St-Roch

St-Roch Review

Hip bars and trendy shops pepper St-Roch, a former industrial area-turned-technology hub. There's a fair selection of hotels, most of them catering to business clientele, and new ones popping up constantly. The "main drag" of the neighborhood is boulevard Charest—a mix of office buildings, lunch spots, and hangouts for the after-work crowd. Parc St-Roch, a large square on this street provides good people-watching opportunities and occasionally, street performances and art events.

Look for Église St-Roch, a massive stone church and you'll quickly find St-Joseph, the district's other major street, known for trendy shops and entertaining buskers. Shop for new duds here and follow it all by dining in one of the neighborhood's sleek new bistros. Food reigns in Québec, so dinner reservations are always recommended, but the popularity of the area has spawned many new eateries, so you'll have plenty of choices. When it comes time for an after-dinner drink, there's a plethora of pubs and terraces for a real taste of St-Roch life. Korrigane Brasserie Artisanale is a great example.

Art abounds in the neighborhood, from the famed graffiti viaduct to modern sculptures to outdoor theater and circus acts. Complexe Méduse on rue de St-Vallier is an avant-garde arts cooperative that houses multimedia artists, a community radio station, galleries, artists-in-residence, and performance spaces.

It's a long, but downhill jaunt from the Old City and walkable if you have the time. If you're not in the mood for exercise, the best way to reach this neighborhood is by cab. Plan to spend about C$8 each way. There are usually plenty of cabs available for the reverse trip. Taking the bus is also an option, but not a convenient one, as it likely involves a transfer.