Private Food Tasting Walking Tour in Saint Louis Downtown
Satisfy your culinary curiosity with a private tour that takes you on a flavorful journey through some of the city's most beloved dining spots.
40 cheap eats places in St. Louis, editor-picked. the best low-budget spots in St. Louis: the places editors actually return to. All St. Louis food.
Union Loafers Cafe and Bread Bakery ★ 4.6
botanical-heights · 1629 Tower Grove Ave, St. Louis, MO 63110
Union Loafers bakes naturally leavened bread and runs a lunchtime cafe of sandwiches in Botanical Heights, a James Beard-nominated bakery and pizza spot.
Tip: Bread sells out, so come early for a loaf. The Tuesday-to-Saturday pizza nights are a separate, busy service.
Nathaniel Reid Bakery ★ 4.6
kirkwood · 11243 Manchester Rd, Kirkwood, MO 63122
Award-winning pastry chef Nathaniel Reid makes precise modern French entremets, tarts and viennoiserie in Kirkwood, rated the metro's finest pastry case.
Tip: The seasonal entremets and the croissants are the standouts. It draws a weekend crowd, so go early.
Ted Drewes Frozen Custard ★ 4.6
st-louis-hills · 6726 Chippewa St, St. Louis, MO 63109
Serving since 1941 on old Route 66, Ted Drewes is the St. Louis frozen-custard landmark, famous for the concrete, a shake handed over upside down.
Tip: Order a concrete and watch them flip it upside down to prove the thickness. Cash-friendly, often a summer line.
Ted Drewes Frozen Custard ★ 4.6
st-louis-hills · 6726 Chippewa St, St. Louis, MO 63109
Serving since 1941 on Route 66, Ted Drewes sells cheap, thick frozen-custard concretes, the landmark dessert handed over upside down to prove it.
Tip: A concrete is a few dollars and a city rite of passage. Cash-friendly; expect a summer line at the window.
Gioia's Deli ★ 4.5
the-hill · 1934 Macklind Ave, St. Louis, MO 63110
A James Beard America's Classics winner on The Hill, Gioia's slices its house Hot Salami onto fresh-baked bread, a sandwich St. Louis treats as a rite.
Tip: The Original Hot Salami is the order, made from Gioia's own fresh sausage. The line moves fast at lunch.
Gioia's Deli ★ 4.5
the-hill · 1934 Macklind Ave, St. Louis, MO 63110
A James Beard America's Classics winner on The Hill, Gioia's slices its house Hot Salami onto fresh-baked bread, a sandwich St. Louis treats as a rite.
Tip: The Original Hot Salami is the order, made from Gioia's own fresh sausage. The line moves fast at lunch.
Union Loafers Cafe and Bread Bakery ★ 4.5
botanical-heights · 1629 Tower Grove Ave, St. Louis, MO 63110
Union Loafers bakes naturally leavened bread and runs a lunchtime cafe of sandwiches and pizza in Botanical Heights, a James Beard-nominated bakery.
Tip: The bread sells out, so come early for a loaf. The Tuesday-through-Saturday pizza nights are a separate, popular service.
Crown Candy Kitchen ★ 4.4
old-north · 1401 St Louis Ave, St. Louis, MO 63106
Open since 1913, Crown Candy is the metro's oldest soda fountain, slinging hand-made malts, a towering BLT and chili in an Old North parlour frozen in time.
Tip: Take the malt challenge or split the BLT. Expect a weekend line at one of the city's oldest counters.
Blues City Deli ★ 4.4
benton-park · 2438 McNair Ave, St. Louis, MO 63104
A Benton Park sandwich counter, Blues City turns out New Orleans-style po-boys and muffulettas with live blues some afternoons, a lunch-only institution.
Tip: The muffuletta and po-boys are the orders; arrive before the lunch rush. Live blues plays some afternoons.
