Auberge Saint-Antoine

What a wonderful experience at this lovely hotel. From the moment you arrived until you leave you are made to feel special. The room was large with a Juliette balcony looking out onto a garden on the second floor. Even the bathroom was wonderful with twin sinks, a large bath and a well proportioned shower. Breakfast was simply delightful with a buffet selection of cooked food with eggs anyway you like them, cereals, cold meats, cheese and breads, yoghurt and fruits. You are even given a healthy juice to start you off. There is a bar off the reception serving a wide variety of drinks and bar food. The hotel has a fitness centre and a cinema serving popcorn. It is conveniently situated in the downtown area of the old city with many shops, bars and restaurants. Staff here are well versed in the locality and can guide you to areas and activities in the city and surrounds.

The hotel was lovely and the buffet breakfast had plenty of selection. The only downside was the dining area very small especially as the hotel appeared to be full . I was surprised to find that what we thought was a double wardrobe turned out to house a fridge, coffee maker etc, a safe and a small set of drawers leaving no hanging space for clothes. Quebec is a beautiful city although a very long steep uphill walk to the centre from this hotel, no good if you struggle with any health issues

I booked this hotel based on the excellent ratings, even though it isn’t part of GHA. I wanted to try three different hotels with excellent reviews during my stay in Quebec City. But it’s a pity my stay at Auberge St Antoine was so very short. The Auberge St Antoine experience: Communication via email began about a month before my month-long trip to North America. Through Jade and later, Geneviève, I had a private transfer arranged. My flight from Vancouver was unfortunately delayed, and so I landed two hours later, around 8pm. It was reassuring to find my chauffeur waiting to whisk me off to the hotel. We had a good chat and he turn out to be a highly trained professional who had protected many a dignitary’s life. How about that. I felt like precious cargo. By the time I checked in, it was just after 9.30pm, and unfortunately there was no longer any room service. I was too exhausted to find dinner elsewhere. Thankfully a lovely slice of chocolate birthday cake was waiting for me in my beautiful room. That was my dinner. The hotel and location: Auberge St Antoine is a “museum-hotel” situated in the heart of the Old Port. It has so much history, with archeological finds from both French and English regimes unearthed during its construction displayed as artifacts throughout the hotel. It is near famed restaurant La Tanière, and tourist attractions like Old Quebec, La Rue du Petit-Champlain, Funiculaire du Vieux Québec, La Fresque des Quebecois, Place Royale, L’Escalier Casse-Cou/Breakneck Steps, etc. There are also nice art galleries and shops nearby. The room: Each room is given a special name/theme with an artifact next to the room number. Mine was “La chambre des sources”. The window faced a little private garden. My room was très chic. It was spacious, with several chairs and corners to sit and relax. Besides the chocolate cake, there was a warm note of welcome from Camille, the assistant director of talent and culture; a card from room attendant Alex, who had prepared my room; two small chocolates; two packets of tisane (herbal tea) and bottled filtered water. Everything was done with finesse. It’s a Relais & Châteaux hotel afterall. The bed was really comfortable and I slept very well. I also really liked the bathroom with its mosaic-tile floor and its cute sliding door, as well as the rain shower over the bath tub, the comfy robes, fluffy slippers and Canadian brand Oneka toiletries. Breakfast: This was at the hotel’s Chez Muffy, housed in a historic warehouse. Amidst lots of hushed conversations in French, I had a most relaxing time. I got to choose a main dish from the menu (“Le Saint-Antoine” with well-prepared eggs, golden potatoes, crispy bacon, sausages, ham and bread), and the rest was a simple buffet. I thought the toast was also one of the best I had ever had - warm and crispy, with that satisfying scraping sound as you spread butter on it, then some confiture. Yum. Fellow guests at Chez Muffy looked well-rested, with ready smiles, and a general air of serenity and contentment. I kid you not. We were all relaxed and somehow in the mood for casual conversations with one another. The staff: When my driver found out I was also spending a night at the sprawling Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, he actually said that the service at the more intimate Auberge St Antoine would trump that of Le Chateau Frontenac. He was right in many ways. Like most top hotels in Asia, Auberge St Antoine was the only hotel during my stay in North America that prepared a slice of birthday cake for me. It also turned out to be a “lifesaver”, given my late arrival at the hotel. Staff were friendly and obliging. I can’t remember everyone’s names but I was very impressed when Marjorie (concierge) agreed to take me on a comprehensive tour of the hotel before checkout. It allowed me to more fully appreciate the history of the hotel and the significance of the beautiful artifacts on display throughout the hotel. Marjorie was also the first person to alert me to La Tanière, where I managed to dine at two nights later, after it was awarded two Michelin stars. Another staff who formed a positive impression was the friendly and chatty Antoine at front desk; it was of course much easier to remember his name. I must also thank housekeeping staff Alex for preparing my room so well, and the friendly and efficient staff at Chez Muffy. There was even a parting gift of two huge cookies in a box, and a complimentary transfer service up the hill to Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, with the assigned driver offering help if I ever needed it. That showed care, and someone going the extra mile. A truly memorable stay: Auberge St Antoine offers understated elegance, as well as exceptional hospitality and comfort. I had a really pleasant, super short stay. Highly recommended!

The only place to stay in QC. Wonderful property and staff. Perfectly located to all the upper and low town sites. Excellent restaurant beautifully appointed. The breakfast was wonderful. Doorman Matt is outstanding and so helpful. Looking forward to visiting again. Highly recommended

We stayed four nights and I wish we could have stayed at least four more! Every aspect of our stay, start to finish, was spectacular. To me, attention to detail is what separates the good from the great. In this hotel, from the staff that welcomes you at the front door to the evening turndown service that prepares you to tuck in for the night, the attention to every detail is outstanding. If you stay here, and you should, you are in for a wonderful, restful and relaxing experience. A++