Chez Boulay-bistro boréal
1 / 10

Chez Boulay-bistro boréal

,

Experience upscale Nordic-inspired cuisine in a stylish setting, showcasing local Quebec ingredients and culinary innovation.

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

Social content

Social

From TikTok & Reddit

Best Time

Wed/Fri 18-21h

Blue hour photography, calmer galleries

CrowdLow
Chez Boulay-bistro boréal

Chez Boulay-bistro boréal

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

Experience upscale Nordic-inspired cuisine in a stylish setting, showcasing local Quebec ingredients and culinary innovation.

"This is without a doubt the best meal I've ever had."

TIP

Book Ahead

Reservations are highly recommended, especially for popular times, to secure your table.

Try Seasonal Specials

Ask about or try the seasonal specials for a unique taste of the freshest local ingredients.

Third hero image

Quick Facts

Closed·Opens 5PM

Cuisine

Nordic-French

Price

$$$

Phone

+1 418-380-8166

Address

1110 Rue Saint-Jean, Québec City, Quebec G1R 1S4, Canada

Insta-Factor

High

Highlights

Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Nordic-Inspired Cuisine

Nordic-Inspired Cuisine

Experience unique Nordic-inspired dishes crafted with local ingredients from northern Quebec, offering a taste of the boreal region.

Weekend in Quebec City: 3-Day Itinerary & Travel GuideRestaurant Roundup: Bistros of Quebec CityThe 16 best restaurants in Quebec City
Signature Braised Beef Cheek

Signature Braised Beef Cheek

Savor the incredibly tender and flavorful braised beef cheek, a dish that consistently earns high praise.

Google Review+1
Charming French Brunch

Charming French Brunch

Enjoy a delightful French brunch experience in a charming atmosphere, with excellent dishes like mushrooms and steak.

Google Review
Your AI travel agent

Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you

Start Chatting

Insider Tips

from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit

Chez Boulay , le comptoir boréal on fait nos croissants, disponible tous les jours! Chez Boulay, the boreal counter we make our croissants, available every day! #quebec #croissant #french #pourtoi #pvt #patisserie #viennoiserie #pate #chocolatine #painauchocolat @Arnaud Marchand
@frenchmaninquebec
80 likes • 1.2K views

Book Ahead

Reservations are highly recommended, especially for popular times, to secure your table.

Try Seasonal Specials

Ask about or try the seasonal specials for a unique taste of the freshest local ingredients.

Le nouveau menu pour emporter de #ChezBoulay #salutlesgourmands #quebecmange #quebeccite
@salutlesgourmands
362 likes • 9.3K views
Happy New Year! 🥳 - Beignet au mélilot #2024 #newyear #krapfen #kreppel #berliner #pastry #patisserie #beignets #melilot #québec #framboise #pommes #chezboulay #happynewyear
@pharaelo
81 likes • 2.7K views

Share Plates

Consider sharing multiple dishes to sample a wider variety of the diverse and creative menu.

Visit Off-Peak

For a more relaxed experience, consider visiting during less busy hours.

Une journée à la pâtisserie , @Arnaud Marchand #vlog #patisserie #capcut #chezboulay #canada #quebec #yummy #photo #stvalentin #pastry #pvt #2025 #hiver #quebeccity
@frenchmaninquebec
38 likes • 934 views

Tips

from all over the internet

Book Ahead

Reservations are highly recommended, especially for popular times, to secure your table.

Try Seasonal Specials

Ask about or try the seasonal specials for a unique taste of the freshest local ingredients.

Share Plates

Consider sharing multiple dishes to sample a wider variety of the diverse and creative menu.

Visit Off-Peak

For a more relaxed experience, consider visiting during less busy hours.

What Travellers Say

4.6
(491k reviews)

Reviews Summary

Chez Boulay-Bistro Boréal offers a refined dining experience with its innovative Nordic-inspired cuisine and chic ambiance. Diners rave about the exceptional flavors, tender braised beef cheek, and outstanding service, making it a highlight of Quebec City. However, a few reviewers noted occasional issues with over-salting and feeling rushed, suggesting potential inconsistencies.

