Gisèle Buvette: “Living Wines, Lovely People”

Since last summer, Quebec City‘s Saint-Sauveur neighbourhood can finally count on a “real” buvette. In the former Griendel space, Gisèle is built on a simple, almost forgotten idea in Quebec City: a place to grab a glass of natural wine, nibble on a few bites, and linger into the evening without needing an excuse.

Behind the project are Mélissa Demers and her business partner Jean-Baptiste Morin (Jjacques, Chez Tao, Julio Taqueria). Mélissa doesn’t come from a restaurant background, but having her own spot was something she had been mulling over for a long time, especially a neighbourhood buvette. “We were missing a real buvette, in the true sense of the word. We have some beautiful buvettes in Quebec City, but they’ve become beautiful restaurants with Michelin stars and Bib Gourmands. A buvette, at its core, is meant for going out to have a drink.” That’s where this somewhat dreamy idea took shape. And the name came naturally, a tribute to her grandmother, Gisèle, whom Mélissa describes as “a great lady who knew how to host, who loved taking care of the people around her.” With her buvette, Mélissa pulls off this art of hosting beautifully!

Gisèle’s space is all glass and unfolds across three atmospheres: the table section, the bar section, and a tiered platform directly inspired by a trip to Tulum, where the duo spent an evening perched on this kind of bleacher while a DJ spun vinyl. That’s exactly what plays out here, every week, with a guest DJ. The wine list, 100% natural and curated by sommelier Sandrine Saint-Pierre, gives pride of place to biodynamics and Quebec producers (Bergeville, Joy Hill, Lieux Communs…). A dream selection for apéro!

In the kitchen, the concept is unique: a collaboration with L’étal – Boucherie Pirate, two doors down, which prepares the menu’s fifteen or so small plates ahead of time. Polpettes in tomato sauce, burrata puttanesca with anchovies and Kalamata olives, white fish croquettes brightened with a honey-ginger sour cream, cacio e pepe popcorn with pecorino and pepper: everything is designed to follow the glass, not the other way around. The menu changes each season to highlight local products, in harmony with their wine list.

The music is good and just loud enough, the service is laid-back but you can tell the staff really know their stuff, the vibe is great… In short, Gisèle is a very cool spot for a date (the first or the thousandth), an apéro with friends before heading to dinner, or a drink with colleagues.

“Living wines, lovely people,” as the house slogan goes. With or without a reservation, on the platform or at the bar, Saint-Sauveur has its new lounge for bons vivants. Cheers!

Written by Jean-Philippe Tastet
Photography by Gisèle Buvette

Updated on May 20, 2026

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