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- All
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Music:
- Background
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Yes
- Coat Check:
- Yes
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Classy, Intimate
6 reviews for St-Laurent Bar & Lounge
6 reviews in English
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Review from Taylor O.
We stopped by for a drink and a view of the river hoping for the classic cocktail experience and more of the old charm we had at the restaurant next door. Hoping to hear a bit of the jazz from the lounge but ended up getting a nice table not very close to the livelier room beside St-Laurent.
The cocktail menu was decidedly boring, perhaps I'm less impressed now that the cocktail revolution in San Francisco, Chicago, Kansas City, Toronto and every other city has surged and many of us are expecting hand crafted excellence.
The only unique thing on the menu was Cocktail d'inspiration locale with cognac, clavados, cider, and roof made honey and we went with it. It proved excellent though very light and refreshing, probably not a good pairing with the winter snow falling outside the window.
The bar patrons were a mix from surprisingly sloppy business travelers to elegant. Next time I'll head over for the jazz instead. -
Review from Calamity L.
4/9/2012
I'm giving the second star on merit of the decor and the view, and I think it's generous.
I just returned from a trip to Quebec with my mother and grandmother; we stayed at the Chateau Frontenac. Our first experience at the bar was positive. Our second day, my mother and I popped into the bar to have a drink while my grandmother rested in her room. The cocktails were VERY expensive, but hey! everything is in Quebec. We had a Million Dollar Legs and a Cosmo, both of which were quite good. The service was great. We paid for our drinks, left a good tip, and left.
The next afternoon after a long morning's sightseeing, my grandmother wanted to try it. It was very busy when we came in, but I found us a spot at the bar. My grandmother has severe arthritis and sitting on a tall stool where her feet couldn't rest on anything was very painful for her, so the second a table by the window opened up, we took our drinks and slipped into it. My mother cleared the table herself. A small party took our place at the bar, but the table next to us soon cleared. This time the server graciously offered it to them and carried over their drinks himself. The server then spent the next half-hour scrupulously tending the table on one side of us and then the table on the other side of us while pointedly ignoring us as we sat with (by then) empty glasses. He even went and fussily adjusted empty tables (it had ceased to be busy by this point), all the while steadfastly refusing to acknowledge our existence. This childish snubbing/cold treatment would perhaps have been comical if we could think of something we might actually have done to incite it; as it was, it was as perplexing as it was galling. Eventually, this blatant neglect led me to take our empty glasses over to the bar myself and politely request, in French, more of the same. The waiter soon brought us the requested drinks--and our check. We weren't finished and had made no indication that we might be done.
The message could not have been more clear--pay and get out, we're done with you.
What exactly did we do to merit such appallingly rude behaviour? We weren't loud or ill-behaved, we were well-dressed, and we had previously established that, when treated with a minimal level of courtesy, we tip well. Was my elderly arthritic grandmother somehow offensive to our server?
A luxury establishment is defined not so much by its facilities, but by its service, and by this criterion, the St Laurent ranks below most neighbourhood dives I know. -
Review from Rebecca J.
Vancouver, BC
10/14/2011
Stopped in for an aperitif with Sarah en route to Le Lapin Saute for dinner. So glad we did! It feels a bit like stepping back in time, with the old world, dark wood, Gentleman's Club' vibe going on (perhaps somehow correlated with the grey-haired quotient in the bar with us?).
We had Manhattans. They were fabulous. Probably the best I've ever had. And the most expensive ($17 each, before tip). But who cares? It's not often you get to sip on a cocktail and feel like you're in a completely different era. Well... except for the fact there was a TV on the wall... -
Review from Alex A.
2/28/2011
Without a doubt, a must on your Quebec City travel to-do list.
Located within the grand Château Frontenac, the St-Laurent Bar features old school cocktails and martinis in a rich, clubby setting. Richly paneled, dark walls flank the room, and there are lots of sofas and chair to lounge in. Fireplace is in full effect on cold winter nights.
The service is absolutely unparalleled, right down to the way the drinks are prepared table side. Cocktails are served from your own personal shaker, and the remainder is left for you to sip at your leisure.
Vintage ports and single malt scotches are also available, as is my all-time favorite: Ricard Pastis (anise and herb flavored aperitif -- hard to find in the States!)
St. Laurent Bar is a great place to meet up after a day of shopping and before dinner. TIP: Try to snag a seat by the window - great views of the St. Laurent River and Boardwalk, especially at sunset! -
Review from Joe J.
10/8/2010
(Within the Fairmont Frontenac)Combine an impressive view of one of North America's quaintest cities, a grand hotel bar, and talented barmen and you have the perfect cocktail experience. I suggest the bar stools versus the comfy sofa/chair grouping for a better view and an interesting chat with the barmen. The room is rich dark wood with panorama windows looking out over the old city and the river. It looks particularly fine at dusk.
The menu includes both proprietary cocktails and we executed standards. A proprietary "Churchill Martini" is a gin martini (Beefeaters) with a splash of scotch. The slight smoky note adds considerable interest. It is properly stirred, not shaken and is served with 3 olives. The remainder is left in a pouring snifter to be added as needed. They also make a great dirty martini, sidecar, rob roy, and the like. The pricing is hotel high ($13-$15), but definitely worth the visit. -
Review from Joel S.
8/30/2010 2 photos
Really nice old bar and lounge in the historic Le Château Frontenac in the heart of old Quebec. Fantastic classic martini, and they leave the shaker on the table, so the $11-14 drink is really two drinks (so don't drive after this!). The ambiance would have been a bit improved if they had (1) gotten rid of the TV showing a football game (I mean this is a CLASSIC old clubby bar, not a sports bar), and (2) played some great music from the 30's and 40's.
