by Jen Mallia
Last updated: 11:30 AM ET, Fri May 23, 2025
Quebec City has long been a destination for food lovers, now it is being recognized by no less than the Michelin guide for some of its top restaurants.
Six restaurants shared the seven stars awarded in the city: one star each was awarded to ARVI, Kebec Club Privé, Laurie Raphaël, Légende and Alentours. The much lauded Tanière3 was awarded two stars.
TravelPulse Canada visited Quebec City in March and was delighted to take part in the tasting menu at ARVI. An omnivore or vegetarian tasting menu is offered each night with optional wine pairing, there is no option to order a la carte.
The restaurant, in the charming (and virtually tourist-free) neighbourhood of Limoilou has a unique approach to the traditional restaurant hierarchy. At ARVI, there is no front of house vs kitchen lines drawn; most of the staff take on several roles. That means your server may also have been the one to plate the food and will be on clean-up duty later. It’s an interesting approach that helps each team member understand how the restaurant works holistically and appreciate the work of the people they work with.
The decadent dessert that capped off the tasting menu at ARVI (Photo Credit: Jen Mallia)
The open kitchen draws diners in, cementing the feeling that they too are part of the operation…although being the one who gets to sample the small plates is clearly the best position. On the night we visited they included a pistachio cake with dark chocolate mousse we are still daydreaming about.
To celebrate the Michelin Guide stars in their city, Destination Quebec City took the audacious step of “renaming” seven stars in the Ursa Major constellation after the awarded restaurants.
"The unveiling of the MICHELIN Guide was an intensely emotional moment for the entire industry. We knew our gastronomy was of world-class calibre, and this recognition confirms it loud and clear. We wanted to mark this milestone in a way that's on par with what it represents. By placing these stars in the sky, we are making a symbolic gesture to honour an entire community that makes our cuisine shine, one plate at a time," says Lucie Charland, Chair of the Board of Directors of Destination Québec cité.
Ursa Major is home to the Big Dipper, known as the “Big Saucepan” in Quebec…a fitting spot for Michelin stars.
Food holds a lot of appeal in Quebec City. ”Gastronomy is at the heart of the tourism experience, representing a cornerstone of Québec City’s identity and a key driver of its appeal,” says the tourism board. In 2024, visitors spent more than $676 million on food and beverages in the region, a 36% increase over 2019.
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