La Malbaie

Canada

thumb La Malbaie (population 8300, 2016) is a small city in Charlevoix, on the north shore of Quebec's St. Lawrence River.

In 1608, Samuel de Champlain denounced this location as Malle Baye (the bad bay) upon finding no suitable anchorage for his ships. It didn't help that the bay was dry at low tide. The region where the Malbaie River meets the St. Lawrence has been a travel destination since 1760, an era when Scottish feudal lords John Nairne and Malcolm Fraser owned much of the area's land. On June 8-9, 2018, La Malbaie hosted Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and world leaders at the G7 Summit.

  • Forge-menuiserie Cauchon, 323, chemin de la Vallée, +1 418-665-2160. Jun-Oct: daily 10:00-17:00. Working forge with guided tours, picnic area on Malbaie River, manufactured pieces from the forge for sale. $6, $4/kids (10-18).
  • Musée de Charlevoix, 10 chemin du Havre, +1 418-665-4411. Folk art, regional history and culture. $7.

Forge-menuiserie Cauchon, 323, chemin de la Vallée, +1 418-665-2160. Jun-Oct: daily 10:00-17:00. Working forge with guided tours, picnic area on Malbaie River, manufactured pieces from the forge for sale. $6, $4/kids (10-18).

Musée de Charlevoix, 10 chemin du Havre, +1 418-665-4411. Folk art, regional history and culture. $7.

  • Casino de Charlevoix, 183, rue Richelieu, +1 418 665-5300. Bad at math and statistics? Have money to burn? Come on in!
  • Croisieres AML Inc, 100, chemin du Havre, +1 418-665-3666. Whale watching.

Casino de Charlevoix, 183, rue Richelieu, +1 418 665-5300. Bad at math and statistics? Have money to burn? Come on in!

Croisieres AML Inc, 100, chemin du Havre, +1 418-665-3666. Whale watching.

  • Centre Charlevoix, 375, boul. Comporté, +1 418-665-6807. Daily 09:30-17:30.
  • Les Ateliers Charlevoix, On Route 362 between Baie-Saint-Paul and La Malbaie (12 km SW of La Malbaie. Discover work by artists Joan and Marc DeBlois, pottery, raku and paintings, in St-Irénée.

Centre Charlevoix, 375, boul. Comporté, +1 418-665-6807. Daily 09:30-17:30.

Les Ateliers Charlevoix, On Route 362 between Baie-Saint-Paul and La Malbaie (12 km SW of La Malbaie. Discover work by artists Joan and Marc DeBlois, pottery, raku and paintings, in St-Irénée.

  • Café Chez Nous, 1075, rue Richelieu, +1 418-665-3080. Daily 07:00-21:00. Italian and Californian, 1950s theme restaurant.
  • Chez Chantal, 95, rue du Quai, +1 418-665-7266. Waterfront snack bar with burgers and ice cream.
  • Crêperie Le Passe-Temps, 245, boul de Comporté, +1 418-665-7660. Opens at 17:00.
  • La Goélette, 10, boulevard Kane. Restaurant and snack bar, ice cream.
  • Grillade La Bohème, 955, rue Richelieu, +1 418-202-0544. Steakhouse.
  • Joe Smoked Meat, 263 rue St-Étienne, +1 418-202-4044. Deli/restaurant.
  • Restaurant Allegro, 990, rue Richelieu, +1 418-665-2595. Italian, waterfront, casual. Tartares, pasta, grilled or roasted meat, pizzettas. $30-50.
  • Restaurant L’Orchidée, 439, rue Saint-Étienne, +1 418-665-1070. Steak and seafood.

Café Chez Nous, 1075, rue Richelieu, +1 418-665-3080. Daily 07:00-21:00. Italian and Californian, 1950s theme restaurant.

Chez Chantal, 95, rue du Quai, +1 418-665-7266. Waterfront snack bar with burgers and ice cream.

Crêperie Le Passe-Temps, 245, boul de Comporté, +1 418-665-7660. Opens at 17:00.

La Goélette, 10, boulevard Kane. Restaurant and snack bar, ice cream.

Grillade La Bohème, 955, rue Richelieu, +1 418-202-0544. Steakhouse.

Joe Smoked Meat, 263 rue St-Étienne, +1 418-202-4044. Deli/restaurant.

Restaurant Allegro, 990, rue Richelieu, +1 418-665-2595. Italian, waterfront, casual. Tartares, pasta, grilled or roasted meat, pizzettas. $30-50.

Restaurant L’Orchidée, 439, rue Saint-Étienne, +1 418-665-1070. Steak and seafood.

Bar L'Arbre Fou, 375 boul de Comporté, +1 418-665-6826.

Bar L'Évasion, 394, rue Saint Étienne, +1 418-665-3535.

Bar Le Jazz, 50, rue Du Quai, +1 418-665-7922.

Resto Bar Billard Chez Veilleux, 64, rue de l'Église, +1 418-665-6233. M-Sa 09:00-21:00. Pub.

Resto-Pub Belles & Bum, 623, boul de Comporté, +1 418-665-7977. M-Sa 11:30-21:00, Su 16:00-21:00. Restaurant and sports bar, five screens.

The federal government installed additional communications infrastructure in La Malbaie (and along Highways 138, 170 and 362 between Charlevoix and Quebec City) for the 2018 G7 Summit. This was left it in place afterwards, so cellphone and wireless Internet connections are better than they were in 2017.

Between Baie-Saint-Paul and La Malbaie on Route 362, near Les Éboulements. Approximately 35km upriver from La Malbaie.

  • Musée Maritime de Charlevoix, 305 rue de l'Église, Saint-Joseph-De-La-Rive, +1 418-635-1131. Daily (seasonal) 09:00-17:00. Marine museum and ship.

Musée Maritime de Charlevoix, 305 rue de l'Église, Saint-Joseph-De-La-Rive, +1 418-635-1131. Daily (seasonal) 09:00-17:00. Marine museum and ship.