Lisa Imbs
After growing up in St. Louis and graduating from Southern Methodist University, Lisa went to London to a decorative arts program at Sotheby’s. She moved back to St. Louis and continued to work in antiques and decorating. Lisa and her husband Chris raised their two children on a street where 5 out of 30 residents either grew up in the lane or their grandparents lived there. Her buzz words for St. Louis are: family, food, neighborhood. She advises visiting during the spring, summer, and fall to really take advantage of what St. Louis has to offer—the city is so much more than the “gateway to the west.”
According to Lisa, St. Louis is like finding a pearl in a clam shell—you just need a little help knowing how to get inside of it! Check out Lisa’s recommendations for places to eat, stay, shop, and play, which she has organized by neighborhood.
Downtown
EAT
Sidney Street Cafe
With warm exposed brick in an historic building near the AnheuserBusch Brewery, this is an institution and a destination for many special occasions. We love the lobster turnovers, veal dumplings, and the dark chocolate turtle brownie.
2000 Sidney Street
314.771.5777
The Cinder House and Bar in the Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis
This terrific place offers inside and outside seating with fantastic views of the Arch, the mighty Mississippi, and all of downtown. Beautiful at sunset! Overseen by James Beard Award-winning chef, Gerard Craft. Everything on the menu is excellent.
999 North 2nd Street
314.881.5759
STAY
The Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis
Lovely and different because of the location. The spa and outdoor terrace/pool is a home run, especially if you are in town for a baseball game or want a weekend getaway!
999 North 2nd Street
314.881.5800
PLAY
Cardinals Baseball is not like anything you have experienced—our fans are amazing, and you will get chills watching the team play in our stadium/ballpark village. St. Louis families own our team, and it shows!
700 Clark Avenue
314.345.9600
Brewery Tour at Budweiser
Always a big hit with college kids!
1200 Lynch Street
314.577.2626
Schlafly Bottleworks
7260 Southwest Avenue
314.241.2337
The Arch and The Museum at the Gateway Arch have been completely overhauled—it is such an immersive experience riding up to the top in the capsule or experiencing the museum underneath the park grounds. You can walk, ride bikes, and picnic. Every 4th of July the city hosts a fabulous parade and worldclass fireworks display!
The Gateway Arch National Park
877.982.1410
The Old Courthouse
Very famous for the Dred Scott Case and others.
11 North 4th Street
314.655.1700
Laclede’s Landing
Fun bars!
710 North 2nd Street
314.241.5875
Riverboat Cruises
Fun for everyone!
50 South Leonor K. Sullivan Boulevard
Midtown|Grand Arts District
This is the most recent jewel in our crown, located next to Saint Louis University. You will see why this area is the hottest new spot—the energy level is terrific.
EAT
Pappy’s Smokehouse
Unbelievable barbecue.
3106 Olive Street
314.535.4340
The Fountain on Locust
Great ice cream.
3037 Locust Street
314.535.7800
The Angad Arts Hotel ART Bar
Great rooftop bar for light bites, awesome sunsets, and late night fun.
3550 Samuel Shepard Drive
314.561.0033
STAY
The Angad Arts Hotel
Creative hotel designed by The Lawrence Group located in the center of this really fun area. Full of local artists’ works. Each room is either red, blue, green, or yellow…as guests we loved the blue room. The ART Bar, Chameleon Lounge, The Angad Playroom (games and musical instruments), as well as The Grand Tavern are delicious, fun, and hip!
3350 Samuel Shepard Drive
314.561.0033
PLAY
Saint Louis Blues Hockey
Watching these Stanley Cup winners play is a sacred rite of passage!
1401 Clark Avenue
314.622.5400
The Grand Center Arts District/Kranzberg Arts Center
This is an eclectic mix of restored historic structures and newer buildings at the intersection of Grand Blvd. and Washington Ave. The area encompasses the St. Louis Black Repertory Theatre Group, The Grand Center Arts Academy, St. Louis Public Media Commons as well as The Kranzberg Arts Center.
