A five-minute walk from the old city walls, Saint-Jean-Baptiste, Quebec City was one of the first neighbourhoods established outside the city gates. In the beginning, people living in Saint-Jean-Baptiste had access to the fortified city during the day, but once the gates closed for the night they were cut off from its protection.
Today, the gates of the fortified city are gone (only the walls remain) and Saint-Jean-Baptiste is a thriving neighbourhood popular with locals, and tourists alike.
As a thriving local neighbourhood, Saint-Jean-Baptiste in Quebec City is ideal for shopping, restaurants and nightlife.
Are you ready? It’s time to explore!
things to see + do in saint-jean-baptiste
bibliothèque claire-martin
old church & library • 755, rue saint-jean • bibliothequedequebec.qc.ca • 418-641-6798
Built between 1878 and 1882, St. Matthew Anglican Church was St Matthew Cemetery from 1772 to 1860; the final resting place of several famous anglophones from Quebec City. Classified a historic site by the Government of Québec in 1976, the church was later bought by the city for $1 and converted into a library on 27 May 1980. Today, you can still see many of the 19th-century stained glass windows, as well as the marble baptismal font; of course, most people visit the church to sign out books, read, and sometimes do a little work.
église saint-jean-baptiste
church • rue saint-jean & rue de claire-fontaine
Built in the Second Empire style which originated in France during the reign of Napoleon III, Saint-Jean-Baptiste Church was built in 1884 out of seven different Italian marbles after the original church (circa 1847) burned down in 1881. Église St-Jean Baptiste closed in 2015 when it was decided that the parish could not afford the repairs and renovations (roughly $10 million) needed to maintain the church. While you’re not able to go inside, the church continues to stand majestically in the heart of Saint-Jean-Baptiste, Quebec City.
érico’s choco-musée
chocolatier & museum • 634, rue saint-jean • ericochocolatier.com • 418-524-2122
One of the best chocolatiers in Quebec City, Érico has created a small chocolate museum to accompany his chocolate boutique. Learn about the process of picking cocoa, as well as how chocolate is made as you watch Érico and his team create chocolates through a large window at the rear of the museum. After you’ve learned about chocolate, buy some of his delicious creations, buy an ice cream cone, or indulge in some of the best chocolat chaud in Quebec City.
passage olympia
public square • 865, rue saint-jean
An outdoor public space with benches, yellow metal tables, and matching chairs, Passage Olympia is popular in summer and fall. The passage is located on the site of the former Olympia Theatre, which resided on this spot from 1909 to 1946, before burning down. Today, the passage is used by locals looking to relax outside, enjoy their lunch, hanging out with friends, or reading. An integral part of the neighbourhood.
the food tour
food tour • 12, rue sainte-anne • toursvoirquebec.com • duration: 2 hrs 30 mins
A gourmet food tour through Old Quebec City and Saint-Jean-Baptiste, Quebec City. Sample crêpes, local wine and cheese, craft beer, and gourmet snacks from fine dining establishments. Tours operate in both French and English. Book a tour.
vélos roy-o
bike shop & rental • 463, rue saint-jean • VELOSROYO.COM • 418-524-0004
Vélos is a bike shop that also rents bikes, making it easier to explore the city. Rent for a few hours, a day or a whole week. It should be noted that they require a deposit of $250 for each bike rented. A one-day rental is only $30!
food + drink
In Saint-Jean-Baptiste, Quebec City there is a wonderful mixture of bistros, cheap eats, wine and cheese, and gourmet restaurants. See below for our favourites!
épiceries & comptoir
le crac & la carotte joyeuse
health food shop • 690, rue saint-jean • lecrac.com • 418-647-6881
A large health food shop on rue Saint-Jean in Saint-Jean-Baptiste, La Carotte Joyeuse sells organic fruits and vegetables, as well as sandwiches and dairy products. Le Crac sells everything else, from herbs to organic cleaning supplies to tea and healthy non-perishable foods.
épicerie européenne
épicerie • 560, rue saint-jean • 418-529-4847
A neighbourhood favourite since 1959, Épicerie Européenne carries products from Québec, as well as Europe. Buy some award-winning Quebec cheese and pair with jambon (ham) from Spain, and maybe some snacks from France. They also make gourmet sandwiches using both Québec and European ingredients. A good spot for picking up picnic supplies in Saint-Jean-Baptiste, Quebec City.
