From places serving classic Provençal-inspired fare to spicy delights and incredible rooftop venues with unforgettable views over the city, here are the best restaurants for every occasion in St Louis,
Missouri.
Bogart’s Smokehouse
Bar, American, $$$
Bogart’s Smokehouse
Bringing barbecued meats to a whole new dimension, the team at Bogart’s Smokehouse are determined to cook the sweetest, smokiest meats in their grill pit. Whether you are after melt-in-the-mouth pulled-pork, succulent smoky-beef brisket, aromatic apricot bruléed ribs, tender turkey, tangy smoked prime rib or fine strips of pastrami, Bogart’s has the dish for you. All of the meats are available with a choice of sides including pit-baked beans, devilled-egg potato salad, BBQ pork skins and apple sauce, as well as a choice of tangy, sweet and smoky sauces. Bogart’s also offers a take-out service and a choice of meats available by the pound, perfect for family picnics.
Bogart’s Smokehouse, 1627 S 9th Street, St. Louis, MO, USA, +1 314 621 3107
Broadway Oyster Bar
Featuring live music seven nights a week, the Broadway Oyster Bar is like nowhere else in St. Louis. Voted one of the best restaurants in the entire USA, Broadway is a Cajun-Creole restaurant that doubles as a bar and gig venue. Famous for its fresh seafood specials and authentic Creole cuisine, try the fried alligator and boiled crawfish appetisers, followed by the oyster medley and jambalaya main courses. A dive bar in décor, this restaurant is perfectly rustic and oozes that much-loved New Orleans style. A place to party as well as to eat, check out the music schedule to see who is playing next.
Broadway Oyster Bar, 736 S Broadway, St. Louis, MO, USA, +1 314 621 8811
Cielo Restaurant and Bar
Situated on the eighth floor of the Four Seasons St. Louis, Cielo offers unbeatable sweeping views across St. Louis’ cityscape from every table. The restaurant serves delectable modern Italian cuisine, complete with a grand selection of both Italian and Californian wines. Making the most of locally available ingredients, the menu at Cielo is seasonal and is the creative work of executive chef Gian Nicola Colucci. Order a selection of small plates to share, such as the bruschetta, crispy sweetbreads and blue-crab salad. Or do as the Italians would and opt for the traditional three courses, beginning with a selection of antipasti, followed by a pasta or risotto dish, and finished with a fish or meat course.
Cielo Restaurant & Bar, Four Seasons St Louis, 999 North 2nd Street, St. Louis, MO, USA, +1 314 881 2105
The Crossing
A restaurant worthy of indulging, The Crossing takes its inspiration from Italy and France but uses the best of local produce, vegetables, meats and seafood to create its fusion dishes. The chef created his unique tasting menus to encourage diners to eat slowly, savour every taste and sample multiple dishes upon every visit to The Crossing. The premium tasting menu is simply outstanding, and includes such delicacies as tagliatelle, Spanish octopus and foie gras; the entrée consists of sea-scallops shiitake, yellowfin tuna parsnips, Moroccan-spiced lamb loin and beef tenderloin. Then finally, for dessert a medley of fried apple pie, prosecco panna cotta, almond-oat crumble and nectarine cobbler is served.
The Crossing, 7823 Forsyth Blvd, Clayton, St. Louis, MO, USA, +1 314 721 7375
Element
Located on the top two floors of a former power-plant, concept restaurant Element provides guests with a charming open-air rooftop terrace on which they can enjoy a unique and delicious meal. The menu at Element features a variety of contemporary American dishes that are prepared using locally sourced ingredients and produce wherever possible. Dare to try something new such as the sweetbreads with bacon, oyster mushrooms, sage and black ipa mousse, or stick with something more traditional but equally as tasty, such as the pork chop with a smoked bourbon apple sauce.
