Chelsea, Quebec, is a charming town full of vibrant local businesses and four seasons of adventure. It’s also a gateway to Gatineau Park, providing lots of opportunities for outdoor fun. Wherever you are in Chelsea, you’re always immersed in nature. Chelsea is the perfect day trip from Ottawa, but it can easily turn into a staycation with all the activities, restaurants, and shops. Here are all the best things to do in Chelsea, Quebec.
Best Restaurants and Coffee Shops in Chelsea
Biscotti & Cie
Biscotti & Cie is a Chelsea classic. This cafe is housed in a charming red building and has lots of fun touches from the funky tile to the photobooth. I love enjoying coffee here on their garden terrace. It’s also a great spot for a breakfast sandwich in the morning or wood-fired pizza at night.
Café Les Saisons
This local cafe is inside a rustic building and has a community feel. The friendly baristas at Café Les Saisons are sure to show you how proud they are of Chelsea. Enjoy your drink nestled in the trees in their lounge chairs.
Café Palmier
This bright, two-level cafe is another great spot to fuel up with fire views. One of my favourite parts of Cafe Palmier is that they have bonfire pits outside, making this one of the most unique cafes in the capital.
La Cigale
No trip to Chelsea is complete without stopping by La Cigale, a true local staple and the absolute best spot to treat yourself after a day of hiking or exploring. While there’s almost always a lineup, it moves surprisingly fast, and taking in the gorgeous historic house and gardens while you wait makes the brief delay completely worth it.
Chelsea Pub
Chelsea Pub is a staple in Chelsea, Quebec. This is the perfect spot to head to enjoy elevated comfort food and classic pub fare after your outdoor adventures. It’s also home to a wide selection of craft beers and a large patio.
Les Fougeres
Les Fougeres is an award-winning restaurant that has made the list of Canada’s top 100 restaurants multiple times. You’ll find fine dining dishes made from scratch with local ingredients. We went for date night, and it was an unforgettable meal.
Olivia Bistro
This is my favourite restaurant for a quick bite after an adventure in Gatineau Park. Olivia Bistro offers bowls, salads, tacos and smoothies that are both nourishing and tasty. My favourite order is their Korean tacos, but you can’t go wrong with anything.
Chelsea & Co. Microbrasserie
This micro-brewery has a gorgeous patio and cool, colourful vibe. We arrived at Chelsea & Co. as golden hour hit, and their patio was the perfect spot to soak it in. They also have a room with a fire pit that would be perfect for warming up after a winter adventure.
Make sure to take a look at their funky tap handles when you walk inside. I recommend getting one of their flights to try a few different brews. We noticed a lot of friend groups gathering after a bike ride, and I can confirm this is a pretty great post-adventure spot to check out.
Distillerie du Square
Located at Square du Chelsea, this local distillery offers local spirits inspired by the surrounding nature, like their signature gin infused with local botanicals. Try a sample of their offerings and then grab a cocktail on the Square du Chelsea terrace.
Square Old Chelsea
As the vibrant heartbeat of the village, Square Old Chelsea is a must-visit pedestrian hub where community and fun collide. It is the perfect spot to soak up the sun on the patio, try your hand at backyard games like ring toss and pétanque, and enjoy summer events ranging from live performances to movies under the stars. Enjoy Mexican cuisine on-site paired with refreshing craft cocktails, local brews, and soft-serve ice cream.
Relax in Chelsea
Nordik Spa Village Chelsea
Relax and rejuvenate at North America’s Largest Spa, Nordik Spa Village Chelsea. Chelsea is the perfect setting because the entire property seamlessly blends deep relaxation with the surrounding forest. Think large thermal pools overlooking the viewpoints, cozy hammocks tucked away under the trees and more.
The core experience here is the thermal cycle: a three-step ritual (hot, cold, rest) inspired by a 2,000-year-old Scandinavian tradition that does wonders for both your physical and mental well-being. You move between nine outdoor baths, seven unique saunas, and a panoramic steam room.
One experience I love at Nordik is Kalla. It is a stunning, silent underground saltwater pool where you experience total weightlessness; it feels exactly like floating in the Dead Sea, and it is one of only two pools of its kind in the entire world. Floating in the quiet darkness will instantly transport you to a state of peace you didn’t think was possible.
