Discover the tastiest things to do when you travel to Southern Québec. Options include visiting a sugar shack, farm-to-table dining, cider sipping, wine tasting and more.
In southern Québec, apple orchards and sloping vineyards fill the landscape. A burgeoning farm-to-table movement has ushered in new restaurants that utilize local products with finesse. Meanwhile, traditions, like drilling maple trees for precious amber sap, still abound across the pastoral tree-filled landscape away from the region’s two major cities – Montreal and Québéc City.
After spending time in both of those cities, we were hungry to dig deeper into Québec. So, when the opportunity arose, we jumped at the chance. While we’ve always been drawn to Montreal, the verdant landscape in the nearby areas of Montérégie, Eastern Townships and Centre-Du-Québec beckoned.
We got a good taste of southern Québec in just five days, quickly learning that food and drink are integral to both generations-old traditions and modern-day life. Sure, Québécois staples like maple syrup and poutine are easy to find. Intrepid food travelers, however, can enjoy so much more.
Our Favorite Experiences in Southern Québec
From a sugar shack visit to wine tastings and farm-to-table dining, discover our favorite ways to sip, savor and connect with southern Québec while soaking in the region’s bucolic charm.
1. Embrace Maple at a Traditional Québécois Sugar Shack
No culinary tour of southern Québec is complete without a visit to a sugar shack. It’s something we’ve wanted to do ever since we watched Anthony Bourdain explore Cabane à Sucre in a No Reservations episode back in 2006. But the timing never worked out since most sugar shacks are only open in the spring. We finally accomplished this goal at Sucrerie de la Montagne where Stefan Faucher welcomed us to his family’s not-so-humble sugar shack tucked inside southern Québec’s Rigaud forest.
Purchased by Stefan’s father, Pierre in 1978, Sucrerie de la Montagne produces 500 gallons of maple syrup every year during the months of March and April. The Fauchers accomplish this feat with metal buckets, following traditions started by indigenous people centuries ago. They also bake bread in an oven that’s 12-feet deep and welcome guests on a year-round basis.
It’s fascinating to learn about maple syrup. But let’s be real – visiting a sugar shack is all about the food. The folks at Sucrerie de la Montagne clearly know this since they serve A LOT of food inside their ginormous log cabin dining hall.
During our visit at Sucrerie de la Montagne, we ate an array of traditional Québécois foods including pea soup, maple ham, baked beans, tourtière, fluffy pancakes and maple sugar pie. Skipping other condiments, we poured maple syrup on everything. It sounds a bit extreme but it’s what you do at a sugar shack.
Pro Tip
You can buy all things maple at Sucrerie de la Montagne’s gift shop. Options include
maple butter, maple candles, maple candy, maple popcorn, maple sugar, maple syrup and more maple yumminess.
Sucrerie de la Montagne is located at 300 Ch. Saint-Georges, Rigaud, QC J0P 1P0, Canada.
2. Experience Farm-to-Table Dining in the Fields
Living off the land isn’t feasible for most of us; however, we can all partake in a true farm-to-dining eperiences in the fields at Les Cocagnes, an agro-ecological collective farm in Frelighsburg, during the summer. This is the season when Les Cocagnes opens its farm each weekend night for two table champêtre (i.e. country table) dinners cooked by a rotating roster of notable Québécois chefs.
3. Chow Down on Poutine
Québec locals have been eating poutine at snack bars and diners as well as at breweries and restaurants since the 1950s. While they might not agree on exactly where poutine was invented or who currently makes the best version, most concur that squeaky poutine is the best poutine.
After eating multiple poutines in Québec City, we continued our poutine journey at Brasserie Dunham. We went a step further by attending the Musée des Cultures du Monde‘s temporary poutine exhibit and bought a poutine hat.
Pro Tip
Elevate your poutine expeirence by adding toppings like duck confit, smoked meat and wild mushrooms.
Poutine is located everywhere in southern Québec.
4. Sip Sparkling Cider in Montérégie
Decades (or is centuries?) later, cider enthusiasts flock to Ciderie Michel Jodoin to sample and buy a range of apple ciders as well as apple-forward spirits and liquors. We sampled five during or lunch-time visit at the fifth-gereration Mont Rougemont ciderie. Our two favorites were the sweet cidre de glace (i.e. ice cider) and dry rosé cider made from red-fleshed apples.
Pro Tip
Find and buy your favorite cider during a tasting in Ciderie Michel Jodoin’s tasting room. The only cider bottle you’ll regret is the one you didn’t buy.
Cidrerie Michel Jodoin is located at 1130 Rang, 1130 La Petite-Caroline, Rougemont, Québec J0L 1M0, Canada.