Missouri Baking Company ★ 4.4
the-hill · 2027 Edwards St, St. Louis, MO 63110
A family-run Italian-American bakery on The Hill, Missouri Baking Company is famous for cookies by the pound and a dense, almond-paste gooey butter cake.
Tip: It is cash-and-pickup with no online ordering; buy cookies by weight. Weekend mornings see a line of Hill regulars.
La Patisserie Chouquette ★ 4.4
botanical-heights · 1626 Tower Grove Ave, St. Louis, MO 63110
Chef Simone Faure's French patisserie in Botanical Heights turns out macarons, croissants and cakes with classical technique. The city's French bakery.
Tip: Macarons and laminated pastries are the strengths; custom cakes are a specialty. The morning croissants go quickly.
Sump Coffee ★ 4.4
tower-grove-south · 3700 S Jefferson Ave, St. Louis, MO 63118
Sump built a national reputation roasting light, precise single-origin coffee in South City, served in a spare room that treats the cup seriously.
Tip: This is a place to taste, not to camp; seating and outlets are limited by design. Try the filter flight.
Crown Candy Kitchen ★ 4.4
old-north · 1401 St Louis Ave, St. Louis, MO 63106
Open since 1913, Crown Candy is the metro's oldest soda fountain, slinging hand-made malts, a towering BLT and chili in an Old North parlour frozen in time.
Tip: The malt challenge and the bacon-heavy BLT are the orders. Expect a weekend line for one of the city's oldest counters.
Blues City Deli ★ 4.4
benton-park · 2438 McNair Ave, St. Louis, MO 63104
A Benton Park sandwich counter, Blues City turns out New Orleans-style po-boys and muffulettas with live blues some afternoons, a lunch institution.
Tip: The muffuletta and the po-boys are the orders; arrive before the lunch rush. Live blues plays on some afternoons.
Blues City Deli ★ 4.4
benton-park · 2438 McNair Ave, St. Louis, MO 63104
A Benton Park sandwich counter, Blues City turns out cheap po-boys and muffulettas with live blues some afternoons, a well-regarded lunch-only spot.
Tip: The muffuletta and po-boys are the value picks; arrive before the lunch rush. Live blues plays some afternoons.
Crown Candy Kitchen ★ 4.4
old-north · 1401 St Louis Ave, St. Louis, MO 63106
Open since 1913, Crown Candy is the metro's oldest soda fountain, slinging affordable malts, a towering BLT and chili in an Old North parlour frozen in time.
Tip: A malt and the bacon-heavy BLT make a cheap, classic lunch. Expect a weekend line at one of the city's oldest counters.
Pint Size Bakery & Coffee ★ 4.3
lindenwood-park · 3133 Watson Rd, St. Louis, MO 63139
A tiny Lindenwood Park bakery, Pint Size turns out muffins, scones and a cult salted caramel-chocolate cookie alongside Kaldi's coffee. A peanut-free kitchen.
Tip: The salted caramel-chocolate cookie is the order, and stock is small. Get there before mid-morning on Saturdays.
World's Fair Donuts ★ 4.3
shaw · 1904 S Vandeventer Ave, St. Louis, MO 63110
World's Fair Donuts has fried hand-made yeast and cake doughnuts from a small Vandeventer shop for almost 90 years, the city's classic doughnut counter.
Tip: It is cash-only and gone by lunch most days; arrive early for the apple fritter and the red velvet cake doughnut.
Comet Coffee Micro-Bakery ★ 4.3
the-hill · 4474 Shaw Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63110
Comet's serious in-house micro-bakery turns out kouign-amann and seasonal galettes alongside the espresso, a pastry program that rivals the coffee here.
Tip: The kouign-amann and galettes sell out by midday, so come early. There are two locations, on Shaw and Oakland.
Kaldi's Coffee (DeMun) ★ 4.3
clayton · 700 DeMun Ave, Clayton, MO 63105
The flagship of St. Louis's best-known roaster, Kaldi's DeMun cafe overlooks Concordia Park and pours house-roasted coffee to a steady crowd of regulars.