The Fashion Fund, community-based designers as well as others from outside St. Louis, recently moved to the Grand Arts Center and is extra special. Founded by Susan Sherman, it has been a fabulous addition to St. Louis.
3333 Washington Avenue
314.400.9300
The Contemporary Art Museum (CAM)
3750 Washington Boulevard
314.535.4660
Circus Flora
One-of-a-kind theater company.
3401 Washington Boulevard
314.827.3830
Saint Louis Symphony at Powell Hall
Internationally recognized and conducted by Stéphane Denève.
718 North Grand Boulevard
314.534.1700
The Fabulous Fox Theatre
One of the most beautiful theaters you will ever see, here or in Europe.
527 North Grand Boulevard
314.534.1111
Jazz at The Bistro
Great for dinner and late night.
3536 Washington Avenue
314.571.6000
The Sheldon Art Galleries
3648 Washington Boulevard
314.533.9900
The Pulitzer Arts Foundation
Designed by Tadao Ando, it presents special exhibitions as well as Emily and Joseph Pulitzer Jr.’s art collection—exceptional!
3716 Washington Boulevard
314.754.1850
The Grove|The Hill|Shaw Neighborhood|Lafayette Square|Grantwood Village
PLAY
Missouri Botanical Garden Designed by Henry Shaw, this is a National Historic Landmark and center for conservation and education. It is one of the top three botanical gardens in the world, encompassing 70 acres.
4344 Shaw Boulevard
314.577.5100
Tower Grove Park
Known for their farmers’ market and beautiful old trees—a gorgeous park.
4257 Northeast Drive
314.771.2679
EAT
Tempus
Bold and innovative cuisine by Ben Grupe, who won three gold medals at The Culinary Olympics while leading Team USA.
4370 Manchester Avenue
314.349.2878
Vicia
4260 Forest Park Avenue
314.553.9239
ELAIA
1634 Tower Grove Avenue
314.932.1088
Polite Society Restaurant and Bar
1923 Park Avenue
314.325.2553
The Shaved Duck Smokehouse
Famous for their award-winning ribs by chef/pitmaster Ally Nisbet. Sister restaurant to The Scottish Arms.
2900 Virginia Avenue
314.776.1407
Central West End|Forest Park
PLAY
Developed in the 1800s for The 1904 World’s Fair, this area encompasses historic houses, great restaurants, and Left Bank Books. It is next to Washington University Medical Campus and St. Louis Children’s Hospital across from Forest Park.
Forest Park, designed by Kern and Julius Pitzman, is 1,300 acres and larger than Central Park. It includes the Saint Louis Art Museum and Grand Basin and the St. Louis Zoo, which is hands-down the best zoo you will ever visit, with an amazing train that young and old adore! It is free and is a global force in saving endangered species. The Muny is the oldest outdoor theater in America. It is only open during the summer and is truly magical. The productions are first-rate, and you will never want to go inside to watch a show again! Head to the Steinberg Skating Rink during the winter or play golf at Forest Park Golf Course in the summer.
Forest Park
5595 Grand Drive
314.367.7275
Saint Louis Art Museum
1 Fine Arts Drive
314.721.0072
Emerson Grand Basin
314.289.5389
Saint Louis Zoo
1 Government Drive
314.781.0900
The Muny
1 Theatre Drive
314.361.1900
The World’s Fair Pavilion
1904 Concourse Drive
314.289.5344
The Boathouse
6101 Government Drive
314.366.1555
Missouri History Museum
5700 Lindell Boulevard
314.746.4599
Steinberg Skating Rink
400 Jefferson Drive
314.367.7465
Forest Park Golf Course
6141 Lagoon Drive
314.367.1337
World Chess Hall of Fame and Center
4652 Maryland Avenue
314.367.9243
Grant’s Farm
280-acre wildlife park built by Ulysses S. Grant—kids love this place!
10501 Gravois Road
314.577.2626
EAT
Mission Taco
Definitely one of the best!
398 North Euclid Avenue
314.930.2955
Salt & Smoke
Awesome barbecue.
392 North Euclid Avenue
314.727.0200
Clayton|University City|Ladue|Chesterfield
EAT
The Crossing in Clayton
Executive Chef and Owner Jim Fiala also has Acero, which is exceptional farm-to-table.