"came for the brunch menu and all the dishes we got were excellent! huge latte or espresso and bread + jam came with our brunch. all the dishes were perfect in their own way. words cannot begin to describe! highly recommend the mushrooms and steak

i’d recommend making a reservation"

Hanna Kim

"First day reveal of their new 3 course lunch menu, and the food was terrific! We had the fish of the day (local rainbow trout) over a mash potato, and braised beef cheek, after our starters.

The service was also outstanding thanks to Jean-Michel. We are looking forward to our next meal! Thank you."

Samuel Neves

"The experience here is top shelf. French and English are spoken welcomingly. There is a focus on local spirits and cocktails, with strong farm to table sourcing.
Our entrees were good portions, leaving room for their dessert. Our waitress provided great suggestions which we selected nearly every time.
This is a must visit, a find we discovered on our walking food tour which was also great!!"

Jason Botts

What People Like

Innovative Nordic cuisine
Tender braised beef cheek
Impeccable service

What People Dislike

Occasional over-salting
Feeling rushed

Frequently Asked Questions

It's known for its unique Nordic-inspired cuisine using local Quebec ingredients and its stylish, modern atmosphere.

Restaurants in QuebecRestaurant Roundup: Bistros of Quebec City

Yes, making a reservation in advance is highly recommended due to its popularity.

Google Review

Diners often praise the braised beef cheek, bison tartare, and seasonal specials.

Google Review+1

Yes, they offer a delightful brunch menu with excellent vegetarian options and classic brunch items.

Best Brunch restaurants in Quebec City [2024]Google Review

Absolutely, the restaurant emphasizes using entirely local ingredients from northern Quebec and the boreal region.

Restaurants in QuebecWeekend in Quebec City: 3-Day Itinerary & Travel Guide

Yes, the brunch menu includes vegetarian options like the 'Le Petit Bonheur'.

Best Brunch restaurants in Quebec City [2024]

Mentioned in

Featured in these publications

Fodor’s Travel

Restaurants in Quebec

Chefs Jean-Luc Boulay and Arnaud Marchand, who are both revered in this town, delight patrons with elegant interpretations of cuisine inspired by northern Québec and made entirely from local ingredients, including reinvented classic desserts, such as iced nougat with cloudberries. A mix of locals celebrating special occasions and tourists fresh from shopping rue St-Jean dine in this elegant dining room on bison tartare, braised beef ravioli with candied red cabbage, and salmon in a flavorful cranberry glaze. The somber color scheme, rustic-meets-modern graphics, and dark wood trim make this one of the more sophisticated bistros in the neighborhood.

Visit Source →
Rudderless Travel

Weekend in Quebec City: 3-Day Itinerary & Travel Guide

Chefs Jean Luc Boulay and Arnaud Marchand opened Chez Boulay—Bistro Boreal to highlight Quebec’s unique regional and seasonal products from the boreal region: elk, trout, elderberry flower (I love elderberry juice, by the way) and Labrador tea. Cranberry seed oil, hemp oil, and apple cider vinegar can all be found in the Nordic-inspired blend of Quebec culinary traditions and international influences. I went for the braised beef cheek with Labrador tea, potato purée with brown butter, roasted cabbage, oyster mushrooms, and fresh herbs.

Visit Source →
foodbloggersofcanada.com

Restaurant Roundup: Bistros of Quebec City

A unique concept in the city, Chez Boulay makes its own, casual version of Nordic cuisine, using “boreal” ingredients such as venison and game meats, foraged vegetables and seasonings, and locally made oils and syrups. Backed by one of the city’s finest chefs, Saint-Amour’s Jean-Luc Boulay, and led by another. alum, French-trained Arnaud Marchand, the restaurant serves dishes that are bold in flavour and generous in size, but refined in taste.

