Today I'm talking about the accommodation in which I had the chance to stay during my stay in Quebec City. This hotel is the 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 that offers many surprises to its visitors.
Summary:- The history of the Auberge Saint-Antoine in Quebec
- The Auberge Saint-Antoine, a hotel-museum?
- Accommodation and services at Auberge Saint-Antoine
- Location and surroundings of the Auberge Saint-Antoine
- My opinion on the Auberge Saint-Antoine in Quebec
The history of the Auberge Saint-Antoine in Quebec
Impossible to introduce you to the Auberge Saint-Antoine without telling you about its history. The Auberge Saint-Antoine was founded in 1992, a fairly 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 more than 200 years ago. The family plays a major role in the history of the city of Quebec 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 partly to William Price that we owe the creation of the city of Chicoutimi.
Over the years, he and his sons were able to adapt to economic changes, notably with the creation of one of the largest and most modern paper mills 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 the 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 expanded over time and now includes three historic buildings.
The renovation work has revealed the presence of many historical remains 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 objects of all kinds were updated. Restored and then classified, 000 of them have found their way inside the hotel itself. From the entrance hall to the corridors, passing through the bar or the restaurant of the hotel, these artefacts testify to the history of the place.
Strolling through the corridors of the Auberge Saint-Antoine means discovering pieces from the past reminiscent of 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 the rooms, there are 95 of them. “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, it is the fireplace that you can take advantage of to warm up.
On the ground floor of the Auberge Saint Antoine, you can enjoy a large living room, also equipped with a large fireplace next to which you can warm up after a visit to the city. You will also find the Bar Artéfact, a quiet place 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, the sauna and a massage area.
The hotel also has many rooms to host special events, including an auditorium with nearly 100 seats.
Let's now move on to the hotel restaurant, “Chez Muffy”.
“Chez Muffy” is therefore the name of the restaurant at the Auberge Saint-Antoine. 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 elaborate decoration while keeping the spirit of the historic building such as its stone walls or its impressive wooden beams.
Food-wise, you won't be disappointed. The restaurant offers elaborate dishes, mostly made from fresh and regional products. And for good reason, it gets its supplies not far from there, on 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 take 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 and have a meal there, you will not be disappointed with the visit.
The Auberge Saint-Antoine, an award-winning hotel
The 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, the Auberge Saint-Antoine and its restaurant were awarded the “Four diamond hotel and restaurant” 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 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
Now let's talk about location. If you are used to reading me, you will know that I attach great importance to the location of hotels, especially during city trips of a few days as was the case in Quebec City.
From that side, nothing to complain 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-Champlain. You will only be a few dozen meters from the shores of the St. Lawrence, 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 unmissable Museum of Civilization. The location is, in my opinion, simply ideal for a stay in Quebec.
Little anecdote, if you look on the ground, when leaving the hotel, you will find in the street, three marks annotated with 3 years – 1600, 1700 and 1800. These marks are there to symbolize the level of the Saint-Laurent at these three different eras. You can thus try to imagine what the city might have looked 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 can I say about this hotel, just perfect for my taste. A prime location, a building steeped in history that has kept its historic side despite major renovations. The place given to the history of this place will challenge 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.
