Hôtel Royal William: A Stylish Makeover in Québec’s Saint-Roch District

Posted on May 27

By pierre perreault

Over the last twenty years, Saint-Roch has earned the nickname “Nouvo Saint-Roch.” Right in its center, the Hôtel Royal William, now owned by Sept-Îles entrepreneur, hotelier, and developer Simon Dubé, has been reborn since 2018. Today, it brings a fresh dose of charm to Québec’s lower town, blending elegance, history, and great food.

Dubé’s journey wasn’t easy. Soon after buying the hotel, he faced a pandemic and a restaurant fire. A $6 million renovation followed, updating the 47 rooms and studios, refreshing the lobby, and giving the ground-floor restaurant a new Italian identity as Mila. Work has also been underway since 2026 to redesign the building’s façade on boulevard Charest.

Royal William 2026

The hotel has long been a favorite among Québec and Montréal’s artists and public figures. Its location is hard to beat, just steps from Saint-Roch’s cultural spots, restaurants, and the historic upper town. Parking is available nearby, under the Bibliothèque Gabrielle-Roy. The meeting rooms work for corporate events, training sessions, cocktails, birthdays, or product launches. Many rooms and suites even have kitchenettes, so guests can cook a meal or grab a quick bite without leaving.

Royal William 2026

MILA Ristorante, the hotel’s completely reimagined restaurant, serves up refined Italian cuisine with carefully chosen ingredients. Co-owner Tchad Khalil, a passionate Italian food lover, brings years of restaurant experience to the table. He found a like-minded partner in Simon Dubé. “We wanted to create a place where every meal feels like a journey, something that comforts and inspires,” Khalil says. Mila also serves breakfast, with a hearty buffet open to hotel guests and anyone else craving a flavorful start to the day.

Saint-Roch wasn’t always this lively. Once a working-class neighborhood, it’s now a prime example of urban renewal in Québec. Development projects, creative businesses like video game studios and tech labs, a thriving arts scene, university outposts, and major organizations have all helped transform the area. The old energy is back, but with a modern twist, making Saint-Roch one of the city’s most dynamic districts.

The revitalization of Saint-Roch is part of a larger effort to expand public spaces, support local businesses, and preserve the area’s heritage. The building that’s housed the Royal William for over 25 years is one of those gems, its façade reminiscent of the long, retro-style hotels of 1920s Manhattan. “I wanted a boutique hotel that felt different from Québec’s bigger chains, a place without pretension, where you feel at home, with good service at fair prices,” says Simon Dubé.

Royal William 2026

For history lovers, the shift from sail to steam in the 19th century changed global trade forever. The first transatlantic crossing by a steamship was a major achievement. While other countries have claimed the honor, Canada holds it. The Royal William, a paddle steamer built at Québec’s Campbell and Black shipyard, made the journey from Pictou, Nova Scotia, to Portsmouth, England, in 1833, proving it was the first.

Royal William 2026 The Royal William, built in Québec in the early 1830s.

Québec recently announced a 2026–2029 plan to invest $80 million in Saint-Roch, with big ambitions for the district over the next 15 years.