Visit Source →
Travelregrets

Best Brunch restaurants in Quebec City [2024]

Address: 1110 Rue Saint-Jean, Québec, QC G1R 1S4, CanadaPhone:+1 (418) 380-8166Website:chezboulay.comDetails: $$$, Restaurant. Chez Boulay-Bistro Boreal in Quebec City offers an incredible dining experience with its delectable food, inviting atmosphere, and exceptional service. The brunch menu offers a variety of options, including the mouthwatering Le Petit Bonheur, a vegetarian dish featuring tofu sausage, potatoes, eggs, and melted cheese.

Visit Source →
Seven Days

How a Foodie Eats in Québec City

Despite a location within the walls of the old city, this “boreal bistro” is distinctly au courant with its celebration of hyperlocal ingredients such as smoked bison breast, Saint-Laurent redfish and foraged sea buckthorn. Even at weekend brunch, you might see fir tips in the hollandaise slathered over a seared steak, hay whipped cream on the French toast or smoked mushrooms atop eggs Benedict. (chezboulay.com, 418-380-8166, brunch CA$26-32)

Visit Source →
noovomoi.ca

Nos 35 restaurants préférés dans la ville de Québec

Une publication partagée par Chez Boulay - Bistro boréal (@chezboulay). Direction Bistro Chez Boulay, pour une version plus abordable et décontractée du restaurant signature du grand chef Jean-Luc Boulay, Le Saint-Amour. Le resto est ouvert 7 jours sur 7 et propose tout ce que l’on aime: un décor moderne et chaleureux, une ambiance conviviale et sympathique, un menu bistro invitant et exécuté à la perfection, et des prix intéressants.

Visit Source →
Local Quebec City Tours

Old Quebec City Things to do 2025 | 30+ Top Attractions & Tips

Chez Boulay specializes in Nordic Cuisine, drawing inspiration and flavour from the lands surrounding Quebec. They’ve infused this approach into their completely unique cafes, which serve pastries, lunch foods and specialty flavoured coffees. Even those who need to refuel on the go won’t have to sacrifice on taste, the food and drinks here are treated with the same creativity and care that goes into the fine dining restaurant.

Visit Source →
Icy Canada

15 Best for an Incredible Time

The last one on the list of the best restaurant in Quebec City is this upscale restaurant on rue Saint-Jean in Old Quebec City is a comfortable place to eat. Head chef Jean Luc Boulay is largely viewed as one of Canada’s top chefs, and he takes great pride in offering classic French-style food with a modern twist. Elk, trout, elderberry flower, and Labrador tea are all creatively spotlighted in their menu.

Visit Source →
Hôtel Québec Best Western PLUS Centre-ville Québec

The 16 best restaurants in Quebec City

This restaurant combines the richness of northern gastronomy with the freshness of Quebec products in an innovative menu. The cuisine is inspired by the unique foods of the northern territory, the abundance of the boreal forests and some French techniques to create a unique blend of flavors. The exceptional fusion of French and Boreal cuisine by chefs Jean-Luc Boulay and Arnaud Marchand will impress many.

Visit Source →
Flavor The Globe

The Best Restaurants In Quebec City: Where To Eat To Experience Proper Quebec City Cuisine

Chez Boulay may just be the best table in the heart of the old city. This premier dining establishment has earned an incredible reputation through its commitment to culinary excellence and a dedication to showcasing The Quebec City region’s best flavors. Led by renowned chefs Jean-Luc Boulay and Arnaud Marchand, Chez Boulay has become one of the most popular fine dining experiences in Quebec City.

Visit Source →
Landsby

My Quebec City Food Diary

For lunch, I ventured to Chez Boulay Boreal Bistro, which is located just a short walk from Il Teatro on Rue Saint-Jean. This was a meal I had long been anticipating because the Boreal Bistro features what I love the most when it comes to dining out during my travels: local cuisine with a twist!. Sourced from the boreal forests and local producers, the food is inspired by Nordic traditions.

Visit Source →
Visiter Québec

36 restaurants pour des mets à emporter à Québec

La réputation de Chez Boulay-bistro boréal n'est plus à faire. Vous trouverez maintenant l'option de mets à emporter sous forme de boîte-repas pour deux personnes sur commande à l'avance. Au Comptoir Boréal vous trouverez des mets sous vide, congelés ou du comptoir, des charcuteries et des fromages et des sandwichs pour le midi : tout y est pour satisfaire les fins palais.

