Saint Louis offers an amazing scene for foodies of all sorts. Bars, fine dining, cozy cafes and more are available throughout the Saint Louis area. Unfortunately, not everyone at SLU has a car to zip down to some of the more well known areas of Saint Louis for a good meal or exciting drink. Thankfully, there are some options right in SLU’s backyard. Whether you don’t have a car or you’re just looking to stretch your legs, here are some options for food and drink within walking distance of our campus. 

Cafe Option

Like Home Comme a la Maison $ – Like Home is a French patisserie that is located at 3855 Lindell Blvd., just a stone’s throw away from the West end of campus. Offering a variety of French dishes, the mother daughter combo, Clemence and Christine Pereur, opened Like Home in September 2016. Their colorful menu ranges from beautifully made macarons ($2 each) to savory Quiches ($10). With vegetarian options, tasty sweets, warm coffee and a cozy atmosphere, Like Home is a great place for an easy breakfast or lunch. Open Wednesday-Saturday, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. 

Small Plates and Cocktails 

Retreat Gastropub $$- Retreat Gastropub is described on their website as  “A modern American pub with a rustic touch.” Located at 6 North Sarah Street, Retreat provides a lively, comfortable atmosphere and a menu full of flavorful foods. For those 21 and over,  Retreat puts a lot of focus on their craft cocktails and beers. With herb infused cocktails, local craft brews, as well as non alcoholic cocktails and shareable drinks, Retreat will be sure to quench your thirst no matter your taste.  A perfect place for your next date night or treating yourself, Retreat Gastropub offers a colorful menu for any occasion.  

Quick and Casual 

The Fountain on Locust $$- Looking for a casual bite or a sweet treat? The Fountain on Locust is the spot for you! Located just three blocks east of the Fox theater at 3037 Locust Street, this fun space has vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free award winning dishes. They are also the home of the ice cream martini as well as tasty homemade sodas. Open since 2008, their special fountain ice cream was voted one of St. Louis’ best! Hours of operation are Tuesday-Thursday 11 a.m. – 10 p.m., Friday-Saturday  11 a.m. – 12 midnight, Sunday 12 noon – 9 p.m.

Dinner and a Show

The Dark Room at The Grandel $$ – Wine bar. Live jazz. Art Shows. Restaurant. What more could you want? According to The Dark Room website they offer “a holistic experience designed to enhance community engagement, encourage conversation, and inspire ideas.” The restaurant is open Monday – Tuesday (4:00 p.m. -10:00 p.m.) Wednesday – Saturday (4:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.) for dinner and 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m every Saturday & Sunday. Located at 3610 Grandel Square, SLU students can enjoy a lovely walk past The Fabulous Fox and Powell Hall on their way. With live jazz seven days a week and rotating photography exhibits, The Dark Room is the perfect venue for events, a nice night out and a taste of culture. 

For those looking for a bit of a longer walk, there are amazing options in the Central West End for breakfast, lunch, dinner and everything in between. As SLU students, we also get free metro passes when we live on campus. Utilizing that metro pass, one could take the city bus down to Tower Grove or Lafayette Square or use the metro to check out downtown and more! So when you’re looking to expand your options outside of Chipotle, Picklemans or Kaldi’s, look to some of these restaurants for a new and delicious food and drink experience.