What should first-time visitors do in St Louis?

The definitive guide to St. Louis's best restaurants — from iconic institutions to neighborhood gems. Where locals actually eat in St. Louis, MO.

How many days do you need in St Louis?

Most first-time visitors should plan 2-4 days in St Louis to see the highlights without rushing. This gives you time to explore neighborhoods, try local restaurants, and experience the culture.

Is St Louis worth visiting?

Yes, St Louis is absolutely worth visiting. The definitive guide to St. Louis's best restaurants — from iconic institutions to neighborhood gems. Where locals actually eat in St. Louis, MO.

Where to Eat in St. Louis: A Local's Guide to the Best Restaurants

Last updated March 17, 2026 by the Recommended.app research team.

Pappy's Smokehouse: Barbecue in Midtown

Pappy's Smokehouse is the barbecue restaurant that put St. Louis on the national BBQ map, and the line that stretches down the block every day before opening is proof that the reputation is deserved. The ribs are the main attraction — pork spare ribs slow-smoked over cherry and apple wood until the bark is mahogany-dark and crackling, while the meat beneath is tender and smoky without being falling-off-the-bone overcooked. The pulled pork, burnt ends, and brisket are all excellent, and the sides — Frito pie, sweet potato fries, and coleslaw — hold their own. The sauces span the spectrum from sweet to vinegar to hot, and the cafeteria-style service keeps the line moving. This is serious barbecue in a city that takes its smoked meat very seriously.

Pro tip: Arrive 30 minutes before opening (11 AM) — they sell out of popular items daily. The ribs are the essential order. Grab extra sauce to take home.

Broadway Oyster Bar: Cajun/Creole in Downtown South

Broadway Oyster Bar is a funky, ramshackle Cajun joint near Busch Stadium that feels like a piece of New Orleans was airlifted to St. Louis. The crawfish etouffee is rich and peppery, the po'boys are stuffed with fried oysters or shrimp, and the gumbo is dark-roux authentic. Live blues and zydeco bands play on the patio most nights, and the indoor dining rooms are decorated with a maximalist collection of signs, instruments, and memorabilia that adds to the joyful chaos. The oysters are excellent and affordable, and the beer selection leans into local craft offerings.

Pro tip: Come for the crawfish boil when in season (spring). Live music on the patio is free most nights. The fried oyster po'boy is the sandwich to order.

Sidney Street Cafe: Contemporary American in Benton Park

Sidney Street Cafe in the Benton Park neighborhood is St. Louis's most acclaimed fine dining restaurant, consistently ranked among the best in the Midwest. Chef Kevin Nashan (a James Beard Award winner) creates refined American dishes that draw on French technique, Asian flavors, and Midwestern ingredients. A meal might include foie gras with local peach, Missouri quail with corn and chanterelles, or an A5 wagyu preparation that melts on contact. The dining room is surprisingly casual for the quality of the food — set in a converted storefront with exposed brick and a relaxed atmosphere.

Pro tip: The tasting menu is the best way to experience the kitchen's range. Sit at the chef's counter for a front-row view of the action.

Gioia's Deli: Italian deli in The Hill

Gioia's Deli on the Hill — St. Louis's historic Italian neighborhood — has been serving sandwiches since 1918, and the hot salami sandwich is a St. Louis legend. The hot salami is a local specialty: a pork salami unique to St. Louis's Italian community, grilled until the fat renders and the edges crisp, then layered on fresh Italian bread. It's simple, extraordinary, and available nowhere else in America. The rest of the menu is equally impressive — Italian beef, meatball subs, and cold Italian sandwiches — but the hot salami is why people make pilgrimages.

Pro tip: The hot salami sandwich is non-negotiable. Go at 11 AM to beat the lunch rush. Cash or card accepted. Grab a bag of toasted ravioli (another St. Louis invention) from a neighboring shop on the Hill.

Grace Meat + Three: Southern/Soul food in The Grove

Grace Meat + Three brings the Nashville meat-and-three concept to St. Louis with spectacular results. Choose a meat (fried chicken, smoked brisket, meatloaf, catfish) and three sides from a rotating selection that includes mac and cheese, collard greens, cornbread, black-eyed peas, and pickled beets. The fried chicken — brined, seasoned, and fried in cast iron — rivals any in the South, and the sides are made with the kind of care that turns simple vegetables into soulful eating. The price point is remarkable: a full plate of meat and three sides costs around $14.

Pro tip: The fried chicken is the star, but the smoked brisket is also excellent. Get the mac and cheese as one of your three — it's exceptional. The sweet tea is properly Southern.

Beyond the Usual: Exploring St. Louis's Food Scene

St. Louis's dining scene extends far beyond these highlighted restaurants. The city's neighborhoods each bring their own culinary personality, from ethnic enclaves serving family recipes passed down through generations to ambitious young chefs redefining what St. Louis food means. The best strategy for eating well in St. Louis is to stay curious, ask locals where they eat (not where they take visitors), and be willing to follow a recommendation into a strip mall, a food truck, or a hole-in-the-wall that doesn't look like much from the outside but serves food that stops you mid-bite. The restaurants listed above are proven starting points, but they're doors into a much larger world. Every neighborhood has its own food story, and the best meals in St. Louis are often the ones you discover by accident — turning down a side street because something smelled incredible, or sitting at a counter because the only table was taken. Trust your instincts, tip generously, and eat with the kind of open-minded enthusiasm that St. Louis's best chefs bring to their kitchens every day.