St. Louis is famous for an outstanding food scene. Listed below are only some of the large variety of excellent restaurants near SLU.

Kaldi’s Coffee Roasting Co. is committed to sourcing the world’s finest beans, exceeding certified Fair Trade qualifications with their Relationship Coffees. One of their newest cafes is in one of the most popular neighborhoods in St. Louis, at the corner of West Pine and Euclid in the Central West End. The building, The Euclid, is also home to the region’s first Shake Shack. Enjoy a full range of espresso-based drinks, single-origin coffees, and house-made bakery goods. They offer whole-bean 12-ounce bags of coffee, crafted coffee blends, sustainable wares, and exceptional service. Grab a cup of coffee to go, or enjoy the atmosphere with a specialty drink from the seasonally changing menu. This site also offers breakfast and lunch options.

You will feel right at home as soon as you walk into Crave Coffeehouse. Set in a renovated nineteenth-century church, Crave is an independently owned and operated café and restaurant on campus. The baristas are personable, and are always happy to chat while they craft a quality drink. The décor and exposed brick interior create a warm, welcoming atmosphere, and space—often a rarity in coffee shops—is abundant. Crave also features a full lunch menu, and recently made the list of best grilled cheese sandwiches in town for their Pesto Grilled Cheese. Make sure to stop in to discover why Crave’s motto is “Peace. Coffee. More.”

Pappy’s Smokehouse offers juicy Memphis-style barbecue prepared daily using only the best ingredients. Pappy’s starts by slow smoking their meats from 4-14 hours over apple or cherry wood and finishing them off with a selection of three delicious sauces and your choice of sides, all prepared fresh in-house. Come before noon to avoid lines, even if the food is worth the wait!

Voted best Ice Cream Parlor in St. Louis, The Fountain on Locust‘s impressive hand-painted art deco interior provides a wonderful ambience for enjoying their wonderful ice cream treats or unwinding with one of their ice cream concoctions. This trendy ice cream parlor is known for its traditional malts, as well as its ice cream martinis.

Located one block west of Saint Louis University, The Scottish Arms is a proper pub and a comfortable setting for lunch, dinner, and late night entertainment. The product-driven menu changes seasonally and focuses on the purity and quality of local ingredients and sustainable farming whenever possible. Featuring traditional Scottish fare, the owner boasts, “Our hearts will always be in Scotland, so we will have our famous Scotch Eggs, Haddock n’ Chips, and Bangers, to name a few, all year round.”

Vito’s Sicilian Pizzeria is a family owned and operated, full-service Italian restaurant specializing in award-winning pizza and other family recipes. This pizzeria is right on the edge of campus, and features a daily lunch buffet.

Retreat Gastropub, a mere half-mile from campus, is one of the area’s hottest restaurants. Self-described as “a modern American pub with a rustic touch,” the folks at Retreat aim to provide guests with a memorable experience by offering a comfortable atmosphere that showcases a flavorful menu. Their care and dedication are apparent in the seasonally rotating craft cocktails.

Bailey’s Range is without question the most renowned burger establishment in St. Louis. Everything is made from scratch, using only 100% grass-fed Missouri range beef. With over 20 gourmet burgers to choose from, as well as handmade ice cream milkshakes, Range is a fantastic option for lunch or dinner.

If you are looking for a great breakfast spot, Rooster is your answer. This European-style urban cafe specializes in crepes, sandwiches, and brunch items, along with a unique selection of coffee, beer, wine, and the best Bloody Marys and mimosas in town. With two locations (one just minutes from campus) and ample patio seating, Rooster is easily one of the most popular breakfast destinations in St. Louis.

Pi Pizzeria serves award-winning deep and thin crust pizza for lunch and dinner. Pi puts a southern spin on Chicago-style deep dish pizza, making theirs with a fantastic cornbread crust. There are several locations throughout the city, each with a thriving bar atmosphere in the evenings.

Square One Brewery and Distillery is a one-of-a-kind restaurant, brewery, and distillery located in a restored building that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In everything, they strive to provide the highest quality products and unique flavors. The beer options change seasonally, and spirits made in-house star in creative cocktails. With one of the most scenic patios in St. Louis, Square One is the perfect spot for lunch, dinner, or a late-night drink.

4 Hands is one of St. Louis’ favorite breweries. Their year-round brews are local staples, and 4 Hands regularly receives national praise for their creative new projects; barrel-aged offerings are especially sought after. Factor in a menu from the wildly popular Peacemaker and a large game room upstairs (with free skeeball), and 4 Hands is a must for more than just beer-lovers.

Urban Chestnut Brewing Company is an unconventionally minded yet tradition-oriented brewer of craft beer. They call their unique brewing philosophy Beer Divergency—a “new world meets old world” brewing approach, whereby UCBC contributes to the “revolution” of craft beer with artisanal creations of modern American beers, and pays “reverence” to the heritage of beer with classically crafted offerings of timeless European beer styles. The brewery also serves locally sourced food and has a biergarten. Saint Louis University is conveniently located between their two locations.

St. Louis’s largest craft brewer, Schlafly produces around fifty styles of fresh beer every year. The Schlafly Tap Room first opened its doors in 1991 and proudly holds the distinction of being the first new brewpub in Missouri since Prohibition. Housed in a beautifully restored wood and brick building on the National Historic Register, the Schlafly Tap Room enjoys a reputation as a casual place to drink, dine, and listen to great live music. Their second location, the Bottleworks, regularly hosts live music, block parties, and free tours.