Parkside Getaway

A casual, family-friendly pizza spot right around the corner in Dogtown, where fresh ingredients and creative pizzas come together in a cozy, welcoming neighborhood room. The menu runs from a classic Cheese Pizza to inventive picks like the Bacon Cheeseburger Pizza, plus Trashed Wings, loaded waffle fries, sandwiches, salads, and wraps — comfort food with a fun, modern twist. It's the kind of laid-back place where families, couples, and friends settle in over good pizza, with hundreds of customer-submitted pet photos covering the walls that kids love.

A St. Louis institution since 1980, this family-run taverna serves some of the most authentic Greek food in the city from recipes carried over from the island of Rhodes. The room is casual and unpretentious with a full bar and an open European-style patio; the gyro has been voted best in town year after year. Beyond the gyro, go for the souvlaki, moussaka, and the house-baked baklava. Walk-ins are easy and there's a private back room for larger groups.

A retro burger-and-shake joint from the team behind Sugarfire Smokehouse, built inside reclaimed shipping containers on the site of a 1980s drive-in. The draw is the smash burgers — a brisket, chuck, and rib blend pressed thin for crispy, caramelized edges — alongside creative sandwiches and thick milkshakes (chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, Dreamsicle, butterscotch) that you can spike with booze for $3. It's fast-casual and easy with kids, with eat-in, takeout, and a kids' menu; parking is tight at peak times, so off-hours are smoother.

The hosts' favorite date-night spot, a chef-driven Italian restaurant in walkable Maplewood built on fresh house-made pasta, an all-Italian wine list, and produce from local farmers. The setting is warm and intimate with a lovely seasonal patio — dressier than the neighborhood pubs but still relaxed. The menu changes with the seasons, but the signature is the single Egg-Raviolo: a runny egg yolk sealed inside delicate pasta in a rich sauce. Reservations are strongly recommended, especially on weekends.

A tiny, beloved Dogtown bakeshop turning out everything from scratch — gourmet pies with monthly-rotating flavors, whoopie pies, ice cream sandwiches, custom cookies, and show-stopping cakes. It's a walk-in counter rather than a sit-down cafe, so think grab-and-go treats to bring back to the house. Weekend pickup orders can be placed online ahead of time, which is the move when they're busy. It's an easy walk or quick drive from the property in the heart of Tamm Avenue.

Tucked into the charming, Tudor-style Cheshire hotel just off Clayton Avenue, this is the closest and coziest Starbucks to the house and a host favorite for its ambiance. The warm wood-and-stone setting feels a notch more inviting than a standard cafe, making it a great spot to linger over a latte or grab a quick pour before a day at Forest Park. Expect the full Starbucks menu of espresso drinks, cold brews, and pastries. It opens early at 5:30 AM, so it is perfect for an early start.

When you need caffeine without leaving the car, this Hampton Avenue Starbucks is the convenient go-to with a roomy, easy-flowing drive-thru. It sits right on the main artery toward the highway, so it is a natural grab-and-go on your way out for the day. The full lineup of hot and iced espresso drinks, Refreshers, and breakfast sandwiches is available. Long hours (5 AM to 9 PM daily) make it reliable for both early mornings and late-afternoon pick-me-ups.

Practically around the corner on Oakland Avenue, Comet is the local gem of the Dogtown area — a beloved independent cafe and microbakery serving carefully curated, world-sourced beans alongside pastries baked in-house each morning. The vibe is unpretentious and welcoming, the espresso is dialed-in, and the hand-brewed pour-overs are a treat for serious coffee lovers. Grab a croissant or housemade pastry with your cappuccino. It is the easiest walkable-distance coffee run from the house.

Widely considered one of St. Louis's most consistent specialty roasters, Blueprint is a serious-coffee destination with a bright, design-forward coffee bar on Watson Road just south of Dogtown. They roast their own single-origin beans and train baristas meticulously, so every espresso and pour-over is precise. Order a flat white or try a single-origin filter coffee, and grab a bag of beans to take home. There is dine-in seating plus a patio for sunny mornings.

Set in a renovated auto garage in the lively Central West End, Northwest is an artisan roaster and cafe with industrial-eclectic charm and a rustic outdoor patio. Beyond excellent espresso drinks and pour-overs, they serve a limited breakfast and lunch menu, so it works as a relaxed morning or midday stop. The atmosphere is welcoming and the staff friendly, and it is open late (until 7 PM) compared to most local cafes. Pair a visit with a stroll through the historic Central West End neighborhood.

