A Michelin-inspired Quebec restaurant tour for your next Canadian epicurean escape

If there’s one province in Canada with a distinct culinary reputation that precedes it, it’s Quebec.

Long known as the home of maple syrup, Montreal-style bagels (arguably the best kind, if you ask us), and comfort foods like poutine and tourtière, food has long been deeply woven into the province’s identity.

Recently, a new chapter of the region’s culinary journey began with the official arrival of the prestigious Michelin guide. Unlike Toronto or Vancouver’s versions, Quebec’s guide aims to encompass restaurants around the entire province, giving the mysterious Michelin inspectors a lot to chew on. Deciding their picks from a province-wide pool is certainly a tall order, especially in a place that has already reached world-class levels of food culture in its own right.

We were lucky enough to be in Montreal during the guide’s inaugural launch; no fancy ceremony was had, just an online reveal marked the occasion this year. It was a Thursday afternoon, and we found ourselves at McKiernan Rotisserie, a spacious, industrial loft eatery from the Joe Beef Group.

While in the middle of devouring one of the restaurant’s signature salty-skinned rotisserie chickens with Alexander sauce, the news hit our inbox.

With one hand on our phone frantically scrolling through the email to locate the press release outlining the guide picks, and the other shovelling some concerningly addictive crispy-thin fries into our mouths like popcorn at a theatre, our eyes stayed on the screen looking for the names associated with stars. This would be the difference between an amazing day and a truly disappointing one to many restaurant teams. It felt high stakes.

In total, nine restaurants were awarded Michelin stars — eight one-star awards and one two-star designation. Seventeen restaurants made the Bib Gourmand category (aka Michelin’s “wallet-friendly” grouping). Overall, 102 Quebec restaurants were given nods in the inaugural guide, including recommended eateries.

As with most Michelin Guide reveals we’ve experienced, there were stars, and there were surprises. That seems to be the norm whenever Michelin enters a new city.

Shortly after the big reveal, we washed down the chicken and the news with an espresso martini and departed the Montreal rotisserie and schnitzelhaüs. While McKiernan didn’t snag a mention in the guide this time, our time there was wonderful. A good reminder right off the bat: not all gems come with stars.

As foodies and folks working in the culinary industry know, Michelin mentions matter, especially for out-of-towners like us seeking top culinary experiences when travelling. There’s an effect that comes with nods from the organization; the increased attention and notoriety on a larger, international scale than local awards might be able to provide.

But there’s no denying that savvy, local diners support what they like, regardless of the list or accolades the concept might have. Canadians have great taste, if we don’t say so ourselves. While we appreciate the expertise of the anonymous inspectors, our guidebook might look different. And that’s okay, that’s real dining.

We were at the beginning of our epicurean journey around the province. With the guide now revealed, it became the backdrop to our dining experiences for the rest of the week.  Here’s a breakdown of our Michelin-inspired Quebec food tour that featured stars, standouts, and surprises.

Cocktail culture: Where to drink in Quebec

The Cloakroom Bar (Montreal)

The popularity of tucked-out-of-sight speakeasies has seemingly exploded over the last several years all across Canada. As with most trending themes, once the dust settles, some are more bucket-list worthy than others, namely, Montreal’s exclusive The Cloakroom Bar.

Located in a high-end menswear shop in the heart of Montreal’s Golden Square Mile neighbourhood, the intimate bar offers seats for 25 people, an impressive selection of vintage amari and bourbons, and no menu. The team of mixologists here use their expert knowledge and imagination to create bespoke cocktails based on your preferences and their suggestions. The drinks here are exceptional and back up the establishment’s #31 ranking on North America’s 50 Best Bars 2025.

Address: 2175 Rue de la Montagne #100, Montréal

Instagram

Bar Bello (Montreal)

Amaro, vermouth, and an old-school Negroni machine: Bar Bello is where it’s at when it comes to a crisp, cold taste of Italy in Montreal. If the aforementioned coin-operated cocktail contraption doesn’t catch your attention (it had seven different pre-batched options during our visit), then the backstory of this bar just might.

