A brunch restaurant, specialty café, cocktail bar and venue all rolled into one, the Maelstrøm is a meeting point in the heart of the Saint-Roch district.
Maelstrøm Saint-Roch is widely celebrated as a premier destination in Quebec City, offering a cozy and inviting atmosphere that appeals to locals and visitors alike. Guests frequently praise the restaurant for its excellent specialty coffee, flavorful brunch options, and creative, well-crafted cocktails. The staff is consistently highlighted for being friendly, attentive, and welcoming, contributing to the overall warm vibe of the space. Whether enjoying a morning breakfast, a relaxed afternoon of studying, or evening drinks, patrons appreciate the fresh ingredients and the intentional, artisanal quality of the menu. With its unique decor and pleasant environment, the establishment has become a favorite neighborhood spot for many who look forward to returning.
This was honestly one of the worst café experiences I've had in Quebec City in a very long time.
We stopped in this morning for a hot chocolate & a latte. The hot chocolate wasn't hot at all it was basically cold chocolate. The latte was barely drinkable. Both drinks were completely bland.
We also ordered a waffle with ricotta, honey, jam, & grapes. It was awful. The waffle tasted frozen, wasn't crispy at all, & had a dense, doughy texture with no flavor. My wife barely touched it.
The server clearly noticed that the waffle was left almost untouched but never asked if everything was okay or tried to fix the situation. There was no follow-up, no attention to detail, & no real sense of care.
I ordered a yogurt. It's hard to mess up a yogurt, yet somehow it was still disappointing.
I'll say this: the place itself looks cute, the décor is festive & very Christmassy. But at the end of the day, décor doesn't make up for poor food & bad drinks. They should invest far more in food quality & much more thoughtful, attentive service.
Overall, extremely disappointing. I won't be coming back.
Les brunchs sont délicieux & les cocktails aussi, surtout durant la période des Fêtes. Le café est excellent & de spécialité - gros coup de coeur pour les lattes à la pistache l'hiver & les cafés glacés toniques au pamplemousse.
L'architecture du local est magnifique. On y retourne sans hésiter !
We came for breakfast as this restaurant was reccomend by my wife's sister. The vibe is chill, service was attentive, beverages were well crafted, & the food is artesanal. I must admit I did not like my dish or the other dishes on the menu. I do not like goat cheese, yogurt, vinegar, etc sour flavors in my breakfast dishes. My wife & family enjoyed their dishes though. The waffles i tried of a family member were good, but could use some protein on the side in my opinion. The menu is very small & not a lot to select from. Check out the menu before you go & If the flavors are in your pallet I would reccomend it.
Dec 16, 2025
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Superbe place où déjeuner! Pour les fêtes, le restaurant était rempli de décorations de Noël. Cela fait 3x j'y vais pour déjeuner & c'est délicieux à chaque fois!
Nous étions déjà venus souvent, mais avons été très déçus par notre dernière visite. Le rapport qualité/quantité/prix n'était pas à la hauteur. 17$ pour deux oeufs dans du yogourt & un pain pita, 10$ pour un petit bol de pommes de terre... La salade devait venir avec des courges, qui ont été remplacées par du céleri-rave sans préavis. Le latte était dispendieux pour un 10 oz. & la serveuse est venue nous demander comment ça se passait... quand son collègue avait déjà desservi nos plats ! On nous a apporté nos factures sans autre question, on a vraiment senti qu'il fallait partir rapidement. Dommage, l'endroit est charmant, mais le service & la nourriture ne sont plus au rendez-vous.
Magnifique espace ! Service attentionné & de qualité !
Les cafés sont bons & les déjeuners délicieux !
Le menu est original. On est pas complètement dans les classiques du déjeuner qu'on voit partout & ça fait du bien. Tout est frais & avec une petite twist originale qui fait du bien !
A beautiful brunch place in the heart of the city. Looking at their menu you might think that it's concise, however each one of their choices is heavenly. The food is exceedingly delicious, their coffee is good & the atmosphere is cozy & comfortable. The staff is pleasant & courteous. A must if you're in the area.
Belle place dans le quartier Saint-Roch pour prendre un verre, des cocktails imaginatifs & festifs avec un thématique Noël! Tranquille, avec un superbe décor & avec un service impeccable! Un must pour votre temps des fêtes & à l'année! Mention spéciale aux cocktails Koala La La La & le Cheery Cherry Chocosaurus! Joyeuses fêtes à tout le personnel du Maelström.
