Every city is composed of a patchwork of neighborhoods, and in St. Louis, some have evolved to be especially visitor-friendly. The best offer a variety of locally owned businesses, plenty of retail and a plethora of dining options outside the usual national chains, and the very best might throw in a major attraction or two. It goes without saying that they are walkable and almost always charming. Explore the following distinctive districts (arranged alphabetically) for an authentic and entertaining St. Louis experience.
Benton Park
Benton Park is worth a visit for Cherokee Antique Row, east of Jefferson Avenue on Cherokee Street and for a solid collection of distinctive restaurants like The Mud House, Blues City Deli, Hodak’s, Venice Cafe and the highly esteemed Sidney Street Café (recipient of a James Beard Nomination). The historic Chatillon-DeMenil Mansion is located at the east end of Cherokee. West of Jefferson on Cherokee, a thriving Hispanic community has developed a colorful “Little Mexico” district.
These grand residential neighborhoods near the northeast corner of Forest Park, built around the turn of the 19th century, are the most extravagant in the city—pay attention to “no trespassing” signs...they’re not kidding. The commercial hub along Euclid Ave. includes art galleries, antique shops, boutiques and cafés within easy walking distance of the neighborhood’s hotels. Do stop in at Central Table, The Cup, Pickles Deli and The Silver Lady. Sightseeing musts include the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis and World Chess Hall of Fame.
The eminently walkable business district in this regional commercial center pairs high-rise office towers and street-level retailers offering excellent shopping, art galleries, boutiques, antique stores, and restaurants like Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, The Crossing, Sardella, and Bar Celona.
Older St. Louis suburb—famous for unfortunate events in 2014, but well worth a visit—is reclaiming its pedestrian-friendly business district along Florissant Road where a growing collection of restaurants, including Ferguson Brewing Company, caters to the patrons of the nearby Touhill Performing Arts Center, and a terrific farmer’s market gets going Saturday mornings.
This up-and-coming neighborhood along Manchester Ave. just southeast of Forest Park has spawned some of the city’s most popular nightclubs, like Atomic Cowboy and Just John’s. Eat at Everest Café & Bar, Confluence Kombucha, Layla Lebanese Restaurant, Sameem Afghan Restaurant, Sactuaria Wild Tapas, Urban Chestnut Brewing Company and Sauce on the Side. Get your shop on at Bag Lady Handbag Boutique, City Boutique, Curve Junkie, Intoxicology and Lemon Gem kitchen goods. The neighborhood is worth a visit just for the murals.
St. Louis’ first true suburb saw its growth fed in the 1850s by the railroad that now serves as the focal point for a charming shopping district along Kirkwood Road (Lindbergh Blvd.) between Adams and Monroe. A farmers market close by the railroad tracks east of Kirkwood Road offers seasonal produce, while many independent shops, restaurants, cafes, and bakeries line the blocks, like The Bug Store, Chocolate, Chocolate Chocolate, Christopher’s, Cornucopia, Down by the Station, Grapevine Wine and Spirits, Plowsharing, OA Gallery, Paperdolls, Amigo’s Cantina, Citizen Kane’s Steakhouse, Dewey’s Pizza, Strange Donuts, Kirkwood Station Brewing Company and One 19 North. If your kids are with you, don’t miss The Magic House: St. Louis Children’s Museum, a rambling collection of fun and educational experiences your kids will love.
Nine square blocks of renovated 100-year-old buildings just north of the Gateway Arch offer sightseeing during the day with dining, nightlife and casinos after dark at establishments like Morgan Street Brewery, Joey B’s and Big Daddy’s. The Landing sits within shouting distance of the Gateway Arch, casinos, biking path and America’s Center.
The oldest publicly owned park west of the Mississippi (Lafayette Park) is surrounded by magnificent, restored, Victorian-era mansions that you can actually peek inside during their bi-annual home tours. Walk, gawk, eat/drink and shop at a growing commercial district. Recommended restaurants include SqWires and Square One Brewery, where they also make their own distinguished line of whiskeys and spirits.
Located along Delmar Blvd. east and west of Skinker Blvd., The Loop is perhaps the most engaging neighborhood in the St. Louis area, with art galleries, cinema, nightclubs, concert venues, iconoclastic shops, bowling lanes, St. Louis Walk of Fame and multi-cultural collection of restaurants. Don’t miss Craft Alliance Center of Art + Design, Serendipity Gallery and Blueberry Hill. You’ll see the tracks of a streetcar line that will soon take passengers from The Loop to Forest Park.
French farmers first settled here in 1767, and the street names in the historic district (rue St. Denis, rue St. Pierre, rue St. Ferninand) reflect that Gallic heritage. Old St. Ferdinand Shrine, built in 1819-1820, is the oldest Catholic Church building between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains. The commercial district along rue St. Francois includes gift stores and restaurants.