The Crossing
7823 Forsyth Boulevard
314.721.7375
Acero
7266 Manchester Road
314.644.1790
Casa Don Alfonso at The Ritz-Carlton
Mediterranean cuisine by the Iaccarino family from Sorrento, Italy. Everything in the restaurant is from Italy and you can tell—just stunning and a real treat.
100 Carondelet Plaza
314.719.1496
Avenue
Bryan and Diane Carr own and operate this little place, a home away from home for us. Great for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
12 North Meramec Avenue
314.727.4141
Winslow’s Table
Great farm-to-table cuisine!
7213 Delmar Boulevard
314.725.7559
Almonds
Kelly and Tony Almond own, cook, and manage this neighborhood gem, another home away from home. Known for their pan-fried chicken and the best Cosmo in town (according to my husband).
8127 Maryland Avenue
314.725.1019
Truffles Restaurant and Butchery
Hands-down the best restaurant in Ladue. Owned and operated by the Cella family, it offers understated elegance. The bar is the spot—whether you have come from a hockey game or black tie event, everyone meets at Truffles. The food is excellent, only topped by their service.
9202 Clayton Road
314.567.9100
Annie Gunn’s Smokehouse & Market
Exceptional food and wine.
16806 Chesterfield Airport Road
636.532.7684
STAY
The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis
100 Carondelet Plaza
314.863.6300
SHOP
Ken Miesner’s Flowers
9723 Clayton Road
314.567.6650
The Women’s Exchange
Home of the unique cherry dresses for children, made famous by Jackie Kennedy Onassis.
8811-A Ladue Road
314.997.4411
lusso
165 Carondelet Plaza
314.725.7205
Simons Jewelers
8141 Maryland Avenue
314.725.8888
Elleard Heffern Jewelers
101 South Hanley Road
314.863.8820
Sallie Home
9821 Clayton Road
314.567.7883
Sasha Nicholas
9752 Clayton Road
314.997.5854
The Service Bureau
9773 Clayton Road
314.991.1104
Vie
Contemporary clothing.
9660 Clayton Road
314.997.0124
Tailored Gents Custom Clothiers
Best bespoke men’s clothing.
8001 Clayton Road
314.527.0944
Audra
Graduate of the St. Louis Fashion Fund, offering custom and off-the-rack contemporary clothing.
9753 Clayton Road
314.275.0758
Mister Guy Men’s
9817 Clayton Road
314.692.2003
Mister Guy Women’s
9811 Clayton Road
314.991.5262
Petals Patio & Garden
9757 Clayton Road
314.942.1536
Plaza Frontenac
Neiman Marcus, Saks, and a great boutique movie theater.
1701 South Lindbergh Boulevard
314.432.6760
Sign of the Arrow
Great needlepoint shop.
9814 Clayton Road
314.994.0606
PLAY
Shaw Park
27 South Brentwood Boulevard
314.290.8500
Nell Downey
Nell is a Charlotte native who has lived in St. Louis since 2017. She’s a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis and works for Maryville Consulting.
EAT
iNDO
PanAsian restaurant featuring the most amazing nigiri and sashimi as well as delicious craft cocktails—the menu changes often, so be sure to ask your server for their recommendations.
1641D Tower Grove Avenue
314.899.9333
STAY
The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis
A lot of WashU parents stay here for parents’ weekends and graduation—great location right on the high-end Carondolet Plaza. Don’t miss Casa Don Alfonso, the newly-opened Italian restaurant in the hotel, for brunch or dinner.
100 Carondelet Plaza
314.863.6300
SHOP
Ylang Ylang
Fine jewelry shop in Ladue with delicate, feminine pieces from designers you won’t see often in other St. Louis stores.
8845 Ladue Road
314.725.7464
PLAY
Takashima Record Bar
Serves signature cocktails and small plates in a sleek, modern atmosphere in The Grove. Featured DJs play from their extensive vinyl collection, creating an eclectic, hip vibe.
4095 Chouteau Avenue
314.925.8982
