Foodie's Guide to St. Louis
Within Walking Distance
Perfect for easy evening dining
Mainlander James Beard Semifinalist
Intimate 26-seat supper club with nostalgic mid-century dining experience. Chef Blake Askew creates monthly-changing prix fixe menu ($88) featuring Missouri ingredients and global techniques. Reservation-only with two nightly seatings for an exclusive, theatrical "paradise is here" experience.
Brasserie by Niche James Beard Winner
Gerard Craft's quintessential French bistro transports diners to Paris with authentic cassoulet, French onion soup, and steak frites. Features outstanding brunch, Parisian atmosphere with outdoor seating, and pastries from James Beard-nominated pastry chef Elise Mensing.
Edera Italian Eatery
Chef Andrew Simon offers refined Italian in a come-as-you-are atmosphere. Premium Neapolitan pizzas, signature pastas, and entrees with ingredients sourced from Italy to Missouri. Beautiful ivy-walled Italian-style courtyard for exceptional outdoor dining.
Yellowbelly
Island-inspired seafood with bold tropical flavors and tiki-inspired cocktails. Bright, vacation-like atmosphere with ceviche, spicy tuna tostadas, popular lobster roll, and whole fish preparations. Stellar cocktail program celebrated for inventiveness.
Dressel's Public House
Recently renovated 44-year-old institution with in-house brewery (Rock & Horse Brewing). Famous for fish and chips, pretzel with Welsh rarebit, and Porchetta sandwich featured on "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives." Maintains intellectual pub charm with modern twist.
Bar Italia Ristorante
Sophisticated Italian with handmade pastas, fresh seafood, and signature Fettuccine Tre Amici. The outdoor patio beneath cherry blossoms offers prime people-watching in Central West End. Excellent wine selection and attentive service.
The Preston
The Chase Park Plaza's crown jewel dining room offers French-inflected American cuisine with flawless style and service. Convenient fine dining without leaving the property.
Destination-Worthy Venues
Worth the short drive for exceptional dining
Vicia Best New Restaurant 2017
Widely considered St. Louis' best restaurant. Chef Michael Gallina (Food & Wine Best New Chef 2018) creates sophisticated vegetable-forward cuisine using wood-fired cooking and herbs from the on-site garden. Seasonal menu celebrates Midwestern ingredients with world-class technique.
Sado James Beard Semifinalist
Chef Nick Bognar's innovative sushi restaurant features dry-aged fish program, binchotan charcoal grilling (only one in St. Louis), and 18-course omakase experience in glass pavilion ($327). World-class sushi with innovative aging and grilling techniques.
INDO James Beard Recognition
Chef Nick Bognar's 40-seat restaurant earned lifetime accolades for profoundly flavorful Southeast Asian dishes. Watch Bognar slice and torch rare fish like striped horse mackerel and fatty tuna belly, served with nikiri and fresh-ground wasabi root. Nearly impossible to get reservations.
Lona's Lil Eats 3x James Beard Semifinalist
Chef Lona Luo brings authentic flavors from her village in Yunnan province, China. Known for giant rice paper wraps, hand-made dumplings, and Village Bamboo Stew. Everything made from scratch with spices imported from her home village. Unique hill-tribe community cuisine.
L O U I E
From Matt McGuire, influential force behind King Louie's, Monarch, Brasserie, Herbie's, and Niche. Like McGuire's previous restaurants, Louie is critically celebrated and wildly popular, continuing his significant impact on the St. Louis dining scene.
Charlie Gitto's On The Hill
Claimed birthplace of toasted ravioli, operating since 1981. Charlie Gitto Jr. maintains the tradition with "The Original" pillow-shaped toasted ravioli. Named OpenTable's most romantic restaurant in Missouri. Authentic Italian-American dining with celebrity appeal.
Prime 55 Downtown
The only Black-owned restaurant in a hotel in the region. Owner Orlando Watson creates intimate, sophisticated atmosphere with Sweet Glazed Lamb Chops, elevated shrimp and grits, and live jazz inside Le Méridien Downtown.
Unique Excursions
Special experiences worth discovering
La Patisserie Chouquette James Beard Semifinalist
Parisian-style pastries with New Orleans influences. Chef Simone Faure (former Ritz-Carlton executive pastry chef) crafts impeccable French macarons, canelés, and famous 23-layer Salted Caramel Crepe Cake. Celebrity clientele includes LL Cool J, Missy Elliott, and Brad Pitt.
Balkan Treat Box 2025 James Beard Finalist
Chef Loryn Nalic brings authentic Bosnian cuisine with signature pide (boat-shaped flatbread), Ãâevapi (grilled beef sausages), and somun bread baked in wood-fired copper oven. Started as food truck in 2017, showcasing unique cuisine rarely found elsewhere in America.
The Gin Room James Beard Outstanding Bar Semifinalist
Owned by Natasha Bahrami, "the gin girl," featuring the most comprehensive gin collection in the country. Try customized gin flights tailored to your palate or one of 10 martini variations. A true destination for gin enthusiasts and cocktail connoisseurs.