I don’t know about you, but I love eating and that’s one of my priorities when I travel: discovering local gastronomy and iconic flavours. Sometimes I just don’t know where to start and this might be the case for you when passing through Quebec City or staying a few days! I’ve got the answer for you with culinary tours through old Quebec City tailored to show you the iconic must-see foodie places as well as!
Local Quebec Food Tours
The Old Quebec City Food Tour by Local Quebec Food Tours is an ideal introduction to traditional Québécois cuisine, offering a generous overview of the dishes I grew up with and still love today. The tour includes 5 stops and 8 different food and drink tastings, all within the historic heart of Old Quebec, making it both filling and culturally rich.
The first stop is La Buchette, a smaller sibling to the well-known La Bûche, where we sample lion’s mane mushroom, a locally grown variety with a meaty texture, alongside a delicate duck breast carpaccio. It’s a refined start to the tour and a restaurant I would also highly recommend for a drink on the terrace in summer. It’s one of those spots that quietly impresses.
We then move on to La Bûche, a must when it comes to Québécois comfort food in Quebec City. Here, we dive into classics: pea soup, the iconic pâté chinois, and maple taffy for dessert. Everything feels familiar yet elevated, respecting tradition while adding a modern touch. If you’re looking for a place to eat true Québécois cuisine in Quebec City, this is it. They also have great brunches!
The third stop, BEClub Bistro, wasn’t on the itinerary when I personally did the tour, but it has since been added, and for good reason. Known for its brisket, paired with wine, it brings another hearty element to the experience. Must be delicious!
Next, we visit Épicerie Québécoise – Chez Boulay, where we try sucre à la crème, a classic Québécois dessert, along with one of Quebec’s excellent croissants. If you’re seeking a refined dinner, Chez Boulay next door is always a solid choice, while the épicerie itself is perfect for gourmet bites on the go and local edible souvenirs.
The tour wraps up at Maison Livernois with the ultimate classic: poutine, and yes, you know I love poutine. This stop includes a Quebec gin pairing, fitting for a restaurant famous for its impressive gin selection.
Along the way, we pass several major landmarks, including Château Frontenac, City Hall, an old prison, and a restored monastery, weaving history seamlessly into the culinary experience.
What I loved most about this tour is how it feels like an edible introduction to Quebec culture, simple, comforting, and deeply rooted in everyday traditions. From pea soup to poutine to grandma’s favourite dessert, it’s an experience everyone should have at least once to understand Quebec food culture.
They also have a second tour here that I haven’t tried yet: Evening old Quebec City tour. Let me know what you think of it if you’ve done it!
HQ Services Touristiques
If you’ve already checked off these classics with your own Old Quebec food tour and are craving something more exploratory, you may prefer a tour that ventures further from tradition and focuses more on inventive dishes and restaurant-driven storytelling: Old Quebec Evening Gourmet Food Tour offered by HQ Services Touristiques.
Get 10% off your next HQ Services Touristiques tour when you mention the promo code ChasingPoutine!
The experience begins in Lower Town, where we meet our guide at HQ’s offices on Saint-Paul Street, in the heart of the Antique and Art Galleries district. From the very first steps, it’s clear that this tour is as much about storytelling as it is about food and our guide was really dynamic.
Our first stop takes us to Va Bene, tucked away in the charming Petit-Champlain neighbourhood. Here, we sample a refreshing panzanella salad, a simple yet flavourful dish that opens the door to a conversation about Italian immigration to Quebec in the 1960s and its lasting influence on the province’s food culture. Everything is paired with thoughtfully selected wines, and the stop doubles as a great recommendation for travellers seeking a less touristy restaurant in this otherwise busy area.
Next on our Quebec City food tour, we head to Archibald, a local microbrewery known for having one of the best terraces in Old Quebec during summer. Visiting in winter, we settle into the cozy interior instead, an ideal place to warm up with a tasting of their Joufflue beer and many more if you please. We also try a Québécois-style onion soup made with beer instead of wine in the broth. While this onion soup is not my personal favourite flavour-wise, the atmosphere is inviting and very local, making it a worthwhile stop for beer lovers.
To reach the Haute-Ville (Upper Town), we take the funicular, a practical and scenic shortcut especially welcome on icy days. Along the way, we pass Maison Kent, the site where the Capitulation of Quebec was signed, before arriving at our third stop.
Le Continental is a long-standing institution with a distinctly old-world French feel. Known for classic French cuisine, it delivers a memorable moment with flambéed shrimp, prepared tableside and paired with white wine. Quite an Instagrammable experience!
Afterward, we stroll through the Ursuline Monastery courtyard, where we learn about Marie de l’Incarnation, a key figure in Quebec’s religious and cultural history. It’s a peaceful pause that helps us digest before the final stop.
The tour concludes at Le Clan, where we enjoy veal followed by a comforting bread pudding, a refined yet satisfying end to an evening that beautifully blends gastronomy, history, and place!
They also offer a Combo Historical and Food Tour of Old Quebec as well as a 5-course Progressive Dinner on Grande-Allée and History Tour.
Get 10% off your next HQ Services Touristiques tour when you mention the promo code ChasingPoutine!
Apikol Meadery & Distillery Tour
On Charest Street, just steps from St-Joseph Street where the Saint-Roch district is bustling, a 4-season observation beehive awaits you! Yup, you read that right. Bees even in winter!
