An Insider’s Guide to the Magic of St. Louis, Missouri (2024)

Working in entertainment and media in both NYC and LA for over a decade, I would never have predicted I would abandon my dual-coast lifestyle for a fly-over city perched on a riverbank. But for nearly 15 years, St. Louis has been my adopted hometown. No longer just a beacon for baseball and beer fans, this midwestern city is home to vibrant communities of adventurous designers and artists, startups and coworking spaces. I’d even go as far as to say the city’s urban hang-outs rival the cool magic of those in my beloved former cities.

The Restaurants and Bars to Try in St. Louis
St. Louis’ culinary scene is flourishing with loads of first-rate options celebrating a wealth of James Beard nominated chefs, vintners, and craft brewers. Start at Winslow’s Home, a feel good spot with farm-to-table, soul-nourishing food. It doubles as a general store that carries groceries, dry goods, and kitchen items. Foodies should make the trek to Shaw neighborhood for Union Loafers, a seasonally sourced eatery has the best soups, sandwiches, and little gem salads in town. The Clover and the Bee is worth the pilgrimage to Webster Groves for the sunny, Insta-famous atmosphere thanks to its bright floral mural and velvet green settee. The fresh, light fare makes it the perfect place for brunch any day of the week.

For dinner, few places are as elegant and imagined as Bar Les Frères. Eating here is like stepping straight into the pages of War and Peace with its deep red walls bedecked with portraits, candlelit romance, and marble tables coupled with gilded settes. But you’ll barely notice your surroundings while enjoying Champagne co*cktails with superb blinis and caviar to complete the eat-like-a-czar experience. Just steps from the Missouri Botanical Garden sits Olio, serving Israeli dishes (don't miss the famous egg salad and the smoked trout tartine) and tasty Aperols in a revamped Standard Oil filling station. Air-light gougeres and rich cassoulet are always a good idea at Central West End institution Brasserie, which also includes arguably the best patio for people watching. Your eyes, belly, and soul will forever be delighted after dining at Billie-Jean. An all-black interior, superb art, and custom staff jumpsuits set this place apart as it serves up sumptuous fare with Pan-Asian influence.

Taste is sacred ground for co*cktail connoisseurs. Go for expertly mixed Gin Fizz and Old Fashioneds; stay for the scallop crudo and tempura bananas. A classic neighborhood hotspot that surreptitiously occupies an entire building, Brennan’s is the perfect place to grab a whiskey and wander through the endless maze of rooms. If you’re still hankering for more firewater, head to dark and intimate Planter's House, a nod to old-world drinks in a New Orleans-inspired spot.

Where to Get Coffee in St. Louis
Recently named the most beautiful coffee shop in Missouri by Architectural Digest, Blueprint Coffee in The Loop roasts beans in-house and the brew is excellent. Pop in for the classics but also try the simple breakfast and lunch.Rise Coffee House is The Grove's bohemian soul in a community gathering spot. No fancy subway tiles or concrete countertops here—just good coffee, salads, sandwiches, homemade cookies, and a choice working space with WiFi.

What to Do and See in St. Louis
Local curatorial collective projects+gallery stages contemporary art exhibits that are at once fashionable, edgy, timely, and surreal. Each exhibit pushes the boundaries of traditional art concepts and features current working artists from all over the world. The opportunities to experience art are vast in St. Louis, but few are as adventurous as The Contemporary Art Museum. All the art is contemporary, yes, but the museum includes every visual medium, from painting, drawing, and sculpture, to the conceptual, performative, and interactive, all presented in unexpected ways. And no trip to St. Louis is complete without a stroll through Forest Park. With its ample green space, running trails, cultural institutions (including the famed Saint Louis Art Museum), quiet places to picnic and read, and a variety of popular festivals and events, it's the best place to rest tired legs.

Where to Shop in St. Louis
Easily the most exciting store to arrive in Shaw in recent history, Future Ancestor offers mid-century modern vintage objects, furniture, and rugs along with locally sourced home goods. For swoon-worthy wardrobe staples, jewelry, and home accessories with vintage appeal, May’s Place is a modern take on an old general store tucked away on a quiet side street. Dive into a world of green at Bowood Farms, one of the cutest nurseries around, showcasing decor, books, and every fun, gifty thing that playful hearts need to build a Pinterest-worthy home and garden. Byrd in Clayton and The Vault in Brentwood are treasure troves of high-end consignment with designer clothes, shoes, bags, and accessories never-worn or gently-used. Central West End-based Fauxgerty is planet and animal-friendly apparel made in St. Louis and L.A. If you're willing to drive a bit west, hit Civil Alchemy, a gorgeous general store of functional lifestyle goods, from their own brand of gin to jeans and Japanese gardening tools.

Where to Stay in St. Louis
Newer isn't always better, and nowhere is this more obvious than The Chase Park Plaza.Once a bastion of glitz and grandeur, The Chase is a St. Louis legend snuggled in one of the most vibrant and architecturally significant neighborhoods. First opened in 1922, The Chase played host to endless mega-watt performers like Tony Bennett, Sophie Tucker, and Nat King Cole. Presidents and movie stars regularly visited, and its kitschy pool hosted some of the best parties in town. Today, The Chase still offers all the modern amenities and is just steps from Forest Park.