Eat and drink your way across St. Louis
From Provel-topped thin crust to smoked ribs to a concrete on the way home, St. Louis is a food town that doesn't brag enough about it. Here's where to start.
The St. Louis essentials
The dishes that are ours alone. Order one of each and you'll understand the city by the time you're done.
Toasted ravioli
Breaded, fried, dusted with parmesan and dipped in marinara. Born on The Hill, and now on nearly every menu in town.
St. Louis-style pizza
Cracker-thin crust, Provel cheese, cut in squares. Start with Imo's, then pick a side in the great Provel debate.
Gooey butter cake
A dense, buttery accident of a cake that became the city's signature sweet. Have a slice with coffee and call it breakfast.
St. Louis-style ribs
Pork spare ribs trimmed square and smoked low and slow. Pappy's and Bogart's are the classics; Salt + Smoke goes hard on brisket.
Frozen custard & concretes
Thicker than ice cream, and handed to you upside down to prove it. Ted Drewes on Chippewa is the rite of passage.
Pork steaks
A cut you'll mostly find here: pork shoulder sliced into steaks, grilled, and finished in barbecue sauce. Pick some up at Soulard Market and fire up the grill.
Where a local actually goes
Patios, happy hours and cocktail bars I keep going back to, in my own words. Nobody paid to be on this list.
Jessica Swift, your Move2STL guide
Worth the drive
A few favorites out past the county line, for when you want to make an afternoon of it.
Happy hours, hours and menus change. Check the spot's own site before you head out.
Patios, rooftops & beer gardens
These are the spots locals mean when they say "let's sit outside."
- Broadway Oyster Bar. Cajun food and live music spilling out onto the patio, every night of the week.
- The Gramophone. Sandwiches and a back patio in The Grove.
- Urban Chestnut. A beer garden in Midtown and a big beer hall in The Grove. Pint, pretzel, stay a while.
- 9 Mile Garden. A food-truck garden in Affton with picnic tables and a stage. Built for groups.
- Ballpark Village. Rooftop drinks with a view into the ballpark, plus watch parties on game days.
- The Boathouse at Forest Park. Drinks by the water after a paddle around the lake.
Browse by craving or area
A starter list of local standbys that grows all the time. Own a spot that belongs here? Get listed.
1860 Saloon
A Soulard saloon with Cajun eats, live music every night, and a happy hour that draws the neighborhood.
4 Hands + Peacemaker Kirkwood
The Kirkwood taproom with Peacemaker Lobster & Crab running the kitchen, plus a large four-seasons patio.
4 Hands at The District
The Chesterfield taproom at The District entertainment complex (home of The Factory), with a patio out back.
4 Hands Brewing
One of the city's biggest craft names. The taproom has arcade games, a food counter and a front patio.
Arzola's Fajitas & Margaritas
Family-run Tex-Mex with fajitas done over a wood fire and margaritas that keep up.
Bastille
A laid-back Soulard gay bar on Russell Boulevard.
Benton Park Cafe & Coffee Bar
A neighborhood coffee bar and cafe on the edge of Benton Park.
Blues City Deli
Po' boys and piled-high sandwiches, with blues on the speakers and sometimes the stage.
Bogart's Smokehouse
Smoked over apricot and cherry wood, plus some of the best baked beans anywhere.
Broadway Oyster Bar
Cajun and Creole food, a legendary patio, and live music every single night.
Carson's Sports Bar & Restaurant
A classic sports-watching hangout with a grill menu and karaoke three nights a week.
City Foundry STL
A food hall with a dozen-plus local vendors under one roof, plus a market and games.
Crown Candy Kitchen
A malt shop running since 1913. The malts are enormous; the BLT is a quiet local legend.
El Milagro Azteca
Mexican restaurant on Southwest Avenue with a big patio and a weekday happy hour.
Ferguson Chophouse
An American steakhouse on South Florissant Road in downtown Ferguson, open evenings.
Frazer's Restaurant & Lounge
A Benton Park anchor since 1992, with a globe-trotting menu, a sunny dining room, patio and street-side seating.
The Gin Room
A gin-focused cocktail bar on South Grand with a patio, happy hours and events.
Good News Brewing Ferguson
House-brewed beer and upscale pub fare in a refurbished space on South Florissant Road.
Hammerstone's
The Soulard blues bar. Live music seven nights a week and a year-round patio with a stage.
HandleBar
A bike-themed bar in The Grove with a big patio, happy hour, trivia and dance nights.
Hodak's Restaurant & Bar
A St. Louis fried chicken institution serving crispy bird since 1962.
Imo's Pizza
St. Louis-style thin crust with Provel, square-cut. The taste of home for any local.
International Tap House Soulard
A craft beer bar with one of the biggest tap lists in town and a patio out front.
The Island
A tropical-theme spot for frozen yogurt, smoothies, and slushy adult beverages. Kid-friendly.
John D. McGurk's Irish Pub
The Soulard Irish pub with a two-tier garden patio, koi pond, fountain and live Irish music.
Kaldi's Coffee
The St. Louis roaster that has been fueling the city's mornings for decades.
Loba & Lore
A Midtown cocktail bar with inventive drinks, small bites and original art on every wall.
Milque Toast
A tiny brunch spot with a cult following, creative sandwiches and coffee, plus a small patio.
Molly's in Soulard
A friendly Soulard bar with a dog-friendly patio, good drinks and a neighborhood feel.
Nathaniel Reid Bakery
Nationally recognized pastries and croissants in Kirkwood. Get there early.
Oak & Front
A restaurant and bar on Front Street in Washington, Missouri, with events, happy hour and Sunday brunch.
Pappy's Smokehouse
The line out the door says it all. Ribs, burnt ends, and pit beans done right.
Peacemaker Lobster & Crab
Kevin Nashan's seafood spot on Sidney Street, with lobster rolls, oyster baskets and a front patio.
Pizzeoli Wood Fired Pizza
Naples-style wood-fired pizza with vegetarian and vegan toppings, plus beer and wine.
Point Labaddie Brewery
A destination brewery west of St. Louis with trivia and lots of events.
Schlafly Tap Room
The original St. Louis craft brewery. Free tours, and the Oyster Bar out back.
Sidney Street Cafe
An elegant special-occasion spot in a century-old storefront, from the same kitchen as Peacemaker.
Sugar Creek Winery
A wine-country winery in Defiance with Judgement Tree Distillery on site.
Sump Coffee
Serious single-origin espresso, minimalist room, worth the trip to South City.
Ted Drewes Frozen Custard
The frozen custard concrete that ends every St. Louis summer. Christmas lights stay up all year.
Tucker's Place
A homey steakhouse known for its house salad dressing and happy hour, plus pizza and sandwiches.
Urban Chestnut Brewing
German-leaning craft beer in a big, welcoming beer hall. URB helped start it all.
Venice Cafe
A cash-only art bar that is more living art installation than cafe. Mosaics everywhere, live music most nights, and a patio open year round.
Hours and specials change, so confirm with the spot before you go. Listings link to each place's own site.
Looking for a neighborhood to match the menu?
If the restaurants keep pulling you back to a certain corner of St. Louis, I can help you find a place a few blocks from it.