The team at the bar — which is located in Montreal’s Little Italy — shared that the Bello name has been around the city’s hospitality scene since 1978, and it was involved in the opening of more than 15 food businesses here. Now, with the next generation at the helm of concepts like Bar Bello, which is also Canada’s first cocktail bar specializing in the art of Aperitivo, the goal is to keep the Italian traditions alive for years to come.

Address: 6740 St Laurent Blvd., Montreal
Phone: 438-946-7155

Instagram

Bar Artefact (Quebec City)

Bar Artefact is a sleek and unique watering hole located in the Auberge Saint-Antoine Hotel, a destination that boasts two Michelin keys. Described as part hotel and part museum, the property sits on an archaeological site where objects from the French and British colonial regimes have been unearthed and put on display. Guests will see artifacts everywhere in the hotel — including in rooms — and Bar Artefact is no different.

Before you look at the menu of cocktails and gourmet bites, you’ll spot a cannon enclosed in glass, just one of the many reminders that you’re sipping a custom concoction on an important historical site, a distinctly Quebec City touch.

Address: 10 Rue Saint-Antoine, Quebec City
Phone: 418-692-2211

Instagram

Refined and artful cuisine: Where to eat in Quebec

Mastard (Montreal)

For a restaurant that only opened in 2021, Mastard has an impressive list of awards and accolades. Chef-owner Simon Mathys was named Chef of the Year at the Lauriers de la gastronomie in 2022, and the 50-seat restaurant has landed on Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants list for three consecutive years.

Once we dove into the modern Quebecois cuisine at the Rosemont hotspot ourselves, there was no denying why Mastard has made waves. The food was elegantly minimalist but artfully plated, and of course, seasonal. Mastard’s refined cuisine and top-notch service (and they only offer five per week) earned the concept a Michelin star in the inaugural Quebec guide.

Address: 1879 Bélanger St., Montreal
Phone: 514-843-2152

Instagram

Le Mousso (Montreal)

One service per night, 30 seats, and seemingly endless creativity. From the food to the animated and energetic introductions of each course from chef Antonin Mousseau-Rivard and the team, Le Mousso offers an unforgettable experience.

With only one word on the menu to describe each course — think Crabe, Omble, and Boeuf — the phrase surprise and delight has a whole new meaning at Le Mousso. Food arrives served in unexpected, even surreal, ways. From a lamb tongue served atop a lamb skull to a delicate crab tart balanced on its carapace, it’s edible art. As one of the most memorable dining experiences we’ve had in recent years, we’d say it’s beyond well worth a visit. This destination also earned a Michelin recommendation in Quebec’s 2025 guide.

Address: 1025 Ontario St. E., Montreal
Phone: 438-384-7410

Instagram

La Tanière³ (Quebec City)

A gastronomic journey unlike any other in the country, after witnessing the symphony of service at Quebec City’s La Tanière³, the two Michelin stars make a whole lot of sense. The kitchen team here is led by Chef François-Emmanuel Nicol, who offers two different experiences for diners, both of which are blind tasting feasts.

One of only two restaurants in Canada with two stars from the Michelin Guide (the other, Toronto’s Sushi Masaki Saito), La Tanière³ is outstanding. During our dinner, we were effortlessly guided through three different rooms, each offering a wildly different aesthetic and atmosphere.

Address: 7 Rue du Don-de-Dieu, Quebec City
Phone: 418-872-4386

Instagram

Laurie Raphaël (Quebec City)

This legendary Quebec City restaurant has been serving award-winning cuisine inspired by Quebec’s terroir for over thirty years. Founded in the early ’90s by chef Daniel Vézina and Suzanne Gagno, the restaurant was named after their children, Laurie and Raphaël.

