Cocktails & Buvette · Petit-Champlain & Old Quebec
Cocktails in Quebec: the bar at Carrera Café, the evening spot in Petit-Champlain
When the sun sets behind Château Frontenac and the lights of Petit-Champlain turn on, Carrera Café changes gears. The espresso machine gives way to shakers. Welcome to the bar.
The Bar
Cocktails & Bar
Carrera Café doesn’t stop when the espresso closes. From late afternoon, another world opens.
There are places that 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 come out carry the same signature as the rest of the house: Italian style, precision, character.
Quebec spirits hold a central place here. Italian bitters link the two worlds. And seasonal fruits, herbs, and spices bring that lively, changing side that makes you want to come back to see what’s new on the menu.
The Signatures
Cocktails & Bar
Four cocktails that define the identity of the bar. Available all year, perfected since opening.
The Carrera Negroni
The classic reinterpreted. Quebec gin, Campari, red vermouth, and a touch of homemade citrus bitters. Served over a large ice cube, with an orange zest squeezed on the rim. Bitter, smooth, deep. The cocktail that says: you are in the right place.
The Spritz Podium
Aperol, prosecco, sparkling water, orange slice. Simple, effective, festive. The Carrera version adds a dash of homemade bitters that gives it that little something undefinable. The terrace cocktail for late afternoon, the one you order before deciding whether to stay for dinner.
The Black Track
Aged Quebec whisky, Laurentides blackcurrant syrup, lemon juice, egg white. Shake vigorously, served in a coupe. The white foam on top, the deep blackcurrant below. A cocktail for evenings when you want something serious.
The Big Turn
Artisanal vodka, cucumber, fresh basil, lime juice, sparkling water. Long, light, herbal. The transition cocktail between coffee and evening. Works as well at 4pm as at 11pm, depending on the mood.
The Season
Cocktails & Refreshment Stand · Menu & Seasons
The menu changes with the months. Here’s what the refreshment stand offers according to the seasons.
✦ Summer
Circuit Lemonade
Gin, freshly squeezed lemon, lavender syrup, sparkling water. The terrace drink that refreshes and surprises.
✦ Summer
Paddock Tonic
Premium gin, artisanal tonic, fresh thyme, grapefruit zest. Simple, perfect, summery.
✦ Winter
Pit Stop Mulled Wine
Quebec red wine, mild spices, candied orange, Laurentians 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
Runway Return Fizz
Gin, rhubarb, rose water, prosecco. The cocktail for returning from the terrace, light and floral.
The Prestige Selection
Cocktails & Bar
For nights when you want to go further. Exclusive creations reserved for serious enthusiasts.
★ Exclusive · Prestige
The Pole Position
A cocktail built around a peated single malt whisky, softened by fir honey from the Laurentians and enhanced with a ristretto espresso. Served in a crystal glass, with a single drop of citrus essential oil as a finish. The cocktail you don’t order without thinking.
❖ New creation · Prestige
The Dark Paddock
Artisanal mezcal, green chartreuse, lime juice, black pepper syrup. A cocktail that divides at the first sip and obsesses from the second. For those looking for something they've never tasted before in Quebec.
Non-Alcoholic
Cocktails & Bar
The Carrera refreshment stand thinks of everyone. Mocktails are treated with the same seriousness as cocktails.
The Soda Circuit
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 flat water.
The Shrub Paddock
Apple cider vinegar, raspberries, sparkling water, honey syrup. A carefully crafted Quebec shrub. Tangy, fruity, complex. Those who order it without knowing what it is order a second one as soon as they taste it.
The Perfect Match
Cocktails & Local Products
A good cocktail gets better with what you eat alongside it. Here are the combinations recommended by the kitchen.
Negroni Carrera + Paddock Board
The bitterness of the Negroni cuts through the richness of Charlevoix organic charcuteries. Each sip cleanses, each bite refreshes. A classic balance, perfected by Italians for centuries, revisited with Quebec products.
Spritz Podium + Daily focaccia
The lightness of the spritz and the soft richness of Borderon and Sons focaccia. A perfect summer pairing for an aperitif on the terrace before the evening really begins.
Mulled Wine Pit Stop + Cheese platter
The spicy warmth of mulled wine meets Quebec’s aged cheeses. An intimate seasonal pairing that turns a stopover into an evening. The kind of combination you think to 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 the guide in three questions. Want something light to start: the Spritz Podium or the Grand Virage. Want something serious, for a real evening: the Negroni Carrera or the Piste Noire. Want to surprise a friend who thinks they know it all: the Paddock Obscur, no hesitation. And if you don’t drink alcohol: the Shrub Paddock, which is worth two.
The Evening
Petit-Champlain & Old Quebec
The Carrera Café as a starting or ending point for an evening in Old Quebec.
For tourists
The perfect evening at Petit-Champlain
Arrive around 5:30 PM to enjoy the terrace with a Spritz Podium. Stay for a board and a second cocktail at sunset. Then explore Petit-Champlain on foot, and head back up to Haute-Ville by funicular. In winter, arrive closer to 6 PM, settle by the window with a mulled wine, and watch the snow fall on the cobblestone streets. Either way: it’s an evening you’ll remember.
Book for a group
The Carrera Café bar welcomes groups for aperitifs, bachelor parties, or evenings with friends. Sharing boards, cocktail selection, and a unique motorsport atmosphere. An unmatched setting in Petit-Champlain.
Cheers
The bar awaits you. Discover the full cocktail menu or plan your next evening at Petit-Champlain.
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