Having walked through the stone city walls, you are immediately greeted with colourful houses lining narrow streets, live plants ornamenting the windows. Wander the streets of Petit‑Champlain, pause in Place Royale, tour Château Frontenac, and stroll along the riverfront Dufferin Terrace. Petit‑Champlain is tightly packed with artisanal shops, cafes, and scenic terraces. One of the narrower alleyways is lined with local artists selling one-of-a-kind art prints and handicrafts for those looking to bring gifts home.

The lower part of Old Québec can be accessed down a steep road, a multi-layered staircase (which does offer a great view) or a funicular. Funiculaire du Vieux-Québec runs from 9 AM to 9 PM and is definitely worth taking at least to come back up; payments are by cash only.

A fun way to see Old Québec is on a group tour paired with some locally famous food stops, or broaden the tour beyond the stone walls with a Craft Brewery and Beer Tasting tour. A slower and more scenic option is to see the city from the water with Croisières AML. This is a comfortable boat with complete amenities that loops along the river to Montmorency Falls and back. The evening cruise option includes a cocktail reception with a DJ. 

The 83-meter waterfall that the boat offers a sneak peek at is Montmorency Falls (Parc de la Chute-Montmorency), located just 15 minutes outside the city. Montmorency can be a half, if not a full-day destination, all on its own. Here a glass cable car will take you up and if time permits, you can walk all around the falls back down to the visitor’s centre using a wooden staircase. At the top of the falls is The Manoir restaurant and terrace with a panoramic view. A suspension bridge will take you directly across the falls but if an adrenaline rush is more your speed, there is a double zipline that runs along the waterfall barrier.

Among the many museums and historic sites are the British fortress Citadelle de Québec, Basilica Cathedral Notre-Dame de Québec, Musée National des Beaux-arts du Québec for the art lovers, Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré Shrine, and Musée de la Civilisation. Plan at least two hours for your Musée de la Civilisation to properly explore the museum. The architecture of the building is a treat in itself with a public viewing terrace, interior courtyard, and various geometric layers.

Huron-Wendat Museum, located in the Hôtel – Musée Premières Nations, offers a wonderful insight into Wendat culture. In the evening, visitors are invited to take part in the Immersive Multimedia Night Walk, Onhwa’ Lumina. Make sure to check their events calendar for interactive and storytelling experiences and get a taste of First Nations cuisine at La Traite or La Sagamité. Make this an overnight with a stay at the Hôtel – Musée Premières Nations and spend the weekend hiking and learning in Wendake. 

Left: Hôtel – Musée Premières Nations and Huron-Wendat Museum. Right: Entrance into Onhwa’ Lumina in Wendake.
Below: Exterior of Musée de la Civilisation.

From fine dining to microbreweries: 
Where to eat & drink

Old Québec is perhaps best for quick snacks and terrace beverage breaks. Though Restaurant La Buche is a city staple, infamous for their comfort food and Canadian menu. Buvette Scott is perhaps the best stop for French cuisine in the downtown core, offering decadent dishes like bass parfait and potato pave paired with natural and unique wines. While in the area, make sure to stop by Le Projet – Spécialité Microbrasseries for a fresh beer flight.

Further towards the Pier is a fine dining trifecta: Bistro L’Orygine, where you will find farm-to-table sustainable menu options, below is the two-star Michelin-rated Restaurant Tanière³, where each course is served in a new environment, and between the two is a speakeasy-style cocktail bar, Vieux Carré, focused on local ingredients only.

Bistro L’Orygine, a few courses from the 6-course tasting menu.

The culinary epicentre of Québec City is stretched along Rue Saint-Joseph E., the Saint-Roch neigbourhood. La Korrigane Brasserie Artisanale and Chez Tao! offer a lively, casual atmosphere with comfort food favourites and cold pints. Le Clocher Penché, Le 101 Restaurant de Quartier, JJacques, L’Affaire est Ketchup are great options for an elevated or romantic meal. La Boîte à Pain and Birra & Basta are great for wood-fired pizza; Birra & Basta also have frequent pasta specials. Honō Izakaya is a local favourite for Japanese food, and soon will be opening a bar in the back.

For beer fans, Noctem Artisans Brasseurs St-Roch in the area is a great option for a crisp flight. Plenty of natural wines are sold in local liquor stores (SAQ), but if you are looking to taste a few, Restaurant Ouroboros has a lovely selection. No visit to Quebec is complete without a bagel, get yours at Bügel Fabrique de Bagels.

Above: Tiki cocktails and noodles at Chez Tao!
Below: Cocktails and oysters at JJacques.

