St. Louis is famous for an outstanding food scene. Below is a necessarily restricted selection of its large variety of excellent eateries, as well as options for after-dinner refreshment and recreation. We have grouped them according to locations in proximity to SLU.

SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY AREA (within walking distance)

Vito’s Sicilian Pizzeria (3515 Lindell Blvd.) is a family owned and operated, full-service Italian restaurant specializing in award-winning pizza and other delicious family recipes. It offers a comfortable atmosphere where friends and family may gather to enjoy each other’s company. This pizzeria is right on the edge of campus, and features a daily lunch buffet.

Pappy’s Smokehouse (3106 Olive St.) 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!

Fieldhouse Pub and Grill (510 N. Theresa Ave.) is a bar and restaurant within walking distance of campus. It is a popular spot for students from the university and serves standard American bar food. Their menu features some old favorites, including hand-breaded chicken parmesan over fettuccine alfredo, with new choices including a Cuban sandwich, Scotch eggs with a St. Louis twist, fried pickles, hand-breaded buffalo shrimp, and the Porkzilla, a monster pork loin sammie on fresh ciabatta.

A recent addition to the St. Louis dining scene, the City Foundry (3730 Foundry Way) has a gourmet restaurant food hall just south of campus. It has numerous different chefs and cafes, featuring everything from savory Belgian waffles to Creole cuisine, including both local American and international food. Everything is located inside a renovated factory complex.

Located one block west of Saint Louis University, The Scottish Arms (6 S. Sarah St.) 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.” In addition to being a popular dinner destination, the Scottish Arms also offers an expansive whiskey and beer list. The traditional Victorian-style pub atmosphere is an ideal setting for a conversation over drinks. The hospitable staff at Scottish Arms will make you feel right at home, and you’ll quickly understand why their motto is Fáiltíonn míle—a thousand welcomes.

Retreat Gastropub (6 N. Sarah St.), 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.

Juniper: A Southern Table and Bar (4101 Laclede Ave.) serves new Southern cuisine and traditional cocktails from the folks who operated St. Louis’ first underground restaurant. Their fare is delicious and forward-thinking, equally inspired by tradition and the latest in New American cuisine.

The menu at Saucy Porka (3900 Laclede Ave.) celebrates fusions of flavor across cultures. It pays homage to the home-style cooking of Latin American and Asian cultures. While reminiscent of “authentic” dishes, these recipes are uniquely Saucy Porka. Although pork is the starlet of the show, the menu also offers a variety of dishes that will satisfy non-pork, vegetarian, and vegan diners.

BLK MKT Eats (9 S. Vandeventer Ave.) is a local St. Louis fast, casual food concept that offers a destination for real food with boundless flavor. They had a simple idea: to offer something fresh, healthy, and craveable. So they sourced the highest quality, all-natural ingredients and fused them with globally inspired flavors. The result is a one-of-a-kind spot that offers a selection of signature burrito-size sushi rolls and bowls. To optimize flavor and nutrition, veggies are sliced fresh daily and left in their natural state or lightly pickled. With signature house-made sauces, veggies have never tasted so good! They are also committed to serving all-natural, hormone-free chicken, organic tofu, and sustainably harvested fish. This is not your average sushi spot!

Right next to SLU’s campus, Narwhal’s Crafted (3906 Laclede Ave.) is a bar specializing in frozen cocktails, supplemented by draft cocktails, draft, bottled, and canned beer, shots, and non-alcoholic smoothies. On a hot St. Louis night, there is nothing more refreshing than a cold libation at Narwhal’s.

A low-key, family-run restaurant, Midtown Sushi and Ramen (3674 Forest Park Ave.) offers a variety of Japanese delights, including quality sushi, ramen, and other authentic Japanese cuisine, in sleek and stunning surroundings. It is a great place to meet, eat, and socialize, for lunch or dinner.

Urban Chestnut Brewing Company (3229 Washington Ave.; 4465 Manchester Ave.) 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. Saint Louis University is conveniently located between their two locations. The German-style biergarten at the midtown location, one of the most scenic patios in St. Louis, is the perfect place to explore this thoughtful approach to brewing and to sample locally sourced food. There is also a large bierhall in the Grove with a broader, German-inspired food selection.

You will feel right at home as soon as you walk into Crave Coffeehouse (3500 Caroline St.). 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.”

A great Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe (3722 Laclede Ave.) sandwich begins with great bread and can be customized to meet your liking. Lightly toasted on the outside and warm and chewy on the inside, you are guaranteed to love these gourmet sandwiches. Their sandwich selection ranges from classic subs, like the Italian Club and the Meatball with Marinara, to more unique eats, like the Chipotle Chicken and the Pizza Guy sandwich. Each sandwich is made with the utmost care and the freshest ingredients available. Also available are salads, soups, and pizzas.

