Shopping · St. Louis · United States
Shopping in St. Louis
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Lightmetro, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
St. Louis shopping leans towards neighbourhood boutiques, vintage shops and local food products rather than designer malls. Best souvenirs: Gooey butter cake, Cardinals gear and Gateway Arch souvenirs.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 4
- Markets
- 2
- Top souvenir
- Gooey butter cake
Where to shop
Central West End
Boutiques, galleries and home-décor shops along Euclid Avenue.
Delmar Loop
Record shops, vintage clothing and quirky gift shops.
Cherokee Street
Antiques, vintage shops and Mexican bakeries in south St. Louis.
Clayton
Upscale boutiques and the nearby Plaza Frontenac and Galleria malls.
Markets
Soulard Farmers Market
Historic market hall selling produce, meat, spices and snacks.
Tower Grove Farmers' Market
Saturday-morning market of local produce and food in Tower Grove Park in season.
What to buy
Gooey butter cake
A whole cake from a local bakery, often boxed for travel.
Cardinals gear
Red caps and jerseys from the stadium shops and Ballpark Village.
Gateway Arch souvenirs
Models, prints and books from the Arch museum shop.
Local beer and wine
Missouri wines and St. Louis craft beers; check rules for flying with alcohol.
Streets and markets worth a wander
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Market · Soulard
Soulard Farmers Market
A market has stood on this site since the 18th century, and today's 1929 market hall and open sheds have produce, meat and cheese stalls, spice vendors and snack stands.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
- History
Street · The Loop and University City
Delmar Loop
This lively stretch of Delmar Boulevard has independent shops, international restaurants and music venues, including Blueberry Hill, where Chuck Berry played monthly into his eighties, and The Pageant.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- After dark
- Shopping
- History
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Toasted ravioli, Gooey butter cake, Frozen custard concrete and Soft pretzel sticks. Italian restaurants on The Hill and appetiser menus all over the city. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Central West End | $$$ | Sidewalk cafés, boutiques and mansions beside Forest Park |
| Soulard | $$ | French-founded brick neighbourhood of blues bars, the farmers market and the brewery |
| Lafayette Square | $$ | Painted Victorian townhouses around one of the oldest parks west of the Mississippi |
| The Hill | $$ | Italian-American neighbourhood of bakeries, delis and red-sauce restaurants |
| The Loop and University City | $$ | Delmar Boulevard's music venues, diners and the St. Louis Walk of Fame |
| Tower Grove and South Grand | $ | A Victorian park and an international restaurant strip on South Grand Boulevard |
| Clayton | $$$ | The county seat's office towers, upscale hotels and restaurants |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in USD. Tipping is expected: about 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, a dollar or two per drink at bars, and 15–20% for taxis and rideshares.
- Wear red on Cardinals game days if you want to join in.
- Hotels downtown rise on Cardinals home games and big conventions; check the calendar.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in January; the busiest months are the peak holidays.
- June: Shakespeare Festival St. Louis — free outdoor performances in Forest Park (usually June)
- July: Fair Saint Louis — Fourth of July festival and fireworks at the Arch
- September: Japanese Festival at the Missouri Botanical Garden (usually Labor Day weekend)
- September: St. Louis Art Fair in Clayton (usually September)
Staying near the shops
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in St. Louis?
Gooey butter cake, Cardinals gear, Gateway Arch souvenirs and Local beer and wine.
+Where is the best shopping in St. Louis?
Central West End: Boutiques, galleries and home-décor shops along Euclid Avenue.
+What are the best markets in St. Louis?
Soulard Farmers Market and Tower Grove Farmers' Market.