A wellness break in the heart of the city 

Strøm Spa Nordique is located just below the Planes of Abraham, right in the heart of the city. As soon as you enter the spa, the noise of the city fades away in the quiet of the river shore. Sunbathe with a book by the infinity pool, rest in many indoor and outdoor quiet areas, dip between hot and cold pools, or follow the complete circuit through wet and dry saunas. The on-site restaurant, Nord, is a creative gastronomic space with a fine-tuned menu focused on seasonal ingredients and boreal-inspired cuisine. 

The spa is open year-round; advance reservations are strongly recommended.  

A few images from Strøm Spa Nordique, located in the heart of the city.

From castles to boutique hotels: 
Where to stay

One of the most notable structures in the city is Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac, a classic Fairmont property with every amenity you can think of. Among the many other hotels in Old Québec are the clean and modern Hôtel Cap Diamant, Hôtel Le Germain (full review) with spectacular views of the city, and the grand Hotel 71 by Preferred Hotels & Resorts. For a more unique experience, choose a smaller property, Hotel Du Vieux Quebec with a rooftop farm garden.

Stay closer to the restaurant row at the Hilton Quebec, where you can enjoy the rooftop pool even in the winter, or Le Capitole Hôtel. Le Capitole Hôtel is a luxury pet-friendly property with a spa, gym, and a stunning restaurant. A mid-point alternative is the recently renovated Best Western Plus Centre-Ville. Located a block up from Rue Saint-Joseph E, this hotel has a beautiful indoor pool, a small gym, and a spacious restaurant.

Above: Hôtel Le Germain Québec, King Suite.
Below: Best Western Plus Centre-Ville pool and courtyard.

Festivals & Events in Québec City

From Winter Carnival to St. Patrick’s Day and New France Festival, there is something on every month. One of the biggest festivals in Québec, Festival d’été de Québec (FEQ), is hosted for 10 days in the Québec City centre, gathering thousands of people from across the country. This music festival takes over Planes of Abraham and the entire downtown core with multiple stages showcasing artists of all genres and levels of celebrity.

Early September, Rue Saint-Joseph E, is transformed into a free public music and food festival, St-Roch XP. Food vendors from across the street host pop-ups selling small bites between a range of unique music stages in concert venues, shops, and various street corners. This is a great way to see the city, discover new music, and taste the wide range of dining options as small bites.

Turn this weekend into a week-long stay:
Day trips from Québec City

Île d’Orléans is a commonly packaged destination with QC. This charming island consists of 6 villages and can be seen by car or on a group tour. Here you will find historic heritage sites, artisanal shops and food producers, and art galleries. The two not-to-miss stops are Cassis Monna and Daughters La Monnaguette, for some wine and ice cream, and Richard Boily Maple Grove for an informative maple syrup learning experience.

Combine Old Town and Montmorency Falls into a tour, pair Montmorency Falls and Ile d’Orleans into a half-day tour, or visit the Island of Orleans on a wine Tour. 

St-Lawrence River is an excellent location for whale watching. The boats go as far as Charlevoix, offering plenty of opportunities to spot these majestic creatures. Choose a Zodiac tour to get up close and personal with the whales or the dry comfort of a larger boat. This is an 11-hour tour and requires advance booking.

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This article might contain affiliate links. Read the disclaimer about affiliate links & PR gifting here. 

Knowing that I can’t be out of the office for too long the itinerary was as follows: 1 night in Ottawa, 2 nights in Montreal, 2 nights in Quebec City, and fly home. The timing turned out to be quite perfect. With limited time we didn’t go into any museums and instead just mapped the cities for things to see, eat, and places to shop at. All in a relaxed attitude.

The train ride through Ontario and Québec offers a nice view of the farm fields, flatlands, a variety of greenery, and an occasional neighbourhood. The trains are fairly spacious and move fast for the most part. There’s onboard WiFi and basic catering at cost—I’d recommend packing your own snacks.

Stop #1: Ottawa

To See & Do:

Byward Market is a good spot to wander around for a couple of hours. Here, you can buy trinkets and gifts, relax on a patio, have a beaver tail, and buy some fresh fruits from local farmers. The area, naturally, is quite touristy but a popular spot for locals alike. Walking from the market you can explore the city’s architecture and museums on foot passing. Not too far is the Rideau Canal, the Notre Dame Cathedral (do go inside, it is stunning!), Parliament Hill, and other notable government architecture.

Eats & Drinks

I was on a mission to find a craft brewery not too far from the city center and Flora Hall seemed to fit the need. The spot has a typical craft brewery garage feeling on the ground floor with a traditional restaurant sitting on the second level. The beer selection and menu are both great and offer a nice variety of flavours. The only downside is they don’t serve flights. This was information I just had no idea how to process quite frankly and the disappointment on my face is apparently something they see every day. They do, however, serve 7oz glasses so you can just make your own flight!

