The neighbourhood immediately north of the Old City walls was Québec City's working-class commercial district, declined through the 1980s, and has been regenerating steadily since the 1990s into one of the more interesting places to spend an afternoon. Saint-Roch has a concentration of independent restaurants, cafés, art galleries, vintage shops, and design studios that gives it a genuinely urban feel distinct from the tourist orbit of the Old City.
The Jardins de Saint-Roch, a public garden in the heart of the neighbourhood, hosts outdoor events in summer. Rue Saint-Joseph is the main commercial artery — full of independent retail and restaurants at lower prices than the Old City. The neighbourhood is about a 15-minute walk from Dufferin Terrace, or a short bus ride; it rewards the effort of getting there.