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 Travellers
Red Hot List, 2009. Minimalist in appearance but not in amenities, we
took in the stunning view of the Saint Roch church through our rooms
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.