épicerie scott
épicerie • 505, rue saint-patrick • 418-990-0905
Tucked away on the corner of rue Saint-Patrick and rue Scott, Épicerie Scott is a gourmet food shop selling mostly Quebec products. Buy craft beer and wine, snacks, sandwiches and hot meals. Good for quick picnic supplies.
café, pâtisserie & boulangerie
boulangerie epi’fanny
boulangerie • 646, rue saint-jean • epifanny.jimdo.com • 418-621-9191
A new addition to Saint-Jean-Baptiste, Epi’Fanny is a small bakery specializing in artisanal leavened bread, and pastries, as well as deliciously fresh sandwiches. They offer an $8.90 CAD lunch special which includes a sandwich, drink, and pastry (when available).
la brûlerie ste-jean
café • $ • 881, rue saint-jean • lesbruleries.com • 418-704-4420
One of several locations in Quebec City, Brûlerie St-Jean is a two-story café on the corner of rue Saint-Jean and avenue Honoré-Mercier. The coffee menu is extensive, and they serve pastries and light lunches as well. If you are looking for a spot to do some work, sit upstairs where it is quieter.
cantook micro torréaction
café • $ • 575, rue saint-jean • cantookcafe.com • 418-529-4769
A small café, Cantook serves up some of the best coffee in Saint-Jean-Baptiste, Quebec City, and not much other than that. They sell a handful of pastries, but the focus here is on coffee. A small outdoor patio is open in summer.
pâtisserie simon
pâtisserie • 471, rue saint-jean • 418-522-6582
Located on a quiet corner of rue Saint-Jean, Pâtisserie Simon has been delighting locals with pastries and sugary baked goods since 1948. A true Quebec institution, and a must for pastry-lovers!
restaurants
albacore
seafood • 819, côte d’abraham • albacore.business.site • 418-914-6441
A celebrated restaurant on the edge of Saint-Jean-Baptiste, Quebec City, the specialty at Albacore is seafood and delightful cocktails. A truly delicious dining experience for those who love fish. The menu changes regularly.
le billig crêperie-bistro
crêperie • $-$$ • 481, rue saint-jean • 418-524-8341
A sweet and savoury crêperie, Le Billig is a popular stop on food tours in the Saint-Jean-Baptiste, Quebec City neighbourhoods. The crêpes are some of the best in the city. Choose from sweet or savoury, and order some beer or wine if you feel so inclined.
bols et poké
poké • 545, rue saint-jean • bolsetpoke.ca • 581-741-3455
A Saint-Jean-Baptiste, Quebec City hot spot, Bols et Poké serves up a refreshing smoothie bowl, as well as poké bowls (they a vegetarian option) packed complex flavours. Visit their website to order in advance and pick up when you’re ready. An excellent, and healthy option!
buvette scott
bistro • $$ • 821, rue scott • buvettescott.com • 581-741-4464
A micro-restaurant on rue Scott, Buvette Scott is another local hot spot. The menu features Canadian cuisine made with Quebec terroir. Ask for suggested wine pairings, sit back, and enjoy a delicious meal that will make your tastebuds dance. While it is possible to show up and get a table, calling ahead to make a reservation is highly recommended.
délicatesses tonkinoises
southeast asian • $ • 849, rue saint-jean• 418-523-6211
A joyous addition to the neighbourhood, Délicatesses Tonkinoises is a small restaurant specializing in pho. While their menu also features Tom Yum soup and Thai curries, it is the Pho that truly stands out. They also sell Southeast Asian ingredients.
la grolla
swiss • $$ • 778, côte d’abraham • 418-529-8107
Traditional Swiss cuisine in a charming little restaurant, what could possibly be wrong with that?! The fondue is perfection, and the raclette and alpine slate skillets are worth it as well. Come hungry and bring friends!
le hobbit
french • $$ • 700, rue saint-jean • http://lehobbit.com/ • 418-647-2677
A French bistro with a fun Tolkienian name and an intriguing history. Built in the early 19th-century, the building housing Le Hobbit has been a pharmacy, several shops, a hardware store, and then a women’s clothing store, a tie shop, and a café-théâtre. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as weekend brunches, the menus at Le Hobbit change on a regular basis.
