Sugaring off time!

Goodbye winter and hello maple season! After three years of uncertainty and forced closures, sugar shacks are back with a bang this spring. They’re thrilled to welcome you back to their fun and friendly establishments, and folks are just as excited to reconnect with this beloved local tradition.

If you haven’t already, now’s the time to plan your outing and celebrate the end of winter with friends or family. Here are a few locations that are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth!

Bring your own wine

Au palais sucré - Mont Saint-Grégoire

Located 40 minutes outside of Montreal, this place offers traditional, vegetarian and vegan menus. They also have a variety of homemade maple products available for sale. With tractor rides, hiking trails, farm animals, and a playground for the little ones, there’s something fun for all ages to enjoy!

La cabane à Pommes – Oka

This isn’t your average sugar shack. It focuses on products from the Quebec terroir, particularly ones from their area—maple syrup, of course, as well as apples, honey and the ever-popular Oka cheese. You can have a gourmet version of traditional dishes, or the classic, vegetarian or vegan version. Gluten-free and lactose-free options are also available on request. You can even indulge in their food from the comfort of home by ordering one of their lunchboxes!

Val des Rosacées - Saint-Benoît de Mirabel

This humble little spot located in an enchanting setting offers three menu options: traditional, vegetarian and gluten-free. Just remember to mention the number of vegetarian or gluten-free diners in your party when making your reservation.

Cabane à sucre des sportifs - Saint-Esprit

An hour outside of Montreal, you’ll find this colourful sugar shack with an all-you-can-eat dining hall serving all the maple-based classics. And you can bet it lives up to its name! Giant slides and play structures, indoor shinny hockey, sleigh-ride tours of the farm—there’s all this and more.

Erabilis - North Hatley

This sugar shack is unlike any other. Every year, new dishes are added to their delectable buffet menu, which includes their spin on traditional dishes as well as many mouth-watering vegetarian options, like wheat and buckwheat crepes, maple-seasoned root vegetables and maple-glazed tofu.

La Tablée des Pionniers - Mont Blanc

Right at the foot of the Mont-Blanc ski resort, about 90 minutes outside of Montreal, is a sugar shack headed by Chef Louis-François Marcotte, whose high-end gourmet menu guests can enjoy in a friendly, laid-back setting. There are different options for every taste and budget!

La Cabane à tuque - Mont-Tremblant

Not only is this Laurentian sugar shack proudly 100% vegetarian, but everything is eco-friendly, local and organic! The food is made by the two owners, who can also prepare a completely vegan meal on request. Rather than paying a fixed price, customers are asked to make a courteous voluntary contribution. This is the right place to visit with a large group, because they’re only accepting reservations of 20 to 40 people for the 2023 season.

Chez Danny - Trois-Rivières

Get ready for accordions and rigadoons at Dany’s—it’s fun for the whole family! Guests can savour an all-you-can-eat meal of tasty classic dishes at an affordable price. Large groups won’t have a problem finding a table in their giant dining hall, either. Guided tours and singing are just a few of the other activities available here.

Érablière du Cap - Lévis

Take advantage of the savoir-faire passed down from generation to generation at Érablière du Cap. Their charming team will welcome you to their delightful spot and regale you with music, singing and dancing as you feast on typical Québécois fare—and it’s all-you-can-eat! Vegetarians, rejoice: they also have a meat-free version of their traditional menu.

Au Sucre d'Or - Saguenay

This family sugar shack has kept Quebec traditions alive for over 50 years. It’s the perfect place for an authentic sugaring off experience in the middle of nature. After a hearty traditional brunch and maple taffy to your heart’s content, take it easy with a tour of their production facility. Or take to the dance floor, accompanied by some live singing!

How’s that for whetting your appetite? With so many options for sweet, maple-y goodness, all you need to do is pick a sugar shack (or two!) and make a reservation asap. Most of them have limited spots, so reservations are strongly recommended—sometimes even required.

Whether you’re looking for a wine to bring along with you or to pair with your take-home feast, it can be hard to make a choice. Luckily, there are many fantastic Quebec products in stores, so our terroir can take centre stage both on your plate and in your glass! 

Whites and reds with woody notes go beautifully with maple dishes. As you near the dessert course, consider switching to a semi-dry wine with a touch of sweetness. When shopping, we recommend you pick a white from the Aromatic and mellow or Fruity and sweet taste tag. But if you prefer reds, something from the Aromatic and supple taste tag will do quite nicely.

Stay tuned for our upcoming articles to see sommelier Marie-Hélène Boisvert’s recommendations for sugar shack and wine pairings!

See you soon!