Element, 1419 Carroll Street, St. Louis, MO, USA, +1 314 241 1674
The Fountain on Locust
Bar, Ice Cream Parlour, Restaurant, American, $$$
The Fountain on Locust
No trip to St. Louis is complete without a stop at The Fountain on Locust. Missouri’s very own award-winning ice cream parlour for adults, Fountain on Locust serves a variety of homemade café-style grub dishes, but what really draws in the crowds are the retro desserts and drinks. The ice cream martini is the most delicious cocktail imaginable, and the champagne floats will reassure you that desserts aren’t just for kids. Food and drinks aside, the quirky restaurant is also famed for the hand-painted art deco interior that surrounds the entire eatery. Guests can sit at the bar with a cocktail and a plate of pita and hummus, or take a seat in a booth to listen to the restaurant’s own radio comedy serial ‘Soap Hospital’ while they eat. Lovers of fizzy drinks should try Fountain on Locust’s homemade old-fashioned phosphate sodas too.
The Fountain on Locust, 3037 Locust Street, Midtown, St. Louis, MO, USA, +1 314 535 7800
Hendel’s Restaurant
This cosy, family-run eatery is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year and is still as inviting and successful as ever. Hendel’s Restaurant features a custom-made oak bar where guests are welcome to sit whilst enjoying a glass of wine from the extensive estate selection, a jug of craft beer or a perfectly mixed speciality drink. Over in the dining area, stop by for a Hendel burger or a slice of quiche at lunchtime, order the raspberry pork, sautéed tilapia or Cajun carbonara for dinner. The Sunday brunch is also a firm favourite among locals, with both the cured ham and roasted asparagus frittata and the crab-cake eggs Benedict being superb choices. Hendel’s keeps its guests entertained every Friday and Saturday evening with live music.
Hendel’s Restaurant, 599 St. Denis Street, Old Town Florissant, St. Louis, MO, USA, +1 314 837 2304
Home Wine Kitchen
Tucked away in the St. Louis suburb of Maplewood, the Home Wine Kitchen is a gorgeous and welcoming restaurant co-owned by Head Chef Cassy Vires. The menu changes weekly, keeping things fresh and creative in the kitchen. On Mondays there is no menu at all, as guests tuck into whatever delectable dishes Cassy feels like preparing that day. Not for fuss-pots, the Home Wine Kitchen is the true foodie’s dream. Expect dishes such as bruschetta with apple, mustard, caramelised onion, and lardo; veal sirloin with wild mushrooms, cream, vinegar, green onion, egg yolks, and grits; and yellow squash with bacon, polenta, and tomato. Each week the menu can be viewed online, and diners always have the choice of going with a fixed price three- or four-course option as well as the a la carte.
Home Wine Kitchen, 7322 Manchester Road, St Louis, MO, USA, +1 314 802 7676
Niche
Run by two highly respected executive chefs, Niche specialises in classic new-American cuisine with a contemporary twist. Focusing on creating truly delicious dishes using humble ingredients, Chefs Gerard Craft and Adam Altnether are incredibly passionate about native Missouri produce. Diners get to taste their offerings in a relaxing yet stylish restaurant, perfect for romantic and celebratory meals. For a one- or two-course meal, simply choose the most tempting dishes from the a la carte menu, but for something truly special opt for the four-course option. Starting with zucchini soup, order the quail with eggplant for the second course, the red snapper with celery root for the third course, and finish with homemade camembert for dessert.
Niche, 7734 Forsyth Boulevard, Clayton, St. Louis, MO, USA, +1 314 773 7755
One 19 North
A cosy and inviting tapas restaurant in the heart of downtown Kirkwood, One 19 North is run by a husband and wife team with a strong love for these little Spanish plates. Inside the restaurant, sleek dark wood abounds, and stucco walls and exposed brick help create an undeniably Spanish feel, despite the American influences clearly visible on the menu. With so many tapas dishes to choose from, the only thing to do is order two to three each and share them. The crispy artichoke hearts, pan-seared sea-scallops, grilled lamb chops, beef carpaccio and grilled Brussels sprouts are all fantastic choices.
One 19 North, 119 North Kirkwood Road, Kirkwood, St. Louis, MO, USA, +1 314 821 4119