The hosts' go-to full-service grocery and the closest big store to the property, this St. Louis-born Schnucks covers everything in one stop: a strong produce section, full meat and seafood counters, deli, bakery, floral, and a wide beer, wine, and spirits aisle. There's a CVS pharmacy inside for prescriptions, vaccines, and over-the-counter needs, plus a Kaldi's coffee bar and Picadeli salad bar for a quick grab-and-go. Self-checkout and scan-as-you-shop Caper Carts make a fast trip even faster.

The friendly, quirky neighborhood grocer known for affordable private-label finds you can't get anywhere else: frozen orange chicken, snacks, dips, cheeses, ready-made meals, and a vibrant fresh-flower section. It's a compact, easy-to-browse store that's ideal for grabbing trip snacks, breakfast items, wine and beer, and inexpensive gifts to take home. Prices are notably low for the quality, and the staff are famously helpful. Expect a busy parking lot at peak weekend hours in the Brentwood Promenade shopping center.

A St. Louis institution on The Hill, family-owned and operated since 1971 and the place to go for authentic Italian groceries. The deli and butcher counter slice imported and domestic meats and cheeses to order, hand-tie house-made Italian salsiccia, and stock a deep case of imported olives and homemade olive salad. The shelves are packed with imported pastas, San Marzano tomatoes, olive oils, and balsamics, plus one of the city's best Italian wine selections. It's the perfect stop for a picnic spread or a cook-at-home Italian dinner.

Consistently ranked among the best zoos in the country, the Saint Louis Zoo is home to more than 16,000 animals across 90 leafy acres in Forest Park, and admission is completely FREE. Families can watch sea lions glide through an underwater tunnel, meet grizzlies and polar bears, and ride the Emerson Zooline Railroad and carousel (small fees apply). It is wonderfully stroller-friendly and works for every age, from babies to grandparents. Plan on at least half a day to see it all.

Part playground, part art installation, part fever dream, City Museum is a ten-story wonderland built from salvaged bridges, planes, slides and caves inside an old shoe factory. Adventurous kids age 5 and up (and game-for-anything adults) will love crawling through tunnels, scaling the rooftop, and racing down the ten-story slide. It is hands-on and high-energy rather than a sit-and-look museum. Wear closed-toe shoes, bring knee pads if you have them, and pack light.

The Magic House is the region's beloved hands-on children's museum, with three floors of imaginative play in a charming Victorian house and modern addition in Kirkwood. Little ones can climb a giant beanstalk, build in the construction zone, run a pretend grocery store, and touch the famous static-electricity ball that makes hair stand on end. It's best for ages 1 to 10, with a dedicated toddler area for the youngest visitors. There's plenty of free on-site parking.

Another Forest Park gem with FREE general admission, the Saint Louis Science Center packs in over 750 interactive exhibits, life-size animatronic dinosaurs, and a glass skybridge over the highway where kids can clock the speed of passing cars. The iconic McDonnell Planetarium offers star shows, and there's an OMNIMAX dome theater (ticketed) for big-screen science films. It's engaging for toddlers through teens and easy to navigate with a stroller. A great rainy-day or beat-the-heat option.

One of the top botanical gardens in the U.S., this 79-acre oasis pairs grown-up beauty (the geodesic Climatron rainforest dome, a serene Japanese garden) with the kid-magnet Doris I. Schnuck Children's Garden, complete with a splash-and-play creek, a treehouse, and a wobbly rope bridge. Bring a swimsuit or change of clothes in summer because the water-play areas are a guaranteed hit. It's fully stroller-accessible with shady paths and benches everywhere. Lovely for all ages.

This whimsical, free little sculpture park is one of St. Louis's most beloved kid spots, tucked at the southern edge of Forest Park on Tamm Avenue and easy to reach. Artist Bob Cassilly (the mind behind City Museum) created seven giant concrete turtles plus a long snake that kids can climb on, slide down, and crawl inside, including a 40-foot snapping turtle. It makes a perfect quick stop on the way to or from the Zoo, with grassy space for a picnic and room for little legs to burn off energy. It's flat, open, and stroller-friendly, and there's never an admission charge.

The 630-foot Gateway Arch is the tallest man-made monument in the country and the unmistakable symbol of St. Louis. America's smallest national park, it sits on the Mississippi riverfront downtown. The signature experience is the tiny tram that carries you up inside the curve of the Arch to a viewing deck at the top, where windows look out over the city and the river. Below, an excellent (and largely free) underground Museum of Westward Expansion tells the story of the nation's frontier, and the landscaped grounds are lovely for a stroll or a riverboat cruise.

