The Best Pet-Friendly Hotels in St Louis, Missouri

Fluffy robes, chocolates on your pillow and cookies at bedtime add an element of “ooh” to your stay at the elegantly restored Magnolia Hotel. As it happens, it was here that film star Cary Grant purportedly started the chocolate on the pillow tradition when he was trying to lure a lover to his bed. While chocolate isn’t going to do it for your dog (indeed, the two aren’t ideal bedfellows), the hotel provides dog-friendly treats instead.

Cool and quirky, this boutique bolthole fits right into the Delmar Loop, a vibrant entertainment, dining and shopping district (look for the green “dog-friendly” paw icon in the windows of shops and eateries to know whether your pooch is welcome). An intergalactic aesthetic runs throughout here – think multicolor lighted staircase, rare space memorabilia, lunar toys and figurines. One floor is entirely dedicated to dog stays, with guests gifted a Moonrise doggie bandana and house-made pet treats on arrival.

Set on the banks of the Mississippi, dappled in the dazzling reflected sunlight from the iconic Gateway Arch, it’s hard to beat the landmark location of the Four Seasons, which feels more resort than city hotel. Think cocktail demos and outdoor firepits, private cabanas around a rooftop pool, sophisticated al fresco dining, plus private entertainment suites with virtual simulators offering golf and baseball. But it’s not all about you. Four-legged guests receive a dog bed, food and water bowls, treats, and bottled water at check-in.

Looking for an extended stay in St Louis with your dog? Element offers pet-friendly suites with fully equipped kitchens. Health and wellbeing is the driving force here. Free breakfasts of granola and fresh fruit come as standard, and there’s an on-site “pantry” selling healthy snacks. If you aren’t walking the pup, you can borrow a bike from reception, or take a dip in the saltwater indoor pool – an eco- and skin-friendly alternative to chlorine.

If your dog could book their own accommodation, this would probably be it. For starters, this historic red-brick building is right across the street from a beautiful 14-acre (5.5ha) park – perfect for morning walkies. The laid-back Benton Park neighborhood has loads of restaurants, coffee shops and a couple of breweries. What you might miss in proximity to the major downtown attractions, the hotel more than makes up for in original period features, thoughtful touches and friendly, personal service.

Old World glamour awaits you and your hound at Chase Park Plaza – a destination in its own right. This elegant, 1920s art deco gem has been a playground for Hollywood icons and US presidents (and some of their dogs) for more than 100 years. To make Jerry Lewis’s Las Vegas-raised dogs feel more at home, hotel staff even created a doggie desert, complete with potted palm trees for them. Pets aside, expect sweeping staircases, a historical cinema, and a pool with fountains.

The Pampered Pooch package at the Ritz includes the provision of a plush, in-room pet bed, food and water bowls and a special keepsake pet toy. Forgot your leash? Borrow one for walkies around the very pet-friendly enclave of Clayton, where five parks lie within a mile of the hotel. Inside you can enjoy fine dining in the largest wine cellar in the city, a relaxing spa and the convenience of the Ritz Kids club, or just bask in the pared-back elegance of your room.

Ever booked a hotel room based on color alone? The Angad Arts Hotel has a décor to suit every sensibility. In need of rejuvenation? Choose a green-themed room, designed to increase your levels of serotonin. Want a mood boost? Go for yellow, complete with smiley face whoopee cushions. The pup package includes a doggie tennis ball that coordinates with your chosen room color, and the hotel donates $25 to the local stray dog shelter with every booking.

Combining function with flair and finesse, this Marriott offers occupies an 1893 landmark building in the beating heart of Downtown. Its showstopper feature is the vast, kaleidoscopic stained-glass skylight that caps the elegant marble-tiled lobby. The full spa, rooftop pool and top-floor bar will keep you entertained – not that you’ll need it. Many of the city highlights and great restaurants are walkable from the front door. Two dogs are allowed per room.