Québec Is a Delicious Slice of Canada. This Road Trip Is Proof.

If food is a window into the soul, then Québec is as soulful as a destination gets. From multicultural Montréal to bountiful Laval, artisanal Montérégie to the gourmet Eastern Townships, gastronomy is one of the best ways to experience the province. That’s why Québec’s culinary landscape is so robust, with ample opportunities to connect with the passionate producers, chefs, and artisans who make the province’s dining scene so unforgettable.

Whether you’re devouring local cheese, indulging in fine wines, or enjoying a scenic river dinner cruise, Québec’s bounty of food and drink experiences promises an adventure for all the senses. Here’s what you’ll see, taste, savour, and be surprised by on a culinary road trip through Québec.

Eat your way through Montréal.

Montréal. Photo: Jacklyn Barber

Montréal. Photo: Croisières AML

Montréal. Photo: Croisières AML

Montréal pulses with energy, from its lively arts community and bustling festivals to its rich history and world-class museums. The food scene is no exception.

Let your hunger guide you through the city. First up, a true local delicacy: bagels boiled in honey-sweetened water and baked in wood-fired ovens. Montréal is home to several legendary bagel bakeries, including Fairmount Bagel and St-Viateur Bagel. Of course, no visit to Québec’s largest city is complete without an order of poutine, too. Keep an eye out for the iconic dish of fries, cheese curds, and gravy between trips to public markets like Atwater and Jean-Talon and meals at some of the best restaurants in Canada.

Another way to immerse yourself in the food scene is to let experts lead the way. Get a taste of the city while getting your steps in on a gourmet walking tour with certified guides who know their history and all the best places to eat. Don’t miss an opportunity to dine at Vin Mon Lapin, Restaurant Beba, Mastard, or Restaurant Toqué. Later on, set sail on a dinner cruise along the St. Lawrence River for supper and a show — make it extra memorable by booking a cruise during the annual Loto-Québec International Fireworks Festival to see the sky bursting with colour as you dine.

The deeper you dive into Montréal’s food scene, the more you’ll see that it’s leading the way in urban agriculture, too. From urban farms to food festivals, city life meets greenspaces to highlight the region’s commitment to sustainability and Montréal’s unique culinary identity. Get a feel for it before discovering what treats lie just beyond the city.

U-pick your picnic in Laval.

Ferme Forget, Laval. Photo: Tourisme Laval

Ferme Vaillancourt, Laval. Photo: Tourisme Laval

Agneaux de Laval. Photo: Tourisme Laval

Laval, with its lush landscapes and charming farms in the greater Montréal area, is a place to explore Québec’s rich agricultural heritage by getting your hands dirty in the fields. Whether it’s harvesting fresh fruits, vegetables, or regional specialties, you’ll get a true taste of the land, connecting you directly to the terroir and the farm-to-table experience.

Laval is home to a number of family-run farms that specialise in fresh produce. At Ferme Marineau and Ferme Chez Vaillancourt, you can pick your own strawberries, pumpkins, and veggies, while La Ferme Forget offers berry and flower picking alongside a giant corn maze in the fall. If you’re in the mood for something savoury, Agneaux de Laval produces eco-friendly lamb, and its boutique sells fresh, locally made products.

For something truly special, a visit to Le Paradis des Orchidées is a must. This greenhouse is home to over 30,000 orchids in more than 1,000 varieties, including many award-winning species. Whether you’re a horticulture enthusiast or simply appreciate the beauty of flowers, it’s a perfect stop on your culinary journey.

Raise a toast in Montérégie.

Cidrerie Minot, Montérégie. Photo: Tourisme Montérégie

Sucrerie de la Montagne, Montérégie. Photo: Tourisme Montérégie

Montérégie is south of Montréal, just a short drive away. With a bounty of vineyards, cideries, microbreweries, and artisanal food producers, this area offers an authentic and delicious taste of Québec’s agricultural roots and heritage. One highlight: sampling the region’s signature ice cider.

Québec is home to a network of artisans who preserve and pass down traditional craftsmanship. The ÉCONOMUSÉE® experience allows visitors to meet these artisans, learn about their crafts, and enjoy the products they create. Stop by the Cider Maker ÉCONOMUSÉE® in the Montérégie region, where the Demoy family’s cider house invites you on a tour from the orchard to the production facilities, culminating in a tasting of its award-winning sparkling and still ciders. Other cider stops along the route include the family-run Michel Jodoin and C.E.Petch, which also has a petting zoo to visit.

Another unmissable stop in Montérégie is Sucrerie de la Montagne, an authentic sugar shack in the heart of a maple forest. Here, you can witness Québec’s maple syrup tradition year-round while enjoying a customary meal in a cozy, heritage-filled setting.

Cycle and snack along the Véloroute Gourmande.

Photo: Laboratoire Culinaire Nord, Montérégie. Photo: Tourisme Montérégie

Siboire Dépôt, Eastern Townships. Photo: M. Dupuis

Lieu historique national du Fort-Chambly, Montérégie. Photo: Tourisme Montérégie

The Véloroute Gourmande, a 235-kilometre cycling route through Montérégie and the Eastern Townships, offers an unmatched adventure for those who prefer to explore on two wheels. It’s an invitation to relish the region while pedaling through breathtaking landscapes of lakes, mountains, and fields. Along the way, discover over 130 gourmet stops, including Laboratoire culinaire Nord, where new menu items are imagined in the test kitchen, and Siboire Dépôt, a brewery and gastropub in Sherbrooke housed in a heritage building that was once a train station.

One of the highlights of Montérégie is the Fort Chambly National Historic Site. This is the perfect spot for a picnic by the Richelieu River while taking in the stunning views of the stone fort and surrounding rapids. Be sure to visit FG Chocolatiers for dessert, a chocolate lover’s dream in the heart of Vieux-Chambly.

The route is dotted with regional producers, from vineyards to cheese makers, like the award-winning Fromagerie des Cantons in the town of Farnham. A stop here gives you the chance to taste the difference that using exclusively high-quality milk from brown Jersey cows makes when producing homemade cheese.

In the Eastern Townships, take a break to soak in the beauty at the Artria Open-Air Museum, with over 60 stunning sculptures gracefully adorning the trails.

A road trip through Québec is a buffet of experiences that connect the land, the people, and the traditions of the province. Whether you’re cruising the St. Lawrence River in Montréal, cycling through Montérégie and the Eastern Townships on the Véloroute Gourmande, or exploring local farms and food producers in Laval and Montérégie, there’s something for every food lover to enjoy. Pack your bags, bring your appetite, and prepare to be surprised.