At Jimmy John’s Sandwiches (3822 Laclede Ave.), they don’t make sandwiches; they make The Sandwich of Sandwiches. They use fresh vegetables because they don’t hate salads — they just feel bad for them. They hand-slice their provolone cheese and meats in-house every day, because packaged pre-sliced meats don’t have the same ring. And they bake bread all day, every day, because stale bread isn’t bread, it’s… croutons. The flavors of fresh veggies, combined with hand-sliced meats and fresh-baked bread, is what makes The Sandwich of Sandwiches.

A favorite Mexican eatery just off campus, Diablito’s Cantina (3919 West Pine Blvd.) offers a variety of tacos and other Mexican dishes, along with margaritas and an exceptional variety of salsas. Please note that it has limited hours during the summer.

CENTRAL WEST END / FOREST PARK

Edera Italian Eatery (48 Maryland Plaza) is focused on serving simple, refined food in a more casual, come-as-you-are atmosphere. Chef Andrew Simon offers a fresh interpretation, sourcing the highest quality ingredients from Italy to Missouri. The menu features premium Neapolitan pizzas, signature pastas, and premium entrees. Edera’s cuisine – featuring sauces, pastas, and baked goods made fresh daily in the restaurant – are elevated enough for a special night out, while also being approachable enough for everyday fare. Edera has quickly become a fixture in St. Louis’s iconic Central West End neighborhood. Experience the newly renovated dining room, or dine alfresco alongside towering ivy walls in the Italian-style courtyard.

Mission Taco Joint (398 N. Euclid Ave.; 6235 Delmar Blvd.; 908 Lafayette Ave.), with locations not only in the Central West End but also in the Delmar Loop and in Soulard, serves California-style tacos and beers from St. Louis’ favorite craft breweries in a bustling atmosphere. Word quickly spread about the quality food and genuine hospitality, and it became a favorite place for students, young professionals, and families alike.

Scarlett’s Wine Bar (4253 Laclede Ave.) serves a wide variety of wines from around the world, specialty cocktails, and artisanal beers. Their carefully crafted pizzas cooked to perfection in an imported Mugnaini wood-fired oven take center stage and are complemented by salads, sandwiches, hearty entrees, cheese, and charcuterie. From light snacks to a coursed dinner with the perfect wine, you’re covered!

Kaldi’s Coffee Roasting Co. (52 N. Euclid Ave.) 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.

Pi Pizzeria (400 N. Euclid Ave.) 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.

Club Viva (408 N. Euclid Ave.) is your passport to world music and dance. Whether you prefer Latin, Reggae, or International, you can experience the hottest orchestras and DJs while feeling the energy rise from the dance floor. Viva comes to life every night as dance enthusiasts of all kinds enjoy St. Louis’ only world-beat nightclub.

Brennan’s (316 N. Euclid Ave.) is a complex establishment worth exploring. Walking into the floor-to-ceiling stocked bottleshop and bar on the ground floor, you know you’re in for an experience. This space also features the Maryland House (which anticipated the speakeasy trend), an exclusive cigar lounge, a basement ping-pong parlor, and the BHIVE—a space for “sophisticated night-owls.”

Brew Hub Taproom (5656 Oakland Ave.) features their own hand-crafted beer collection, including Keybilly Island Ale, Diver Down Red Ale, and Rome City IPA, which was awarded a gold medal in the Session India Pale Ale beer-style category at the 2017 Great American Beer Festival. They serve beers from their 14+ partner brewers, marking the first time these and several additional craft brands have been available in St. Louis. They feature a 4-barrel pilot brewing system, a distilling operation, and a barrel-aging program, under the direction of chief brewer Jim Ottolini. This set-up allows them to work on unique and non-traditional batches in a small and intimate setting. In addition to the 20 beers on tap, there is a full-service kitchen offering lunch and dinner.  The menu consists of sharable small plates and heartier fare with ingredients sourced from local farms.

Located in the heart of Forest Park, the popular Boathouse (6101 Government Dr.) offers year-round dining opportunities, special event spaces, and boat rentals. Dining on the banks of Post-Dispatch Lake is a part of St. Louis history. Food and boating are natural companions, and the Boathouse at Forest Park has fed intrepid navigators since its construction almost twenty years ago.

