Mélissa Spénard-Lefebvre and Louis-Charles Tremblay became the new owners of Chez Temporel in 2021, right in the middle of the pandemic. Taking over a place this loved wasn’t something they did on a whim. They wanted to keep what made it special, so they put their energy into giving the café a fresh start while staying true to its roots.
Louis-Charles brought a mix of skills to the table, real estate experience, business know-how, and an engineering background, plus a degree in civil engineering. In 2023, he also bought the Auberge de la Paix next door, a youth hostel that’s been a Vieux-Québec staple since 1972.
Louis-Charles Tremblay (right) with the district’s city councillor and Jean Boissonnault, who co-founded Temporel, at the café’s 50th-anniversary party in 2024.
Since 1974, Chez Temporel has sat on rue Couillard in the heart of Vieux-Québec, right inside the old city walls. It’s the kind of place where students, locals, artists, and visitors from Europe and beyond still come to hang out, create, and connect.
For a whole generation of writers and artists, Temporel was more than just a café. “Vieux-Québec was where you felt the French side of Québec,” says author Martin Têtu, who grew up in the neighborhood and wrote the novel *Félix au Café Temporel*. “People discovered café allongés, croissants, and French music here.”
At a 2024 event celebrating the café’s 50th anniversary, speakers talked about how important neighborhood spots like Temporel are for keeping Vieux-Québec’s culture alive. When the café opened, the area was still a working-class neighborhood. Over the years, it became a creative hub for artists like Gaston Miron, Chrystine Brouillet, Lucien Francoeur, and Monique Proulx. Their visits helped shape Québec’s cultural scene in the 1980s and gave Temporel its legendary reputation. For some regulars, it was even where they tried their first allongé or croissant.
These days, Chez Temporel has a bistro vibe. Since taking over in 2021, Mélissa and Louis-Charles have updated the menu but kept the café’s bohemian heart. The classic croque-monsieur is still there, and art is everywhere. You’ll find traditional and modern dishes, all made with local ingredients, served day or night. The drinks menu has something for everyone, cocktails, wine, and ready-to-drink options. The owners are committed to preserving the café’s soul while bringing back some of its old magic.
With its stone walls, open kitchen in the back, big front windows, counter stools, and a staircase leading to a cozy upstairs room, Chez Temporel feels like stepping into another time. It’s the kind of place where people used to sit for hours, talking, dreaming, and reinventing the world over coffee or a drink.
As a restaurateur, Louis-Charles is also passionate about fairness. He’s spoken out about how tips are usually split unevenly between front-of-house and kitchen staff. He’s pushing for the government to let restaurants manage tip distribution themselves, so everyone gets a fair share. It’s a cause he’s taken public to bring more attention to the issue.
Chez Temporel
cheztemporel.com
25, rue Couillard
Québec, QC G1R 3T3
(418) 694-1813