Daniel passed the culinary torch to Raphaël, who is now the chef at the establishment. He is at the helm of the ever-evolving tasting menus offered here, rooted in sustainability and storytelling through food. It was this fare alongside an extensive wine list jam-packed with biodynamic and private-import labels that earned Laurie Raphaël a prestigious Michelin star during the 2025 selection.

Address: 117 Rue Dalhousie, Quebec City
Phone: 418-692-4555

Instagram

Le Clan (Quebec City)

“Enter an unusual place, where you will sit down alongside mysterious beasts.” With a statement like that front and centre on its website, we were beyond intrigued to try this restaurant.

Le Clan, nestled tightly in Old Quebec and now a Michelin-recommended restaurant, aims to take you on a journey through gourmet Quebec, and it delivers. Like the other restaurants on this food tour, producers and purveyors are frequently acknowledged at every opportunity.

The personality of Chef Stéphane Modat shows in the design and the menu. Upstairs, the striking mural depicting Modat as Christ at the Last Supper demonstrates this best. Here you’ll find exceptional food with a hefty side of playfulness, personality, and heart — not an easy balance, but Le Clan has nailed it.

Address: 44 Rue des Jardins, Quebec City
Phone: 418-692-0333

Instagram

Destination dining: Where to eat beyond the city

Espace Old Mill (Stanbridge East)

With a shiny new Michelin Green Star under its belt, Espace Old Mill doesn’t need an overly descriptive introduction from us. The trip to the restaurant and the farm it resides on was a zippy hour-ish drive from Montreal. This gave us plenty of time to scope out the innovative, veggie-forward menu, which focused on Brome-Missisquoi regional cuisine.

The restaurant’s menu is mainly supplied by the farm. A whopping forty-five varieties of vegetables are grown there, year-round, in a four-season greenhouse, garden, and cellar. That number doesn’t even count the herbs grown here. Anything they can’t grow, they aim to source as locally as possible. While we can’t guarantee what you’ll be eating when you visit due to the ever-changing produce, we can guarantee it’ll be a standout, fresh, and seasonal spread.

Address: 7 Chem. Caleb Tree, Stanbridge East
Phone: 450-248-2888

Instagram

Cassis Monna & Filles, Domaine Sainte-Famille (Île d’Orléans)

Located just a short drive from Quebec City, the scenic gem Île d’Orléans lies on the Saint Lawrence River. The island is known for its agro-tourism and heritage homes and barns. It also boasts some great culinary destinations, and we were lucky enough to visit a few ourselves during a quick day trip there before heading to the city.

Both Cassis Monna & Filles and Domaine Sainte-Famille represent the charm and beauty this slice of Quebec has to offer. The former, a family-run farm that cultivates several varieties of black currants and makes them into divine, high-end alcoholic beverages and black currant by-products, and the latter, a 62-acre estate complete with a winery, vineyard, and orchard, not to mention one of the best picnic spots we’ve ever visited. Visitors can enjoy a stunning charcuterie spread on site, jam-packed with local products.

La Traite (Wendake)

Just outside Quebec City, located inside the Hôtel‑Musée Premières Nations in Wendake, is Restaurant La Traite. Both the decor and food highlight the Indigenous architecture and knowledge of the area.

The kitchen is led by Executive Chef Anora Collier, who showcases local market gardeners and breeders from Niowentïo and Quebec here. Smoked meats like Arctic Char, Salmon, and Wild Boar are central to the menu.

Address: Located in: Hôtel – Musée Premières Nations — 5 Otironta, Wendake
Phone: 418-847-2012

Instagram

As Canada’s largest province by area, we expect the guide to expand its picks and prompt culinary tourism to different corners of Quebec in the years to come. While the restaurants we visited during our tour represent just a fraction of what the region has to offer, it’s apparent that high artistry without pretension and approachable and soulful food can be found in every nook and cranny of the province. This is one exciting place to eat.

Travel for this story was hosted by Bonjour Quebec.