Any good St. Louisan can recite a bunch of good things about St. Louis, from the free zoo to the fact that Forest Park is bigger than Central Park. But it takes a true St. Louisan to sit down with all these random facts about the city we love and try to put them in context.
What are the best things about St. Louis, anyway? Are toasted ravioli really all that important to our civic happiness? Where does that delicious tap water rank?
We're pleased to announce that we, the RFT, are that true St. Louisan. And what follows is our very scientific, totally mathematical ranking of the 50 things we love the most about life in St. Louis.
Don't even think about arguing with us, especially when it comes to No. 42. You believe in science, right?
The 50 Best Things About St. Louis, Ranked
By Riverfront Times Staff on Fri, May 3, 2024 at 1:40 pm
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PHOTO BY ZACHARY LINHARES
47. It’s all so cas’
Comics may joke about Californians wearing their flip-flops to Nobu, but St. Louis is the true home of people who’ve chosen comfort over pretense. These days even jeans feel fancy around here.
Comics may joke about Californians wearing their flip-flops to Nobu, but St. Louis is the true home of people who’ve chosen comfort over pretense. These days even jeans feel fancy around here.
PHOTO BY ZACHARY LINHARES
50. Our baseball tradition is second to none
It sometimes shocks people from lesser cities to visit Busch Stadium, because people here actually watch the game. That’s no easy feat these days with the team’s pitiful performance of late — but it’s all in a day’s work for the best fans in baseball. It sure is a shame we can’t rank the team higher at present in good conscience, though.
It sometimes shocks people from lesser cities to visit Busch Stadium, because people here actually watch the game. That’s no easy feat these days with the team’s pitiful performance of late — but it’s all in a day’s work for the best fans in baseball. It sure is a shame we can’t rank the team higher at present in good conscience, though.
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PHOTO BY FLICKR/PAUL SABLEMAN
49. Our tap water tastes terrific
Yes, yes, the blind taste test that proclaimed St. Louis “the best water tasting city in the country” was back in 2007, but anyone who’s tasted our tap water knows it to be true. It’s positively delicious.
Yes, yes, the blind taste test that proclaimed St. Louis “the best water tasting city in the country” was back in 2007, but anyone who’s tasted our tap water knows it to be true. It’s positively delicious.
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PHOTO BY ZACHARY LINHARES
48. We have a shocking number of great bookstores
Most metro areas our size are lucky to have one independent bookstore selling new titles — or two. We’ve got a dozen, another one on the way and countless used and specialty stores, too. That makes this a great town for the literate among us.
Most metro areas our size are lucky to have one independent bookstore selling new titles — or two. We’ve got a dozen, another one on the way and countless used and specialty stores, too. That makes this a great town for the literate among us.
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PHOTO BY FLICKR/PAUL SABLEMAN
46. Even our worst traffic is barely traffic
A city that was built for 800,000 souls now has 300,000 or so, which might be sad except for how easy it is to get from Point A to Point B. You will literally save hours of your life commuting on these streets instead of the car-clogged ones to the east and west.
A city that was built for 800,000 souls now has 300,000 or so, which might be sad except for how easy it is to get from Point A to Point B. You will literally save hours of your life commuting on these streets instead of the car-clogged ones to the east and west.
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PHOTO COURTESY STL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
45. You can be anywhere in 20 minutes
… and we mean anywhere! Airport, that concert at the Factory that’s “soooo far away,” Lone Elk Park and the buffalo, St. Charles and the spot where Lewis & Clark & Seaman took off for the West … it doesn’t matter where you are, it’s all just 20 minutes away.
… and we mean anywhere! Airport, that concert at the Factory that’s “soooo far away,” Lone Elk Park and the buffalo, St. Charles and the spot where Lewis & Clark & Seaman took off for the West … it doesn’t matter where you are, it’s all just 20 minutes away.
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PHOTO BY TONY REHAGEN
44. The surrounding countryside is beautiful
We hate to say this about a state we have such a sadomasochistic relationship with, but let’s face it … Missouri’s stunning good looks are one reason we stay. Whether it’s the rolling hills of Augusta, the fascinating formations of Elephant Rocks or the rivers that facilitate our float trips, Missouri has it going on.
We hate to say this about a state we have such a sadomasochistic relationship with, but let’s face it … Missouri’s stunning good looks are one reason we stay. Whether it’s the rolling hills of Augusta, the fascinating formations of Elephant Rocks or the rivers that facilitate our float trips, Missouri has it going on.
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SCREENSHOT VIA YOUTUBE
43. Mister Gary knows that them yo people
Every great city needs an avatar and the incomparable King of Hospitality is ours. Whaddaya say, whaddaya say?
Every great city needs an avatar and the incomparable King of Hospitality is ours. Whaddaya say, whaddaya say?
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PHOTO BY SARAH FENSKE
42. The Riverfront Times
Duh.
Duh.
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PHOTO BY SARA GRAHAM
41. Citygarden
It’s the coolest thing: a world-class sculpture garden brilliantly integrated into the heart of downtown. In addition to inviting families to climb and play on the sculptures, Citygarden also offers one of the best wading pool/splash pad combos we’ve seen anywhere in the country.
