November 25th, 2010
Cool Quebec
The recently gentrified Quartier Saint Roch district of Quebec City offers travellers an off-the-beaten-track taste of urban cool. We stayed for a weekend and barely had to leave the block.
stay
We lay our weary heads on fresh, white linen at the loft-style Hotel Pur (rooms start at $139/ night), listed in Condé Nast Traveller’s Red Hot List, 2009. Minimalist in appearance but not in amenities, we took in the stunning view of the Saint Roch church through our room’s floor-to-ceiling windows, enjoyed a leisurely soak in the deep Japanese-style tub, and relished our post-swim morning smoothie made from fresh strawberries and Thai basil. Hotel Pur, 395 de la Couronne St., Quebec City, 418-647-261, www.hotelpur.com
dine
Indulgence is on the menu at Versa Restaurant. A decadent appetizer of foie gras with homemade donuts ($19.95) had us licking our forks clean, followed by a saintly (in comparison) olive oil poached swordfish ($38.95). We returned to hedonism with a duo of veal topped with bacon ($39.59) followed by a positively pious mini lemon tart ($9.95). Lemons are fruit, right? Versa Restaurant, 432 du Parvis St., Quebec City, 418-523-9995, www.versarestaurant.com
drink
Sip on creative cocktails (we loved the Pear Ale with gin, pear puree and ginger ale, $8.50) and choose to chill upstairs or dance downstairs at Le Boudoir Lounge. Le Boudoir Lounge, 441 du Parvis St., 418-524-2777, www.boudoirlounge.com
shop
Pick up beautiful French-from-France lingerie from Flirt, including Aubade, Simone Perele and Chantelle. Or you can support our local French designers, like Mélissa Nepton and Eve Gravel by shopping at Boutique Novo. Flirt, 525 St. Joseph St. East, Quebec City, 418-529-5221. Boutique Novo, 708 St. Joseph St. East, Quebec City, 418-614-8098, www.boutiquenovo.com
For Jenn Nachshen's photos from her weekend in Quebec City, please visit the vitaminwater canada blog.
