Luxe in the City: St. Louis City Travel Guide
My job as the TN Territory Manager for Healthy Kids & Teens comes with a lot of responsibility. Sometimes I’m working on admin reports, sometimes I’m training students enrolled in our Get Fit classes, or my favorite, graphic designing. It’s a lot, and I’m grateful, especially when my territory spills over into St. Louis, Missouri, another region our company covers.
I’ve been visiting St. Louis City for seven years for work trips and vacations and I’ve become a pretty good road trip planner! I’ve found some of the best spots for you to luxuriate no matter your budget. From luxury hotel restaurants and bars to activities and luxe experiences, I’ve got you covered with a Luxe in The Lou’ travel guide, LuxeLikeLea style!
Dining
During my years in ST. Louis City, I’ve had the privilege of dining at the most delicious restaurants because of my stepfather, Chef Donald! He’s a STL native, so he knows all the best Chefs and eateries. I won’t deny that I’ve had the VIP treatment at some of the best restaurants due to Chef D, but I can attest that the food and the vibes on this list are top tier!
360 St. Louis: This chic rooftop bar in Ball Park Village has the best view of downtown St. Louis and the St. Louis Arch. The smoked Mac-n-cheese Chef Adam created is some of the best I’ve ever had. $$
Cinder House: Located inside the luxury hotel The Four Seasons, this restaurant is an entire vibe with the ambient lighting and the posh decor. The menu changes often, but the chicken and polenta is a stellar. The views of downtown are amazing on the outdoor patio, especially in warm months. $$-$$$
Mama’s on The Hill: This authentic Italian restaurant is a classic favorite. I’ve never had a bad meal, but the linguine and clams is my favorite. $-$$
The Bellwether: I visited this restaurant for brunch for the first time recently and it’s so delicious. It’s located in historic Layfayette Square and it serves am to pm. The menu is unique and full of craft flavors and it definitely top of my list. Try the loaded waffle and the cinnamon toast French toast! $-$$
Accommodations
The St. Louis Union Station Hotel: I’m a little biased because Chef Donald ran The Grand Hall as a Sous Chef when I first met him. Even still, I love this place!The Union Station is located in Downtown St. Louis. I’ve stayed several times and not only is the hotel beautiful, it is filled with a lot of history. Built in the Gilded Age, the station used to be a major transport during WWII. It was transformed from a train station to a hotel in 1978, now a Curio by Hilton. $$
The back of the Union Station was once the train shed that turned into a shopping mall. Now, stands an entertainment hub with a ton of activities including:
Bars & Restaurants
Mini Golf
The St. Louis Aquarium
Ropes Course
The Carousel
The St. Louis Wheel
Shopping
St. Louis Galleria: Any trip to the galleria means a trip to my favorite shops, Nordstrom and Akira! I’m not ashamed to say I’ve closed down the store more than once. Check out my recent shopping finds HERE. $-$$
The Vault Consignment: I first learned of this gem from Highlowluxxe and I love this shop. Their selection is nice and big! You can shop authenticated second hand luxury items in store or on Instagram. $$$+
Plaza Frontenac: Speaking of luxury items, this mall is full of high end favorite stores like Saks Broadway, Tiffany & Co, Louis Vuitton, & Neiman Marcus.. I’ve bought some of my favorite items here. Shop them BELOW. $$$-$$$$
Experiences
Anheuser- Busch Brewery: Opened in 1850, this brewery is the flagship of Anheuser-Busch and the Home of Budweiser. In my years visiting the city, I’ve never thought to take a tour because I’m not a huge beer drinker, but I did attend The University of TN Knoxville, (if you know, you know!). I was pelasantly surprised at how much I loved this tour and how downright beautiful this campus is.
The architecture of the historic buildings are so big, and bold, and they house gorgeous gilded gold details like the chandeliers from the 19th Century. During our tour we visited the iconic Clydesdales Horses of Budweiser (the Anheuser Busch logo) and learned about the historic brewing process and of course tasted beer samples. The Bud Light samples were so fresh and delicious. This was such an unexpectedly fun experience, and I highly recommend! $
I hope you enjoy my Luxe Travel Guide to St. Louis! These places are my favorites, but I definitely have others I can recommend, let me know if you’d like a part two! Thank you for having patience with me as I navigate this new journey in life and get back to writing what I love and serving you!
The blog is here to stay my friends. Thanks for reading!
