At Le Capitole Hotel, old meets new and the result is ‘wow’

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As unique experiences go amid the charming scenery of one of Canada’s deeply historic cities, there are likely few places where you can soak in a bath – with a double-sided fireplace glowing next to you – while you gaze out at old Quebec City and the famous Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac.

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And if your legs are frozen to your jeans, there’s no better or more efficient way to thaw.

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Yet that was the amazing vista before me during my stay in scenic suite 902 at Le Capitole Hotel, a great spot for exploring all that the charming city has to offer.

Located next to the fortifications and on one of the oldest streets in the province’s old world capital, the hotel beautifully melds the history that visitors expect to find in Quebec City with a generous helping of modern luxury.

The property on Rue Saint-Jean dates to 1903, when it opened as the Auditorium of Quebec, staging a wide variety of performances from Vaudeville, to theatre, to opera. After an expansion in 1927 increased the capacity to 2,000 people, the Auditorium partnered with Famous Players to also show “talkies” and the name was changed to the Capitol (no ‘e’). Notable events to take place at the venue included hosting then Princess Elizabeth and her husband Philip in 1951 and airing the 1953 world premiere of I Confess, an Alfred Hitchcock film shot not far outside its walls right in Quebec City.

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In 1981, due to competition from modern spaces, the Capitol closed for more than a decade — but fortunately was preserved thanks to its heritage building designation. It reopened in 1992 as Le Capitole (‘e’ now added), a 40-room boutique hotel and restaurant complemented by a 1,100-seat theatre.

But the best change was yet to come.

An 18-month renovation wrapped up in 2019 with the opening of a glass-covered modern addition adjacent to the historic building, expanding Le Capitole Hotel to 108 luxurious rooms, including suites and a penthouse.

When you arrive, among the first sights is the original theatre’s stunning curved facade in the Beaux Arts architectural style — the first of many ‘wow’ features.

The old and new buildings of the hotel are linked by a walkway on the seventh floor, where the front desk is located. Called La Galerie de la Passerelle and running along the fortifications, one side of the walkway (which is open to the public) showcases works of art in collaboration with a local gallery while the other side’s floor-to-ceiling windows offer a magnificent view of Old Quebec in the daytime and an illuminated version when lit up at night.

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That same view can be savoured at the new Clubby Bar, conveniently situated at the base of a showpiece staircase next to the front desk. With an impressive cocktail and champagne list, it’s the perfect spot for sipping a beverage while admiring the skyline.

Updated two-storey Le Ristorante Il Teatro offers modern Italian cuisine — and a great breakfast (I dove headfirst into the American Cassolette of potatoes, sausage, bacon, egg sunny side up, cheese and Hollandaise sauce — yum!), while at neighbouring Bo Cuisine d’Asie, the dishes have roots in Southeast Asia but are prepared to showcase local Quebec products.

Burning off meals can be done with the benefit of the views. The raised indoor pool on the addition’s ninth floor is framed by windows and a terrace overlooking the city and les Laurentides in the distance. On the first floor, a 24-hour gym looks out on the ramparts.

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Whatever you do, don’t miss experiencing Theatre Capitole, host to concerts and musicals, if only just to admire the preserved architecture. It truly is stunning.

IF YOU GO

Le Capitole Hotel was recently named a CAA-AAA Four Diamond hotel, the same ranking as the Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac and the Auberge Saint-Antoine in Quebec City. “When you know that only 3.2% of some 60,000 North American establishments eligible for this rigorous evaluation have earned the Four Diamond distinction, and that this percentage drops to 0.27% when it comes to Five Diamond establishments, it’s easy to understand why being included is so meaningful Paul Pelletier, CEO of CAA-Quebec, said in a release.

Find out more and book a stay via lecapitole.com/en.

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