Today I am talking about the accommodation in which I had the chance to stay during my stay in Quebec City. This hotel is Auberge Saint-Antoine, one of the best hotels in town. A Relais & Châteaux hotel located in the old Quebec district. An ideal place for a stay in Quebec which offers many surprises to its visitors.
> The history of Auberge Saint-Antoine in Quebec
It is impossible to present the Auberge Saint-Antoine to you without telling you about its history. The Auberge Saint-Antoine was created in 1992, a rather recent establishment, yet steeped in history. The history of Auberge Saint-Antoine is closely linked to the history of its owners, the Price family, who arrived in Quebec over 200 years ago. The family plays a major role in the history of Quebec City but also in the history of the region. William Price, the first member of the Price family to settle in Quebec, went into business with the creation, among other things, of sawmills in the Saguenay region. It is in part to William Price that we owe the creation of the city of Chicoutimi.
Over the years, his sons were able to adapt to economic changes, notably with the creation of one of the largest and most modern paper factories in the world.
It was several decades later that one of William Price’s descendants, Tony, decided to enter the tourism industry in Quebec and opened Auberge Saint-Antoine, a luxury hotel located in old Quebec, not far from the Saint Laurent.
Initially located in a former maritime warehouse from the beginning of the 19th century, the Auberge Saint-Antoine has grown over time and now includes three historic buildings.
The renovation work revealed the presence of many historical vestiges which I will tell you about right away.
> The Auberge Saint-Antoine, a hotel-museum?
During the various works that took place around the hotel, many vestiges of the past were found. Indeed, more than 5,000 objects of all kinds were updated. Restored and classified, 700 of them have found a place inside the hotel itself. From the entrance hall to the corridors, including the hotel bar or restaurant, these artefacts bear witness to the history of the place.
Strolling through the corridors of Auberge Saint-Antoine is to discover pieces from the past recalling the history of the inhabitants of the region.
> Accommodation and services at Auberge Saint-Antoine
Let’s get to the heart of the matter by now talking about the rooms, the services offered by the hotel and the restaurant.
First of all, there are 95 rooms. “Comfort”, “Luxury”, “Junior Suites” and “Suites” rooms. All these rooms are spacious, whatever their range, perfectly combining modernity and refinement, while keeping the historic side of the building. You will find all the comfort expected in this type of establishment with, for some rooms, large terraces offering a breathtaking view of the Saint Laurent, perfect for a summer stay. If you are in our case, that is to say visiting Quebec in the middle of winter, you can take advantage of the fireplace to warm up.
On the ground floor of the Auberge Saint Antoine, you can enjoy a large living room, also with a large fireplace next to which you can warm up after a visit of the city. You will also find Le Bar Artéfact, a quiet space to have a drink but also to eat. The decoration of this place is incredible, refined with, always, the presence of these astonishing artefacts. Also on the ground floor is the wellness center with the gym, sauna and massage area.
The hotel also has many rooms to host special events, including an auditorium with nearly 100 seats.
Now let’s move on to the hotel restaurant, “Chez Muffy”.
“Chez Muffy” is therefore the name of the Auberge Saint-Antoine restaurant. Located in a former maritime warehouse from the beginning of the 19th century, the restaurant “Chez Muffy” surprised us with its warm atmosphere. This restaurant offers a refined decoration while keeping the spirit of the historic building like its stone walls or its impressive wooden beams.
Food wise, you won’t be disappointed. The restaurant offers sophisticated dishes, mostly from fresh produce from the region. And for good reason, it gets its supplies not far from there, on the Île d’Orléans, in the farm that the hotel owns and which has been specially designed to supply the restaurant with fresh products from sustainable agriculture. .
We had the chance to have our breakfasts there, during which we were able to taste countless dishes that were offered to us. Even if you are not a guest of the hotel, I suggest you go for a meal there, you will not be disappointed with the visit.
Auberge Saint-Antoine, a hotel with many awards
Auberge Saint-Antoine is one of the most awarded accommodations in Quebec City, but also in the region, and even in the country.
Between 2005 and 2018, Auberge Saint-Antoine and its restaurant were awarded the “Four Diamonds for Hotels and Restaurants” award.
Between 2003 and 2017, the Auberge Saint-Antoine appeared in various rankings rewarding the most prestigious hotels in the world. It was even voted the best hotel in Canada in 2016!
The TripAdvisor site has also rewarded the Auberge Saint-Antoine on numerous occasions between 2007 and 2018, for example by awarding it 1st place in the ranking of the best hotels in Canada in 2017.
> Location and surroundings of the Auberge Saint-Antoine
Let us now turn to the question of localization. If you are used to reading this, you will know that I attach an important place to the location of hotels, especially during city trips of a few days as was the case in Quebec City.
On this side, nothing to say about the Auberge Saint Antoine. The hotel is located in the historic district of the city, in a quiet street but a stone’s throw from one of the city’s must-see streets, rue Petit-Champlin. You will only be a few dozen meters from the shores of the Saint-Laurent, but also from the stairs – or the funicular – which will take you to the Dufferin terrace. You will also find, very close to the hotel, the essential museum of civilization. The location is, to my taste, just ideal for a stay in Quebec.
Small anecdote, if you look on the ground, when leaving the hotel, you will find in the street, three annotated marks of 3 years – 1600, 1700 and 1800. These marks are there to symbolize the level of the Saint-Laurent at these three different eras. You will be able to try to imagine what the city could look like several centuries ago as well as the space gained on the river over time.
> My opinion on the Auberge Saint-Antoine in Quebec
What about this hotel, just perfect for my taste. A prime location, a building steeped in history which has kept its historic side despite major renovations. The place given to the history of this place will appeal to more than one visitor as it is highlighted in an elegant and refined way.
The services offered by the hotel are numerous and fit perfectly into a stay of a few days in Quebec. It is therefore without hesitation that I recommend this hotel, certainly one of the best in Quebec.