It’s the coolest thing: a world-class sculpture garden brilliantly integrated into the heart of downtown. In addition to inviting families to climb and play on the sculptures, Citygarden also offers one of the best wading pool/splash pad combos we’ve seen anywhere in the country.
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40. Stag
It’s cheap, crushable and provided an important alternative back when Anheuser Busch dominated the taps. For that, we thank you, Belleville-based Stag.
It’s cheap, crushable and provided an important alternative back when Anheuser Busch dominated the taps. For that, we thank you, Belleville-based Stag.
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PHOTO COURTESY ST. LOUIS CITY SC
39. City SC
Yes, Kansas City, we are America’s Soccer City, so shut your yaps.
Yes, Kansas City, we are America’s Soccer City, so shut your yaps.
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RFT FILE PHOTO
38. All the culture
We have not one but three opera companies. We have St. Louis Shakespeare and the St. Louis Shakespeare Festival. We have an entire goshdarn theater devoted entirely to staging Broadway musicals outdoors (that’s the Muny, y’all). There are seemingly 1,000 theater companies and a shocking number of them are really, really good — perhaps one reason Neil LaBute himself stages a playwriting festival here every year.
We have not one but three opera companies. We have St. Louis Shakespeare and the St. Louis Shakespeare Festival. We have an entire goshdarn theater devoted entirely to staging Broadway musicals outdoors (that’s the Muny, y’all). There are seemingly 1,000 theater companies and a shocking number of them are really, really good — perhaps one reason Neil LaBute himself stages a playwriting festival here every year.
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PHOTO BY ZACHARY LINHARES
37. We have more Bosnians than anywhere outside Europe
And that means we have cevapi, and somun and Bosnian coffee …. And now not just authentic Bosnian cafes, but places that give the cuisine a modern twist, too. (Looking at you, Balkan Treat Box and Telva at the Ridge.)
And that means we have cevapi, and somun and Bosnian coffee …. And now not just authentic Bosnian cafes, but places that give the cuisine a modern twist, too. (Looking at you, Balkan Treat Box and Telva at the Ridge.)
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PHOTO BY THEO WELLING
36. It’s all gay as hell
Coming to St. Louis for the first time, you might assume that since you’re in Missouri, everyone is going to be basic — and then you visit your first south city coffee shop and holy shit, sexuality really is a continuum and it’s all represented here. Far from destroying the city’s LGBTQ community, the demise of the Grove as the city’s “gayborhood” has meant there’s a whole lot more gay to spread around everywhere else.
Coming to St. Louis for the first time, you might assume that since you’re in Missouri, everyone is going to be basic — and then you visit your first south city coffee shop and holy shit, sexuality really is a continuum and it’s all represented here. Far from destroying the city’s LGBTQ community, the demise of the Grove as the city’s “gayborhood” has meant there’s a whole lot more gay to spread around everywhere else.
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PHOTO BY BRADEN MCMAKIN
35. It’s a good place to make connections
St. Louis is such a big little town that you're constantly reconnecting with people you know while you're just living your life. People who make enemies quickly aren’t going to last here — but the rest of us find endless (and extremely fruitful) networking. Need to connect with a local bigwig? We guarantee you’re only two or three degrees of separation away.
St. Louis is such a big little town that you're constantly reconnecting with people you know while you're just living your life. People who make enemies quickly aren’t going to last here — but the rest of us find endless (and extremely fruitful) networking. Need to connect with a local bigwig? We guarantee you’re only two or three degrees of separation away.
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PHOTO BY LULU NIX
34. The beer
In the town that Anheuser-Busch built, the brews still flow freely — only now they come from a series of local craftsmen, not just the big guys at InBev. The craft beer revolution that began here with Schlafly and Urban Chestnut continues to see new foot soldiers take up the cause each year, with delicious results.
In the town that Anheuser-Busch built, the brews still flow freely — only now they come from a series of local craftsmen, not just the big guys at InBev. The craft beer revolution that began here with Schlafly and Urban Chestnut continues to see new foot soldiers take up the cause each year, with delicious results.
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PHOTO VIA FLICKR/PAUL SABLEMAN
33. The brick
There’s a reason that even at their most bedraggled, St. Louis’ historic neighborhoods look infinitely better than other Rust Belt cities: Brick is beautiful, and few cities have more of it.
There’s a reason that even at their most bedraggled, St. Louis’ historic neighborhoods look infinitely better than other Rust Belt cities: Brick is beautiful, and few cities have more of it.
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PHOTO BY SANA'A ABOU ANTOUN
32. Art Hill
You can watch free movies on it, paddle canoes before it, catch the St. Louis Symphony playing it (at least one wonderful night a year!). You can even sled down it on a dumpster lid while chugging a Busch. This is St. Louis, we won’t judge.
You can watch free movies on it, paddle canoes before it, catch the St. Louis Symphony playing it (at least one wonderful night a year!). You can even sled down it on a dumpster lid while chugging a Busch. This is St. Louis, we won’t judge.
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PHOTO VIA FLICKR/PAUL SABLEMAN
31. It’s not Clayton
Looks lovely but is boring? No thanks!
Looks lovely but is boring? No thanks!
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