The Must-Visit Shops of Old Quebec

April 29, 2026Carrera Café
Local Shopping — Old Quebec

The Must-Visit Shops of Old Quebec

Between the stone walls of Old Quebec, hundreds of shops tell the story and character of the capital. From Petit-Champlain to Saint-Jean Street, passing through Trésor Street, each address is an invitation to discover local crafts, gastronomy, and creativity.

The oldest shopping district in North America

Charming cobblestone and lined with colorful houses, Petit-Champlain is the living heart of artisanal commerce in Quebec. Each shop is a unique, carefully maintained address.

The Petit-Champlain district is one of the oldest and most photographed shopping neighborhoods in North America. Its narrow alleys, colorful facades, and shops nestled in 18th-century buildings create a unique atmosphere that attracts both residents and visitors from around the world. But behind the picturesque setting, these are real quality addresses, run by passionate artisans and merchants.

Fashion
Simons — Old Quebec Flagship

The iconic Quebec fashion house has its roots in Quebec City since 1840. Its flagship store in Old Quebec is an institution where house lines and Canadian designers come together. A must for those who want to dress local with style.

Founded1840, Quebec
StyleAffordable fashion and local designers
Gifts
Les Délices de l'Érable

Maple is Quebec's signature flavor, and this shop is its temple. Syrups of different grades, candies, butters, dressings: everything you can make with maple sap is found here, in carefully packaged gifts perfect for presents.

Featured productArtisanal maple syrup
The lively commercial artery of the Upper Town

Saint-Jean Street is one of the busiest shopping streets in Old Quebec. Gourmet grocery stores, bookstores, fashion boutiques, and restaurants: a stroll that satisfies every appetite.

★ Grocery
J.A. Moisan

Founded in 1871, J.A. Moisan is the oldest grocery store in North America still in operation. Its counters overflow with fine Quebec products, aged cheeses, artisanal charcuterie, and local preserves. A journey through time and the flavors of Quebec.

Founded1871
Bookstore
Pantoute Bookstore

An iconic independent bookstore in Quebec, Pantoute on Saint-Jean Street offers an outstanding selection of Quebecois, Francophone, and foreign titles. The team is passionate, the favorites are reliable, and the atmosphere is that of a true neighborhood bookstore.

TypeIndependent bookstore
Jewelry
Zimmermann

A Quebec jewelry house established in Old Quebec for several decades, Zimmermann offers jewelry created on site by local goldsmiths. Rings, necklaces, and bracelets in gold and silver, often inspired by northern nature.

SpecialtyLocal artisanal jewelry
Confectionery
La Petite Cabane à Sucre de Québec

This gourmet shop with rustic charm offers maple products and artisanal sweets in a warm atmosphere reminiscent of the true sugar shacks of the Laurentians. Maple taffy on a stick, caramels, and comforting hot drinks.

SpecialtyMaple products
Quebec talent showcased in the shop windows

Old Quebec houses a remarkable concentration of local craft shops. Pottery, textiles, glassware, sculpture: the region's creators display the best of their expertise here.

Glass
La Mailloche Glassworks

Located on Saint-Nicolas Street in Petit-Champlain, La Mailloche is one of the few glassblowing workshops in the world situated right in the heart of a historic district. You can watch live demonstrations and then choose from pieces created on site: vases, sculptures, and colorful objects of striking beauty.

SpecialtyHand-blown glass
AddressSaint-Nicolas Street, Petit-Champlain
Fur
La Fourrure Côté

A fur and leather house established for several generations in Old Quebec, La Fourrure Côté has been dressing Quebecers for decades. Coats, hats, mittens, and accessories: an institution that supports ethical fur craftsmanship and local manufacturing.

TraditionSeveral generations
Old Quebec, the pantry of the capital

Old Quebec concentrates a high-quality gastronomic offer, with fine grocery stores, cheese shops, chocolatiers, and local producers showcasing their treasures just steps from the walls.

Chocolate
Chocolats Favoris

The Quebec chocolate maker Chocolats Favoris, born in Quebec City, has become a provincial phenomenon. Its specialty: ice cream dipped in high-quality chocolate couverture. The long line in front of their Old Quebec counter says a lot about the quality and shared pleasure.

SpecialtyChocolate couverture ice cream
Spices
Épices de Cru

Founded by enthusiasts of spices from around the world, Épices de Cru offers in its Old Quebec shop rare blends, exceptional peppers, and dried spices unavailable elsewhere. A must-stop for curious cooks and lovers of adventurous gastronomy.

SpecialtyRare spices and artisanal blends
Culture on every street corner

Old Quebec is also a cultural district of remarkable richness. Independent bookstores, art galleries, artists' studios open to the public: culture is lived here every day.

Books
New World Bookstore

Specializing in the history of Quebec, New France, and the Americas, this bookstore is a treasure for local history enthusiasts. Rare books, old maps, reproductions of historical documents: it's easy to lose an hour here, and it's an hour well spent.

SpecialtyHistory of Quebec and New France
The Barista's Advice
The break between two shops: an art in itself

A good shopping day in Old Quebec is built around coffee breaks. Between J.A. Moisan and Verrerie La Mailloche, between the Galerie du Petit-Champlain and Épices de Cru, Carrera Café is your natural pit stop. You drop off your bags, catch your breath with a rich and fragrant espresso, and leave with the energy for a second round. Our tables are made for that: to set down, breathe, savor, and start again.

Prestige Addresses
Old Quebec at the Height of Its Art

Some Old Quebec shops have reached a level of excellence that makes them destinations in their own right. Here are the addresses worth a detour.

Benjo — The Toy Temple

Canada’s largest independent toy store, Benjo on Saint-Joseph Street is a Quebec institution. Its spectacular space, events, and selection of educational and creative toys make it a must-visit family destination, as well as a place of fun for nostalgic adults.

1608 Boutique — Historical Items

Official Frontenac Castle boutique, 1608 offers a selection of quality gifts and items inspired by Quebec’s history. Reproductions of artifacts, illustrated books, pewter and leather objects: a shop for history lovers who refuse low-quality souvenirs.

La Pomme Workshop — Furs and Leathers

Artisanal leather workshop nestled in the alleys of Petit-Champlain, La Pomme works leather the traditional way. Bags, belts, wallets, and accessories made on-site, by hand, with carefully selected hides. A rare know-how that’s hard to find anymore in North America.

The must-have break in Petit-Champlain

Right in the heart of the neighborhood, Carrera Café is the ideal place to recharge between shops. An espresso, a board, a view of Petit-Champlain.

We are neighbors to Verrerie La Mailloche, just steps from J.A. Moisan and the Métiers d'Art Boutique. It’s no coincidence: we chose Petit-Champlain because it’s where the commercial and artisanal heart of Quebec beats. At Carrera Café, we share with our neighboring merchants the same love for quality craftsmanship and local products.

Our boards highlight the same producers you’ll find at J.A. Moisan: Charlevoix Organic Charcuteries, aged Quebec cheeses, Borderon et Fils bread. A way to close the loop, from shop to table.

The Shopping Pit Stop

Between two shops or after the full tour, Carrera Café welcomes you in Petit-Champlain. Because a beautiful day in Old Quebec deserves a great coffee.

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