St. Louis
Like many big cities, St. Louis is growing and changing, and in our explorations we've already discovered great old diners, parks and zoos, a wonderful old market, coffee and beer, and some iconic American foods. Also, there's the amazing City Museum, a giant industrial playground that gives kids and kids-at-heart the chance to run and explore.
Food
Dressel's Public House: lovely farm-to-table pub with good food and drink
Fitz's Root Beer: a St. Louis classic. Order a full meal or root beer floats, try one of many flavored sodas, watch root beer getting bottled
Goody Goody Diner: a beloved local diner around since the 50s. The place to try the St. Louis breakfast called The Slinger.
Imo's: classic local pizza chain serving cracker-thin St. Louis-style pizza with unique Provel cheese. Order a side of fried ravioli!
Pappy's Smokehouse: amazing barbecue joint that's worth a visit. Order the burnt ends!
Soulard Market: long-running historic market good for shopping and trying a variety of local foods like gooey butter cake.
Coffee & Beer
Coma Coffee: accomplished local roaster and coffee
Side Project Brewing: local brewery with an impressive roster of Belgian beers, stouts, IPAs, sours. Visit the Side Project Cellar taproom in Maplewood to taste sours and Belgian beers.
Sump Coffee: terrific Third Wave coffee shop
Parks & Attractions
Arch: the St. Louis icon, which you can ride up in a rickety elevator
City Museum: a simply amazing place to visit. Kind of museum, but mostly an industrial play park for kids and adults. Every corner of this renovated factory building downtown is filled with things to climb and slide and explore.
Lone Elk Park: park in with trails and drive-through areas to spot bison, elk, and other wildlife.
Soulard Market: historic market great for shopping and eating
St. Louis Zoo in Forest Park: the zoo is totally free and full of great animal exhibits. It sits in Forest Park, which is full of hiking trails, museums, lakes, athletic fields, and the 1909 World's Fair pavilion
World Bird Sanctuary: world-class bird sanctuary and hospital in Valley Park outside of St. Louis
Read our St. Louis itineraries
Swinging By St. Louis
Our second visit to St. Louis hit up familiar sites and included a visit to the World Bird Sanctuary for the solar eclipse!
August 2017
Meet Me in St. Louis
Our first introduction to St. Louis, including fun at the City Museum; barbecue and pizza; the Soulard Market; and more!
March 2017
