The Best New Restaurants Outside Montreal
In this list, we take a look at some of the best new restaurants that opened this year around the province.
It’s safe to say we’ve spent a fair share of the last year on the road. We explored the province’s beautiful farmers’ tables, published restaurant guides for sweet sweet Montérégie and Québec City (French only). We travelled to Outaouais, Eastern Townships, Kamouraska, Vaudreuil-Soulanges and Charlevoix, just to name a few. Along the way, we got to stop at many new places that caught our heart.
Without further ado, here are some of the best new restaurants we tried outside of Montreal this year.
For the best new restaurants of 2024 in Montreal, head over here.
Safe travels!
Outaouais
Caméline — 51 Saint-Jacques Street, Gatineau
Caméline opened in 2023, but we took our sweet time getting there, so we decided to include it on this list anyway. Especially since the restaurant earned a spot on Air Canada’s long list of Best New Restaurants in Canada. The menu offers cuisine inspired by Italian techniques while showcasing local Quebec ingredients. We fell in love with both the food and the team!
Bobino Bagel — 61 Laurier Street, Gatineau
Bobino Bagel is the dream spot for a decadent sandwich, a coffee, or stocking up on delicious bagels to take home! Conveniently located across from the Canadian Museum of History, Bobino Bagel is a must-stop for visitors in the area. A small selection of gourmet products to pair with your bagels is available in the boutique section, along with some adorable home accessories.
La Petite Soif — 425 Saint-Joseph Boulevard, Gatineau
La Petite Soif is an extension of Soif, the wine bar owned by sommelier Véronique Rivest, and a must-visit in Gatineau. This little wine shop, located in a modest shopping center, offers high-quality wines at very reasonable prices, along with a small grocery section featuring carefully curated products. If you’re not in a rush, settle in for a glass or two with some small snacks prepared on site.
Laurentians
Les Vieilles-Portes — 185, rue Principale, Saint-Sauveur
After a decade of being closed, Les Vieilles-Portes, this legendary spot in Saint-Sauveur, comes back to life with a beautiful project led by the A5 Hospitality group. Kevin Latrem and Samuel Paradis-Tremblay have revived this iconic place, offering a festive and friendly atmosphere while serving modern and refined cuisine. With its charm and lively ambiance, Les Vieilles-Portes has quickly established itself as a new gem in the region.
Restaurant Nord — 1796, rue des Melezes Ste Adèle, Piedmont
Strøm spa nordique Saint Sauveur celebrated the opening of its restaurant, Nord, this spring, which perfectly complements the wellness experience with its cuisine inspired by the boreal terroir. Worth noting: you don’t need to book access to the spa to dine at the restaurant!
Eastern Townships
Restaurant Ôma — 4500, chemin Strobl, Dunham
After some time away from the spotlight, Chef Hakim Chajar returns to his roots, highlighting the products of the region where he grew up: the Eastern Townships. Located on the beautiful estate of the Vignoble du Ruisseau, just minutes from the village of Dunham, Ôma offers an exceptional gastronomic experience in a sumptuous and enchanting setting.
Pixel Nano resto — 22, rue Principale Nord, Sutton
As its name implies, Pixel Nano resto is a minuscule restaurant — though it has a lot to offer. During the day, it’s the place to stop for coffee, brunch, or lunch. In the afternoon, light snacks and drinks are available, and in the evening, the full menu is unveiled. It features carefully crafted dishes that are well-balanced, fresh, with a focus on local ingredients. It also boasts one of the nicest patios in the village!
Pinôt Boutique Hôtel — 63, rue Principale Nord, Sutton
This beautiful boutique hotel in Sutton is the new project of Florence Pelland-Goyer (formerly of Buvette Chez Simone and Bar à Flot) and her partner, Véronique Lacoursière (former owner of Bolt Café in Knowlton, now Caron & Frères). The couple completely renovated the Les Caprices de Victoria guesthouse to create a charming small hotel with five discreetly luxurious rooms. Pinôt Boutique Hôtel also offers a wine and food aperitif menu, along with massage and beauty services to complete your stay. A superb experience to indulge in or give as a gift!
Mifigue — 2255, chemin du Parc, Orford
This café-restaurant opened in Orford right next to the Canton Brasse microbrewery and the cook-wine shop Deux-Tomates (which makes some of the best pizza in the Townships!). Opened last September, Mifigue offers a local menu with great small wines and transforms into a bar until 8 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays.
Bistro Le Louis XIV — 2219, rue King Ouest, Sherbrooke
The team behind King Hall and King Alexandre launched a new French-inspired bistro last summer. The kitchen is run by Chef Sébastien Louisseize (formerly of Mitch Deli, Au Pied de Cochon, Monarque, Westley), with service led by Julien Bousquet, a former staff member at Le Local, Taverne F, and co-owner of O’Chevreuil in Sherbrooke.
Madame B — 83, rue Wellington Sud, Sherbrooke
Madame B offers generous and accessible dishes that highlight local products. The wine list is carefully curated, and the team’s recommendations are always welcome. You can order à la carte or opt for a tasting menu to be guided through the experience. If you’re lucky, you might meet the charming Carole Béliveau, the famous Madame B who gave the restaurant its name!
Centre-du-Québec
Buvette Bibine — 210, rue Brock, Drummondville
We haven’t had the chance to try Buvette Bibine yet, but it’s at the top of our list for 2025! The new wine bar from Chef Chloé Ouellet, who won our hearts and appetites with her country table Au Pâturage in Sainte-Perpétue, promises “delicious, unpretentious gourmet dishes with boreal flavors, showcasing fresh and regional products.” The spot also highlights Quebec wines, which some may sometimes dismiss as “bibine,” meaning a low-quality beverage. But Chloé would obviously disagree!