Visit Source →
manoirdauteuil.com

The best restaurants | Visit Quebec City

Chez Boulay restaurant in Quebec City embodies Nordic culinary excellence, offering a refined gastronomic experience rooted in local traditions. Founded by chefs Jean-Luc Boulay and Arnaud Marchand, the restaurant stands out for its creativity and its commitment to local Quebec ingredients. Inspired by unique foods: freshwater fish, wild fruits, forest mushrooms, lichen.

Visit Source →
Visit Québec City

Best Breakfast and Brunch Restaurants in Québec City

Located in Old Québec, one of the most tourist-friendly neighbourhood in town, Chez Boulay stands out among tourist shops and souvenir stores. For brunch, Chef Arnaud Marchand portrays rich aromatic flavours of the boreal forest; a direct contrast with its lively location inside the city walls. On the menu: fish, meat and rich flavourful dishes served in savoury sauces.

Visit Source →
hotelbelley.com

Best of 10 BBQ restaurants in Old Quebec Quebec

Indulge in the exquisite culinary experience at Chez Boulay - bistro boréal, where every aspect is a notch above the rest. The delectable food offerings, impeccable service, and generously portioned dishes make it a must-visit. Be sure to savor the unforgettable scotch egg and the exceptional meatloaf, which stands out as the best I've ever tasted.

Visit Source →
Wander Magazine | Live Well, Eat Well, Travel Well

Bon Appetit: From Farm to Table in Quebec City

Inspired by Nordic cuisine and the wilderness of northern Canada, here you’ll find delightful options like confit goose and duck leg parmentier, potatoes, with mushrooms and fir tree essence, and birch syrup vinaigrette. The staff is knowledgeable about every detail, portions are perfectly sized, and the rustic atmosphere is absolutely charming.

Visit Source →
Food & Wine

Where to Sip, Eat, and Stay in Quebec City

At Chez Boulay – Bistro Boréal, chefs Jean-Luc Boulay and Arnaud Marchand work with vegetables, cheeses, herbs, and meat culled from local fields and forests, while the freshest fish comes from the Gaspé Peninsula, a little farther east. Try the epic weekend brunch, savory or sweet, including housemade bagels and waffles.

Visit Source →
Montreal Tips

Best Breakfast Spots in Quebec City

It is one of the best restaurants in Quebec City, attracting hundreds of tourists every day. Old Quebec is a family-friendly and tourist-friendly neighborhood in the city, and Chez Boulay stands out for its delectable food and aromatic flavors. In addition, you will enjoy the mix of traditional and modern interior décor.

Visit Source →
Tastet

Top Lunch Spots in Quebec City

Chez Boulay welcomes you for lunch only twice a week, on Thursdays and Fridays, but the wait is absolutely worth it. The dishes on the lunch menu are so flavorful, delicate, and well-crafted that you might find yourself already thinking about your next visit as soon as you leave the table. 1110 Rue Saint-Jean Québec

Visit Source →
Silo 57

16 restaurants aux nombreuses options sans gluten à Québec

Une publication partagée par Chez Boulay - Bistro boréal (@chezboulay). Le menu Boréal du restaurant Chez Boulay indique clairement les mets pouvant être préparés sans gluten et sans risque de contamination croisée. Sortie gastronomique et paix d'esprit vont de pair dans cet établissement primé du Vieux-Québec.

Visit Source →
Retirement Travelers

The 10 Best Quebec City Restaurants

We enjoyed the variety of dishes at Chez Boulay-Bistro Boréal in Quebec City, which used ingredients mostly from northern parts of Canada. The restaurant was cozy, and our table had a nice street view. The food was delicious, with dishes made from local ingredients like wild berries, fish, and game meat.

