St. Louis has every type of neighborhood: the quaint, the secluded, the rugged and the hip. If you’re looking for luxury, the following are some of the top areas to visit. We asked local residents of each to share why they love where they live.
clayton
“When we moved from Chicago to St. Louis, I wasn’t ready to give up the walkability we had to so many restaurants and shops. So when we found Clayton, I was ecstatic we had found an adorable neighborhood with close proximity to so many great, local spots! We love walking to Half & Half for brunch, or Pastaria for an early dinner out with the kids. I also love adorable DeMun Avenue because it has it all: I can grab a latte at Kaldi’s and a veggie-filled lunch at Seedz Cafe and make a stop at the newly renovated DeMun Park so the kids can play. For date night, we head to Bar Les Freres for drinks, followed by dinner across the street at I Fratellini—it’s arguably one of the most romantic spots in the city, and the food is always incredible. On Sunday mornings we can be found on Bemiston Avenue outside the fire department watching the firefighters test their equipment. The event draws a small crowd, and it’s a weekly favorite for the kids!”
—Lori Holtzman
chesterfield/wildwood
“We love living in Wildwood because the area is quiet and surrounded by trees and beautiful parks. The schools are great, and the people are kind, warm and welcoming. There are shops, restaurants and everything you need within reach, all while feeling like you’re far, far away from city life. Some of our favorite places to eat in Chesterfield are Bishop’s Post (it has a great outdoor patio!) and of course, Annie Gunn’s. It’s a classic fine dining choice with a great bar scene. In Wildwood, we frequent Table Three because we love the ambiance, and it’s our go-to spot for drinks and dessert! Big Chief is perfect for casual dining, and there is plenty of outdoor seating.”
—Jana Metter
town & country
“Town & Country is as beautiful as its residents are wonderful! We are lucky to have such kind, helpful, selfless and down-to-earth neighbors. For dinner, try Country Club Bar and Grill. I really like this place. It’s laid back, and you can see folks there you know are regulars. It’s kind of like Cheers (for them it seems), but nobody knows my name because I don’t go there enough! If I am ever in a place in my life where I can just hang out and drink at a bar every day, this is where I’ll start. I dream about a tomato basil soup I had there once. I was tempted to order a second bowl. Amazing! Another favorite spot is Yellowstone Cafe. Order the delicious and always-perfect Yellowstone walleye fillet … it’s crispy fried (but not greasy), tender, flaky goodness.
They just opened the new town square. It’s a great place to gather with its wide-open spaces; paved, winding pathways through lush, green grass; sculptures; water trickling through and leading to a lake; and a tunnel for safe passage under Clayton Road. There is an adorable, modern country retail space that hopefully will be filled soon with some family-friendly places to eat and play. We’re excited for what’s to come! If I could, I’d move my photography studio there. Also right there is the Mason Woods Village Shopping Center, which has some essentials: cute boutiques, Straub’s, Starbucks and a more high-end restaurant. Longview Park is a favorite to walk to as a family. Its big red barn and horses roaming the field surrounded by white fencing is picture-perfect as you drive along Clayton Road.
—Dana Dieckmann
frontenac/ladue
“When we first moved to the StL three years ago from the charming village of Alexandria, Virginia, I was lost. Our adorable cottage rental on Conway Road abutted Lindbergh Boulevard and had zero strolling potential like I was used to. But Spoede Road actually provides a foot-friendly way into the delights of Frontenac. Now we live in Ladue proper, and I’ve found favorites here, too!
For Jack and Mommy mornings, we wander to St. Louis County Library headquarters, a treat for both me and my toddler buddy, who can do puzzles, sit in on story time, and make new friends in the substantial children’s area. After that, Tints Polish in the Shops on the Plaza is an instant pick-me-up. With no harsh smells or chemicals, I enjoy a quick color change with naturally infused water or hot tea. Pizza and salad make everyone in our family happy, so we like an early dinner at Sugo’s/Via Vino (one side more casual, both sides delicious). A tween to toddler fav is Conway Park, nestled off Conway Road. It has a fantastic playground, tennis courts, dog park and walking path.
Saturday mornings in my perfect world involve someone bringing me a perfectly toasted everything bagel from Kohn’s Deli (magical) and coffee from Coma (if only there was one in the area!). But to stay close, we often enter the Bavarian world of breakfast at Schneithorst’s. Sort of old school, it’s not rushed or crowded— particularly cozy in winter, too, with the fireplace.
A delightful run-in for my husband’s sandwich addiction is Truffles Butchery on Clayton Road with its insanely huge custom sandwiches and small shop with amazing flavored salts and other divinities. Whenever I need a quick treat for a friend, I go to Shine Boutique, and just down the way, ring the bell at Imagination Toys where there is—amazingly—something fun for every age. Also right there is Dottie’s Flour Shop with homemade pies, trinkets and cooking wares.
I’ve dropped my tween off with a friend at hipsterinspired Deer Creek Coffee to ‘study’ big-girl style and popped into Giddyup Jane, a funky clothing boutique. (I’ve found items even my cooler-than-thou daughter admired!) And the Sign of the Arrow down the row is adorable, whether you want to needlepoint a quick wallet or just grab some clever napkins or knee-slapping notecards. Happy strolling!”
—Morgan Meyers