Auberge du Jardin

There are mini-kitchens if you'd rather make your own meals, and the rooms are spacious with a ski chalet feel. The young staff were cheerful and the hotel is small and welcoming. Still, make time for the restaurant: its short menu features local things like cider, cheese, maple syrup, and fiddlehead ferns, and the chef really knows his stuff. The casual atmosphere shouldn't put you off, the food is excellent.

I only stopped briefly for coffee while passing through, but the place won me over. It's such a beautiful spot, and I loved my iced chai :)

Breakfast and dinner can be arranged one day at a time, which gave us a lot of flexibility. Both meals have menu options with a good range, and everything was made to order and very good. There's a pleasant dining room with nice views, though it's not a restaurant in the usual sense. The grounds are beautiful, and the hosts are friendly and accommodating. The whole place was spotless and well cared for by the owners, who've had it for 20+ years. It feels like a family operation, with a flexibility you don't often get at large chain properties. It's also a great base for hikes and other sights south of the Saguenay.

We never met anyone from the ownership or staff. Our names were posted on the door with a room assigned, and although we booked well in advance, there was no way to make changes. Our friends were travelling with us and the rooms looked like they would be together, but one was at the back. We had to drive back and forth to load and unload both sets of luggage. It wasn't made clear that meals weren't provided, apart from breakfast for purchase. The place closes at 2:00 pm, which we didn't know, so when we got back late we struggled to find somewhere to eat. The hotel cafe wasn't really a cafe. Almost everything they prepared seemed frozen or ready to go, and it was cold, even the boiled eggs. The food didn't feel freshly made, and the price was very high for the quality.