A Boutique Gem in Quebec City’s Historic District
Monsieur Jean Hotel is chic and charming.
Quebec City’s Monsieur Jean is a hotel best stumbled upon, where surprises await at every turn. “I believe when you enter a hotel, it shouldn’t be like your home,” says the legendary designer and developer Jean Campeau. “It has to be different. Otherwise, it’s not a vacation.” Wise words from the man behind the eccentric Monsieur Jean, Hôtel Particulier, Quebec City’s boutique gem. This small luxury hotel offers speakeasy vibes, while it features all the comforts of home.
Stepping inside transports you to a playground where opulence meets exuberance. Excitement builds while you explore the lobby’s big splashes and finer touches, including the delightful green-tea scent that permeates the space. “It was a round-table collaboration with the team and my partner Geneviève Marcon to instil fantasy into the design,” Campeau says. “It draws inspiration from my travels and French heritage.” Mood lighting complements the bright and colourful piano salon, fireplace lounge, library, and even a short-story dispenser that publishes a random fable in French or English with a touch of a button. Suede chairs and velvet sofas envelope you, ensconcing you in the moment. “We wanted to make an intimate, sexy first impression. Too much light is uncomfortable,” Campeau says. “Even the checkerboard flooring draws upon the French heirloom tradition.”
Eye-catching paintings on each floor, coupled with midnight-blue, nautical-like curved walls, all illuminated by star lights on the ceilings, give the impression of walking along the outside of a cruise ship on a clear night. The dim hallways contrast with bright, sun-drenched, spacious rooms—78 in total—adorned with white cotton drapes, brick-exposed walls, a kitchenette, and floor-to-ceiling windows. Comfortable king beds with blue-and-white-striped headboards match brightly coloured upholstered armchairs featuring tiger heads, while ash cabinets with ornate emerald knobs are topped with vintage jewellery boxes. There are marble bathrooms featuring heated ceramic floors and even a Dali-inspired mirror covered in gold leaf. Rooftop terraces have a fire pit and offer exquisite views of Old Quebec.
Le Bijou, Monsieur Jean’s ground-floor dining space, offers incredible wining and dining options with a speakeasy twist. The midnight-blue drapes and deep-fuchsia suede chairs make the space cozy, while the mirrors and chandeliers make it funky. The expansive ceiling mural steals the show. “The colour combinations in the restaurant? All Geneviève. As for culinary, we wanted to incorporate local elements into the menu, including gin, meats, and charcuterie,” Campeau says. Snag a windowside table, and savour locally inspired dishes, signature cocktails, and a curated selection of wine while enjoying a live piano show.
“It’s a dream for every designer to work on a hotel,” says Campeau, who lived across the street for years, often staring at the building that once housed a law firm and government engineering offices. “In Old Quebec, buildings like this rarely become available, so when we learned that it was, we made strong efforts to acquire it. We were lucky to get this space.” Indeed, the transformation has been astonishing, as Monsieur Jean is trailblazing Quebec City’s small luxury hotel scene. As he puts it, “Perhaps our hotel will inspire even more creative hotel designs in the city. There’s certainly a demand for it.”
