I woke up perched above the St. Lawrence. For the first few seconds my sleepy brain was convinced I was cruising down the river. It wasn’t until I peeled myself out of the plush king bed that reality began to sink in: I was in a hotel, not onboard a cruise ship. Coffee in hand (yeay for the in-room Keurig coffeemaker), I stepped outside onto my private balcony for a better view of the frosted beach…
Yes, it was atrociously frigid. But there’s just something about the crisp air and the sound of waves crashing on the shore that kept me outside…That and the possibility of waving to belugas (the only whales to live year-round in the St. Lawrence). Alas, I started to lose feeling in my limbs from the bitter cold and retreated back inside Riôtel Matane…
To accelerate my defrosting, I decided to take a warm shower. But wait, it wasn’t just any shower. There was a window in my Ocean Room ensuite so I could continue admiring the St. Lawrence as I lathered up. Le sigh…
Impressed by the modern hotel, I took some time to explore the features in my room after my steamy shower. Things I loved: all Ocean Rooms have a king AND Murphy bed, free WiFi, plenty of closet space and they really paid attention to the small design details (like a charging station built into the headboard, reading lights above the bed and a 42-inch adjustable, wall-mounted flat screen TV). But we all know what the most important element of a hotel is for me…#gluttonconfessions: the restaurant! And thankfully, Riôtel Matane has a stellar one…
Cargo is not only beautifully-designed (with clever container/shipping accents throughout), but the kitchen puts out some incredible dishes. I dined at the resto three times during our stay and was lucky enough to share my meals with some amazing travel media visiting from the US…
Which basically meant I got to nibble on everyone’s dishes. Woot! Here are some of the plates that stood out:
Poutine with nordic shrimp – $16
The Cargo beef burger – beef patty, red wine sauce, bacon, Perron cheddar cheese and marinated red onions – $16
Nordic shrimp, vegetables and garlic cream linguini – $23
Charcuterie and cheese plank – $19
Raoul Roux smoked salmon – yellow beets tartar, sour cream and marinated fennel – $15
Profiteroles with ice cream and chocolate sauce – $9
The salmon and shrimp dishes are musts if you’re looking to get a taste of local cuisine. The region is known for their nordic shrimp and the salmon is smoked just a couple hours outside of Matane. Oh, and make sure you try the local beer!
Pit Caribou Blonde – $7/pint
And for breakfast? Devour the Brunch Platter as you stare off at the St. Lawrence…
Two eggs, sausage, bacon, pancake, maple syrup, baked beans, meat pie, potatoes and toast – $16
After your food coma, walk over to the Opti-Neige de Matane (ice sculpture festival) to check out the works of art. I really loved interacting with the life-sized creations and essentially turned into a hyperactive 5-year-old running around in the cold…
Which meant I needed to thaw. Again. Thankfully, Riôtel Matane has a tranquil spa and pool (you guessed it: overlooking the St. Lawrence)…
This was my first time visiting Quebec Maritime and I was really impressed by Riôtel Matane; every element – from the rooms and spa to the restaurant and pool – beautifully weaves in the St. Lawrence River and reminds guests of the pride and joy of the community. Hope you guys have a chance to visit soon! I hear it’s also spectacular in the summer months. The patio awaits…
Our stay at Riôtel Matane was paid for by Le Québec maritime as part of a press trip. As always, all reviews and opinions are entirely my own. For more photos, tweets and videos check out #RoadTripQM and #QuebecMaritime on social media!
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