Eating Your Way Through St. Louis - A Foodies Guide to the Gateway City

Last evening I returned from a New England Road Trip. My first visit to the area, and definitely not my last. A highlight of the trip was Portland, Maine: a peninsula city located in coastal southern Maine. I spent three hours with my husband exploring the city through their food via a Culinary Walking Tour put on by Maine Foodie Tours. From the local cheese shop, to the fisherman’s market to the local brewery, I learned so much about what made this town unique. And it got me thinking, if I were to showcase St. Louis through food, what would top the list? So here you have it. My Foodies Guide to St. Louis, MO: My top six stops around the STL. 

Destination 1: Park Avenue Coffee, 417 N. 10th Street, St. Louis, MO 63101

Beginning the tour downtown, the first stop is Park Avenue Coffee for a sip of some local coffee. Park Avenue serves Chauvin Coffee another locally owned St. Louis business. To accompany the gourmet coffee, you must try Park Avenue’s local favorite “Gooey Butter Cake” This St. Louis specialty is served in one 76 flavors (12-15 rotating daily) and is sure to please your palate with its ooey gooey goodness.

Destination 2: Tower Grove Farmers Market, Tower Grove Park, St. Louis, MO 63118

To get a true sense of the food for which a city is known, what better place to visit than a local farmers market selling the produce, meats, and goods from local farmers and artisans. Buy some goat cheese from Baetje Farms, a loaf of bread from Companion, and some fresh figs from Ivan’s fig farm to try just a few of the great vendors that line the park. *The Famers Market is open Saturdays May-October 8am-12pm.

Destination 3: Gus’s Pretzels, 1820 Arsenal, St. Louis, MO 63118

Gus’s Pretzels are made fresh daily and have been hand twisted since 1920. The nostalgic store is located in the Benton Park Neighborhood right near the historic Anheuser Busch Brewery. Gus’s is a hometown favorite for two big reasons: the pretzels are fresh out of the oven and the prices can’t be beat.

Destination 4: Salume Beddu, 3647 Hampton Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63139

Makers of the finest cured meats in St. Louis, Salume Beddu is a MUST for any foodies out there. An infant on the St. Louis scene, Salume Beddu opened in the Spring of 2008 and has received nothing but rave reviews ever since. Stop in for their lunch and try the impressive “Beast in a Box” or just stop in to pick up some salume or salsiccia.

Destination 5: Schlafly Bottleworks, 7260 Southwest Avenue, Maplewood, MO 63143

While most foreigners know St. Louis as the home of Anheuser Busch when it comes to beer drinking. Schlafly Brewery has been gaining popularity and recognition since its start just twenty years ago. With a large variety of their craft brews, beer connosuiers are sure to be impressed. My personal favorites? Seasonal releases: Pumpkin and Christmas Ale.

Destination 6: Pappy’s Smokehouse, 3106 Olive Street, St. Louis, MO 63103

While we may not be nationally known for our BBQ the way Kansas City and Memphis are, we have one BBQ place that is receiving a ton of national attention. Pappy’s Smokehouse, a casual picnic bench type restaurant has been showcased by The Travel Channel, The Food Network, and Zagat’s. The ribs are a standout as well as their deep fried corn on the cob.

So to all the foodies out there, St. Louisians and visitors alike, time to get started on your St. Louis culinary tour. It was nearly impossible to come up with only 6 places that I would include, and I have many more I’d like to mention. I’m curious about your favorite places as well. What high quality, local places would you add to the mix?