THE GROVE (and vicinity)

Celebrate the bounty of the Midwest in a stunning space where vegetable-forward, farmer-driven cuisine takes center stage. At Vicia (4260 Forest Park Ave.), a 3-course, chef’s selection Farmer’s Feast is crafted by the season and curated for you. Your booking includes a unique menu that will delight and surprise, with nothing to order or select from. The chefs will write a menu for you on arrival. Dishes and ingredients frequently change. The menu is driven by the best of what’s available at the moment and sourced from relationships with farmers, fishermen, and artisans in the Midwest region and beyond. By focusing on what’s fresh, they aim to present a memorable dining experience that can be enjoyed in a new way each time.

Housed in a former industrial building decked out with shipping containers, Rockwell Beer Company (1320 S. Vandeventer Ave.) is a 15-barrel brewery that also boasts a small restaurant serving burgers, chicken, pretzels, and fries.

Sauce on the Side (4261 Manchester Ave.; 411 N. 8th St.) is a fast, casual restaurant specializing in gourmet calzones and salads. They offer many unique combinations of fresh ingredients that may surprise you — or you can build your own.

Olio and Elaia (1634 Tower Grove Ave.) showcase the height of St. Louis cuisine. Located in a renovated 1930s Standard Oil filling station, Olio is an unusual yet very charming setting for a wine bar and eatery. Adjacent to Olio, connected by a dramatic corridor, is Elaia, an exquisite 30-seat fine dining establishment, situated in a renovated nineteenth-century house.

DOWNTOWN

Perhaps the best Thai restaurant in St. Louis, Sen Thai-Asian Bistro (1000 Washington Ave.) offers excellent dishes that include sushi. They believe that people can understand cultures through food, and so they offer customers both authentic food and authentic atmosphere to make sure that they can experience authentic culture.

Baileys’ Range (920 Olive St.) 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, it is a fantastic option for lunch or dinner.

If you are looking for a great breakfast spot, Rooster (1025 Washington Ave.; 3150 S. Grand Blvd.) 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.

Voted best Ice Cream Parlor in St. Louis, The Fountain on Locust‘s (3037 Locust St.) 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.

Small Batch (3001 Locust St.) is a whiskey lounge and vegetarian restaurant. The menu features fresh, handmade pasta, breads baked fresh daily, and unique dishes including pickled eggs and gougere. They strive to bring simply satisfying and flavorful fare from wherever inspiration may strike.

St. Louis’s largest craft brewer, Schlafly produces around fifty styles of fresh beer every year. The Schlafly Tap Room (2100 Locust St.; 7260 Southwest Ave.) 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.

Chris’ @ the Docket (100 N. Tucker Blvd.) is a 4,200-square-foot space located on the first floor of Scott Hall at Saint Louis University School of Law. It serves breakfast and lunch all day, plus some original concepts like breakfast pizzas and a grab-‘n’-go station. Open daily for breakfast, brunch, and lunch, and boasts a full bar. Favorites include eggs Benedict, a hearty country-style omelet, and salsiccia and eggs. Vegetarian options, such as a skillet featuring quinoa, tomato, spinach, feta, and onions, are also available. This is a great option to visit during our Law School Day on Wednesday, July 20!

Bismark “The Spot” (410 N. Tucker Blvd.) is a downtown restaurant once frequented by Nat King Cole and Harry Truman. They serve American dishes in a relaxing and upscale hole-in-the-wall. It is important to them that customers feel comfortable while eating. That is why they have made an effort to create and maintain a relaxed atmosphere.

Crab’s Landing (701 N. Tucker Blvd.) offers a variety of Cajun-style seafood. The menu features fried baskets and boils. Basket options include fried shrimp, oysters, and tilapia with a choice of Cajun fries, French fries, sweet potato fries, or onion rings. Boil options include shrimp, snow crab, mussels, lobster, and sausage. Extra-hungry seafood lovers can order the Hungry Feast, which includes 1.5 pounds each of shrimp and snow crab legs, 1 pound of sausage, and two lobster tails. All boils are served with corn and potatoes. For dessert, there’s cheesecake or chocolate mousse cake.

Bogart’s Smokehouse (1627 S. 9th St.) is the brainchild of the former pit-master of Pappy’s. They offer Memphis-style barbecue and a huge selection of traditional sides. Their apricot-glazed ribs are arguably the best in the city. Fortunately, the line is typically shorter than at Pappy’s, making this a splendid alternative if you’re in the mood for barbecue.

If you enjoy a fine cigar, then Stanley Cigar Bar (1000 Washington Ave.), adorned with leather and dark wood, is the place for you. The atmosphere is friendly, and the walk-in humidor impressive.

Soaring nearly 400 feet above downtown St. Louis, Three Sixty (1 S. Broadway St., at the top of the hotel) is the ultimate rooftop bar. Located atop the luxurious Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark hotel, Three Sixty offers sweeping views in all directions, including a bird’s eye view right into Busch Stadium and a stunning perspective on the Gateway Arch.

