Where to Stay in St. Louis, Missouri

A historical holiday in St. Louis begins with a stay at the Fleur-de-Lys Mansion. As elegant and welcoming as its hosts, you’ll settle into this small bed and breakfast so quickly it’ll feel like you’ve spent summers here since it first opened its doors a century ago. A gourmet breakfast made from scratch can be followed by coffee in the front garden and a mid-morning walk through Compton Hill Reservoir Park.

Is the spirit of St. Louis better felt with a Missouri red rock or Missouri black walnut massage? Schedule both at the Ritz-Carlton Spa just to be sure. Your relaxing weekend will lead you from the massage table to the dine-in wine cellar, the spirit-filled Cigar Club, then finally to your private balcony with skyline views. When the sun shines on St. Louis in the morning, it will illuminate more than 80 shops and restaurants all at your fingertips.

There are three reasons why the Last Hotel should be your first choice in St. Louis. First, it’s within a 1mi (1.6km) walk of Busch Stadium, which is a home run in our book. Second, the original brickwork and ornate furnishings will welcome you with a warm embrace every time you set foot in the room. Finally, the rooftop pool and bar gives you a bird’s-eye view of downtown, where you can count out all of the reasons why St. Louis is the best in the Midwest.

The Gateway Arch is gorgeous, but there’s just something about the St. Louis Union Station Hotel that we think will give you the fondest memories of the Gateway to the West. Maybe it’s the historic charm of this century-old building. It could be the brilliant 3D light show with accompanying flames and waterfalls or the framed artwork, photography and newspaper clippings detailing the history of the city in every suite. Whatever it may be, it’s something you’ll wish you hadn’t missed.

In town for a Blues hockey game on a budget? Drury Inn & Suites has you covered in the crease. Pregame beers, mixed drinks and appetizers are served up between 5:30pm and 7pm every evening. Throw on your sweater and catch the bus right across the street that’ll take you down to the Enterprise Center. Win or lose, Drury Inn & Suites will have a hot hangover breakfast waiting for you in the morning.

Since you’ll see the Mississippi River when you take a selfie at the Gateway Arch, let DoubleTree by Hilton introduce you to the Missouri River as well. Though you’re 20 minutes from the city, you can just as quickly cruise to River’s Edge Park for a hike without the crowds. It may look like a tempting place for a swim, but we recommend waiting until you’re back at DoubleTree’s pool to dive in.

The former Parkway Hotel will spoil you with their prime location: the city’s art museum, zoo, skating rink and science center join a golf course, tennis center and dozens of trails right across the street at Forest Park. You can just as easily hop on the Central West End train stop and book it to the airport, the Gateway Arch or even across the river to Illinois if you need to check the Prairie State off your list.

There’s no point in trying to convince you to choose one suite over another at the Cheshire. Regardless if you choose the Death on the Nile suite overlooking the pool or the Treasure Island suite with a jacuzzi tub, you’re ultimately going to make your way down to the Fox and Hounds for a proper pint of the black stuff. If we may make a suggestion, though: your partner will probably appreciate the Romeo and Juliet room more than the James Bond room.

Your business trip just got a whole lot easier at the Wildwood Hotel, which sits about 30mi (48km) west of downtown St. Louis in nearby Wildwood. Only 30 minutes from the airport, the stylish suites with separate living and sleeping areas give you plenty of room to work. Stay looking fit and fresh with access to a 24-hour laundry facility and fitness center, and kickstart your day with fresh coffee and the daily newspaper in the lobby. Got a business meeting planned on the links? Head to Topgolf and practice your long drive.