I booked a guided tour of Apikol, an urban meadery with around a hundred hives right in the heart of the city. It’s not a proper St-Roch Quebec food tour, but it’s a drink-related experience I can only highly recommend now that I’ve done it!
It’s quite remarkable to have such a concentration of microbreweries, distilleries, and meaderies in this area, since the first distillery in Canada was established right here in Saint-Roch. It just goes to show that tradition lives on and that’s the kind of thing I love to see when I travel.
On the Apikol tour, you’ll be led by one of the warm owners through the fascinating life of an urban bee and then taken to the production area to see how mead is made, as well as their vodka, gin and liqueurs!
I wouldn’t leave without a tasting and it’s perfect, because there are 3 tastings included in the visit: Apikol’s signature mead, as well as two of their other products depending on your preferences. You can also taste more for an additional fee if you really want to sample everything (I sure felt like it after the warm experience).
Parcours épicuriens
If you enjoy discovering a city through its food (which, let’s be honest, is basically the whole point), Parcours Épicuriens could be a fun addition to a Québec City stay. These guided walking tours take you through neighbourhoods like Vieux-Québec or Saint-Jean-Baptiste, with planned stops at local spots for bites and drinks along the way.
Some tours seem to be available in English, although their site isn’t bilingual, so make sure you know what you’re booking if you don’t speak French. I haven’t personally done one yet, but the concept checks a lot of boxes: small groups, local addresses, real food, and a chance to learn a bit more about the city beyond the postcard version.
Gourmet tour: Groupe Sogno Experience by Cicérone Tours
If you’re the kind of traveller who likes a curated food tour of Quebec City without having to plan every reservation yourself, the Gourmet Tour by Groupe Sogno Experience with Cicérone Tours might be worth a look. First off, I must say I haven’t tried this one yet, but I’ve been to all but one of the restaurants that are on the itinerary!
The walking tour starts near Sainte-Ursule Street and weaves through Old Québec with stops at solid, well-known addresses like Bello Ristorante, Le Clan, La Bûche, La Bûchette and Café Buade for dessert. It’s very Québec-forward, with comfort food, local flavours and a certified guide adding context along the way. I appreciate the fact that valet parking is included at Bello if you’re driving. One less thing to think about in the Old Town. It’s a structured way to sample several classics in one evening, especially if your time in the city is limited.
Broue Tours Quebec City Microbrewery Tours
I’ve been hearing of Broue-Tours for years, but have yet to test it, cause I have to be honest, I’m not a big fan of beer, but if you are, then you must set out on this guided tour of the best microbreweries in Saint-Roch neighbourhood. You’ll taste 9 craft beers at 3 different stops, as well as some snacks while your guide tells you all about the city, the brewing past of this part of town and, of course, what you’re drinking!
Île d’Orléans Food Tour from Quebec City
In summer, a trip to Quebec City definitely rhymes with Orleans Island or Île d’Orléans, a fabulous place only a short drive from the city. It’s a mecca for wine, cider, fruits and vistas. If you have a car, you can easily create your own foodie tour, but if you don’t or want to be guided, then these tours might come in handy during your planning:
If you’re looking for Quebec City food tour ideas, here are some of my other suggestions, some foodie, some sporty and some historical too, and even a few that don’t have a food component if you want a change!
- A free tour of Quebec City with the amazing Sam (read the article for all the details!)
- Cicérone Château Frontenac tour
- Cicérone Old Quebec historical tour
- Québec City: 2-hour cocktail & DJ evening cruise
- Quebecois aperitif food tour in Quebec City
- Quebec City sunset sea-kayaking tour with maple Wine
Hope you have an amazing time on your tour. Let me know how it went below!
What to Do in Quebec City region and How to Organize Your Trip
Curious about how to spend your day in the Quebec City region? Here’s a list of the top activities to consider adding to your plans:
- Admire Quebec City’s largest waterfall and take a cable car to the top of the Montmorency Falls.
- Experience a unique walking adventure in the heart of Old Quebec and learn about its history.
- Discover the food, beverages, and vineyards of Île d’Orléans.
- Explore the wilderness near Quebec City with a hike in the Jacques-Cartier National Park.
- Introduce yourself to speed skating in Quebec City with top athletes on an inside ice ring.
- Ziplining above the Sainte-Anne canyon near Quebec City.
- Sleep comfortably at the Fairmont Château Frontenac and enjoy an incredible view of the St. Lawrence River.
- Enjoy a peaceful room at the Hilton Quebec and take a dip in the only year-round heated outdoor pool in Quebec City.
Preparing For Your Trip
When I look for things to do in my destination, I always have a look at Viator, GetYourGuide, Manawa, Civitatis and sometimes even Expedia.
It’s first off a great way to find out what there is to do, but always a quick and easy method to book cheaply and efficiently with these renowned platforms.
Need a place to sleep? I find most of my accommodations on Booking.com but I also use Hotels.com for their rewards program (11th free night) as well as Expedia. When booking smaller places in Quebec, you might not find them here and need to contact them directly.
Looking for a cheap flight to the Outaouais through Montreal? Have a look on Cheapoair or Skyscanner I use regularly.
Once you’re there, rent a car to roam free with DiscoverCars, AutoEurope or RentalCars or hop on a bus around Gatineau, Montreal, Quebec, and surrounding cities with Busbud.
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