Québec City
Lueur — 117, rue Dalhousie
Lueur is a younger, more accessible, and relaxed version of Laurie Raphaël, sharing the same focus on serving high-quality local products. Inspired by Japanese omakase, the tiny restaurant has only 14 seats, all at the bar. Behind the counter, Michelle Courtois-Beaudry and Nicolas Cadieux create the menu under the supervision of executive chef Raphaël Vézina, preparing the dishes right in front of guests. The colorful neon lighting and a stunning mural add a funky touch to the experience.
Vieux Carré — 36, rue Saint-Pierre
The latest from the La Tanière Group, Vieux Carré takes its name from a famous cocktail created in New Orleans, which loosely inspires this intimate, cozy cocktail bar. In addition to classic cocktails reimagined with boreal ingredients, the bar offers a short snack menu designed by Sabrina Lemay, chef and co-owner of the restaurant L’Orygine, located at the same address.
Neptune — 19, rue De Buade
Since last summer, a hidden bar called Neptune lodges at the same address as the restaurant Bleu Marine. Guests can enjoy a fine selection of scotches and whiskies, as well as creations by mixologist Mathieu Poirier.
Poulet frit Wong (pas d’adresse physique)
Launched in October, Poulet frit Wong is the latest project by Chef Steven Wong and his partner Stéphane Plante, from Chez Wong restaurant. The duo has created a 100% gluten-free and 100% delicious fried chicken recipe that’s been generating a lot of buzz on social media. For now, their fried chicken is only available through delivery apps, but a dine-in restaurant is expected to open later this year.
Restaurant Chez Rita — 467, rue Saint-Jean
A great lover of Mexico, where she travels regularly, Alexandra Doucet wanted to bring a piece of it back to Quebec. She opened Restaurant Chez RITA, a small taqueria with about 15 seats and a colourful decor. The menu features tacos (with vegetarian options), quesadillas, burritos, and tortas, all prepared with great care to authentically represent Mexican cuisine.
Chez Gus Guinguette de quartier — 101, rue Saint-Joseph Est
Chez Gus is the offspring of 101 restaurant de quartier. Located at the back of 101 and open to a lovely hidden garden, the guinguette offers a more casual vibe than the restaurant, with an enticing selection of wines by the glass and cocktails, plus a few small snacks to nibble on. Very charming!
Franky Johnny Limoilou — 1101, 3e Avenue
The popular sandwich shop on Saint-Vallier Street now has a second location in Limoilou. The same concept applies here: Johnny’s (Jonathan Marcoux) delicious sandwiches, Franky’s (François from Borderon & Fils) great bread, and Cantook’s excellent coffees, all in a more spacious and modern setting. We love it!
Tonino Pizza Gastronomica — 1971, rue de Bergerville
At Tonino Pizza, Tonino sister restaurant in Sillery, owner-chef Anthony Travaglini offers delicious wood-fired pizza. To honour his Italian roots, he enlisted the talents of an authentic Italian pizzaiolo, Luigi, who expertly wields the pizza peel. The small, colourful restaurant on de Bergeville Street also serves hearty panuzzini, a hybrid between a sandwich and a pizza, and has a grocery corner where you can stock up on fine imported Italian products. We’re in love with the Mortadella pizza and the tiramisu!
Ambre Buvette — 2860, chemin des Quatre-Bourgeois
Chef Étienne Nadeau and his team have moved from Vieux-Cap-Rouge to a more central location, just steps away from the District Gourmet and the Sainte-Foy public market, in a space that once housed a Valentine restaurant. While there are a few remnants of the old snack bar in the decor—like the long open stainless-steel kitchen and the light panels now displaying hip hop album covers instead of combo meals—the menu is entirely different. The chef describes the idea as “fun dining”: refined cuisine in a festive and relaxed atmosphere, which perfectly sums up what you can expect at Ambre Buvette. For lunch, the restaurant offers a unique “blind” menu for one or two, an original concept that will appeal to adventurous diners.
Charlevoix
Chez Mag, La Fine Cantine — 2460, chemin Royal, Sainte-Famille
The must-visit snack bar on Île d’Orléans not only completely renovated its original location but also opened a third spot in Baie-Saint-Paul, following the one in La Pocatière, Kamouraska in 2022. So, during Le Festif festival, we were able to enjoy the excellent lobster rolls and lobster poutines from Chez Mag. Now that’s what we call a great combo!
Bas-Saint-Laurent
Pépita — 100 Rte 132 E, Saint-Germain
Pépita is the pizzeria run by the team from Côté Est. The place is unpretentious, offering a counter-service format with no reservations, and pizzas to enjoy with a stunning view of the river. The pizzas are excellent, made with products sourced from nearby farms. Everything is extremely tasty, and the menu is concise.
Hotel Victoria – verre amical — 535 de la Gare, Saint-Pascal
This charming spot offers delightful dinners and lunches in the Bas Saint-Laurent area. Chef Marie-Fleur St-Pierre (formerly of Tapeo and co-owner of Le jardin du bedeau grocery store with Christian Bégin) settled in the area a few years ago and works with local producers. The food is simple but delicious! They also have a lovely wine and cocktail list.
Bernadette – Épicerie et dinette — 1, rue Saint-Laurent, Rivière-du-Loup
Bernadette serves as both a grocery store and a small diner. Stephanie, in the kitchen, thoughtfully prepares dishes that focus mainly on vegetables. By working with local farms, she showcases the region’s farmers, artisans, and winemakers. Guests can enjoy unpretentious little treats in a charming space.
