St. Louing Downtown
The central business and sports district
As a kid, I can remember crossing over the Mississippi river into St. Louis on road trips out west and saying, “Hey look, it’s the Arch!” No matter where you are in St. Louis, you can probably see the Arch looming in the distance. The Arch is the biggest and most impressive monument in St. Louis, one of the most recognizable American monuments, and the biggest tourist activity to in Downtown St. Louis.
My highlight#
One of my favorite places in St. Louis is City Museum. Calling it a “museum” gives the wrong impression for what it is - a giant concrete playground for both kids and adults. It’s hard to describe without experiencing it, and I think if anyone only visits St. Louis one time, City Museum should be on their list.
Impressions#
A lot of visitors come to St. Louis, see Downtown, and come away with a negative opinion of the city. The area does not have a vibrant energy, and is mostly emptied out after working hours.
Downtown is still working on finding its identity in a rapidly shifting economy, but at a slower rate than any other city in America. Many locals from the surrounding region only visit for baseball and hockey games, then head straight back to the suburbs.
I initially wrote off St. Louis after only seeing downtown, but like most cities, the neighborhoods are where St. Louis can shine.
- This page combines the Downtown and Downtown West city neighborhoods.
Build-your-own tacos, tequila and margaritas
Spanish tapas inside the 21c Museum Hotel
Poke bowls at Ballpark Village
Nigerian cooking on Wash Ave
Calzones and salads
New American tavern at Ballpark Village
The tallest manmade arch in the world, and a national park.
Home of the St. Louis Cardinals.
Home of St. Louis CITY SC.
A grand 1894 train station, now a hotel with an aquarium and Ferris wheel.
Nine-block historic riverfront district of 17 brick warehouses on cobblestone streets, just north of the Arch.
Bowling lounge on Washington Avenue, hosting private events while walk-in bowling reopens under new management.
Dining, sports and entertainment district beside Busch Stadium, with Live! Arena and a 65-foot LED screen.
Flagship of the St. Louis Public Library, a 1912 Cass Gilbert building restored in 2012.
Concert hall opened in 1934 as the Kiel Opera House.
Where the Dred Scott case was first tried, reopened in 2025 after a renovation.
The Old Cathedral, completed in 1834.
A surreal playground of reclaimed architecture for kids and adults.
Free military history museum in a memorial building dedicated in 1938.
1851 townhouse preserved with the Campbell family's original furnishings.
A downtown sculpture park with fountains and public art.
Landscaped plaza and reflecting pool with memorial walls naming St. Louisans who died in World War II, Korea and Vietnam.
St. Louis's Pride festival and Grand Pride Parade, held downtown around Soldiers Memorial and City Hall.
Independence Day celebration, with fireworks and live music. The venue has shifted between the Gateway Arch grounds and Forest Park over the years.
The downtown holiday parade, the Saturday before Thanksgiving.
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