Things to do in St. Louis
BBQ, The Hill, Forest Park, and the cocktail bars locals actually go to.
This is a St. Louis for people who eat first and sightsee second. You'll move through three distinct neighborhoods, Soulard and Benton Park, the Italian Hill, and the Central West End, each with its own rhythm and its own food culture. It suits anyone who wants real value: one proper splurge per day, nothing gratuitous, and enough walking to earn it.
Day 1: Soulard: BBQ, market, blues
Gooey butter cake at Park Avenue Coffee, brisket at Bogart's, Soulard Market, a quiet loop of Benton Park, dinner at Little Fox and live blues at BB's.
- 9:30 AM
Park Avenue Coffee
Local legend for gooey butter cake, the dense, sweet St. Louis original, grab one with your coffee to start the day right.
Map - 12:30 PM
Bogart's Smokehouse
Soulard smokehouse by the market: brisket, apricot-glazed ribs and the fire-and-ice pickles; it sells out.
Map - 2:30 PM
Soulard Market
Farmers market since 1779 with produce, spice and butcher stalls; open Wednesday to Saturday only.
Map - 4:30 PM
- 7:30 PM
Little Fox
Fox Park neighbourhood restaurant with a short seasonal menu and a good bar; book ahead on weekends.
Map - 9:30 PM
Day 2: The Hill and the Garden
A morning in the Climatron at Missouri Botanical Garden, a legendary Hot Salami at Gioia's Deli, an afternoon browsing Urzi's Italian Market, and dinner at Charlie Gitto's before a nightcap at Good Company.
- 9:30 AM
- 10:15 AM
Missouri Botanical Garden
The Climatron's geodesic rainforest dome and the 14-acre Seiwa-en Japanese garden; give it two hours.
Map - 12:30 PM
Gioia's Deli
Since 1918: the legendary Hot Salami on garlic cheese bread, lunch only, arrive early before the queue grows.
Map - 2:00 PM
Urzi's Italian Market
Old-school Italian market right on The Hill, browse imported goods, local cheeses, and cured meats.
Map - 7:30 PM
Charlie Gitto's On the Hill
The Hill restaurant that claims to have invented toasted ravioli; start with those, then veal or a red-sauce pasta.
Map - 9:15 PM
Good Company
Proper cocktail bar with serious drinks and a lively local crowd, the right note to end the night.
Map
Day 3: Forest Park and Central West End
Free history at the Missouri History Museum, lunch at Sultan, the extraordinary mosaic interior of the Cathedral Basilica, then dinner at Esca and cocktails at The Jujube Inn to close the trip.
- 10:30 AM
Missouri History Museum
Free museum in Forest Park on the city's story, from the 1904 World's Fair to Lindbergh's flight.
Map - 12:30 PM
Sultan Mediterranean Restaurant
Turkish-Mediterranean in The Grove: mixed grill, lahmacun and hot bread from the oven.
Map - 2:15 PM
Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis
Tens of millions of mosaic tiles cover every dome and arch, one of the most jaw-dropping interiors in the US, and free.
Map - 7:30 PM
Esca
Esca is the main table of the day, Mediterranean, $$$ for a memorable dinner, right in the neighborhood.
Map - 9:15 PM
The Jujube Inn
Jujube Inn is the local cocktail bar pick in Central West End, a short walk from dinner and well before midnight.
Map
Where to stay
Napoleon's Retreat B&B
A B&B in Benton Park puts you a short walk from Day 1's entire itinerary and keeps costs down without sacrificing character.
AC Hotel St. Louis Central West End
Sitting right in the Central West End, this puts Day 3 on your doorstep and is an easy cab or Metro ride from The Hill and Soulard.
Make St. Louis your trip
Swearby drafts the days from places people swear by. Swap any stop, then invite the crew by text, even friends without the app. Vote on dates, track costs as you go, and everyone gets one number at the end.
Get Swearby on the App StoreBefore you go
Book ahead
- Gateway Arch: a few days ahead
- Busch Stadium: a few days ahead
- The Muny: a few days ahead
- Hermann: months ahead
- Vicia: weeks ahead
- Sado: weeks ahead
Skip these
- Laclede's Landing trades on its Arch location but is the thinnest dining strip in the core; Washington Avenue and Soulard are better.
- The Aquarium and Wheel at Union Station are priced for tourists next to the free Zoo and Arch; do them with children, skip on an adults trip.
- Imo's as a best restaurant pick: it is a rite, not a recommendation.
- The Arch tram on a foggy day buys a view of cloud; the museum and grounds stay worthwhile.
The full St. Louis travel guide: when to go, safety, getting around