You are staying right beside one of the great urban parks in America. At 1,300 acres, Forest Park is larger than New York's Central Park, and an astonishing number of its treasures are completely FREE. Climb Art Hill to the Saint Louis Art Museum (free admission) for world-class galleries and skyline views over the Grand Basin. Tour the free Missouri History Museum, admire the Art Deco Jewel Box glasshouse, rent a paddleboat at the Boathouse, or catch a show under the stars at the Muny, the nation's oldest and largest outdoor musical theatre. It is the heart of the city and it is right at your doorstep.

A gorgeously restored 1894 train station turned entertainment hub, St. Louis Union Station packs a lot into one stop. The headliner is the St. Louis Aquarium, with a two-story shark tank, a touch pool, and a train-themed tour through aquatic habitats. Outside there is a 200-foot observation wheel, a carousel, mini-golf, a ropes course, and restaurants. Inside, the breathtaking Grand Hall hosts a free nightly 3D light show projected across its 65-foot barrel-vaulted ceiling, plus a fire-and-fountain show on the lake out front. A perfect rainy-day or evening outing for all ages.

This free, three-acre downtown sculpture park is one of the city's most delightful surprises. Winding paths lead past two dozen major works of contemporary art (including a giant Niki de Saint Phalle figure and a towering Mark di Suvero), interwoven with lush gardens, a 180-foot reflecting pool with a six-foot waterfall, and splash fountains. The best part for families: kids are encouraged to run right through the spray plaza on a hot day. There are no gates, no fences, and no admission, plus a cafe on site. A refreshing, art-filled break in the middle of downtown.

St. Louis's historic Italian-American neighborhood is a feast for the senses and an easy must-do for food lovers. Settled by immigrants in the early 1900s, The Hill still flies the Italian colors on its fire hydrants and lamp posts, and its tidy streets are lined with old-school red-sauce trattorias, fresh pasta shops, bakeries, and Italian groceries. This is the birthplace of the toasted ravioli, a fried, breaded St. Louis original you have to try. Grab cannoli from a corner bakery, watch mozzarella being pulled at a deli counter, and soak up the neighborhood charm.

Baseball is a religion in St. Louis, and there is no better way to feel it than a Cardinals game at Busch Stadium, where the downtown skyline and the Gateway Arch frame the outfield. The Cardinals are one of the most storied franchises in MLB (11 World Series titles), and Cardinals fans are famous for being some of the most knowledgeable and welcoming in the country. The 45,000-seat ballpark sits right downtown next to the lively Ballpark Village dining-and-bar district, so the night easily stretches past the final out. The regular season runs April through September (with playoffs in October), and a sunny afternoon game in the bleachers is a quintessential St. Louis day.

If you are visiting in the cooler months, catch the Blues, St. Louis's NHL team and 2019 Stanley Cup champions, at the downtown Enterprise Center. Hockey is fast, loud, and a blast to see live even if you do not follow the sport, and the arena crowd belting out the team's unofficial anthem 'Gloria' after a win is pure St. Louis. The 18,000-seat arena is right downtown, an easy add-on to dinner or drinks. The regular season runs October through April, with home games most weeks.

St. Louis's newest team is also its most electric atmosphere. City SC, the city's Major League Soccer club, plays at the gleaming Energizer Park (opened 2022, renamed from CityPark in 2025), a soccer-specific stadium built right downtown near Union Station. The supporters' section sings and waves flags for the full 90 minutes, and even non-soccer fans get swept up. The intimate 22,500-seat bowl means there is not a bad seat in the house. The MLS season runs roughly late February through October.

For an affordable, family-friendly dose of college hoops, the Saint Louis University Billikens play Division I basketball at the 10,600-seat Chaifetz Arena on SLU's midtown campus. The pep band, student section, and the famously odd Billiken mascot make for a fun, energetic night out that rarely breaks the bank. The Atlantic 10 Conference schedule runs from November through March, and the venue also hosts concerts and events year-round.

Do not sleep on the Battlehawks, St. Louis's UFL spring football team and the most surprisingly fun ticket in town. The fan base is wildly passionate, packing The Dome at America's Center downtown and roaring the signature 'Ka-Kaw' chant all game long. It is loud, affordable, family-friendly football that locals genuinely adore. The UFL season runs spring (roughly late March through June), with home games at the 60,000-plus-seat domed stadium.

