Mouth-Watering Pit Stops on Île d’Orléans

Discover the world of Québec blackcurrant products. Who knew this delicious little berry came in so may forms? Sample cassis liqueur, syrup, or honey. And a visit to the island isn’t complete without a stop at the boutique’s famous ice cream counter for a scoop of homemade blackcurrant sorbet. A real treat! Come for a picnic or sit on the terrace and take in the stunning view of the island’s bridge. Your whole family will love it—there’s even a foosball table to entertain the kids!

Pull up a chair at Pub Le Mitan, a local watering hole in Sainte-Famille overlooking the St. Lawrence River, and raise a glass to islanders past with a pint of Monseigneur D’Esgly, a stout made with roasted barley, Marie Barbier, a Belgian-inspired beer, or Richard dit Lecastor, a bitter IPA and refreshing new addition to the crew.

Even though Boulangerie Blouin products are sold in grocery stores throughout the region, it’s worth stopping at the bakery to try products found in most Québec homes, including brioches, fruit slides, and the cheekily-named “pain fesse” (bum bread). All the bakery’s products are cooked in a vintage oven from the 50s.

Step into the 17th century in Sainte-Famille, the oldest parish on Île d’Orléans, and taste the first cheese made in North America. At the Fromages de l’Isle D’Orléans dairy farm, you’ll be greeted by employees wearing period costumes in a traditional setting. Depending on the season, you can try cheese curds, fresh faisselle cheese, a delectable grilling cheese called Paillasson de l’Isle, and Le Raffiné, a soft, washed-rind cheese sold exclusively on site. 

Midinette Boulangerie de fantaisie & buvette is an artisanal bakery set in an ancestral home in the centre of Saint-Jean-de-l’Île-d’Orléans where you can buy bread, pastries, and other homemade products to take away or enjoy on the terrace overlooking the river. 

The Sainte-Pétronille vineyard isn’t just a pastoral paradise offering spectacular views of Île d’Orléans’ rolling green hills and neighbouring Montmorency Falls—it’s also the historic producer of Québec’s first white grape varietal, Vandal-Cliche.