Québec proudly reflects a tradition of French culture, never more so than in the restaurants and cuisine of the province. French food here is as excellent as in Europe. Immigrants from many countries provide a vast selection. English, Greek, Italian, Japanese and Spanish cuisines are all available in Montréal and Québec. You can find international menus at all the larger hotels, but are likely to come across the best food by wandering around the backstreets of the cities and sampling the small but excellent restaurants scattered throughout both cities. The Île d'Orléans is an island northeast of Québec City that provides abundant fruit and vegetables for the city. Québec follows French tradition in having excellent standards of wine and spirits to complement the high standards of cuisine.

Things to know: Taverns and brasseries are permitted to serve alcoholic beverages from 0800-0300 every day (although few do keep such extended hours). Cocktail lounges and cabarets stay open until 0200 and 0300, respectively, in Québec City and Montréal. Government-run liquor stores (SAQ) sell a wide range of beer, wine and spirits, but beer and wine are also available in grocery stores, convenience stores (dépanneurs) and other retail locations.

Regional specialities:
• Pork dishes such as ragoût de boulettes (pork meatballs with seasoning), cretons du Québec (chilled minced pork), and beans and pork baked in maple syrup.
• Poutine (French fries with cheese curds and gravy).
• Game, such wild boar, venison, and even caribou and wapiti (deer).
• Tarte au sucre (maple sugar pie).

Regional drinks:
• Wines and spirits based on maple syrup are a speciality of the region, among them maple cider and maple whiskey.
• Apple, strawberry and other fruit wines from the Eastern Townships and other parts of Québec are widely available.

Legal drinking age: 18.

Tipping: It is customary to tip between 10 and 15% at bars and restaurants in Québec.

Québec City and Montréal offer some of the best nightclubs and cabarets in Canada. In Montréal, the action seldom begins before 2200 and usually continues until 0300 the next morning. Nightlife is concentrated in the western part of the downtown area along Crescent and Bishop Streets and around Ste-Catherine Street, where there are many bars, restaurants and clubs of all kinds. For a particularly French flavour, try the many clubs, bars, restaurants, cafes and bistros further east around Saint-Laurent (often known simply as ‘The Main') and Saint-Denis. In Québec City, the wide boulevard called Grande Allée, just outside the old city walls, hums with activity in clubs and bars until late at night.

Québec City and Montréal have excellent shopping facilities, both in large department stores and small street markets. Specialities include furs, Native American crafts, haute couture, antiques, specialist fashion boutiques and discount retail outlets.

In Montréal, Ste-Catherine Street is home to international fashion retailers and elegant department stores, while the Plateau Mont-Royal neighbourhood is known for chic décor shops and quirky boutiques. In the suburbs, Carrefour Laval is one of the larger malls. In Québec City, don't miss Petit-Champlain Street, a narrow, cobblestone street that is one of the oldest shopping thoroughfares in North America. For street caricaturists and art galleries, head to Trésor Street.

Shopping hours: Generally, Mon-Wed 0900-1800, Thurs-Fri 0900-2100 and Sat 0900-1700, but hours vary. Most shops are open on Sunday afternoons.