Estevan Lodge restaurant

The Estevan Lodge restaurant is located at the heart of the Reford Gardens in a historic house that has been recognized as a Québec heritage site. Chef Frédérick Boucher offers a menu featuring unique flavours from the gardens’ plant collection: over 150 vegetables, herbs and edible flowers are picked seasonally in the gardens and used in his dishes.

Le Bufton café bistro

Located at the entrance to the gardens, the Le Bufton café bistro offers a menu featuring healthy and tasty dishes. Our cooks create your meal as you watch, inspired by whatever is locally in season and the edible flowers in bloom. Hot, cold, vegetarian options, dishes to share or for families—there is something for everyone! Regional craft beers, wine, coffee (latte or espresso), homemade lemonade and ice cream bars offer you a moment of relaxation after your visit of the gardens.

Buvette des Jardins café

Located next to Estevan Lodge, the Buvette des Jardins café is a great place to stop halfway through your visit or for a drink after your walk through the gardens. Enjoy small dishes made with local ingredients, natural wines and other beverages. You can choose to sit indoors or outside in one of our gazebos.

The Reford Gardens are located in Grand-Métis, on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River, midway between Rimouski and Matane.

By car

Driving from the west: Take Highway 20 until it ends at Trois-Pistoles, then head east on Route 132. Continue on Highway 20 until you reach the end of this highway, then pick up Route 132 again and follow the tourist signs for “Jardins de Métis” (Reford Gardens).

Driving from the east: From Percé, take Route 132 along the St. Lawrence River. After Matane, follow the tourist signs for “Jardins de Métis” (Reford Gardens).

Driving from the south: From Campbellton, take Route 132 West. After Mont-Joli, follow the tourist signs for “Jardins de Métis” (Reford Gardens).

By bus

A bus departs daily from Québec City and Montréal (with stops in Rimouski and Rivière-du-Loup) to Mont-Joli.

Orléans Express: www.orleansexpress.com or 1-888-999-3977

By train

Trains run from Montréal and Halifax to Mont-Joli.

Via Rail: www.viarail.ca or 1-800-361-5390 / 1-888-VIA-RAIL

By plane

The Reford Gardens are a 10-minute drive from the Mont-Joli airport.

Air Canada (Air Canada Jazz): www.aircanada.ca) or 1-888-247-2262
Pascan Aviation: www.pascan.com or 1-888-313-8777

By ferry

Four (4) ferries link the two shores, making the Reford Gardens easily accessible for travellers coming from the north shore of the St. Lawrence River.

Matane–Baie-Comeau–Godbout
Phone: 1 877 562-6560
Website: www.traversiers.com/en/

Trois-Pistoles–Les Escoumins 
Phone: 1-877-851-4677
Website: www.traversiercnb.ca

Saint-Siméon–Rivière-du-Loup
Phone: 418-862-9545
Rates: 418-862-5094
Website: www.traverserdl.com

Affiliations

• Tourisme Gaspésie
• Must-See Attractions Gaspésie
• Tourisme Mitis
• Québec Gardens’ Association
• Canada’s Garden Route

Distinctions

2019

• Gourmet Tourism Award, Laurier Awards of Québec Gastronomy

2018

• Gold University of Guelph / Food Day Canada Good Food Innovation Award – awarded to the chef of the Estevan Lodge restaurant
• 5 Blooms awarded in the “Special Attractions” category (national edition) by Communities in Bloom
• Senate of Canada 150th Anniversary Medal – awarded to the Reford Gardens
• Finalist for the Attractions Prize (SATQ) for the Tourism Excellence Awards in the “Innovation and Development” category

2015

• LEED® Platinum and Novoclimat 2.0 certification – awarded to the ERE 132 Eco Home
• 5 Blooms and a Special Mention for Sustainable Garden Initiatives – awarded in the “Special Attractions” category (national edition) by Communities in Bloom

2014

• 5 Blooms for Excellence in Marketing and Horticultural Communication – awarded in the “Special Attractions” category (national edition) by Communities in Bloom
• Bronze Québec Tourism Award – awarded in the “Tourism Human Resources” category to Pierre-Olivier Ferry, Chef and Coordinator of Restaurant Services
• Gold University of Guelph / Food Day Canada Good Food Innovation Award – awarded to the chef of the Estevan Lodge restaurant
• Garden of the Year, Canadian Garden Tourism Awards – awarded by the Canadian Garden Council

2013

• 5 Blooms and a Special Mention for Exceptional Floral Diversity – awarded in the “Special Attractions” category (national edition) by Communities in Bloom

2012

• Production and Processing Award – awarded for the Reford Gardens’ gourmet products at the La Mitis Business Gala
• Most Imaginative Garden Design Award – awarded for asensio_mah’s Surface Deep garden by Canada Blooms in Toronto
• Named a Bas-Saint-Laurent Wonder and the 11th Wonder of Québec – according to a Léger Marketing / Journal de Montréal – Journal de Québec survey
• 5 Blooms and a Special Mention for Excellence in Horticultural Design and Maintenance – awarded in the “Special Attractions” category (national edition) by Communities in Bloom

2011

• Gaïa Award for Excellence in Food Packaging – awarded in the “Gourmet Products” category to the Reford Gardens marinades, designed by Emulsion stratégie marketing
• 5 Blooms and a Special Mention for the Integration of Art and Sculptures – awarded in the “Special Attractions” category (national edition) by Communities in Bloom
• Outstanding Creativity Prize – awarded for Deborah Nagan’s How Green Is the Garden? installation by Canada Blooms in Toronto
• Garden Tourism Person of the Year (Canadian Garden Tourism Awards) – awarded to Alexander Reford for his work promoting gardens as a tourism attraction by Canada’s Garden Tourism Conference

2010

• Coalition BOIS Québec Prize (Cecobois Excellence Awards) – awarded to the Reford Gardens for their strong commitment to supporting greater use of wood in non-residential construction
• 5 Blooms and a Special Mention for Excellence in Horticultural Design and Maintenance – awarded in the “Special Attractions” category (national edition) by Communities in Bloom
• Bas-Saint-Laurent Heritage Prize (La Mitis region) – awarded in the “Preservation, Restoration and Conservation” category for the quality of the gardens and their impact on the local environment