Saint-Jean-Baptiste Neighbourhood

Quartier Saint-Jean-Baptiste
Étienne Dionne

With its steep-sloped streets, colourful houses piled one on top of the other, and its fun-loving and welcoming character, Saint-Jean-Baptiste is the festive neighbourhood par excellence!  

Saint-Jean Baptiste Neighbourhood Map

Sandwiched between Old Québec and Montcalm, rue Saint-Jean, the main shopping street, runs through the entire neighbourhood. Over barely 1 km, you can find everything you need to please everyone, and then some! In summer, a portion of rue Saint-Jean converts into a pedestrian-only street.

Two girls having a coffee in a pedestrian street
@cantookcafe

Foodies will go crazy for the little bistros that feature local cuisine, as well as all the food-related shops: fine bakeries, grocery stores, chocolate stores, health-food counters, cafés, gelateria… Open since 1871, the J.A. Moisan grocery store prides itself on being the oldest grocery store in North America!

Façade de l'épicerie J.A Moisan
Étienne Dionne

The culinary adventure continues with a bit of bar and pub-hopping, where the flowing taps of microbrewery beers from Québec City and all over the province await you. Live music, jam sessions, poetry readings, artistic performances: Saint-Jean-Baptiste's stages welcome a host of events to get your feet moving and liven up your nights.

Along rue Saint-Jean, fill your bookcases with second-hand treasures and beef up your music library with tips from passionate record dealers.

Quartier Saint-Jean-Baptiste
Étienne Dionne

Finally, shopping on rue Saint-Jean wouldn't be the same without a visit to the many little shops, where you can find something to wear or decorate your place with taste

A Bit of History

Originally a faubourg of Old Québec (a faubourg is a district located outside city walls) from the 17th century, Saint-Jean-Baptiste has always been a working-class district, inhabited by craftsmen and merchants. The area was ravaged by fire in the 19th century, but quickly bounced back and became a lively and tolerant district, open to social mixing and diversity in every shape or form.

Insider Tips

Julie et Simon dans Saint-jean-Baptiste

Do Saint-Jean-Baptiste Like a Local

Julia and Simon chose 7 places everyone should visit just outside the walls of Old Québec, on Rue Saint-Jean. 

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Terrasses dans le quartier Saint-Jean-Baptiste

10 Best Restaurants in Saint-Jean-Baptiste

Foodies love the Saint-Jean-Baptiste neighbourhood! What about you?

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Events in Saint-Jean-Baptiste

  • Ocie Elliott
    Ocie Elliott
    Read
  • Danser Beethoven : Symphonies No 5 et 7
    Danser Beethoven : Symphonies No 5 et 7
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  • Jason Bajada

    Jason Bajada

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  • Too Many Cooks
    Too Many Cooks
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  • Diana Krall
    Diana Krall
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  • Léonie Gray

    Léonie Gray

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  • Less Toches
    Less Toches
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  • Ian Kelly
    Ian Kelly
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