5. Get Inspired with Nordic Cuisine
After encountering boreal elements during multiple meals in southern Québec, we got the full experience at Bistro Nord. Currently helmed by Chef Raphaël Podlasiewicz, the light-strewn restaurant utilized local ingredients like aspaagus, duck, rhubarb and sea buckthorn to create boreal dishes that surprised and delighted us with their fresh creativity and distinct flavors. Plus, eating the restaurant’s maple Paris-Brest dessert was pure pleasure.
Pro Tip
Pre-game your Bistro Nord meal with a chill out session at Strøm Spa Nordique Mont-Saint-Hilaire.
Bistro Nord is located inside Strøm Spa Nordique Mont-Saint-Hilaire.
6. Chill Out at Strøm Spa Nordique Mont-Saint-Hilaire
Eating and drinking your way around southern Québec is as tiring as it is rewarding. Luckily, the region’s best hotels have on-site spas. However, for those seeking total relaxation, Strøm Mont-Saint-Hilaire is the place to go.
Located in Montérégie’s Gault Nature Reserve, the nordic spa has multiple pools, plunge baths and saunas. Adding to its zen vibe, much of the spa is silent. If you can’t relax here, then you can’t relax anywhere.
Pro Tip
While robes, water and spa products are provided, you need to bring a swimsuit, flip flops and a water bottle.
Strøm Spa Nordique Mont-Saint-Hilaire is located at 641 Chemin de la Montagne, Mont-Saint-Hilaire, QC J3G 4S6, Canada.
7. Go Green at a Michelin-Rated Restaurant
Those who choose to dine at Espace Old Mill will view the mill that inspired the restaurant’s name and tour the garden. They’ll also eat a meal featuring items grown in that garden or at nearby farms. As Chef Eric Gendron explained during our garden tour, the restaurant’s mission is to put vegetables “in the light.” Based on that green star, that mission has been accomplished.
Pro Tip
Don’t assume that Espace Old Mill is a vegetarian or vegan restaurant. While most of our meal was meat-free, our main dish included chicken as its primary ingredient.
Espace Old Mill is located at 7 Chemin Caleb Tree, Stanbridge East, QC J0J 2H0, Canada
8. Eat at a Chef-Driven Restaurant
9. Taste Wine at Vineyards in the Eastern Townships and Montérégiennes
Travelers who venture to the Eastern Townships and Montérégiennes can taste the fruit of those winemakers’ labor at wineries like Coteau Rougemont, Domaine du Ridge and Vignoble de l’Ardennais. We tasted a variety of wines at all three wineries. Some were red, some were white and some were rosé. We also tasted ice wines and late harvest wines.
Pro Tip
Since many Québec wineries have picnic tables with mountain views, bring a picnic lunch to your vineyard tasting.
Coteau Rougemont is located at 1110 La Petite-Caroline, Rougemont, Québec J0L 1M0, Canada.
Domaine du Ridge is located at 205 Chemin Ridge, Saint-Armand, Québec J0J 1T0, Canada.
Vignoble de l’Ardennais is located at 158 Chemin Ridge, Stanbridge East, QC J0J 2H0, Canada.
10. Cycle the Brome-Missiquoi Wine Route
The Brome-Missisquoi Wine Route features 25 wineries including Domaine du Ridge and Vignoble de l’Ardennais. Depending on your appreciation of Québécois wine, you can visit a few wineries during a fun afternoon or plan a multi-day vineyard itinerary. You can also build in stops in charming villages like Dunham, Frelighsburg and Sutton.
Pedaling the scenic 140-kilometer / 87-mile wine route is a great way to experience viticulture in Québec. However, those seeking a more civilized, sweat-free option can rent an e-bike from E Mobilite Café for the hilly journey.
Pro Tip
Pause to appreciate the view whether you traverse this wine route by bike, e-bike or car.
The Brome-Missiquoi Wine Route is located 40 kilometers from Montreal.
11. Say Oui to Fromage
With more than 100 cheesemakers producing hundreds of cheese varieties, southern Québec is a treasure trove for cheeseheads whether they prefer fromage produced with cow, sheep, goat or buffalo milk. As is the case in France, Québec cheese laws permit the production of many raw milk cheeses. Local favorites include ooey gooey raclette and firm Alpine-style tommes.
While an artisan cheesemaker’s cellar is the best place to sample cheese in southern Québec, the next best option is to combine the experience with a wine tasting at a winery like Vignoble Côtes du Gavet. The cheese selection from Fromagerie du Presbytère enhanced our tasting of the family-run winery’s white, rosé, fortified and sparkling wines. Plus, since we added cured meat to our cheese plate, the dual tasting doubled as lunch.
