Day-by-day eating plans for St. Louis. weekend classics, family routes, vegan plans, on-a-budget editions.

Day-by-day plans

St. Louis weekend: the local canon ★ 4.6

First-time visitor, two days2 days

A weekend built around the dishes St. Louis invented: toasted ravioli and Italian on The Hill, Provel pizza, frozen custard on Route 66 and a proper BBQ lunch.

  1. Day 1: Saturday: The Hill, BBQ and frozen custard

    Morning
    Start at the 1779 Soulard Farmers Market for produce and people-watching, then an espresso and pastry at Shaw's Coffee on The Hill.
    Afternoon
    Lunch at Charlie Gitto's On The Hill for the toasted ravioli the neighbourhood claims to have invented, then drive to Ted Drewes Frozen Custard on Chippewa for an upside-down concrete.
    Evening
    Dinner at Sidney Street Cafe in Benton Park, where chef Kevin Nashan reads the menu off a chalkboard, then a nightcap at the cocktail bar Small Change nearby.

  2. Day 2: Sunday: a slinger, Provel pizza and Bosnian Webster Groves

    Morning
    Begin with a Sunday slinger at Southwest Diner in Dogtown, the diner pile-up of eggs, hash browns, patty, chili and cheese.
    Afternoon
    Lunch on St. Louis-style Provel pizza at Imo's downtown, the cracker-crust square-cut icon, then head west.
    Evening
    Dinner on cevapi and wood-fired somun at Balkan Treat Box in Webster Groves, closing the weekend with the city's Bosnian signature.

St. Louis for the modern food scene ★ 4.5

Return visitor, three days3 days

Three days through the new generation of St. Louis kitchens, from James Beard names to craft breweries, with the city's signature dishes woven between.

  1. Day 1: Central West End and Botanical Heights

    Morning
    Coffee and a pastry at Comet Coffee near the Botanical Garden, then a stroll through the Central West End.
    Afternoon
    Lunch at Brasserie by Niche on Laclede for steak frites, with an afternoon coffee at Northwest Coffee Roasting nearby.
    Evening
    Dinner at Vicia, the Gallinas' vegetable-forward room and a 2026 James Beard finalist, then drinks at the rum bar Yellowbelly.

  2. Day 2: The Hill and Tower Grove South

    Morning
    Breakfast at Half & Half in Clayton for pancakes cooked in bacon fat and a serious coffee programme.
    Afternoon
    Lunch on a Sicilian sub from Adriana's On The Hill, then browse the salumi at Volpi Foods down the street.
    Evening
    Dinner at Indo in Botanical Heights for Nick Bognar's Thai-and-sushi cooking, then a glass at 33 Wine Shop & Bar in Lafayette Square.

  3. Day 3: Breweries and a south-side feast

    Morning
    Coffee at Sump Coffee's Old North roastery, then a malt at the 1913 Crown Candy Kitchen nearby.
    Afternoon
    Lunch on Memphis-style ribs at Pappy's Smokehouse in Midtown, then an afternoon pint at Urban Chestnut's Grove Bierhall.
    Evening
    Dinner at Sado on The Hill for sushi, with a final drink at Side Project's Maplewood Cellar for the metro's best beer.

St. Louis on a budget ★ 4.3

On a budget, two days2 days

A cheap-eats weekend through St. Louis's diners, taquerias and counters, hitting the local classics without spending much, from the slinger to frozen custard.

  1. Day 1: South-side classics for cheap

    Morning
    A few-dollar pretzel at Gus' Pretzels in Benton Park, then coffee at the multi-roaster Mud House on Cherokee Street.
    Afternoon
    Cheap tacos al pastor at La Vallesana on Cherokee, then a Provel pizza split at Imo's downtown for the local pizza rite.
    Evening
    A late slinger at the 24-hour Courtesy Diner, the diner pile-up of eggs, hash browns, patty, chili and cheese.

  2. Day 2: Delis, the bird and a concrete

    Morning
    A towering BLT and a malt at the 1913 Crown Candy Kitchen in Old North.
    Afternoon
    Lunch on the Original Hot Salami at Gioia's Deli on The Hill, then a Sicilian sub to go from Adriana's nearby.
    Evening
    Fried chicken at Hodak's in Benton Park, then close with an upside-down concrete at Ted Drewes on Route 66.
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