Cocktails & Bar · Petit-Champlain & Old Quebec
Cocktails in Quebec City: Carrera Café's Bar, the evening hot spot in Petit-Champlain
As the sun sets behind Château Frontenac and the lights of Petit-Champlain turn on, Carrera Café changes its tune. The espresso machine gives way to shakers. Welcome to the bar.
The Bar
Cocktails & Bar
Carrera Café doesn't stop when the espresso machine closes. From late afternoon, another world opens up.
Some places know how to change their skin without losing their soul. Carrera Café is one of them. In the morning, it's the pit stop for the perfect coffee. In the evening, it's the most elegant bar in Petit-Champlain, where glasses take over from cups.
The transition is subtle. The lights dim slightly. The menu changes. The bar, always present in the background, takes its revenge on the espresso machine. And the cocktails that emerge carry the same signature as the rest of the house: Italian essence, precision, character.
Quebec spirits play a central role. Italian bitters bridge the gap between the two worlds. And seasonal fruits, herbs, and spices bring that lively, ever-changing side that makes you want to come back and see what's new on the menu.
Signatures
Cocktails & Bar
Four cocktails that define the bar's identity. Available year-round, perfected since opening.
The Carrera Negroni
The classic reinterpreted. Quebec gin, Campari, red vermouth, and a hint of homemade citrus bitters. Served over a large ice cube, with a twisted orange peel. Bitter, round, deep. The cocktail that says: you're in the right place.
The Podium Spritz
Aperol, prosecco, sparkling water, orange slice. Simple, effective, festive. The Carrera version adds a dash of homemade bitter that gives it that indefinable something. The terrace cocktail in the late afternoon, the one you order before deciding whether to stay for dinner.
The Black Diamond
Aged Quebec whisky, Laurentian blackcurrant syrup, lemon juice, egg white. Shaken vigorously, served in a coupe. White foam on top, deep blackcurrant underneath. A cocktail for evenings when you want something serious.
The Grand Bend
Artisanal vodka, cucumber, fresh basil, lime juice, sparkling water. Long, light, herbaceous. The transition cocktail between coffee and evening. Works just as well at 4 PM as at 11 PM, depending on your mood.
Seasonal
Cocktails & Bar · Menu & Seasons
The menu changes with the months. Here's what the bar offers according to the seasons.
✦ Summer
Trackside Lemonade
Gin, freshly squeezed lemon, lavender syrup, sparkling water. The refreshing and surprising terrace drink.
✦ Summer
Paddock Tonic
Premium gin, artisanal tonic, fresh thyme, grapefruit zest. Simple, perfect, summery.
✦ Winter
Pit Stop Mulled Wine
Quebec red wine, sweet spices, candied orange, Laurentian honey. Comfort in a premium version.
✦ Winter
Finish Line Toddy
Whisky, hot water, honey, lemon, cinnamon. Classic, comforting, timeless.
✦ Autumn
Maple Old Fashioned
Bourbon, Quebec maple syrup, Angostura, orange. Quebec autumn in a glass.
✦ Spring
Track Return Fizz
Gin, rhubarb, rose water, prosecco. The light and floral cocktail for returning from the terrace.
The Prestige Selection
Cocktails & Bar
For evenings when you want to go further. Exclusive creations, reserved for serious connoisseurs.
★ Exclusive · Prestige
The Pole Position
A cocktail built around a peated single malt whisky, softened by Laurentian fir honey and enhanced with a ristretto espresso. Served in a crystal glass, with a single drop of essential citrus oil as a finish. The cocktail not to be ordered without careful consideration.
❖ New Creation · Prestige
The Dark Paddock
Artisanal mezcal, green Chartreuse, lime juice, black pepper syrup. A cocktail that divides on the first sip and obsesses from the second. For those seeking something they've never tasted in Quebec before.
Non-Alcoholic
Cocktails & Bar
Carrera's bar thinks of everyone. Mocktails are treated with the same seriousness as cocktails.
The Track Soda
Artisanal sparkling water, fresh ginger syrup, lemon juice, cucumber, mint. Invigorating, balanced, as satisfying as a classic cocktail. For designated drivers and non-drinkers who refuse to settle for still water.
The Paddock Shrub
Cider vinegar, raspberries, sparkling water, honey syrup. A carefully crafted Quebec shrub. Tart, fruity, complex. Those who order it without knowing what it is order a second as soon as they taste it.
The Perfect Pairing
Cocktails & Local Products
A good cocktail gets even better with what you eat alongside it. Here are the combinations the kitchen recommends.
Carrera Negroni + Paddock Board
The bitterness of the Negroni contrasts with the richness of Charlevoix organic charcuterie. Each sip cleanses, each bite refreshes. A classic balance, one that Italians have perfected for centuries, revisited with Quebec products.
Podium Spritz + Focaccia of the day
The lightness of the spritz and the fluffy richness of Borderon et Fils focaccia. A perfect summer pairing for an aperitif on the terrace before the evening truly begins.
Pit Stop Mulled Wine + Cheese Board
The spicy warmth of mulled wine meets aged Quebec cheeses. An intimate, seasonal pairing that transforms a stopover into an evening. The kind of combination you'd recommend to your friends the next morning.
The Advice
Cocktails & Bar
The Barista's Advice
How to Choose Your Cocktail According to Your Mood
You arrive and don't know what to order? Here's a three-question guide. You want something light to start: the Spritz Podium or the Grand Virage. You want something serious, for a real evening: the Negroni Carrera or the Piste Noire. You want to surprise a friend who thinks they know everything: the Paddock Obscur, without hesitation. And if you don't drink alcohol: the Shrub Paddock, which is worth two.
The Evening
Petit-Champlain & Old Quebec
Carrera Café as a starting or ending point for an evening in Old Quebec.
For Tourists
The Perfect Evening in Petit-Champlain
Arrive around 5:30 PM to enjoy the terrace with a Spritz Podium. Stay for a board and a second cocktail as the sun sets. Then explore Petit-Champlain on foot, then head up to Upper Town by funicular. In winter, arrive around 6 PM instead, settle by the window with a mulled wine, and watch the snow fall on the cobblestone streets. In both cases: it's an evening you'll remember.
Book for a Group
Carrera Café's bar welcomes groups for aperitifs, bachelor/bachelorette parties, or evenings with friends. Sharing boards, a selection of cocktails, and a unique motorsport atmosphere. An unparalleled setting in Petit-Champlain.
Cheers!
The bar awaits you. Discover the full cocktail menu or plan your next evening in Petit-Champlain.
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