1190 rue St. Jean, Quebec City, Canada | (888) 616-5829
Vibrant corner location in Old Quebec
Within walking distance of popular attractions
Contemporary rooms with custom maple-wood furnishings
Free breakfast and summertime tour for guests booking direct
Hip attached bistro serving locally-sourced dishes
Guest lounge with free coffee, books, movies, and games
Follows environmentally-friendly policies
Attractive on-site event spaces
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Room sizes vary widely (192 to 415 square feet)
Small fitness room has limited equipment
No on-site parking
This eco-friendly, three-pearl property puts vacationers within strolling distance of must-see sites -- including Notre-Dame Cathedral, the castle-like Chateau Frontenac, and the Quartier du Petit Champlain -- so location is one of its main draws. Ambiance is another because L'Hotel du Vieux-Québec strikes an admirable balance between old and new. Housed in a classic brick building, its 45 rooms combine original stone walls with contemporary furnishings and modern conveniences like flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges and free Wi-Fi. Travelers who book directly via the hotel’s website enjoy extra perks (most notably a free breakfast and high-season walking tour). A well-reviewed bistro is attached to the premises, and you’ll find a guest lounge, a small fitness room, and event spaces on-site. If a pool is on your must-have list, try the upper-middle-range Chateau Laurier instead.
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Scene
A modern boutique hotel in a historic building
L'Hotel du Vieux-Quebec occupies a handsome four-story brick building capped by a pair of pretty gables. With a red roof above and overflowing planter boxes below at street level, the facade looks cheery. But the mood (or at least the color scheme) darkens inside as the decor takes a hip turn. In the lobby, a contemporary front desk is trimmed with salvaged wood and matte black walls are offset by tree-trunk tables, funky accent chairs and abstract art. The look continues into the atmospheric guest lounge -- a 24/7 space complete with a computer station and coffee corner -- where stone walls and knotty columns hint at the building’s pedigree. The old-meets-new combination clearly appeals to vacationing guests (many of them couples) who give the hotel consistently high reviews. Eco-travelers should note that this place is proud of its environmentally sensitive policies. The hotel, a carbon-neutral operation, grows organic produce in its rooftop gardens and derives honey from its own beehives (results can be tasted at Le Tournebroche); moreover, it uses solar energy to help power the top floor and exterior LED lighting.
Location
On a busy corner in the heart of the Old City
This hotel has an enviable corner location in the center of Old Quebec. Given its proximity to top attractions, virtually all of which can be reached on foot, it's convenient for sightseers. The immediate area, moreover, is chock-a-block with tourist services, including shops, cafes, restaurants and excursion operators. Note that the railway station (aka the Gare du Palais) is within walking distance, as is the cruise ship terminal (a boon for passengers taking pre- or post-sail trips). The airport, west of the city proper, is about a half-hour drive away. - Four-minute walk to Notre-Dame de Quebec Cathedral
Rooms
Comfy contemporary rooms with a touch of Old World character
Guest rooms, while still modern, are more mainstream in appearance than the common areas. In all categories, an earthy palette is used to create a soothing vibe. In most rooms, lightly patterned carpeting picks up the gray tones from exposed stone walls; autumnal accent fabrics add warmth, while crisp white linens and pale clean-lined furniture heighten the contemporary look. The latter (much of it custom-crafted by Quebecois woodworkers) is, appropriately, made of Canadian maple. All accommodations come with air-conditioning, mini-fridges (as opposed to stocked minibars), coffee/tea-making supplies, safes, ironing equipment, flat-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi. The handsome tiled bathrooms -- outfitted with showers or shower/tub combos -- feature matching maple finishes, plus welcome amenities like robes, magnifying mirrors, and hairdryers. In keeping with the eco-friendly philosophy, toilets are water-efficient and soap is provided in wall-mounted dispensers instead of individual bottles.
Features
An on-site lounge and attached bistro lead the list.
The heart of this hotel is its lounge, where guests can grab a free cappuccino from the coffee corner, borrow a book or select a movie, and then curl up in one of the couches. It also includes a free computer station and a communal table that’s perfectly sized for playing board games. If you need to refuel on food, Le Tournebroche -- a well-regarded bistro attached to the hotel -- serves locally-sourced organic fare for lunch and dinner. At breakfast, you can choose to have a continental breakfast delivered to your door in a picnic basket, which is free for guests who book directly online. It's packed with pastries, yogurt, cheese, fresh fruit, orange juice and homemade jam (gluten-free options are available, as are kids' portions). A second perk for those booking directly is a free summertime walking tour of the city. Other features available to all guests include well-equipped event spaces accommodating six to 60 people, a small round-the-clock fitness room, and free Wi-Fi throughout.