Outdoor Adventure in Chelsea
Nomades du Parc
Nomades du Parc is the ultimate community hub for all your outdoor gear rentals. Whether you need an e-bike, a stand-up paddleboard, or cross-country skis in the winter, they have you completely covered.
They also host amazing community events that bring outdoor lovers together. My favourite is Après Parc, which takes place every Thursday evening in the summer. It’s an awesome gathering where people of all fitness levels meet up to enjoy local food trucks and a live DJ until 10:00 PM. Right before the party starts, you can join a free guided tour at 5:30 PM. They offer groups for road cycling, mountain biking, trail running, and even an outdoor yoga session!
E-Bike to Champlain Lookout
We rented e-bikes from Nomades du Parc and rode them all the way up to Champlain Lookout, and it was incredible. This is a fantastic adventure for all fitness levels because the electric assist gives you a perfect, smooth boost right when you hit the big hills. Plus, large sections of the Gatineau Park parkways are completely closed to motor vehicles on select days, making the paved roads peaceful, safe, and easy to navigate.
I’m not usually the most confident cyclist, but I had a blast on this route and felt completely comfortable the whole time. And the reward at the top? A truly breathtaking, panoramic view looking out over the entire Ottawa Valley.
Gatineau Park
Chelsea is a main gateway to Gatineau Park, Canada’s second-most-visited conservation park. It is a massive, year-round natural playground perfect for hiking, cycling, snowshoeing, and swimming. While the park is huge, three of my absolute favourite spots are located right near the Chelsea entrance:
- Meech Lake: A stunning, expansive lake surrounded by rolling hills. In the summer, it’s the ultimate spot for swimming at O’Brien or Blanchet beaches, launching a kayak or paddleboard, or enjoying a scenic lakeside picnic.
- Carbide Willson Ruins: This is one of the most unique and popular hikes in the area. A gentle, 1-kilometre trail through the forest leads you right to the striking, historical stone ruins of an old industrial laboratory built by inventor Thomas “Carbide” Willson in 1911. Seeing the crumbling stone structures standing right next to a rushing waterfall feels completely magical.
- Pink Lake: Don’t let the name fool you; Pink Lake is a striking, bright turquoise green named after the Pink family! It is a rare “meromictic” lake, meaning the upper and lower layers of water never mix, creating an incredibly unique ecosystem. There is a beautiful wooden boardwalk trail that loops entirely around the lake, offering stunning cliffside lookout points.
Where to Stay in Chelsea
Lofts du Village
These stylish, modern boutique lofts are located right in the absolute center of the action in Old Chelsea. Lofts du Village is perfect for a weekend staycation or a longer-term retreat. The suites come fully equipped with beautiful full kitchens, tons of smart storage space, and gorgeous, bright windows looking out at the forest landscape. Staying here makes it incredibly easy to take full advantage of the town; you can just park your car for the weekend and walk to every single restaurant, café, and spa on this list!
Maison O’Brien
If you are looking for something truly unique, this clifftop retreat is actually Gatineau Park’s only hotel. Originally constructed as a private estate in 1930, it belonged to John Ambrose O’Brien—the legendary founder of the Montreal Canadiens and a key figure in creating the NHL. Famed architect Werner Noffke designed the building to be the ultimate Canadian wilderness getaway, beautifully blending rustic log siding, a cedar shingle roof, and a massive granite foundation.
Today, Maison O’Brien has been transformed into an elegant boutique hotel featuring 11 luxurious rooms with unmatched, panoramic views of the park. There is a gorgeous main lounge with a roaring fireplace, an old-school photo booth, and plenty of beautiful outdoor seating. In the morning, you can enjoy a fresh gourmet breakfast or indulge in a classic afternoon tea experience.
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Check out more things to do in Outaouais here. Thank you to Outaouais Tourism for sponsoring this post. As always, all opinions and thoughts are my own. Have an amazing time in Chelsea 🙂
Julia started Little Miss Ottawa as a way to explore her hometown as a traveller would. She’s always planning her next adventure, whether it’s local or abroad. You’ll find her exploring with her camera in hand. She hopes Little Miss Ottawa helps bring you on new and fun adventures. Happy exploring :)
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