4 Hands (1220 S. 8th St.) 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.

Broadway Oyster Bar (736 S. Broadway St.) provides the wonderful ambience of the French Quarter in New Orleans. It will lure you with the best Cajun-Creole cuisine in St. Louis. Broadway Oyster Bar features live music seven nights a week from the best local and national touring acts. The music ranges from New Orleans funk to blues, reggae, rock, roots, and jam.

One of the most frequented blues clubs in a town known for blues music, BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups (700 S. Broadway St.) offers some of the best live music anywhere on the Mississippi River, seven nights a week. They also serve Southern-inspired cuisine.

DELMAR LOOP

Offering upscale pub food, Three Kings (6307 Delmar Blvd.) has a little bit of everything from around the world. They also offer more than 70 beers and housemade infused liquors. The pub is 21+ after 10 pm, when their award-winning late night happy hour begins.

St. Louis has plenty of barbecue spots, but Salt & Smoke (6525 Delmar Blvd.) is the place when you want to eat great ribs and still go somewhere nice. This Delmar Loop staple is always slammed, but just go grab a seat at the bar and work through their pages-long bourbon menu or drink a cocktail while you wait. Once you get seated, go for the the prime brisket and ribs, along with the white cheddar cracker mac and cheese and green beans, if you’re truly in need of vegetables.

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Blueberry Hill (6305 Delmar Blvd.) is a landmark restaurant and music club. Filled with pop culture memorabilia, it was frequented by the Father of Rock & Roll, St. Louis native Chuck Berry, who performed more than 200 consecutive monthly performances in the 340-capacity Duck Room. Blueberry Hill has hosted countless famous performers from around the world over the years and features live music almost every night. So make sure to stop by for music, pool, and darts, or just to wander and admire the nearly 100 display cases filled with eclectic collections of all kinds.

Fitz’s (6605 Delmar Blvd.), a local St. Louis craft soda micro-brewery specializing in root beer, bottles all 19 of their uniquely delicious flavors on the vintage bottling line on the floor of this restaurant in the historic Delmar Loop. Stop by to enjoy tasty food, gigantic root beer floats, old-fashioned sodas, and a great, family-friendly dining experience!

LAFAYETTE SQUARE

Named after the street address, Eleven Eleven Mississippi (1111 Mississippi Ave.) is renowned in the St. Louis culinary scene for serving award-winning Tuscan/Californian cuisine since 2003. Once a part of the historic International Shoe factory, the restaurant takes advantage of the open space and natural elements of wood and brick to create a stunning yet comfortable dining environment that has been a St. Louis favorite since opening. Paul and Wendy Hamilton designed the menu from their numerous trips to the wine regions of Tuscany and Northern California. Everything is made from scratch and is highlighted by fresh seasonal ingredients, much of which is grown in the restaurant’s own commercial hydroponic greenhouse.

Vin de Set (2017 Chouteau Ave.) is a comfortable yet stylish French bistro situated on the edge of downtown St. Louis in the quaint neighborhood of Lafayette Square. The menu is approachable, creative cuisine using straightforward ingredients, much of which is grown in the restaurant’s hydroponic greenhouse. Proprietors Paul and Wendy Hamilton’s trip to the Provence region of France in 2004 was the inspiration for what has become the most popular rooftop restaurant in St. Louis. They were looking to bring the warm and inviting cuisine of southern France to St. Louis.

If you are a devotee of cocktails, you must try Planter’s House (1000 Mississippi Ave.), an award-winning cocktail bar and restaurant that celebrates St. Louis’ grand history of hospitality. Its name references the Planter’s Hotel, which stood as a St. Louis landmark from 1817 to 1922. They offer hand-crafted food and seasonal cocktails in a comfortable and beautiful setting. With a full food menu and a truly expansive cocktail and beverage selection, you will surely find something to delight the senses.

​It is worthwhile to take the time to seek out this unassuming wine and whiskey bar. The exceedingly knowledgeable staff at 33 Wine Shop and Bar (1913 Park Ave.) is happy to recommend the perfect drink from the plethora on offer—more than 700 wines alone. Described by the Riverfront Times as a “relaxing yet engaging opportunity to sip, contemplate, or just plain drink your vino,” you can also purchase bottles to take with you when you go. There is also a regularly rotating draft selection, and a variety of rare bottled beers.

Square One Brewery and Distillery (1727 Park Ave.) 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.

Polite Society (1923 Park Ave.) is a restaurant, bar, and gathering place in the historic Lafayette Square neighborhood of St. Louis. They exist to provide their neighbors, friends, and families with a warm environment of thoughtful service and exceptional food, drink, and company.