Pro Tip
You can find the varied cheese selections at local Québec markets.
Fromagerie du Presbytère is located at 25 Rue Principale, Sainte-Élizabeth-de-Warwick, Québec J0A 1M0, Canada.
Vignoble Côtes du Gavet is located at 1690 Chemin de l’Aqueduc, Tingwick, Québec J0A 1L0, Canada.
12. Shop for Local Food at a Local Market
Ferme Guyon also sells a comprehensive selection of Québécois wines, ciders and beers to go with its freshly baked bread, raw milk cheese cheese and charcuterie. The excellent beer selection should be no surprise since André Dion founded the wonderful Unibroue Brewery before he opened the market.
Pro Tip
Bring the gang to Ferme Guyon. Not just a store, the market has an educational animal farm and a butterfly center.
Ferme Guyon is located at 1001 Rue Patrick Farrar, Chambly, QC J3L 4N7, Canada.
13. Chug Beer at a Microbrewery
The best southern Québec breweries take advantage of the local terroir by adding ingredients like spruce, maple and wild yeast to their brews. Open since 2011 and located on the Brome-Missisquoi Wine Route, Brasserie Dunham is one of those breweries. As we discovered during our lunchtime visit, their sours and saisons pair well with burgers and poutine.
Pro Tip
Soak in the sun at an outdoor table if you visit Brasserie Dunham on a summer day.
Brasserie Dunham is located at 3809 Rue Principale, Dunham, Quebec J0E 1M0, Canada.
14. Take a Hike at Bromont’s Parc des Sommets
With 14 kilometers / 87 miles of useable trails, Parc des Sommets matches the length of the Brome-Missisquoi Wine Route. It an auspicious trail system for all levels of hikers as well as mountain bikers, horseback riders and snowshoers. We fit into the hiker category during our summertime visit.
Food travelers who visit the park can take a hike between meals. It’s a great spot to connect with nature while burning off some calories, a true win-win situation.
Pro Tip
Bring a filled water bottle so that you stay hydrated during your hike.
Parc des Sommets is located at 44 Chemin des Carrières, Bromont, Québec J2L 1J6, Canada.
15. Start Your Day with Canadian Breakfast
16. Visit a Heritage Flour Mill
With a history dating back to the 18th century, the Moulin Michel flour mill is notable for several reasons. First and most impressive, its historic building still operates as a mill. Visitors can watch the milling process and purchase organic buckwheat flour, hand-ground on stone, at the on-site store.
Moulin Michel also hosts various festivals, runs a Friday farmer’s market during the summer and serves sandwiches and soup at its year-round cafe. However, the best thing to do here may be nothing at all – it’s a great spot to relax with drink in hand.
Pro Tip
Attend the Blues et Gin festival in July. The annual event blends the eclectic music genre with cocktails crafted with local gin.
Moulin Michel is located at 675 Boul Bécancour, Bécancour, Québec G9H 3S9, Canada.
Planning Your Visit
Visiting southern Québec completes any food-focused trip to Montreal or Québec City. Plan your trip in advance to ensure an optimal experience.
Best Time to Visit Southern Québec
- Early Spring (March-April): Maple Syrup Season
- Late Spring (May–June): Colorful Blossoms, Fresh Greens and Foraging
- Summer (July–August): Seasonal Produce, Green Markets, and Vineyard Events
- Autumn (September–October): Apple Harvest, Fall Foliage and Cider Season
Getting Around
You’ll need a car to drive to the different restaurants and sites; however you can ride a bike or e-bike when you explore the Route des Vins and the Route des Cidres.
Where to Stay
We stayed at four different southern Québec hotels and recommend them all.
L’Hôtel Montfort Nicolet
Why You Should Stay Here: Thermal Spa, Nordic Pool, Sauna, Relaxation Area, Massage Therapy, Nature and Tranquility
Book a Room: Booking.com, Expedia, Hotels.com or TripAdvisor
L’Hôtel Montfort Nicolet is located at 1141 Rue St Jean Baptiste, Nicolet, QC J3T 1G8, Canada.
Hôtel Château-Bromont
La Cache du Lac Champlain
Hotel Rive-Gauche
Disclosures
Article Updates
We update our articles regularly. Some updates are major while others are minor link changes and spelling corrections. Let us know if you see anything that needs to be updated in this article.
Sponsorship
We thank the Alliance de l’industrie touristique du Québec, under the Bonjour Québec brand, and its regional partners for sponsoring our trip to southern Québec.
