What Locals Eat in St. Louis: Every Meal Broken Down
St. Louis is one of the most underrated food cities in the country, and I’m not taking questions. If you’re trying to figure out what to eat in St. Louis, you’re in the right place.
Hannah and I lived in St. Louis for three years, and our favorite hobby the whole time was trying new food. New brunch spot? We were there. Someone mentions a cheesecake shop? On the list. So this guide is basically three years of very happy research. This is also where we bought a Peleton, because we were eating so much…
It’s broken down by breakfast, lunch, and dinner (plus dessert, because obviously), with the neighborhood and address for every spot so you can plan around where you’re staying. There’s a map at the bottom with everything pinned.
Nobody paid us to say any of this. We just really like to eat, so you can trust us.. 😋 This is just a glimpse into our list of food. If you want our personal list, drop us a comment and we will get it to you!
Jump to: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner · Dessert · Must-try St. Louis foods · Map · FAQ
Where to Eat Breakfast in St. Louis
St. Louis does breakfast right. Big plates, good coffee, and at least one spot where you can drink your latte on a swing.
Park Avenue Coffee
Lafayette Square · 1919 Park Ave
You can’t leave St. Louis without trying gooey butter cake, and this is the place to do it. Park Avenue Coffee bakes more than 70 flavors from a family recipe. Get a coffee and a square (or three) and take a walk through Lafayette Park across the street.
Order: the classic gooey butter cake, plus one wild flavor just to say you did.
Southwest Diner
Ellendale · 6803 Southwest Ave
Come hungry. This diner mixes New Mexico flavors with a St. Louis classic, the slinger. Theirs is two burger patties, home fries, two eggs, chile, and cheese, all on one plate. Ask for it Christmas style and you get red and green chile.
Order: the Southwest Slinger, Christmas style. Or the buttermilk cornmeal pancakes if you’d still like to function after.
Hatch’d
Princeton Heights · 6931 Gravois Ave
A cozy, locally owned brunch spot in South City, run by a father and son. The brioche French toast (Monte Crisco) comes out as two slices so thick you’ll laugh, with powdered sugar on top and syrup on the side. I got grits with mine and have zero regrets. They close in the early afternoon, so don’t sleep in.
Order: the brioche French toast. The half order is one giant slice if you want room for something else.
Latte Lounge + HG Eatery
Downtown West · 2617 Washington Ave
Two words: latte FLIGHT. Five little lattes on a wooden board (latte, turtle, macchiato, cinnamon, and white mocha), hot or iced. Grab a seat at the swing bar, yes actual swings, and work your way down the line. It’s a Black-owned, father and daughter brunch spot, and the original Latte Lounge is up in Florissant if you’re staying north.
Order: the latte flight. The owner says the cinnamon and turtle are the best pair, and I trust her.
Best Lunch Spots in St. Louis
Lunch in St. Louis means a sandwich with over 100 years of history, barbecue worth waiting for, and an old school soda fountain. Wear the stretchy pants.
Gioia’s Deli
The Hill · 1934 Macklind Ave
Gioia’s has been on The Hill since 1918, and it was the first St. Louis restaurant ever named a James Beard America’s Classic. The move here is the hot salami, sliced right in front of you and piled onto bread from Fazio’s Bakery.
Order: the hot salami, dressed however you like.
Pappy’s Smokehouse
Midtown · 3106 Olive St
Memphis-style barbecue that people happily line up for. The ribs are why you’re here. Pappy’s closes by early evening and is closed on Tuesdays, so go early.
Order: the ribs.
Crown Candy Kitchen
Old North St. Louis · 1401 St. Louis Ave
A family-owned soda fountain that’s been open since 1913. Homemade ice cream, hand-dipped chocolates, thick malts, and a famous BLT stacked with so much bacon it’s basically a dare. It’s open Monday through Saturday and closed on Sundays.
Order: a malt and the BLT. Split them if you must.
Where to Eat Dinner in St. Louis
Dinner is where St. Louis really shows off. These are the spots for date night, a celebration, or a “we have a babysitter, let’s GO” kind of evening.
Basso
Hi-Pointe · 7036 Clayton Ave (inside The Cheshire)
A cozy basement Italian pub under The Cheshire hotel, with house-made pasta, wood-fired pizza, and a big Italian wine list. It’s dark and warm and made for date night. We started with the meatballs, which showed up under a snowfall of grated cheese, and a glass of rosé.
Order: the meatballs to start, then the mafalda, their signature pasta with a beef and pork ragu.
Charlie Gitto’s On the Hill
The Hill · 5226 Shaw Ave
You can’t talk about St. Louis food without toasted ravioli, and this is one of the places that claims to have invented it. The story goes that back when the restaurant was called Angelo’s, a chef accidentally dropped ravioli into hot oil. Best mistake ever. It’s classic, old school Italian on The Hill.