The beating heart of Dogtown nightlife and an Irish-American pub the neighborhood has loved since 1985. Up front it's a worn-in, friendly tavern; out back is a huge covered patio that turns into the after-work and weekend hangout. Pull up a stool for a deep beer list, well-poured pints, and bar food built around the burgers and buffalo wings. It hums on weekend nights and goes full-tilt on St. Patrick's Day, the high holiday of Dogtown.

Known to generations of locals as Pat's Bar & Grill, this corner tavern at Tamm and Oakland is a genuine Dogtown institution, opened by Galway native Pat Connolly in 1942 and among the oldest bars in St. Louis. The historic bar is largely unchanged, the cocktails trace back to the original 1940s drink menu, and the kitchen turns out fried chicken, fish tacos, and toasted ravioli that regulars rave about. There's free trivia on Thursdays and live music Friday and Saturday nights, with a warm, welcoming, anyone's-a-regular feel.

A buzzy, modern microbrewery right on Oakland Avenue, just steps east of the Saint Louis Science Center and a quick hop from Dogtown. It moved into this big, airy taproom — white subway tile, soaring black ceilings, sixteen taps and a sprawling patio — and brings its in-house restaurant, The Kings Oak, along for the ride. Order a flight of the bold house beers (Citrapolis, their hugely popular hazy, is the move), grab a wood-fired pizza or the birria fries, and settle in at a communal table. Family-friendly early, lively later, with happy hour 3–5pm Tuesday through Thursday.

St. Louis's only bike-themed bar and one of the most fun, welcoming spots in The Grove, just a short drive from Dogtown. There's a packed event calendar — DJs, drag shows, comedy, karaoke and live musicians almost every night — plus signature cocktails, local beers on tap, tasty pizza, a poppin' dance floor and a beautiful two-story patio. It's the place to go when you want music and energy rather than a quiet pint, drawing a friendly, diverse, party-ready crowd. Happy hour runs from open until 6pm (and all night Mondays) with half-price pizza.

This cavernous German-style bierhall in The Grove is the easiest craft-beer outing from the property and seats more than 400 under one roof, with long communal tables and a big patio added in a recent renovation. It's the heart of Urban Chestnut's brewing operation, so the lineup runs deep on crisp lagers, kolsch, and the flagship Zwickel and Schnickelfritz. Pretzels, schnitzel, and wood-fired pizzas come out of the kitchen, and the open, family-friendly layout makes it comfortable for groups. Expect a lively, sociable din rather than a quiet tasting room.

Missouri's first post-Prohibition brewpub, opened in 1991, set inside a handsome 1902 former printing building downtown. Schlafly is the largest independent craft brewery in St. Louis and brews 60-plus styles, so the rotating taps range from the easy-drinking Pale Ale to seasonal stouts and the cult-favorite Pumpkin Ale in fall. The multi-level space has a warm, brick-and-timber pub feel with full lunch and dinner menus of elevated pub fare. It's a relaxed, classic St. Louis stop and works well for a leisurely meal with your pints.

One of St. Louis's most celebrated modern breweries, 4 Hands sits just south of downtown in a roomy, industrial-chic taproom blocks from the ballpark. The taps showcase their full range, from the flagship City Wide American Pale Ale to hazy IPAs, barrel-aged stouts, hard seltzers, and even house cocktails from their 1220 Spirits line. The big open room and long bar make it an easy hang for a group, and food trucks or a small menu round out the visit. The vibe is energetic and contemporary without being stuffy.

The historic home of Budweiser since 1852, this sprawling National Historic Landmark in Soulard is St. Louis's most iconic beer experience. Tours wind through the red-brick Romanesque brewhouse, the lagering cellars, and the ornate Clydesdale stables, where you can meet the world-famous draft horses up close. Options range from a free-to-low-cost walking tour to the in-depth Beermaster Tour and a Clydesdale VIP experience, most ending with fresh samples. It's a great half-day outing for first-time visitors and a fun mix of history, architecture, and beer.

A nationally acclaimed, award-winning brewery in nearby Maplewood famous for its wild and barrel-aged sour ales, saisons, and stouts that beer geeks travel across the country to try. The Cellar is the intimate, Belgian-inspired tasting room and beer bar, with a curated list of Side Project's own coveted bottles plus an excellent wine and whiskey selection. It's a smaller, more refined sipping spot than a rowdy taproom, ideal for a quiet evening of careful pours. Maplewood's walkable Manchester Road strip of shops and restaurants makes it an easy add-on.