For breakfast, I would strongly recommend heading directly to the Scone Switch. At this small shop, you will find delicious scone sandwiches (hot and cold), fresh salads, coffee, and sweet scone varietals to take home, or in our case for a train snack. I honestly can’t remember the last time I ate something so flakey and delicious!

The Stay: The Metcalfe Hotel

A lovely modern hotel with a unique lobby that feels like two buildings bonded by a glass roof. The lobby offers a rather unique interior. Some rooms look out into the indoor courtyard, with lights dripping down all the way to the ground level. The overall decor is a mix of modern and mid-century with a lot of well-balanced wood and leather. Rooms are average size, with comfortable beds, a lot of storage space, and a fairly large TV. On the ground floor, there’s ample sitting space including couches and a harvest dining table, a mini library wall, and a restaurant. The only downside to this lovely spot is the pool. Shared with the neighboring hotel the pool seems to be the only room that was not touched by the same decorators as the rest of the property.

The Metcalfe Hotel ****
123 Metcalfe St, Ottawa
Ontario K1P 5L9

Stop #2: Montréal

To See & Do:

There are a few fun areas to walk around in Montreal. For this trip, we chose Old Montréal and Boul Saint-Laurent. Boul Saint-Laurent is a fairly long street dotted with stores, patios, street art, coffee shops, and great local eateries. A good place to start walking is the intersection of Rue Sherbrooke O. The streets behind Boul Saint-Laurent are a great showcase of local architecture – colourful multi-level houses with exposed staircases. Old Montréal is the second-day adventure. Here you can explore the waterfront market, ride a Farris wheel, enjoy street performances, and shop. The neighbourhood has a lot of European-style architecture like Basilique Notre-Dame and the Marguerite-Bourgeoys Museum. The latter opens up on a 360 view of the city once you reach the top.

Eats & Drinks:

For poutine, patio, and oversized margarita vibes there is Dirty Dogs on Boul Saint-Laurent. Dirty Dogs is hard to miss because there is a pink hippo around the corner. It is also hard not to enjoy: the staff is chill and efficient, the food is fantastic and those massive cocktails go down like lemonade.

For a cheffy dinner make a reservation ahead of time at  Restaurant Provisions, located a quick cab ride from the above. The menu changes daily based on what’s fresh and you can choose from a 5- or 7-course menu options. Everything is served family-style at a healthy pace. During our visit, the menu included a variety of seafood, meat, and vegetarian dishes, and was closed with a crafty and delicious corn dessert. Naturally, their daily drink and wine selections also change to match the menu, which is a nice touch.

For a refreshing drink with a view of the city take the elevator to the Le Place D’Armes Hotel rooftop patio that looks over Old Montréal Square. They have a wealthy food menu and a long list of cocktails. I tried two – white wine sangria and a blueberry mojito – and they were both heavenly.

For a taste of French cuisine, my mind was set on finding a terrine and bone marrow. This turned out to be not an easy task but our hotel concierge recommended Taverne Square Dominion nearby. They had both. The restaurant pub has a great old-style decor with a full wall of neatly lined up liquor bottles. The portions are large and filling, the atmosphere is fun, and the people who come here seem to be mostly regulars. Always a good sign.

The Stay: Omni Mont-Royal Hotel

Omni Mont-Royal doesn’t look like much from the outside and is clearly built for entry by car but once you do enter, the lobby greats you with a refreshing scent and smiling faces. The space is not particularly large with a check-in desk on one side and a lobby bar on the other. The bar has a lovely cocktail menu which you can either take with you upstairs or enjoy at the bar. The rooms are spacious, with comfortable bedding and a nice view of the city. There’s also an outdoor pool but the seating is quite limited with most of it in the back looking up at the building wall. A bit of a let down sadly.

Omni Mont-Royal Hotel ****
1050 Sherbrooke St W
H3A 2R6 Montréal

Treat Yourself:

Bota Bota is a river ferry remodeled into an upscale “floating spa,” designed by Jean Pelland from Sid Lee Architecture. Like with all spas, you can book services but most people come here for the water circuit. The spa etiquette at Bota Bota is taken quite seriously – no talking, no taking pictures. Though a quick look through Instagram will reveal some rule-breakers. The boat itself has a few hot tubs, various saunas, and a restaurant. In the garden, just a few steps down, are more steam rooms, a couple of relaxation areas, and a pool. Here, in the garden, you can speak quietly, which naturally makes it a popular place for groups. The water circuit prices range by day of week and season so check their website for your options.

Stop #3: Québec City

To See & Do:

Quebec City is divided into two parts: old and new. Old Quebec is the heart of this location and the primary tourist destination. It’s a place where the narrow streets are winding up to the city walls, lined with old, brightly coloured European-style houses. The city is quite small and you can pretty much walk the entire Old Quebec in one day. This was something I realized on day one, just before panicking about the lack of planned activities. Knowing that there were almost two more days left in Quebec I did a quick search and found a few activities that rounded up this trip into a nice package with a half-day tour and a spa day.

