Romantic Restaurants in Québec City

lueur is a younger, more casual, more affordable remix of famed restaurant Laurie Raphaël. The focus is the same: carefully selected, quality local ingredients that change with the seasons. The menu is an epicurean’s delight, bite after bite. The resto-bar itself is inspired by Japanese-style omakase dining and seats just 14 people, for an intimate, immersive experience.

lueur is a place where everything happens right before your eyes, right at the bar. Special mention goes to the bright neon lights, stunning mural, and delectable, sublimely balanced mocktails.

Don’t let the cheeky name fool you: Chez Muffy is inspired by the finest European dining, with fresh produce straight from the restaurant’s very own garden on Île d’Orléans. This Relais & Châteaux establishment epitomizes style, elegance and class, from the dining room to the plate. Located in a 19^th-century port warehouse within the Auberge Saint-Antoine, the restaurant is all stone walls and exposed wood beams, with a gorgeous view of Place des Canotiers and the St. Lawrence River. Named after owner Martha Bate Price, Chez Muffy is imbued with the same timeless charm as its namesake.

The restaurant’s farm-to-table fare gets a boost from the impressive wine cellar, stocked with over 12,000 bottles. The world’s top wineries have a place on the shelf, as do gems that speak to the talent of our local winemakers. For an extra memorable evening, ask for a table near the fireplace. It’s definitely the most romantic spot in the house.

Vieux Carré takes its cue from the famous New Orleans cocktail, delivering an experience that’s as intimate as it is refined. The drinks are classics with a Québec twist, from syrups made with boreal aromatics to wild herb infusions to artisanal northern berry liqueurs. All the syrups and infusions are made in house, for an authenticity you can taste.

The small plates menu is by Sabrina Lemay, of L’Orygine fame, and is served until the wee hours. (Don’t leave without trying the Cubano!) It’s an experience that combines creative mixology and refined cuisine, where every detail is designed to bring out the fullness of Québec’s unique flavours.

Tucked away in the heart of the historic, oh-so-picturesque Petit-Champlain District, Va Bene is a paragon of Italian romanticism. The menu is based on the idea of an antipasti bar and is made for sharing, with offerings ranging from charcuterie and cheese to house-made pasta, risotto, meat, and fish. In a nutshell, it’s an edible tour of Italy for two.

For an extra memorable experience, take the table by the window, near the fireplace, where you can look forward to spending the next few hours living la dolce vita.

Restaurant Wong is a Québec City institution with a remarkably low profile that’s been serving some of the best Chinese food in town for over 65 years. Owner Steven Wong is a descendent of the first Chinese family authorized to immigrate to Québec City. But instead of relying on what’s worked in the past, he’s ushering his restaurant into a new era with dishes inspired by authentic Chinese cuisine.

The result is a happy blend of the chef’s Chinese and Québec roots. I’m a huge fan of the rich tomato beef, pork belly soup, tea-smoked duck breast with jasmine rice, and Asian burrata served with yuzu pear compote.

This little restaurant in Old Québec is the passion project of two sommeliers who have mastered the art of the elusive “third flavour”—that holy grail of food and wine pairings. The discreet location under Auberge Saint-Louis belies a cuisine of carefully crafted dishes where the wine leads the way. Chosen for their sophistication and their terroir expression, these wines do not disappoint.

The menu is a set three- or five-course meal that changes with the seasons and the availability of ingredients. Once the wine is chosen, the chef does the rest. Dare to let go and you’ll be rewarded with a moving culinary experience that makes a lasting impression.

La Buvette Scott is a darling little hole-in-the-wall in the Saint-Jean-Baptiste neighbourhood. The soft lighting, vinyl collection, and little wood tables create an enveloping, intimate vibe—a place where it’s easy to get swept away by the romance of it all. The friendly, welcoming staff add a personal touch to every visit.

The seasonal cuisine features fermented sauces, house-made dressings, and worldly influences that add excitement to every bite. The wine and beer list is a carefully curated selection of local libations, for a dining experience that’s perfectly in tune with the character and charm of the place.

To dine at Mezzé is to spend a few hours in a quaint little Grecian village. Every morsel feels like a moment spent at chef Andreas Papadeas’s family table. Some of the recipes are even from his grandmother’s cookbook, for authentic Greek dishes full of history and flavour.

Between the fine ingredients and the family traditions, every item on this authentically Mediterranean menu tells a story. Like the grilled calamari and marinated octopus, which are brightened with citrus and basted in fine olive oil imported straight from Greece for a melt-in-your-mouth texture that steals the show.

Located right next door to sister restaurant Honō Izakaya, Honō Ramen is an ode to that staple of Japanese cuisine: ramen. Here, everything is made in-house, from the noodles to the broth to the oils and spices, with the main ingredients lovingly sourced from local farms. The warm, intimate vibe is magnified by the black walnut wood used throughout the space, making it the perfect little pod for a cozy evening for two.

The booths and stools—some demurely positioned with their backs to the kitchen—heighten the restaurant’s romantic charm. Special mention goes to star mixologist Julien Vézina’s premixed cocktails, which add a touch of bravado to an already memorable dining experience.

Battuto is all about simple, refined Italian fare, made entirely in-house and served in a lively, casual setting. The essential pasta dishes are accompanied by seasonal plates to share. The antipasti are meant to be eaten without utensils, adding to the casual charm of the meal, and the lovingly crafted wine list is full of great Italian imports.

For the full experience, book a seat at the bar so you can chat with the chefs while they work. Just be sure to book a few months in advance!

This little Japanese restaurant never ceases to impress. The servers glide from kitchen to table, bringing piping hot broths and bottles of privately imported organic sake. The line-up at dinnertime is a testament to the quality of the dishes. The house-made kimchi ramen is spiced to perfection—a must! I’d also recommend getting a side of chashu pork.

For a quiet evening in, order from their takeout menu. If time is of the essence, try going for lunch instead.

They say good things come in small packages. That’s certainly true at Verre Pickl’, a little Mexican bistro run by chef and owner Alexandra Romero. Drawing on her roots, she works with local ingredients to create colourful, satisfying dishes that are equal parts hot and fresh.

If it’s in season, try the huitlacoche. Prized in Mexico and picked in the corn fields of Québec, it’s a taste sensation.