What makes a good hotel stay? Is it waking up to a Danish and a cup of coffee? A dry martini from the lobby bar? Or is it being immersed in a historical experience amidst opulent décor? Quebec City's Auberge Saint-Antoine can give you all of that, and more. TripAdvisor recently published a list of the top 24 hotels in Canada for 2020, and at number four, the auberge topped the list for Quebec.
"We are very flatted and honored," Dagmar Lombard, general manager of Auberge Saint-Antoine, told MTL Blog.
Editor's Choice: This American Model Spending Quarantine In MTL Turns Every Street Into Her Runway (PHOTOS)
"The awards are determined by discerning travelers from around the world and it is one of the greatest compliments that the guests of Auberge Saint-Antoine can give."
This year TripAdvisor also listed the auberge as the third most romantic hotel in Canada, which was also the highest ranking in the province of Quebec.
"We are thrilled to receive these awards and thank our loyal guests for their continued support," said Lombard.
A few of the province's other top hotels also made the cut including Montreal's Ritz-Carlton (number seven) and Hotel Le Crystal (number eight). For your information, Victoria, B.C.'s Magnolia Hotel & Spa was number one.
But if you're sticking around the province, Auberge Saint-Antoine is the nicest place you can stay as far as TripAdvisor is concerned and it's not very hard to see why.
A member of the Relais & Châteaux association of international luxury hotels, the place contains a number of awesome amenities for all kinds of romance and relaxing.
Its location on Îlot Hunt beneath Old Québec City's fortifications — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — overlooks the Saint Lawrence River, offering breathtaking views.
Courtesy of Auberge Saint-Antoine
Then there are the suites, each of which are individually designed to please with heated flooring, a deep-soaking tub, and some of them even have their own terrace.
You can dine at Chez Muffy, a French-Canadian, farm-to-fork-inspired restaurant or head to Bar Artefact for a light meal and a signature cocktail.
Courtesy of Auberge Saint-Antoine
But it's the auberge's command of its historical milieu that really sets it apart; this place will transport you all the way back to the tricorn hats and ruffled sleeves of New France.
In many ways, this place is equal parts museum and hotel. Over the centuries, the auberge's colonial buildings have been used as a wharf, a cannon battery, and a warehouse for British merchants.
Courtesy of Auberge Saint-Antoine
All guests get a free archeological tour to check out a number of historical artifacts that have been unearthed at the site that offer a snapshot of life back in the day.
The whole enterprise is owned by the Price family, whose roots in the area stretch back hundreds of years.
Definitely worthy of fourth place.