Tip: The Funicular is $3.50 each way and they only take cash. ATMs are hard to find so if you’re not up for walking up a steep hill make sure to bring change.

From the city square, when looking at the river, on the right side down the boardwalk, is La Citadelle de Québec. This is a military fort that you can walk up to for a great view or enter for a tour. The walk from one side to the other is long and uncomfortable so I wouldn’t recommend it. To the left of the city square (with the giant Fairmont hotel on your right shoulder) are narrow streets, cafes, artist booths, street performers, and shops. Make sure to stop by the Jules to buy some tasty gifts. This side of the city will take you up towards the city walls which you could easily walk on.

Day Tours

There are a few tours that offer half-day outings including seeing the nearby waterfall and whale watching. We opted for a  3-Hour Food Tour on the island of Ile d’Orleans.

Our driver-guide was filled with knowledge and anecdotes about the island’s history. Ile d’Orleans is often referred to as the garden of Quebec City because of its vast farmlands. There are 6 villages separated by the said farmlands, we stopped in 3 and our friendly guide even added a couple of extra stops.

During these 3 hours, we ate chocolate, visited a local farmers market, and tasted local wine varietals. I absolutely loved the Ice cider with a cheese pairing at Domaine de la source a Marguerite. They are located in a stunning apple orchard. For our last stop, we visited Cassis Monna & Filles – women who ran a winery offering wine alternatives, like cassis, and lemonades, all primarily made with black currants. Monna & Filles is a beautiful, multi-level property with an ice cream shop and outdoor sitting area. If you are open to renting a car and exploring the Ile d’Orleans on your own it could be a wonderful full-day adventure.

Eats & Drinks:

When it comes to eating there are a lot of options and quite a few of them are simply fantastic. That being said, some research is necessary because it is a very tourist-heavy city. Aside from a rather disappointing evening at Cafe de Paris everything else we ate was great so here are my must-tries:

Légende for an elaborate tasting is located a bit on the outskirts of the Old City. Guests can order a la carte or take advantage of a tasting menu and wine agreement. We started with some refreshing pear nectar juice and a locally brewed gin with an in-house-made tonic. The tasting menu, which we opted for, was a selection of vegetable, seafood, and meat dishes, all beautifully plated and thoughtfully crafted, naturally ending with a delicious dessert. A vegetarian option is available.

For breakfast, lunch, or really anytime solid Québécois meal, there is La Buche: a traditional sugar shack-style dinner with a rich menu. We had breakfast and lunch here on the same day, thoroughly enjoying the thick-cut bacon, sweet crapes, and hefty poutine.

For a patio and traditional French cuisine just nearby is Le Petit Château: a large menu of sweet and savoury crepes as well as raclettes – because what girl doesn’t need to eat a block of melted cheese with beef and potatoes for lunch! The outdoor patio also hosts live music.

Local beers can be found in all restaurants and even in the convenience store but just outside the Old City walls is a fun microbrewery called La Barberie. There are two outdoor patios, a couple of rooms, lots of greenery, and a long list of in-house brewed beers. If you order a flight it comes on a spinning stand with 8 larger than average samples. They also serve food pairings that look quite promising.

The Stay: Le Clos Saint-Louis

If Old Quebec is what you plan to discover then staying it is essential. There are very few large hotels outside of the Fairmont and I was looking for a more authentic experience. Le Clos Saint-Louis, a 150-year-old building built by the original settlers, looked quite charming. Walking in through a red wooden door you immediately see a staircase winding up in a true European manner. Note that there is no elevator.

On the right is a traditionally decorated living room-style lobby where guests can rest on velvet couches. The rooms are not very large, with exposed stone walls and flower-patterned decor. We stayed in the Classic Queen Room which had a desk, wardrobe, a lovely tea set up, and a spacious well-lit bathroom with exposed brick. While it was a little cold sometimes (central heating makes it hard to keep a consistent temperature in old buildings) the room was cosy and great to rest in.

Le Clos Saint-Louis ***
69 rue Saint-Louis
G1R 3Z2, Quebec City

Treat Yourself:

Just a little bit outside of the city is the Strøm Spa Nordique. From the side of the road it is a futuristic black block building but once you enter the structure opens up with various baths, saunas, pools, and a plethora of relaxing spaces. As a visitor, you can book treatments or simply buy a day pass and enjoy the thermal experience for a few blissful hours. This was our last activity before heading to the airport to fly home and if this Spa was closer to home I would be a member.

Side note: bring a hair tie, the scrunchies sold here are a solid $20.

Tip: Taxi to the Aéroport from Old City is under $40 while Uber showed at $70 + so check both.

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