Where to Stay in Quebec City: Monsieur Jean

A huge thank you to Quebec City and the staff at Monsieur Jean for hosting our stay. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I had so many questions when I arrived at Monsieur Jean.

Do I enter through this massive blue door?

Where… am… I?

Is that chaise… rainbow? And what’s it doing climbing up the wall? 

Did that portrait on the wall just MOVE? 

A good hotel should, at minimum, make you feel safe and comfortable. But a great hotel should transport you far, far away from the everyday. And Monsieur Jean, one of Quebec City’s newest hotels, took me to wonderland. 

At the end of this article, odds are you’ll probably want to pay a visit to wonderland (and Quebec City) too. Keep reading to find out why.

RELATED: The Ultimate 3-Day Winter Guide to Quebec City

Location

Old Quebec is an enchanting place filled with world-class restaurants, antique shops and boutiques, museums, and art galleries. It also happens to be more than 400 years old and a proud UNESCO World Heritage Site, thanks in part to its well-preserved historical sites and French-Canadian culture. Old Quebec itself is a preserved fortified city, complete with ramparts, a citadel, bastions, convents, and cathedrals. And, located right in the middle of all the action, in the Upper Town of Old Quebec on the historic Rue Saint-Jean, sits Monsieur Jean. 

Monsieur Jean is walking distance from everything there is to see, both in Old Quebec and just outside the city walls. Nearby, you’ll find Immersion Quebec (a VR experience allowing you to explore and live out Quebec’s historical events) and the Monastére des Augustines (a 17th century monastery-turned hotel & wellness center for the public to enjoy). Within a 10-20 minutes’ walk, you can access Le Château Frontenac and the Funiculaire that leads down to the Lower Town and the Old Port. 

In the weeks leading up to Christmas, you’ll also find ice skating and a German Christmas Market in the immediate area surrounding Monsieur Jean. Needless to say, it’s the perfect home base for a trip to Quebec City.

RELATED: 7 Festive Things to Do in Quebec City if You Love All Things Christmas

The Monsieur Jean Property

The atmosphere in Monsieur Jean is both playful and mysterious. A lone, enormous blue door greets you from the street, and behind it, a completely unexpected world of color awaits. Rainbow furniture decorates the gigantic space that is the lobby, and classical shapes with whimsical twists can be found throughout. Checkered floors, velvet and mirrors, blue backlights, and starry specks illuminating the ceiling complete the storybook space.

At this point, you’ll begin to notice some of the more subtle features of the space. Particularly, the paintings and framed photos of the elusive Monsieur Jean himself – ever present, but always faceless. If you look closely at any of the portraits, you’ll see that he sometimes likes to disappear in plain sight. 

Monsieur Jean is, I’ve been told, an imagined superhost that likes to add a little touch of fantasy to the everyday. This imaginary mascot is present in every aesthetic and atmospheric element of the hotel, and honestly, the Monsieur Jean ‘universe’ is a lot of fun to get lost in! It reminded me a bit of the famous citizenM brand that I love so much, with an even more distinctively quirky personality. 

But, the draw of this hotel isn’t just in the fantasyland it creates. The service and hotel staff were incredible during my entire stay. The location – as I mentioned – is unbeatable. The views from the rooms are stunning. And, the onsite cafe / grocery store, Bobu, has really tasty coffee and a good selection of snacks.  

The Rooms

The fantasy world continues into the rooms themselves, with no two of the 49 suites being exactly alike. You can stay in everything from a one-bedroom suite to the largest of them all – the Monsieur Jean suite – but no matter which room you choose, they all come with king-size beds, heated floors, custom furniture, and pantry kitchenettes. Some rooms have free-standing baths, and all rooms have walk-in showers, but my favorite thing about the bathrooms were these odd, asymmetrical gold frame mirrors above every counter. I was told that these mirrors were the very first purchase that was made while the hotel was being built! 

Some of the rooms feature terraces with epic views of Old Quebec and the St. Lawrence River. In the summer months, these terraces are furnished for lounging around outside. In the winter, my terrace was unfurnished but covered in pillowy snow (and that didn’t stop me from going outside). 

Tips to Know Before You Go

1. TRANSPORTATION: Old Quebec is extremely walkable. With comfortable shoes, you can explore the entire city center over a long weekend. Connecting the Upper and Lower Town is a funicular that goes straight from the Château Frontenac down to the Petit Champlain. 
2. WHERE TO EAT: Don’t miss Paillard around the corner for delicious sandwiches, coffee, and pastries (especially during the holidays!). Bobu – Monsieur Jean’s lobby cafe – also has pretty good breakfast (their nordic bowls are the best), and you can buy groceries and drinks to take back up to your room.
3. WHAT TO DO IN THE AREA:
   1. Immersion Quebec
   2. Le Monastére des Augustines
   3. Patinoire Place d’Youville
   4. Funiculaire
   5. Old Port
   6. La Citadelle de Quebec
   7. Grand Allée
   8. Le Grand Marche

For more recommendations on what to do while you’re in Quebec, check out my 3-day itinerary here.

Ready to pack your bags? Book your stay at Monsieur Jean Quebec here. 

Book Activities In or Near This Hotel Here:

Read This Next:

• December in Quebec City: The Ultimate 3-Day Winter Guide
• What to Pack for Quebec City in the Winter: A Carry On-Only Guide
• 7 Festive Things To Do in Quebec City if You Love All Things Christmas

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