Got a day to kill in St. Louis? You’ll be shocked by just how much you can pack into it. Below, you’ll find a roadmap to a fantastic and quintessentially STL day. It will be tiring (and won’t be cheap), but after taking in this awesome itinerary—which includes amazing tacos, memorable music and some truly outré nightlife – you won’t be complaining. A day (and night) in St. Louis can easily be the stuff stories are made of.
| Name | Location | Description |
| Wake Up on The Loop | Delmar Blvd | Rise and shine in the Moonrise Hotel and survey your surroundings from its quirky environs. The Delmar Loop is one of the city’s top destinations, filled with boutique stores and a variety of ethnic restaurants. Start walking towards the heart of the Loop and get a sense of one of America’s Top 10 streets. Eventually, you’ll leave the Loop and reach Winslow’s Home, where you can order carefully crafted, delicious food. Buttermilk pancakes or the Basic Breakfast (with eggs, potatoes, bacon or sausage and a biscuit or toast) make a great start to any day. |
| Bike Through Forest Park | Forest Park | One cool neighborhood down; many more to go. Hop an Uber to the hip and classy Central West End, then rent a bike from Mike’s Bikes. You’ll be back to the Central West End, but first, it’s time to explore a unique St. Louis treasure: Forest Park. The park is massive and home to world-class and free attractions like the Saint Louis Art Museum and the Saint Louis Zoo. Stop by one if you want, but sometimes the best experience here can be had just by running, walking, or biking through the lush surroundings. |
| Dine on Top-Ranked Tacos | 398 N Euclid Ave | That bike ride earned you some of the best food St. Louis has to offer. Head back to the Central West End and return your bike, then walk just down the street to Mission Taco. You can’t really go wrong here, but we recommend the chorizo, duck, and portobello tacos—three makes a good order size for lunch. Pair them with one of the many beers on draft or a specialty cocktail like the Oaxacan Firing Squad or Rum Trolley. |
| Admire the Arch | Downtown | Once you’re done with lunch, grab a cab downtown and spend a few minutes checking out the symbol of St. Louis, the Gateway Arch. It’s a triumph of engineering and, on a nice day, it’s also a great spot to walk. Later, stroll down Market Street and admire the urban sculpture park Citygarden just before arriving at your next destination. |
| Cheer On the Cardinals | 700 Clark Ave | An afternoon at the ballpark is relaxing and entertaining. St. Louis is a baseball town, and Busch Stadium provides a friendly atmosphere, a compelling game and (hopefully a win)—stop by to watch the Cardinals, who are often one of the best teams in the league. |
| Experience Asian Fusion Cuisine | 3825 Watson Rd | We only have a day to prove to you that St. Louis’s food scene is even more vibrant you expected. If you want something that’s affordable, unique, and just plain delicious, try Kounter Kulture. You’ll have to take your entrees to a picnic table at nearby Lindenwood Park (it’s takeout only) to enjoy them, but for food this good, you won’t regret it. Note that servings are large – if you still have room though, signature frozen custard spot Ted Drewes is close by and well-worth the trip. |
| Catch A Concert | 4195 Manchester Ave | St. Louis is filled with many top spots to see great live music. You could head back to the Loop and catch a mainstream act at The Pageant. Better yet, try an indie show at Off Broadway. After taking in an excellent show from an array of musical acts, you can explore its surroundings in the Cherokee Lemp District. |
| Take in Cherokee Street | Cherokee St | You’re already in the neighborhood, and Cherokee Street is one of the top nightlife destinations in the city. The events at 2720 Cherokee are nothing short of unique. Soak in the atmosphere (and many vodka options) of communist Russia-themed bar Propaganda, then head over the unconventional Fortune Teller Bar to get your future told. |
| Grab a Late Night Bite | 2901 Salena Ave. or 1618 S Broadway | It’s getting late, but the night is young in St. Louis. The city has plenty of solid late-night food to dine on, but we recommend two places. Benton Park Cafe serves a full menu of breakfast food, salads, soups, and sandwiches 24 hours Friday and Saturday. If you just want a quick dessert, John’s Donuts will do the trick. Then, head back to Moonrise, arriving around 2:30am. |
| Experience Eclipse | 6177 Delmar Blvd | You’re back where you started. But first, a nightcap. Your hotel is home to an excellent rooftop bar, Eclipse at Moonrise open until 3AM. You’ll have just enough time to sip a classic cocktail or a signature creation – like Buffy the Vodka Slayer or Dude, Where’s My Uber – and gaze at the Loop as it finally falls asleep eight stories below. |
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A Boston native, contributing editor Ben Szanton has embraced St. Louis but is still learning more about his new city by the day. A young entrepreneur and exercise enthusiast, he's always happy to share the new song he can't stop listening to or taco place he just discovered. He covers a wide range of St. Louis topics for SELECT.
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