Visit Source →
Bucket List Publications - Bucket List Publications

Best Restaurants in Quebec City

Via quebec-cite.com/en/restaurants-quebec-city/nordic-cuisine. Located on Old Quebec’s St-Jean Street, Chez Boulay‘s cuisine is inspired by the abundance of the boreal region and the exceptional quality of local products. Think wild game meat, fresh water fish, wild fruit, forest mushrooms, and lichen.

Visit Source →
chibbqking.blogspot.com

Smokin' Chokin' and Chowing with the King: Eating BIG in Quebec City

Despite it's popularity with visitors most everyone had good things to say about Chez Boulay. Bc it was a Monday many other spots were closed so we decided to try this spot where the menu is focused on turning local ingredients into Nordic cuisine. The dining room is a big open space which I liked.

Visit Source →
Global Viewpoint

20 Unique Restaurants in Quebec City: Unusual Dining Experiences

Discover unique tastes of Quebec’s northern forests at Chez Boulay-bistro boréal. This popular Old Quebec bistro, led by renowned chefs, specializes in “boreal cuisine,” highlighting ingredients sourced from Canada’s northern landscape. Get ready for flavors you won’t find anywhere else!

Visit Source →
For Two, Please

Plan Your Own Quebec City Food Tour By Hitting These 13 Spots

Located on the busy street of Saint-Jean, this trendy bistro whips up Nordic dishes with fresh ingredients that are unique to the region. Not only will you see elk, trout and Labrador tea spice being used creatively in dishes, you will also appreciate what nature can bring to the table.

Visit Source →
Urban Guide Quebec | a guide to travel, food, and culture

20+ Great Restaurants in Old Quebec City (2023)

Facing rue Saint-Jean, Chez Boulay is a popular Old Quebec City restaurant for nordic/boréal cuisine. Dishes feature ducks, fowl, wild game meats, and fish like salmon, char, walleye, and trout. There are also plenty of root vegetables, berries, and herbs foraged in the boréal forest.

Visit Source →
Urban Guide Quebec

20+ Great Restaurants in Old Quebec City

Visit Source →
aaa.com

6 Pastry Shops Where Locals Go in Quebec City, Canada

Friendly staffers will make you feel welcome in this smallish spot with big flavor. Try Boulay’s excellent coffee accompanied by a beautifully crafted pastry or superb croissant. Velvety hot chocolate (concocted with a rich, dark variety of cocoa) never disappoints on a brisk day.

Visit Source →
Zeste

Ces 16 restos offrent des options sans gluten à Québec

Le menu Boréal du restaurant Chez Boulay indique clairement les mets pouvant être préparés sans gluten et sans risque de contamination croisée. Sortie gastronomique et paix d'esprit vont de pair dans cet établissement primé du Vieux-Québec. 1110, rue Saint-Jean, Québec

Visit Source →
Travel2Next

Quebec City Restaurants - Where to eat and what to eat

A few years ago, this restaurant opened which features boréal (northern) cuisine. It is named Chez Boulay-bistro boréal after Chef Jean-Luc Boulay, owner of Le Saint-Amour, another of the highly regarded Quebec City restaurants. What is northern boreal forest cuisine?

Visit Source →
Eating With Ziggy

Quebec City – The Good, the Great, and the Ugly

A comfortable room with a working A/C turned out to be a surprise luxury in QC. Lunch specials come with soup (excellent leek and potato on this day) or salad (nice seed action). Cavatelli with broccoli and local cheese was light and perfectly executed.

Visit Source →
CreditWalk.ca

Marriage Proposal in Quebec City: The Paris for Points Geeks

The owner at Snackbar suggested we check out Chez Boulay Bistro for our Saturday night dinner. She said that if she had one meal left, it would be the meat cheek from Chez Boulay. I guess I agree with her as this was my last meal as a single man.

Visit Source →
Bon Traveler

16 Best Things to Do in Quebec City (Year-Round)

I tried my hand at it, at the local packed Chez Boulay bistro boréal. Their brunch menu had a few different selections, all showcasing Quebecs northern cuisine with local ingredients. You’ll definitely want to make a reservation in advance here.

