The Best Hotels for a City Break in St Louis, Missouri

Roll into St Louis with grandeur by checking into the Union Station Hotel by Hilton. This iconic 19th-century station building will dazzle you – and not just with its nightly 3D light show that tells the building’s tale via 30 vignettes, projected onto the restored Grand Hall’s 65ft (20m) ceiling. Pass by the 100ft (30m) waterfall as the concierge wheels your luggage to a fountain-view suite in the Grand Hall Wing. Guests in these executive rooms get access to the Concierge Lounge for free meals to start and end the day.

As you gaze at the Gateway Arch and the mighty Mississippi River from your private poolside cabana on the Sky Terrace, you’ll relax without worry – knowing that the babysitting services at the Four Seasons are taking special care of your little ones. How will you fill these serene hours of solitude? Massages at the full-service Spa Relaxation Lounge are never regrettable, but the temptation to visit the Topgolf Swing Suite – the eighth-floor games simulator – may convince you to loosen up your muscles without the rub down.

A quiet, luxurious stay in St Louis is a walk in the park at Fleur-de-Lys Mansion. The storied Compton Hill Reservoir Park is right across the street, but if you don’t fancy a stroll you’re welcome to sip your morning coffee in the mansion’s private garden. Double down on relaxation and slip into the hot tub, or make the arduous few paces from your 600-thread count sheets to the hotel’s coffee and cookie bar.

Live! by Loews knocks your trip to St Louis out of the park. Standing on the home plate of Ballpark Village, you can see Busch Stadium, the Gateway Arch, and downtown from the balcony of your spacious king suite. If you agree that there’s no such thing as too much bourbon, then you’ll be in fine company with a private tasting surrounded by a library full of spirits in the Clark & Bourbon’s Whiskey Room.

Walking into the Cheshire is like stepping into a classic novel. Your most difficult decision won’t be which of the three restaurants to dine at, but rather, which of the six literary-themed rooms to call home for the night. The suave bachelor will want the James Bond room, while star-crossed lovers will only need each other’s company in the Romeo and Juliet room. Even if you don’t choose the Treasure Island room, you’ll still find a trove of chocolates, Acca Kappa bath products, and a literary classic waiting for you in each novelty suite.

Your first destination for VIP treatment in St Louis? The Last Hotel, where you can make a little room for greatness in their Presidential or Governor’s suites. Both feature oversize bathrooms worthy of POTUS, with custom subway-tiled walk-in showers, in-room minibars, and original barrel-vaulted ceilings. With an address in the Washington Avenue Garment District, this former home of the International Shoe Company puts you within a few steps of the warehouse-housed City Museum, Blondie’s Coffee & Wine Bar, and Europe Night Club.

Convenience, comfort, and customized service await you at the Westin. Centrally located, steps from Busch Stadium and the Gateway Arch, this hotel lays the best of downtown at your feet. Hop from the hotel right onto the MetroLink light rail and explore the city in an instant, or hang back and dive into a handmade pie at Quattro Trattoria + Pizzeria. With oversized loft-style suites at the hotel, you’ve got plenty of room to relax before heading out.

If the words “rooftop penthouse bar” are all you need to hear, then you’ll be convinced to book a room at Hotel Indigo. There are a few other words that might raise your curiosity, such as “pet-friendly”, “downtown parking”, and “king suite with living area”. With the Gateway Arch a half-mile away, these downtown digs will introduce you to the city with ease. All you need to do is say “yes, please”.

Let your inner creative paint St Louis red during your stay at Angad Arts Hotel. Each room is designed with a specific single-color aesthetic. Seek out more creative inspiration at the AAH! Tonight events (art tours, exhibitions, and more) or watch the sky paint an evening portrait with cocktails at the rooftop Art Bar. Finally, chase St Louis’ culture by stepping outside to find the Contemporary Art Museum, Powell Hall concert venue, The Fabulous Fox theater and Jazz St Louis.

Though it’s right off of Interstate 55, you’ll feel like you’re deep in the Ozarks at Lodge at Grant’s Trail. This ultra-cozy, rustic bed and breakfast greets you in the Great Room with a crackling fireplace, elk-antler chandelier, and three-storey window wall, gazing out at Grant’s Trail. Warm and welcoming furnishings and whirlpool tubs wait for you in each suite, convincing you to cuddle up, even in the height of summer.