The neighbourhood immediately west of the Saint-Jean gate is one of the most enjoyable parts of Québec City for a visitor who wants to step out of the tourist circuit. Saint-Jean-Baptiste is a working francophone neighbourhood with a young population, good independent restaurants and bars, bookshops, and a lively rue Saint-Jean that extends from the Old City westward for several blocks.
This section of rue Saint-Jean — outside the walls — is where locals eat and drink. The concentration of restaurants is high; the quality is consistently good without the tourist-oriented pricing of the Old City. The neighbourhood is also where to find LGBTQ+-oriented bars, the best coffeehouses, and second-hand bookshops. The Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste at the street's eastern end is one of the largest churches in the city, visible from the Old City walls.