St. Louis Food & Drink Guide

St. Louis has a surprisingly diverse and dynamic restaurant and bar scenes for a city of its size. I often get asked for recommendations by visitors (and even some locals), and thought it would be easier to compile a static list with links to different establishments. This list does not follow any particular order.

Eat

• Little Fox, New American, Fox Park
• The Lucky Accomplice, New American, Fox Park
• Peacemaker, Seafood, Benton Park
• Yemanja, Brazilian, Benton Park
• Sado, Japanese, The Hill
• Indo, Asian Fusion, Botanical Heights
• Esca, French/Italian, Delmar
• Union Loafers, Pizza/Sandwiches, Botanical Heights
• Meskerem, Ethiopian/Eritrean, Tower Grove South
• Sameem, Afghan, The Grove
• Pizzeria da Gloria, Pizza, The Hill
• Menya Rui, Ramen, Northampton
• Russell’s on Macklind, Brunch, Southampton
• Brasserie, French, Central West End
• Bowood by Niche, New American/Brunch, Central West End
• Yellowbelly, Asian/Hawaiian Fusion, Central West End
• Louie, Italian, Demun
• Acero, North Italian, Maplewood
• Soup Dumplings STL, Chinese, University City
• The Crossing, French/New American, Clayton
• Bar Moro, Iberian, Clayton
• Akar, Malaysian, Clayton
• Truffles, Steakhouse, Ladue
• Olive + Oak, New American, Webster Groves
• Nippon Tei, Japanese, Manchester
• Stone Soup Cottage, French, St. Peter’s
• Wright’s Tavern, Steakhouse, Clayton

Casual

• Lona’s Lil Eats, Chinese Fusion, Fox Park
• Blues City Deli, Sandwiches, Benton Park
• The Vine, Lebanese, Tower Grove South
• Terror Tacos, Vegan Tacos (yes, they are great), Tower Grove South
• The Gramophone, Sandwiches, The Grove
• Gioia’s Deli, Italian Sandwiches, The Hill
• La Vallesana, Mexican (tortas), Cherokee
• Taqueria Hectorito, Mexican (tacos), Cherokee (inside El Torito supermarket)
• O’Connell’s Pub, Burgers, The Hill
• LeGrand’s Market, Sandwiches/Deli, St. Louis Hills
• Crown Candy Kitchen, Sandwiches, Old North
• Bolyard’s Meat and Provisions, Sandwiches/Deli, Maplewood
• Balkan Treat Box, Bosnian, Webster Groves
• Tiny Chef, Korean, Bevo
• Truc Lam, Vietnamese, Tower Grove South
• Well Met Cafe, Coffee shop, Shaw
• Coffeestamp, Coffee shop, South Jefferson
• The Mud House, Brunch, Cherokee

BBQ

There is a lot of great BBQ in St. Louis. If you are only in town for a few days I typically recommend the following three. Bogart’s and Pappy’s have the best ribs in the city. The Shaved Duck is a full-service restaurant where you can eat while sitting down and having a drink.

• Bogart’s Smokehouse, Soulard
• Pappy’s Smokehouse, Midtown
• The Shaved Duck Smokehouse, Tower Grove East

Drink

• Planter’s House, Cocktail Bar, Lafayette Square
• McGurk’s, Irish Bar, Soulard
• Hammerstone’s, Blues Bar, Soulard
• Venice Cafe, Live Music every day, Benton Park
• Small Change, Dive Bar/Cocktails, Benton Park
• Tick Tock Tavern, Dive Bar, Tower Grove East
• Riley’s Pub, Irish Pub, Tower Grove East
• The Saturn Lounge, Faux Dive/Cocktails, Cherokee
• ‘ssipi, Natural Wines, Cherokee

Breweries

Most of these breweries also offer great food.

• 4hands Brewing Co, Downtown
• Rockwell Beer Company, The Grove
• Alpha Brewing Company, Tower Grove South
• 2nd Shift Brewing, The Hill
• Perennial, Patch
• Urban Chestnut Brewing Company, Midtown & The Grove
• The Side Project Cellar, Maplewood