Checking in to the world’s most photographed hotel: A review of the Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac
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Nestled along the promontory overlooking the St. Lawrence River, with distinctive architecture including its iconic soaring turrets, the Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac is the stuff of hotel legend. One glance at the fortresslike structure and it’s easy to see why many consider it the most photographed hotel in the world.
Not only is the hotel an experience unto itself, but its prime location in Quebec City’s historic district (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), replete with plentiful European charm, makes a trip to this Fairmont property particularly special, especially for those who consider themselves history buffs or francophiles.
ELLIE NAN STROCK/THE POINTS GUY
So, what is it actually like to sleep within the walls of this Canadian grande dame? I recently made the six-hour drive from Boston to Quebec City and checked in to the landmark property for two nights to see what it’s all about. Here’s what my stay was like.
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What is the Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac? ELLIE NAN STORCK/THE POINTS GUY
Composed of 610 rooms and suites, the Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac is a historic hotel — and a National Historic Site of Canada — that’s played host to notable political meetings, celebrities and figureheads.
The property was built in 1893 under the direction of William Van Horne, the CEO of Canadian Pacific Railway, as a way to promote luxury train travel. Designed by acclaimed American architect Bruce Price, the hotel’s grandeur was — unsurprisingly — an instant hit among upscale travelers, and Le Chateau Frontenac quickly became a hot spot for major social events and parties. It continued to grow in popularity, becoming a trendy holiday destination for all kinds of VIPs, including Princess Grace Kelly of Monaco, King George VI, Queen Elizabeth II and Alfred Hitchcock. It was also the backdrop for the Quebec Conferences of World War II in the mid-1940s, led by then-President Franklin D. Roosevelt, then-Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Winston Churchill and then-Prime Minister of Canada William Lyon Mackenzie King.
As a result of its over-a-century-long story, the hotel is full of nods to its past (and to a time even before its existence), from historic architectural and structural elements to artifacts that date back hundreds of years to special design details and well-preserved pieces of art. It’s a bit like walking through a museum, and you could easily spend an hour or two just exploring the property and reading about the history along the way. You’ll notice this the moment you walk through the gleaming golden turnstiles and into the opulent lobby.
After a $75 million renovation in 2014, the hotel has had a bit of a freshening up — though it still maintains its distinct historic integrity throughout the public spaces and exterior.
Keep in mind that French (predominantly Quebecois) is the primary language spoken throughout the province of Quebec, meaning coming here will present a wonderful opportunity to test out your skills. That said, many people — especially those who work at hotels, shops, restaurants and bars within the old walled city — speak English fluently, so you can get by without knowing French.
How to book the Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac ELLIE NAN STORCK/THE POINTS GUY
Like most hotels in popular tourist destinations, rates at Le Chateau Frontenac will vary greatly depending on the season (in Quebec City, high season is generally considered January, February and June through September).
I chose to travel to Quebec in March (an off-peak month), and I booked my deluxe courtyard-view room directly on the hotel’s website at a rate of 314 Canadian dollars (about $230) per night, which is relatively reasonable compared to peak-season rates. For comparison, the rate for one night in the same room type for a week in August costs CA$921 (about $673).
Luckily, booking cash rates isn’t the only option. If you are a member of the Accor Live Limitless program, you can potentially use your points to book a stay and enjoy specific perks, depending on your status.
Keep in mind that this property is part of the American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts program, so if you keep either The Platinum Card® from American Express or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express in your wallet, you can book via FHR. Going this route will ensure some great perks, like a free daily breakfast for two, a $100 food and beverage credit, guaranteed checkout at 4 p.m. and a room upgrade (if available).
Another option is to transfer accumulated points or miles from a card like the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card or the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card to Accor (currently at a 2:1 ratio) and then redeem those points for a booking.
An unbeatable location
The property’s location within the centuries-old fortified walls of Old Quebec — which dates back to the 1600s and is the only North American city with original, preserved ramparts — is certainly one of its biggest draws. Those flying into Quebec City Jean Lesage International Airport (YQB) can anticipate a 20-minute drive to the hotel, with taxi prices ranging from CA$50 to CA$65 (about $36 to $47), though the exact fares will depend on the time of day and demand. Ubers seem to be a bit cheaper, more in the CA$30 to CA$40 (about $21 to $30) range.
If you choose to drive from Boston, like I did, the trip is roughly six hours. From New York, this would be close to an 8 1/2-hour drive. If you’re traveling with a car, there is street parking near the hotel, but I chose to use the valet service, which is CA$50 (about $36) per day, with full in-and-out privileges.
ELLIE NAN STORCK/THE POINTS GUY
For those planning to spend most of their Quebec City time in the historic district, Le Chateau Frontenac puts you just steps away from the local funicular, the charming shops and cobblestone streets characteristic of the Petit-Champlain district, dozens of restaurants, and several historic sites like Dauphine Redoubt and the Plains of Abraham (a lush park that was the site of the Battle of the Plains of Abraham, wherein the British army defeated the French).
ELLIE NAN STROCK/THE POINTS GUY
It’s worth taking a walk or two into town after dark to gaze back up at the palatial hotel from below. It becomes particularly magical with the windows lit up and the dramatic shadows cast from the turrets.
