Local renters take pride in calling St. Louis home thanks to a diverse selection of neighborhoods, easy commutes around the city and plenty of restaurants and bars to enjoy. There are more than 100 parks designed to invite residents outdoors and sports teams with winning records to get behind. This is St. Louis.
With so much to offer, there’s almost too much in St. Louis to really discover all the best spots yourself. That’s why our experts are weighing in. They know The Gateway City inside and out and are passing along their favorite spots to you.
1. Forest Park
Who doesn’t want a way to enjoy the outdoors in St. Louis and get access to fun activities for free? Nobody! Forest Park provides the best of both. Basically creating its own neighborhood, this is one of the country’s greatest urban parks. Within its 1,300 acres, you’ll find five major cultural institutions in addition to nature preserves, a lake and more.
“I love that our fabulous zoo and museum are all free, and the park has great little walking paths,” share Julia Noack of Julia Noack Photography. Forest Park is her favorite summer destination in St. Louis.
In addition to the St. Louis Zoo and the St. Louis Art Museum, Forest Park is also home to the Missouri History Museum, the MUNY and the St. Louis Science Center.
2. The Grove
Stretching almost a mile long, The Grove is home to over fifty businesses including places to drink, eat, dance and shop. There’s even a tattoo parlor or two. Among all there is to enjoy here, one place stands out as the favorite for Sydney from Perennial Artisan Ales. The whole crew likes Grace Meat + Three the best.
“The amazing food is what brought us in, but the hospitality and atmosphere make us feel home. Fried chicken with a Grace Hominy Lager is the fave around here,” says Sydney.
3. The rest of Midtown
According to Tori Wright of Victorious STL Photography, the Midtown neighborhood of St. Louis is where it’s at. As the city’s geographic center, the area packs in a lot to do and see. It’s also the location of St. Louis University, so it draws a large number of college students to entertain.
For Wright, her Midtown hidden gems include catching a show at the Fabulous Fox, sipping coffee at the High Low Coffee Shop, watching the sunset on the rooftop at the Angad Arts Hotel and finally having a delicious meal at the food hall inside City Foundry.
4. The International Photography Hall of Fame
“When I have a day off,” shares Kristi Foster of Kristi Foster Photography, “I love going downtown to the International Photography Hall of Fame. There I can rejuvenate my creative side!” This impressive museum in Grand Center honors individuals who’ve made a significant contribution to the world of photography. It also preserves historic photographs and cameras for visitors to check out.
A walk through the International Photography Hall of Fame means going on a journey through hundreds of years of photography. Not a trip you can embark on in many other places.
5. Lemp Mansion
Source: facebook.com/TheLempMansion/
Both a restaurant and an inn, Lemp Mansion is a definite stop for all locals in St. Louis. According to the entire team at Hammond’s Books, “you can’t say you’ve been in St. Louis if you haven’t been there.”
Situated in the historic neighborhood of Benton Park, try and grab a dinner reservation on Sundays for their all-you-care-to-eat chicken dinner, served family-style. If you want to stay a night, Lemp Mansion has four different suites to pick from. The venue also hosts special events and does its own ghost tour.
6. Cherokee Street
Source: facebook.com/cherokeestreetofficial
Yes, an entire street can be a hidden gem within a city, mostly because you may not even realize how much Cherokee Street has to offer. Randy Vines from STL Style loves it because it’s an, “unfiltered, creative, unapologetically raw South Side corridor full of immigrants and artists and dreamers and makers that packs a bigger cultural punch than any other street in the city.”
Vines claims this street actually has it all, from “tamales to tattoos to open mics to impromptu parades.” He appreciates everything that operates within this space without pretense, calling it an area, “defined by both tradition and experimentation…a perfect blend of urban life.”
Crossing through multiple St. Louis neighborhoods, you’ll find bits of Cherokee Street in or beside many popular spots, including:
7. The Japanese Garden
A part of the Missouri Botanical Garden, this particular spot is a favorite for Lauren Throrp of Bonboni Mercantile Co. This 14-acre garden is one of the largest Japanese gardens in North America and perfectly highlights cultural influences through botanicals.
The Japanese Garden includes waterfalls, bridges, a lake and expansive lawns that foster a feeling of openness
8. Tower Grove Park
Whether it’s to picnic, take a stroll or visit the farmer’s market, Tower Grove Park is another hidden gem in that it has so much more going on than meets the eye. Mary Henesey, Co-Owner and Buyer of Urban Matter calls the park an “incredible space,” and tries to regularly visit the farmers market either on Tuesday afternoons or Saturday mornings.
When she wants to grab a bite and enjoy it within the park, Henesey prefers to stop at Navin’s and get a barbecue order to go.
Other popular spots in St. Louis
The fun in St. Louis is definitely not limited, even when talking to the local experts. In fact, it’s hard to limit the go-to list in any way. Some other places in the more popular neighborhoods, including Tower Grove South, Central West End, Botanical Heights, and more cover all types of activities.
For fun:
For a cup of coffee:
For a good meal or a good cocktail:
For shopping:
Seek out your favorite hidden gems in St. Louis
This list is just the start of all the special places to be found for those who call St. Louis home. This is a city that’s so much more than that famous arch So, get out there, find your favorite neighborhood and look closely at what other locals are missing. You may be the next person to discover a real hidden gem in this fantastic city.
Source: rent.com