The shopping streets

A journey through the centuries

Strolling through the streets of Old Quebec is like crossing several centuries of commercial history in a few hours. Each street has its purpose, clientele, and hidden treasures.

Old Quebec has one of the most unique commercial concentrations in North America: a network of independent shops, galleries, antique dealers, and specialty stores located in heritage buildings, some dating back to the 18th century. Far from standardized shopping centers, Old Quebec's shopping streets offer a unique shopping experience where each shop tells a story and every merchant is an ambassador of Quebec culture.

This guide to shopping streets is designed for visitors who want to go beyond mass souvenirs and discover authentic addresses that make the national capital's gastronomic, cultural, and artisanal reputation.

Saint-Jean Street

The vibrant artery of Haute-Ville

Saint-Jean Street is one of the liveliest arteries of Old Quebec. Restaurants, fashion boutiques, bookstores, gourmet grocery stores, and bars follow one another in a cosmopolitan and relaxed atmosphere.

Saint-Paul Street

The kingdom of antique dealers

In Lower Town, Saint-Paul Street is the street of antique dealers and art galleries. Its red brick facades and colorful storefronts house dozens of secondhand dealers, antique furniture sellers, and collectors’ items.

Saint-Paul Street is a paradise for bargain hunters and collectors. For over a century, this Lower Town street has concentrated antique dealers, art merchants, and secondhand dealers in a quaint and picturesque atmosphere. You’ll find 19th-century Quebec furniture, religious objects from vanished convents, old engravings, Art Deco jewelry, and studio pottery, all in a permanent treasure hunt ambiance.

Must-visit addresses include Zaor Antiques, Michel Morin Antiques, and the Old Port Antique Village, each offering a unique selection that reflects its owner's personality. The golden rule of Saint-Paul Street: take your time, ask questions, and never leave without making at least one unexpected discovery.

Petit-Champlain Street

The oldest shopping street in America

Petit-Champlain Street is often called the oldest shopping street in North America. Narrow, cobblestone-paved, and lined with colorful houses, it is the symbol of Old Quebec in all its splendor.

Rue du Trésor and Sainte-Anne

Art, architecture, and elegance

Between Rue du Trésor and Sainte-Anne Street, Haute-Ville shows its most elegant face: luxury boutiques, jewellers, art galleries, and gourmet restaurants stand alongside the historic monuments of the old city.

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  Rue du Trésor: Old Quebec’s open-air gallery, where about twenty artists sell their engravings, watercolors, and photographs outdoors. An institution since the 1960s that attracts both collectors and visitors looking for an authentic artistic souvenir.
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  Simons on Sainte-Anne Street: Founded in 1840 in Quebec City, Simons is an institution in Quebec retail. Its main Haute-Ville store offers fashion, accessories, and lifestyle with a curation reflecting the Simons family’s aesthetic values for six generations.
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  Jewellers and watchmakers of Haute-Ville: Sainte-Anne Street and its surroundings host several artisanal jewellers offering unique creations inspired by Quebec heritage: silver jewelry, local tourmalines, Nordic engravings. Unique pieces that will be passed down through generations.

Authentic shopping

Our tips for smart shopping

Shopping in Old Quebec is a cultural act. Here’s how to maximize the authenticity of your purchases in the national capital.

The simplest rule for shopping well in Old Quebec: avoid standardized souvenir shops that sell the same products made on the other side of the world. Favor shops where the owner is present and can tell the story of their products. Look for the "Made in Quebec" and "Local Artisan" brands that guarantee origin and craftsmanship.

The J.A. Moisan for fine grocery products, the Pantoute Bookstore for Quebec literature, the Art Trades Boutique for certified crafts, the La Mailloche Glassworks for blown glass pieces: these are some sure landmarks that guarantee memorable and meaningful purchases.

Carrera Café

In the heart of Petit-Champlain

On the most picturesque street of Old Quebec, Carrera Café is the natural pit stop for any day of shopping and strolling in the old town.

The Carrera Café is exactly where it should be: in Petit-Champlain, at the crossroads of the most beautiful and lively streets of Old Quebec. Our terrace opens onto Boulevard Champlain and the Saint Lawrence River, our indoor room breathes Italian elegance, and our counter has been preparing the best espressos in the old town since our opening.

Whether it serves as a starting point in the morning, a refreshing refuge midday, or the last stop in the evening before returning to the hotel, Carrera Café naturally fits into the Petit-Champlain shopping circuit. Our menu of boards with Organic Charlevoix Charcuterie and Quebec cheeses is the perfect companion for a full day of shopping.