Order: the toasted ravioli, obviously. Then a big bowl of pasta.
Ramsay’s Kitchen
Downtown · 999 N 2nd St (Four Seasons Hotel)
Gordon Ramsay’s first St. Louis restaurant is up on the eighth floor of the Four Seasons, with views of the Gateway Arch and the Mississippi River. We ate on the patio, and honestly the view did half the work. The filet did the other half.
Order: a steak, with a table outside if the weather’s on your side. Book ahead, it’s a popular one.
Polite Society
Lafayette Square · 1923 Park Ave
A warm neighborhood restaurant in one of the prettiest parts of the city. Our plate: a perfectly cooked steak, a cup of crispy frites with sauce for dipping, and Brussels sprouts we still talk about. They do dinner every night and brunch on weekends.
Make it a night: dinner here, then walk over to Clementine’s for ice cream. They’re both in Lafayette Square.
Save Room for Dessert in St. Louis
We would never let you leave without dessert. These are the sweet stops worth planning your day around.
Hank’s Cheesecakes
Richmond Heights · 1063 S Big Bend Blvd
A locally owned cheesecake shop with a glass case full of flavors, from classic to double chocolate to amaretto caramel. Picking just one is the hardest part of your day. There’s a second shop at 5390 Southwest Ave, too.
Order: one slice to eat now and one for later. You’ll thank me.
Clementine’s Naughty & Nice Creamery
Lafayette Square · 1637 S 18th St (plus more locations around town)
Small-batch ice cream with a twist. The “nice” flavors are for everyone, and the “naughty” ones are spiked with liquor, so bring your ID for those. Ours came in a cup with waffle cone pieces tucked in, which is the correct way to eat ice cream. I don’t make the rules.
Order: one naughty scoop, one nice. It’s called balance.
Ted Drewes Frozen Custard
St. Louis Hills · 6726 Chippewa St
A St. Louis tradition since 1929, right on historic Route 66. Order a concrete, frozen custard blended so thick they hand it to you upside down. The Chippewa stand is open every month except January, and in December it sells Christmas trees too.
Order: a concrete. Flavor is your call.
St. Louis Foods You Have to Try
Making a St. Louis food bucket list? Here’s what to eat in St. Louis if you want the real local experience.
- Toasted ravioli. Breaded, fried ravioli with marinara for dipping. Try it at Charlie Gitto’s.
- Gooey butter cake. Rich, sweet, buttery, and a St. Louis original. Try it at Park Avenue Coffee.
- St. Louis-style pizza. Cracker-thin crust, gooey Provel cheese, and cut into squares instead of slices. Imo’s is the classic.
- The slinger. Eggs, potatoes, a burger patty, chili, and cheese on one plate. Try it at Southwest Diner.
- Hot salami. The sandwich that put Gioia’s on the map.
- A concrete. Frozen custard so thick it’s served upside down. Get it at Ted Drewes.
- The St. Paul sandwich. An egg foo young patty on white bread with pickles, onion, lettuce, tomato, and mayo. You’ll find it at Chinese takeout spots all over town.
Map of Our Favorite St. Louis Food Spots
Here’s every spot from this post in one place. Tap a pin to see the address and get directions, or filter by meal. Screenshot it for the group chat!
Our St. Louis food map
Every spot from this guide. Tap a pin or a name for directions.
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Dessert
St. Louis Food FAQ
Toasted ravioli, gooey butter cake, St. Louis-style pizza with Provel cheese, the slinger, frozen custard concretes, and the St. Paul sandwich. Barbecue is a big deal here too.
The Hill is the classic pick for Italian. Lafayette Square is perfect for a walkable night out, with Polite Society, Park Avenue Coffee, and Clementine’s all close together. South City is full of great breakfast spots and diners.
For Ramsay’s Kitchen, yes, book ahead. Polite Society and Charlie Gitto’s are worth reserving on weekends. Casual spots like Gioia’s, Pappy’s, Crown Candy, and Ted Drewes are walk-in, so just go early.
Almost. The Chippewa location on Route 66 is open every month except January.
The casual spots are your best friends with little ones: Hatch’d, Southwest Diner, Gioia’s, Pappy’s, Crown Candy, Hank’s, and Ted Drewes. Save Ramsay’s Kitchen and Basso for date night.
Okay, Go Get Hungry
That’s our list. Three years of “let’s try somewhere new” in one post. Pick a spot from each section, save room for dessert, and you’ll eat better in St. Louis than most people who live here.
Got a free day? Read about our fall day trip to Eckert’s Farm, an easy drive from the city. Traveling with a baby? Here’s what we learned taking our 2-month-old to Boston.
Tell us your favorite St. Louis spot by sending us a message on Instagram. We’re always looking for an excuse to come back. 🤍
Pin this post so it’s ready for your next St. Louis trip!
Not so Fun Adult Things
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