The Best Luxury Hotels to Book in St. Louis

This lovely half-timbered guesthouse channels a Tudor vibe, with its diamond-paned windows and ornate, curtained headboards. Mod cons such as flatscreen TVs, Keurig coffee makers, and whizzy wifi are seamlessly blended in, as is a refreshing courtyard pool and a fitness studio for the daily workout crowd. The wicker chairs and striped parasols of its patio look out towards the leafy suburb of Clayton, home to upmarket fashion boutiques and ladies-who-lunch restaurants, as well as towering office buildings and the sprawling Shaw Park.

A serene rooftop pool terrace is the USP of the spendiest five-star hotel in St. Louis, with curtained cabanas, panoramic views of the Mississippi and St. Louis’ distinctive bridges, as well as a knockout cocktail bar. Coincide with the 4pm happy hour for bargain bites and beers in a high-glam setting, or wallow in all the little luxuries elsewhere: huge, glassy suites, a sky-level spa with couple’s treatments, aroma steam rooms and whirlpools, and James Beard Award-winning feasts at Cinder House restaurant.

The city’s Central West End district is characterized by leafy squares, historic mansions and grand university grounds, as well as upmarket jewelers and pavement cafes. The Chase Park Plaza is set in a distinctive 1920s tower with a glam, holiday-vibes pool terrace, complete with urban palm trees and ornate columns. The lobby is a jewelry-box wonder with chandeliers, objets d’art and vintage map murals of the area; check in for Tiffany-blue rooms with polished dark-wood furniture and elegant city views.

This vivid design hotel in the city’s arts and entertainment district is all color-blocked rooms in splashy paintbox shades: a cerulean double here, a butter-yellow suite there, with Impressionist-style flecked murals and eye-motif cushions that strike a balance between edgy and chic. Most popular with the youthful, creative crowd who crash here is the indoor-outdoor rooftop Art Bar, where you can also fuel up on brunch-y egg dishes before heading out to the sights.

Dining in a vast, private wine cellar is just one of the high-end delights available at the RC; it’s also the kind of place with a mahogany-hued cigar lounge, valet parking and service in every language. Big, richly upholstered suites in monochrome shades feel more like penthouse apartments, and a moneyed, international pack swans in and out to hop into private town cars — no city trolley for this lot.

Built into the former shell of one of the first luxury hotels in St. Louis, the 1917-built Statler, the Marriott Grand is in one of the handiest locations for sightseeing. Strolling distance from Union Station and Ballpark Village, its rooms are tasteful, contemporary little numbers with crisp white bedding and smart desks. A cheery little diner serves a buffet breakfast for an extra fee but, with plenty of options in the neighborhood, there’s no pressure to book it.

In a 1913 heritage building a couple of blocks from foodie-centric Washington Avenue, this bright and modern four-star hotel in St. Louis attracts a convention-center crowd but still has eye-grabbing wall murals and velveteen chaises longues in rooms. A smart little urban gym has chilled water and freshly laundered towels to ease you through your workout, while the included continental breakfast gets you out on the town refreshed and refueled. Book a high-floor room for dazzling city views.

There’s a sense of glamour from a bygone era at this centrally located crash pad, where movie star Cary Grant once hung his hat. Art deco mirrors and white-and-gold furniture have a boudoir feel, while lobby chandeliers drip with crystals and stained-glass windows dapple the light in the bar-lounge. Couples and old romantics will love the vintage touches and the proximity to the city’s brilliant Blues Museum.