Tip: Grab a patio table facing the park. The cardamom-spiced latte and the breakfast sandwiches are the regulars' order.
Blueprint Coffee (Delmar) ★ 4.3
delmar-loop · 6225 Delmar Blvd, University City, MO 63130
Blueprint's Delmar cafe is the roaster's original home, a bright design-forward room serving precise filter coffee and espresso. A cornerstone of the Loop.
Tip: The bar seating faces the brewing; ask the barista to talk you through the day's filter. Quieter on weekday mornings.
Comet Coffee ★ 4.3
the-hill · 4474 Shaw Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63110
Comet pairs carefully pulled espresso with a serious in-house micro-bakery, so the pastry case is as much the draw as the cup. A small spot near the Garden.
Tip: The kouign-amann and seasonal galettes sell out; come early. Limited seating, so plan for a quick stop.
Half & Half ★ 4.3
clayton · 8135 Maryland Ave, St. Louis, MO 63105
Mike Randolph's Clayton breakfast room marries a focused coffee programme with made-from-scratch brunch, from blueberry pancakes to the flat-iron hash.
Tip: Ask for the pancakes cooked in bacon fat, a house move. Weekend waits are long, so put your name down and walk Clayton.
Gus' Pretzels ★ 4.3
benton-park · 1820 Arsenal St, St. Louis, MO 63118
Opened in 1920 near the Anheuser-Busch brewery, Gus' Pretzels hand-twists soft pretzels and pretzel-wrapped sausages, a Benton Park snack-counter institution.
Tip: Get a fresh hot pretzel or a salami-stuffed pretzel stick. It is a snack stop, not a sit-down meal.
Gus' Pretzels ★ 4.3
benton-park · 1820 Arsenal St, St. Louis, MO 63118
Open since 1920 near the brewery, Gus' Pretzels hand-twists cheap soft pretzels and salami-stuffed pretzel sticks, a Benton Park snack-counter bargain.
Tip: A fresh hot pretzel or a salami pretzel stick is a few dollars. It is a snack stop, not a sit-down meal.
Adriana's On The Hill ★ 4.2
the-hill · 5101 Shaw Ave, St. Louis, MO 63110
Mama Adriana Fazio opened this Shaw Avenue sandwich shop over 30 years ago, and her daughters still run it. The foot-long subs are a Hill lunch institution.
Tip: It is lunch only and closes mid-afternoon; the line moves fast. Get the Sicilian sub and split it.
La Vallesana ★ 4.2
cherokee-street · 2801 Cherokee St, St. Louis, MO 63118
A Cherokee Street taqueria with a sheltered patio, La Vallesana serves tacos al pastor, tortas and aguas frescas, an anchor of the Mexican Cherokee strip.
Tip: The al pastor tacos and the chicken chipotle torta are the orders. The patio suits a warm afternoon.
Park Avenue Coffee ★ 4.2
lafayette-square · 1919 Park Ave, St. Louis, MO 63104
Park Avenue Coffee bakes more than 70 varieties of gooey butter cake, the dessert invented here, served with house-roasted coffee in Lafayette Square.
Tip: The Mom's Traditional was named best in town by Food Network. Boxes hold up well as edible souvenirs.
Whisk: A Sustainable Bakeshop ★ 4.2
cherokee-street · 2201 Cherokee St, St. Louis, MO 63118
Whisk bakes cakes, cookies and seasonal pastries from scratch on Cherokee Street with a sustainability focus, a community-minded anchor of the Cherokee crawl.
Tip: The seasonal cakes and the cookies are the orders. It shares the Cherokee Street block with the Mud House coffee crowd.
SweetArt Bakeshop & Cafe ★ 4.2
midtown · 3701 Lindell Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63108
Reine Bayoc's SweetArt bakes plant-based cakes, cupcakes and savoury plates with strong vegan and gluten-free options, a longtime favourite now in Midtown.