Visit Source →
Chasing Poutine

Where to Enjoy a Christmas Dinner in Quebec City

If you’re looking for a taste of the wild and vintage, Chez Boulay: Bistro Boréal is the one for you. What makes this little restaurant the first one on our list is its choice to make the food with ingredients found in Canada’s Boréal forest.

Visit Source →
lecuisinomane.com

Où manger à Québec : meilleurs restaurants & cafés (carte)

Une cuisine dite « boréale », extrêmement bien maîtrisée par le chef exécutif Arnaud Marchant et sa brigade. On aime particulièrement les saveurs nordiques, sublimées par les techniques françaises, avec une pointe de gourmandise.

Visit Source →
Tinybeans

Fun Things to Do with Kids in Quebec City, Canada

Leave the kids at home and dine at Chez Bouley-Bistro Boreal, where celebrated chefs employ regional ingredients to create upscale Nordic cuisine. (Think fir tree essence, Trout carpaccio with seaweed, and pickled daisy capers.)

Visit Source →
toursvoirquebec.com

Top 10 Best Old Québec Restaurants

A post shared by Chez Boulay-bistro boréal (@chezboulay) on Dec 9, 2017 at 6:50am PST. This boreal Bistro has a unique niche: Nordic cuisine. The restaurant especially highlights products from the northern wilderness of Canada.

Visit Source →
PagesJaunes.ca

Fine Dining Restaurants à Beaumont QC

Bistro, Restaurant gastronomique, Québecoise, Fine cuisine, Décontractée. complice, Arnaud Marchand, d'offrir à un large public une cuisine d'inspiration nordique mettant en valeur les... Restaurants gastronomiques, Restaurants

Visit Source →
community.ricksteves.com

Restaurant Recommendations in Old Quebec

We have been going to Chez Boulay ever since he opened several years ago. Always a top notch meal!. In fact, in all of our world travels, Chez Boulay is in our top 5 favorite restaurants.

Visit Source →
Bacon is Magic - The Best Food Around the World

The Best Cafes in Quebec City in 2010

A fairly new addition to Old Québec’s Uppertown, Comptoir Boréal is part of the restaurant Chez Boulay, Comptoir Boréal is a delightfully small comptoir (French for counter) and café.

Visit Source →
Frommers

Restaurants in Quebec City

It’s almost as if chefs Jean-Luc Boulay and Arnaud Marchand anticipated the reviews when naming their restaurant: “Chez Boulay Bistro à Boréal is more than a mouthful .

Visit Source →
reddit

Unique and affordable places to eat in Quebec City? : quebeccity

On the pricier side, if you have one fancier restaurant to try, I'd recommend either Chez Boulay or La Planque. Probably my two favorite restaurants in the city.

Visit Source →
Quebec Wonders - Travel Quebec Like a Local

4 Itineraries to Plan the Perfect Quebec City Romantic Getaway

For dinner, dine on Boreal cuisine in the upscale yet warm atmosphere of Chez Boulay. Then, sip some vino at Le Bedeau as a nightcap to end your day.

Visit Source →
Canadian Train Vacations by Fresh Tracks Canada

Best Time to Visit Quebec in 2025: Weather & Climate

It is often served with crusty bread and is available in many restaurants throughout the city, including Restaurant Chez Lévêque and Chez Boulay.

Visit Source →
Place Guider

Best Time to Visit Quebec City: A Local’s Guide to History, Food, & Hidden Gems

Pork or beef, spiced just right—I had a slice at Chez Boulay that warmed me to my toes. It’s big around Christmas, but you’ll find it anytime.

Visit Source →
shermanstravel.com

Stuck on Québec City: 5 Sweet Maple Syrup Activities

Some key stops along the road in Québec City include chocolate shop Érico, Chez Boulay Bistro, and grocer Maison J. A. Moisan.

Visit Source →
travelingmitch

Embrace The Season in This Winter Wonderland

Visit Source →
Endless Distances

Gluten Free Quebec City: A Complete Guide

Visit Source →
Outside Online

How to Spend a Winter Weekend in Québec City

Visit Source →