Auberge Saint-Antoine

Auberge Saint-Antoine is half hotel, half museum, a unique blend of a boutique hotel and an old-fashioned bed and breakfast, three centuries-old buildings in the lower Old Port of Québec City, overlooking the stately St. Lawrence river, and just steps from many of this historic city's tourist destinations. The auberge itself occupies an important archaeological site, once home to a cannon battery and a maritime warehouse, and artifacts from various digs are on display in the guest rooms and common areas, including a reception desk built from oak planks two centuries old.

Despite this historical bent, though, the Auberge is in many ways a modern (though understated) boutique hotel. This is not the kind of place where aspiring models and actors flock to be seen in the hotel bar, but another kind of boutique, a smartly decorated contemporary-style hotel with a unique blend of modern and antique furniture. Lines are clean, the palette is restrained, but the feeling is anything but pretentious. And alongside the historical artifacts lie such modern conveniences as high-speed internet access, Bose sound systems, and heated bathroom floors, a must for those chilly Québec winters.

Privacy is the key word here — this is a small and intimate hotel, perfect for a romantic getaway. Some of the rooms have private terraces, and almost all have inspiring views onto the river. Suites are especially spacious and sleek, some with kitchenettes, in case you want to hole up — but it would be a mistake to miss out on the restaurant, Panache, serving a traditional French-Canadian cuisine in a restored 19th-century warehouse.

How to get there: Auberge Saint-Antoine is located 19 km (25 min) from Quebec City's Jean Lesage Airport. Transfers can be organized for CAD 60 plus taxes and gratuity in a sedan, one way.