le poulet protugais
portuguese chicken • $-$$ • 203, rue saint-jean • pouletportugais.net • 418-204-3300
Located on the edge of Saint-Jean-Baptiste, Le Poulet Portugais is a scrumptious addition to the neighbourhood. The draw is, of course, the Portuguese style grilled chicken, however, they also have paella, octopus, and Bulgarian kyufte. Yum!
restaurant tokyo
japanese sushi bar • $-$$ • 401, rue saint-jean • restauranttokyo.ca • 418-522-7571
Located on the corner of rue Saint-Jean and rue de Claire-Fontaine, Restaurant Tokyo is a Japanese restaurant specializing in sushi, sashimi, and bento boxes. The menu is extensive, so wear your stretchy pants!
saveurs du monde
moroccan • $ • 847, rue saint-jean • saveurs-du-monde.ca • 418-263- 2977
An absolute delight, this Moroccan restaurant is quite large. The menu features shawarma, shish taouk, and kefta, as well as couscous and vegetarian dishes. Sit inside or grab your food to go and enjoy it in a nearby park.
snack-bar saint-jean
poutine & burgers • $ • 780, rue saint-jean • snackbarsaintjean.com • 418-522-4727
Located next door to LOUCA, Snack-Bar Saint-Jean is a favourite for cheap eats. Honestly, few things are better after a late night out than hot gooey poutine and burgers. A local favourite.
thang long restaurant
vietnamese • $-$$ • 869, côte d’abraham • 418-524-0572
One of the most popular Asian restaurants in Quebec City, Thang Long is known for its huge portions and BYO alcohol. The menu features dishes from Vietnam, China, and Thailand. In summer they have a large patio, yay! Honestly, it is hard to order a bad dish here.
le veau d’or
italian • $-$$ • 801, rue saint-jean• 418.525.7371
An Italian restaurant, Le Veau d’Or has called Saint-Jean-Baptiste, Quebec City home for over forty years. The menu features mostly pasta and fish, and in summer there is a terrace with views of the neighbourhood. A good choice for a quick Italian meal during a busy day of exploring
shopping
alpaqa
handmade woolens • 669, rue saint-jean • alpaqa.com • 418-522-2720
One of the best boutiques in Quebec City for high-quality handmade woolen sweaters, jackets, and accessories. Clothing is made by Peruvian artisans, who are compensated well for the craftsmanship. A lovely social enterprise.
boutique exil
fashion • 714, rue saint-jean • boutiqueexil.com • 418-524-4752
A fashion boutique that has been in Saint-Jean-Baptiste, Quebec City for over 25 years, Exil carries clothing and jewellery created by several Quebec designers, including Annie50, Karkass, and Anne-Marie Chagnon. They also sell international brands like Kaffe and sandwiches.
boutique point e’exclamation
fashion • 762, rue saint-jean • pointdeexclamation.ca • 418-525-8053
A part of the Saint-Jean-Baptiste neighbourhood since 2004, Point d’Exclamation is a fashion boutique with a flea market vibe. Their focus is on Québec-made clothing, jewellery, and accessories. If you want to shop local, this boutique is a must.
jupon pressée
fashion • 790, rue saint-jean • juponpresse.com • 418-704-7114
A small fashion boutique, Jupon Pressée sells mostly Québécois fashion, as well as a few international brands. The shop is cute, with a vibrant girly vibe. Shop for clothing or fund accessories.
librairie nelligan
rare bookshop • 499, rue saint-jean • librairienelligan.com • 418-614-8043
One could get lost among the crowded and slightly cramped aisles of Librairie Nelligan. A treasure trove of rare French books can be found inside, covering topics like religion, literature, history, and geography.
musique chez sonny
vintage vinyl shop • 664, rue saint-jean • 418-640-0590
Opening its doors in 1992, Musique Chez Sonny sells vinyl and LPs; as well as some used CDs. As with any shop selling vintage music, be sure to search carefully as some records are in better shape than others. Your patience will pay off, eventually.
roba & casso
fashion • 586, rue saint-jean • robaecasso.ca • 418-522-7622
A women’s fashion boutique, Roba & Casso are known for their impeccable service and following current fashion trends. The boutique also carries a small selection of home décor.
