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Fodor's Expert Review Hôtel Le Germain Dominion

Name: Hôtel Le Germain Dominion
Address: 126 rue St-Pierre, Québec City, Québec, G1K 4A8, Canada, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
Telephone: 418-692–2224;888-833–5253
Price range: $$$$

126 rue St-Pierre, Québec City, Québec, G1K 4A8, Canada, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada See on Map Fodor's Choice

Joanne Latimer

Le Germain preserved the century-old building’s stone façade and woodwork, creating an elegant ambiance for their boutique hotel. An effortless blend of contemporary style and heritage architecture.

room

Who doesn’t like turn-down service, with a pillow-top chocolate? There’s also a privacy light switch, in case you don't want to be disturbed. The rooms are well appointed with Nespresso machines, technology charging docks, safes large enough to hold laptops, clever nightlights, comfy beds, and luxury linens. They face either the river, the Citadelle, the city, or the car park. You decide.

YOU SHOULD KNOW Light sleepers may be disturbed by ambient street light that leaks into the room, between the blinds. There are no curtains.

bathroom

Spacious and spotless, the bathrooms feature Molton Brown toiletries, rain spout showers, shaving mirrors, and thick, luxurious towels. Not all rooms have tubs.

lobby

Flooded with light from the tall, arched windows, the lobby is a great place to take a time out. Sit by the enormous fireplace, while enjoying the sink-in couches, built-in bookcases, and antique vases on display.

There’s free David’s Tea, coffee, and hot chocolate all day and night, plus an honor bar for a glass of wine.

dining

Belly up to the free buffet every morning, located in the lobby, where guests eat around communal tables or sitting in the lounge area. There are hardboiled eggs, buttery pastries, breads, local jams, and cheeses. The hotel doesn’t have an on-site restaurant, but there is room service provided by a restaurant one block away.

LOCATION

Getting Around

Upon arrival, drive immediately to the public parking lot behind the hotel. There’s a luggage ramp right into Le Germain, so it’s easier than dropping off your luggage on rue Saint-Pierre. For inter-city trips, ask for the hotel’s courtesy car—a Lexus.

Restaurants

Celebrity chef Daniel Vézina rules the kitchen at Laurie Raphaël (5-minute walk), a hot spot for regional cuisine. They recently renovated to make it more intimate. Yes, you need a reservation.

Bars

Meet the local film community, artists, singers and dancers at Les Salons d’Edgar (10-minute drive), with pool tables, tango, swing dancing, and pub food.

WHY WE LIKE IT

Rivaling the Auberge St-Antoine for the top hotel in town, Le Germain is the epitome of a boutique hotel. The care they took to restore the façade reflects the care they take with everything. The service is legendary, as is the bedding (goose down!), free breakfast, large bathrooms, and turn-down service. Although the decorator was a bit on the staid side (there’s a lot of chocolate brown wood), the décor is chic and pleasing. Some rooms have murals with pictures of 19^th century architecture. Others have exposed brick. Dogs are allowed and Wi-Fi is free.