Tip: It is the city's go-to for vegan celebration cakes. The savoury cafe menu is a bonus alongside the case.
Kaldi's Coffee (The Euclid) ★ 4.2
central-west-end · 52 N Euclid Ave, St. Louis, MO 63108
Kaldi's Central West End cafe sits on the busy West Pine and Euclid corner, a roomy spot for coffee and a pastry between gallery and boutique stops.
Tip: It gets busy mid-morning; the back room is quieter for laptop work.
Northwest Coffee Roasting Company ★ 4.2
central-west-end · 4251 Laclede Ave, St. Louis, MO 63108
Northwest roasts on site at its Central West End cafe and keeps a bustling counter with strong outdoor seating, a roaster-cafe for the laptop crowd.
Tip: The patio is the prize on warm mornings. Ask which single origin is freshest off the roaster.
Coffeestamp ★ 4.2
benton-park · 2511 S Jefferson Ave, St. Louis, MO 63104
Brothers Patrick and Spencer Clapp roast ethically sourced beans, many from their native Honduras, at this South City micro-roastery near Cherokee Street.
Tip: Ask after the Honduran lots the brothers source directly. The cafe is compact, so it is more a quick stop than a work session.
Living Room Coffee & Kitchen ★ 4.2
maplewood · 2810 Sutton Blvd, Maplewood, MO 63143
The Larson family roasts in house and runs a full breakfast and lunch kitchen at this Maplewood cafe, a hub that does coffee and a meal equally well.
Tip: It works as a full breakfast spot, not just coffee; the biscuits and the breakfast bowls are worth the visit. Plenty of seating for laptops.
The Mud House ★ 4.2
benton-park · 2101 Cherokee St, St. Louis, MO 63118
A Cherokee Street fixture, The Mud House pairs a rotating multi-roaster coffee program with hearty brunch plates in a brick room full of antiques.
Tip: Brunch gets a line at weekends; weekday mornings are calmer for laptop work. The biscuits and the breakfast platters are the orders.
Comet Coffee (Oakland) ★ 4.2
the-hill · 5708 Oakland Ave, St. Louis, MO 63110
The second Comet sits on Oakland near The Hill, pulling the same espresso and baking the same micro-bakery pastries. Handy near Forest Park's south edge.
Tip: Same kouign-amann and galettes as Shaw Boulevard; both sell out by midday. Best for a takeaway cup and a pastry.
Blueprint Coffee (Watson) ★ 4.2
st-louis-hills · 4206 Watson Rd, St. Louis, MO 63109
Blueprint's south-side cafe on Watson brings the roaster's precise filter and espresso to St. Louis Hills, a calm bright room for the neighbourhood crowd.
Tip: Quieter than the Delmar flagship and easier for a laptop session. Ask about the rotating single origins.
La Vallesana ★ 4.2
cherokee-street · 2801 Cherokee St, St. Louis, MO 63118
A Cherokee Street taqueria with a sheltered patio, La Vallesana serves tacos al pastor, tortas and aguas frescas, an anchor of the Mexican Cherokee strip.
Tip: The al pastor tacos and the chicken chipotle torta are the orders. The patio and aguas frescas suit a warm afternoon.
Taqueria Durango ★ 4.2
overland · 10238 Page Ave, St. Louis, MO 63132
A family-run Overland taqueria, Durango is famous for the torta ahogada, a pork sandwich drowned in spicy red chile, with big portions for cheap.
Tip: The torta ahogada is the signature; come hungry. Everyone can eat for under ten dollars here.
Carl's Drive-In ★ 4.2
brentwood · 9033 Manchester Rd, St. Louis, MO 63144
A 16-stool roadside drive-in of six decades, Carl's griddles crispy-edged burgers and pours house-made root beer, a Route-66-era St. Louis time capsule.
Tip: Grab a stool, order a double with root beer. There are only 16 seats, so expect a short wait at peak.
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