schü’z
shoes & bags • 748, rue saint-jean • shuz.ca • 418-523-4560
Schü’z is a shoe and bag shop that has been a fixture in Saint-Jean-Baptiste for over ten years. They sell shoe brands like Adidas, Camp, and Vans; and their main bag lines are Fjällräven and Matt & Nat — both of which are Canadian.
nightlife
As mentioned in the introduction, Saint-Jean-Baptiste Quebec City is more local than touristy with plenty of shops, restaurants and nightlife. While you won’t find any dance clubs, you will find some cozy bars and pubs.
le drague cabaret club
gay bar & cabaret club • $-$$ • 815, rue saint-augustin • ledrague.com • 418-649-7212
A longtime favourite among Quebec’s LGBT community, Le Drague features a cabaret club, gay dance club, crazy karaoke, and incredible drag shows. Open 17-hours a day, Le Drague is for everyone to enjoy.
la duchesse d’aiguillon dépanneur
craft beer & snacks • 469, rue saint-jean • 581-742-1242
While you can buy some snacks at La Duchesse D’Aiguillon, the main focus is on beer produced throughout the province of Quebec. If you’re a beer-lover, this is the shop for you!
fou bar
bar • $ • 525, rue saint-jean • foubar.ca • 418-522-1987
A cozy neighbourhood bar/pub with exposed bricks walls and worn-out tables and chairs. Fou Bar has a relaxed vibe, live music, and a good selection of draft beers.
le projet spécialité microbrasseries
gastropub • $-$$ • 399, rue saint-jean • publeprojet.ca • 418-914-5322
A popular gastropub in Quebec City, Le Projet has 24 Québec microbrews on tap, as well as several Québec ciders. The food menu is a mixture of typical pub fare (burgers, nachos, and fish n’chips) as well as classic Quebec foods like salmon tartare and poutine.
pub nelligan’s
irish pub • $ • 789, côte sainte-geneviève • 418-704-7817
A lively Irish pub, Nelligan’s is where you’ll find the locals (instead of Pub Saint-Patrick or Chez Murphy’s in Old Quebec).
The pub is small but cozy with chunky wooden furniture and fixtures. They have an impressive whiskey menu and sometimes offer live music. A great pub to go to when you’re travelling alone.
ninkasi
bar • $-$$ • 811, rue saint-jean • laninkasi.ca • 418-529-8538
This two-storey bar on rue Saint-Jean has large open windows and a patio in summer and features karaoke nights and live music. Sip on craft beer, have an espresso to keep yourself going or stop by for lunch and a break from exploring.
le sacrilège
pub • $ • 447, rue saint-jean • lesacrilege.com • 418-649-1985
It is hard to miss the sign for Sacrilège as it is the image of a jovial Franciscan friar — one cannot help thinking about Friar Tuck and wondering is Robin Hood may be inside. The bar is warm and cozy with old church pews for benches. They sell beer and some whiskey (this is not the place to come it you’re looking for a cocktail). If you’re feeling peckish, bring some poutine from Le Projet or poké from bols et Poké and get a discount on your beer.
sleeping
gîte au croissant de lune
9.4/10 on booking.com
bed and breakfast
594, rue saint-gabriel
418-523-9946
A charming bed & breakfast run by a local French woman. Croissant de Lune offers three bedrooms and includes a delicious breakfast, wifi, and parking. Perfect for having a local experience during your stay in Quebec City.
book a room: booking.com
château des tourelles
9.2/10 on booking.com
3-star hotel
212, rue saint-jean
418-647-9136
A funky hotel in the neighbourhood of Saint-Jean-Baptiste, this hotel is close to local restaurants and bars. Homemade breakfast is included, as well as wifi, parking, and air conditioning. Pets are allowed. A good option if you’re hoping to stay in a local neighbourhood and avoid the tourist crowds.
book a room: booking.com
hôtel palace royal
8.610 on booking.com
4-star hotel
774, honoré-mercier
418-694-2000
Located a short walk from St-Jean’s gate, Hôtel Palace Royal towers over most of Saint-Jean-Baptiste. Rooms are comfortable with classic décor. Amenities include a fitness centre, pool, wifi and facilities for those with limited mobility.
book a room: booking.com