Rooms are clean and functional but often lack space
With 610 rooms and suites to choose from, Le Chateau Frontenac has a decent selection of accommodation options, from standard rooms to larger suites and the elevated Fairmont Gold accommodations (located on the top floors with panoramic views). There are also connecting rooms available for those traveling with family.
My deluxe courtyard-view room (in the standard category) was just under 200 square feet and comfortable, though with the courtyard view, I didn’t feel there was much privacy with the window shade open, so I kept it drawn during most of my stay.
ELLIE NAN STROCK/THE POINTS GUY
The room featured muted, neutral tones — a blend of gray, beige, cream and brown — with a few tasteful pops of color and a mixture of textures, like a patterned carpet, satin throw pillows and a leather headboard. The lighting in the room was a bit dim, and even with the shade open during the day, the courtyard created a lot of shadows, so I wouldn’t call this space light or airy.
Walking into the room, there was a very small bathroom immediately to the right (more on that in a moment) and a small but functional closet to the left holding an ironing board, an iron and several hangers (two satin, the rest wooden). There was a full-length mirror on the inside of the closet door.
ELLIE NAN STROCK/THE POINTS GUY
Just beyond the entryway, to the left, was a small wooden desk with a lamp, a telephone and a chic, light-blue velvet chair that seemed to hark back to another century.
ELLIE NAN STORCK/THE POINTS GUY
Beyond that was a large wooden cabinet that held a TV (equipped with cable and on-demand movies), as well as a small minifridge with refreshments (Coca-Cola, Canada Dry tonic water, Sanpellegrino Limonita, Aupale water and a small selection of local spirits) to enjoy for a fee. There were also a few snacks (also for a fee) like Pringles. Additionally, a tea kettle with several options for tea and a Nespresso VertuoLine coffee machine with mugs were available.
On the other side of the TV and wooden cabinet was another light-blue upholstered lounge chair next to a standing lamp. Above the lounge chair was a narrow window with a view of the courtyard, and to the right was a large window, both with shades and curtains.
The king-size bed was quite comfortable with fluffy pillows and featured wooden bedside tables on each side, as well as turquoise glass lamps, standard outlets with both USB-A and USB-C options, a second phone on one side and an alarm clock on the other. There was a safe within the drawer of the left-hand bedside table. A small decorative mirror with a metal lattice framework hung above the headboard that had small built-in reading lamps. A small gray love seat with a little side table sat in front of the bed, creating an ideal setup for a midday rest or morning cup of coffee.
In terms of decor, the room felt very pared back, with minimal artwork and discreet touches of color from the upholstery and bedside lamps.
If you thought the room was small …
Much to my surprise, the bathroom was considerably smaller than the room. It wasn’t by any means problematic for my short two-night stay; the bathroom served its purpose, and I enjoyed the touch of white marble tiling, the bright lighting, the bath products by Le Labo, the fluffy towels and the strong water pressure in the shower. But just note that there is little room for movement in the compact space.
ELLIE NAN STORCK/THE POINTS GUY
As you can see, it was difficult to get the entire bathroom into one photograph.
The shower featured both an overhead showerhead and a removable wand, and, as mentioned, the water pressure was strong. Over the sink and toilet, there were a large mirror (as well as a small, retractable makeup mirror) and a glass shelf with water glasses, a standard vanity kit and tissues. A hair dryer in a bag hung to the left with plenty of towels of varying sizes, and there were standard USB outlets on the wall next to the sink.
The restaurants are worth a visit (or 2)
The hotel is home to three restaurants and a chic cocktail bar, and it also offers in-room dining, afternoon tea and takeout menus.
I had the pleasure of dining at all three restaurants and thoroughly enjoyed my meal at each. The cocktail bar, 1608 Bar, had a very long waitlist both nights I visited, so I didn’t get to try it out; it was bustling the entire time and seemed to be a popular drinking hole for both guests and locals.
ELLIE NAN STROCK/THE POINTS GUYPlace Dufferin
Place Dufferin is the breakfast restaurant at Chateau Le Frontenac, and it was my favorite dining experience. The light and airy ground-floor restaurant places guests in an elegant dining room with views of the promenade and river, and the buffet features an impressive variety of fresh food. This is also where the hotel hosts its afternoon tea service.
ELLIE NAN STROCK/THE POINTS GUY
I enjoyed a rich cappuccino with an array of fresh fruit, delicate crepes covered in a caramel-like sauce, freshly baked pastries and smoked salmon.
The breakfast buffet is served daily and costs CA$45 ($33) for adults and CA$22 ($16) for children.
Champlain Restaurant
This is the property’s fine dining experience, open for dinner and Sunday brunch.
At Champlain, guests can enjoy a set dinner menu of four to six expertly crafted courses in an elegant, white-tablecloth atmosphere with sweeping views of the glimmering river below. Ingredients for my meal were mostly locally sourced, according to my server, who walked me through each course in detail.
This space was all about an alluring ambience, which was created with rich wood walls, leather-backed chairs, painted ceilings, huge windows overlooking the river and shimmering chandeliers.
Dishes rotate seasonally, of course, but may include the likes of rich, miso-glazed arctic char; halibut with whitefish roe, saffron sauce and delicate sunchokes; beef consomme with sherry; melt-in-your-mouth duck with salted plum juice and maitake mushrooms; cranberry kombucha; and delicate tiramisu.