The Best Boutique Hotels in Quebec, Canada

Almost four centuries ago, a group of Augustinian nuns founded the first hospital on the continent north of Mexico. Their dedication to holistic living continues at this non-profit monastery, where classes on health, culture and nutrition are offered, along with two types of guest rooms at this luxurious hotel in Québec. Authentic rooms with shared baths lie in the cloister and feature comfortable antique bedframes. Contemporary rooms are larger, with simple furniture, a private bath and workspaces. There are no televisions; instead, you can enjoy a historical ambience that is quiet, peaceful and serene.

Voted the number one hotel in Canada by Condé Nast Traveler readers in 2020, Québec’s Hôtel 71 offers service and amenities par excellence. Thoroughly modern features abound, from the self-service wine and liquor bar in the lobby to motion-activated night lights. The hotel excels in personalized, hands-on touches, such as fresh popcorn delivered with a DVD and a pillow menu. Soft jazz wafts throughout the hallways, decked out with modern art, while the room decor is neutral with raspberry and blueberry accents. The irresistible dreamy beds are available for purchase.

With a melange of industrial-chic decor, historical stone walls and contemporary furnishings, Hôtel Le Priori will appeal to sophisticates. The standout choice at this boutique hotel in Québec is the junior suite with a spa. Beyond the fireplace and kitchenette is a spiral staircase that leads to a second-storey loft. Open the French doors to find an outdoor hot tub that’s especially charming during a gentle snowfall. The balcony overlooks the cobbled streets of Place Royale, the oldest French settlement in North America and now the trendiest shopping street in Quebec City.

One of the most beautiful pairings of historical and mid-century modern design can be found at the boutique Hôtel Gaultin Québec. Maple panels are juxtaposed with exposed brick and wooden casement windows in many of the expansive suites, while all guest rooms have heated bathroom floors and Molton Brown toiletries. In Old Montreal, the hotel is near fine restaurants, galleries and museums. Be inspired by more excellent design concepts at the nearby Montreal Museum of Architecture and History.

Be as connected as you wish at the Ripplecove Hotel and Spa. This Eastern Township getaway was built in 1945 near Ayer’s Cliff, a village on the shores of Lake Massawippi. The main chalet has 25 rooms, including a suite, all decorated in an English-cottage style, complete with decorative headboards, floral wallpaper and marble bathrooms. The stand-alone three-bedroom log cabin decor is classic Canadian, with honey-colored beams and a massive wood-burning river-rock fireplace. Enjoy fishing, kayaking or boating on the lake; afterward, fine dining awaits you on the covered front porch. Later in the day, watch the sunset in front of a firepit with a glass of wine from the extensive cellar.

A short walk from the historic center of Old Quebec, close to the Plains of Abraham, where the English defeated the French in 1759 to control New France, is the 15-room Auberge Aux Deux Lions. This large converted manse has various room sizes and types, catering to a host of travelers. Colorful feature walls in primary hues complement stone walls, and larger suites have kitchenettes or balconies. Set amid a bevy of restaurants, shops and bars, you’ll never go hungry but stay for breakfast, as the croissants are deliciously buttery in true Parisian style.

If you’re looking for a charming spot by the sea, Hôtel La Normandie hits the right note. This quaint luxurious boutique hotel in Québec serves up quality accommodation, fine dining and breathtaking seaside views. In the heart of downtown Percé on the Gaspé Peninsula, many of the 45 rooms overlook the beach, with Bonaventure Island and the beautiful Percé Rock jutting up beyond. There’s an elegant onsite restaurant with a tempting spread of fresh seafood dishes, from poached cod to lobster linguine, and an impressive selection of wine on offer.

On the shores of Lake Massawippi, in one of the most beautifully peaceful regions of Quebec, is the boutique hotel Manoir Hovey, combining old-world charm with modern luxury. Accommodation options at this five-star Relais & Châteaux property include rooms, suites and cottages, with perks such as fireplaces, private balconies and marble-clad bathrooms. There’s an onsite restaurant serving reimagined traditional French-Canadian dishes made with local ingredients. Think a maple tart topped with sea buckthorn and pecan nuts, and Prince Edward Island beef finished with a foie-gras sauce.

Find your fit at Le Petit Hôtel. It has 28 rooms, ranging from small to extra-large, all of which combine ancient exposed brick walls, neutral soft furnishings and ultra-modern bright orange leather lounge chairs made in Quebec. Enjoy a continental breakfast, take a curvaceous Papillionaire bike out for a spin or have the front desk barista whip you up a macchiato, all free of charge. Don’t miss the silent movies that are projected on the brick walls in the alley. It’s also close to all the great restaurants and bars in the old city.

Inject a little romance into your Quebec City break with a stay at the Auberge Saint-Antoine. This upscale boutique hotel in Québec by Relais & Châteaux has 95 rooms and suites blending historical and contemporary decor, and many of them offer views of the St Lawrence River. The panorama suite is the pièce de résistance, with a private 600sqft (56sqm) balcony. The auberge’s onsite restaurant, Chez Muffy, also overlooks the water and houses a wine cellar with more than 12,000 bottles. Pop in to sample some mouthwatering dishes made from local produce, including wild boar loin and cream-filled Granny Smith apples.

Escape to the country with a stay at Le Germain Charlevoix Hotel and Spa. This eye-catching property sits between the mountains and the River Gouffre in Quebec’s renowned Charlevoix region, a Unesco World Biosphere Reserve. Inside, the hotel has an urban feel, with slick contemporary furnishings running throughout. It offers various room types, including family rooms and dormitories for those traveling as a group. All stays include breakfast, access to the onsite gym and reduced rates at the thermal baths at the Spa Nordique Le Germain.

The essence of luxury can be found two hours from Montreal on the shores of Lake Tremblant. This grand castle turned luxury boutique hotel has 30 rooms varying in size but not in amenities. Every accommodation has lake views, a private balcony or terrace, a spa soaker tub and a fireplace. Some have expansive bay windows or coffered ceilings. However, don’t get too cozy, as Mont-Tremblant is the place to be outdoors, with cross-country ski trails, dog sledding and horse-drawn sleigh rides during the winter and water sports of all kinds in summer. Fall brings an avalanche of colorful leaves as the sugar maples turn red and orange. The hotel restaurant is outstanding, offering dishes such as caramel-pistachio French toast for breakfast and Canadian AAA prime rib for two for dinner.

Le Germain Hotel Quebec sits inside a century-old former bank near the Old Port, just far enough away from the tourist sites for a peaceful sleep but close to many good restaurants. French influence is evident throughout, with a mix of chic overstuffed sofas and sleek polished furniture. There are three room categories, with the signature rooms adding a separate bath and shower and the prestige rooms decked out with a cute reading nook. The lobby is another lovely place to curl up with a book, as it features a fireplace and self-serve hot drinks station to keep you company.