Bad news: summer is winding down. Maybe you were able to take a trip this year, or maybe not. Not to fear, though: St. Louis has plenty of vacation-worthy spots all over town, no hotel or passport necessary. These are four destination restaurants we love, and the only hard part might be finding parking.
Scroll through the slideshow below to learn more about Yellowbelly in the Central West End. Credit: photo by Michelle VolanskyBrasserie by Niche
Find your French getaway in the Central West End. Brasserie by Niche gives the Lou a taste of the cozy, classic bistro setting right on Laclede Avenue. Diners can peruse the extensive wine list from the chic comfort of the indoors, but in our opinion, the string-lit patio is the perfect spot to enjoy the menu du jour. The location only adds to the ambiance, as the hustle and bustle of the CWE makes you feel like you might be in the City of Lights. The menu features elevated classics like the croque madame, and we recommend the perfectly textured steak tartare.
4580 Laclede Ave., St. Louis, 314.454.0600, brasseriebyniche.com Credit: photo by Virginia HaroldNovella Wine Bar
To experience the delicious, Old World flavors of wine country, look no further than Novella Wine Bar on South Kingshighway Boulevard. A cozy entryway welcomes guests into their warmly decorated space and, if the weather’s nice, the back patio is a beautiful spot to catch up with friends. A unique menu of Slavic wines – from white to red to orange – pairs perfectly with their Balkan-inspired small plates. We recommend the bright, house-made fig leaf liqueur and one of our all-time favorites, the stuffed dates.
5510 S. Kingshighway Blvd., St. Louis, 314.680.4226 novellawinebar.com Credit: photo courtesy of Novella Wine BarSouthwest Diner
Instead of catching a flight to New Mexico, try grabbing breakfast at Southwest Diner. Menu items like breakfast tamales and Jonathan’s Fiery Scramble bring the taste and (heat) of the Southwest, but diners can also enjoy other breakfast classics like pancakes or biscuits and gravy. For those who want to try something new but don’t love spice, let the server know you want those ingredients on the side. Don’t sleep in on their bright, flowery patio (open year-round) or house cocktails, but if you do wake up late, not to worry – you can grab a full menu, including lunch, any time before they close at 2 p.m. If you really want to take your staycation to the next level, check out their AirBnB right over the diner.
6803 Southwest Ave., St. Louis, 314.260.7244, southwestdinerstl.com Credit: photo by Julia CalleoYellowbelly
Yellowbelly has been taking locals to the coast since 2018. Their unique cocktail menu plays on tried-and-true classics, like the Tropical Old-Fashioned, while letting adventurous palates branch out with drinks like the Lazy Tiger (named after the adjacent bar of the same ownership) and its serrano chile honey. The dinner menu ranges from kimchi to short ribs, and in our opinion, the crab fritters and raw oysters are not to be missed. For a refreshing dessert, try the coconut and vanilla panna cotta. This killer menu, along with the verdant decor and servers in Hawaiian shirts, takes you right to the tropics, no plane ticket required.
4659 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, 314.499.1509, yellowbellystl.com Credit: photo by Greg Rannells
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by
Riley Hansen
