The Brooklyn
of St. Louis is
Cherokee Street.
The case for Cherokee Street
Cherokee Street is where St. Louis stops trying to impress anyone and just lives. Mexican groceries sit next to record shops and cocktail bars. Saturday afternoons, the sidewalks fill up with people who actually live here, not tourists. It's cheap, it's real, and the tacos are better than anything downtown.
Cherokee Street packs over 180 independent businesses into less than half a mile, including six blocks of antique shops that still price like it's 2009.
Close contenders
Other cool neighborhoods in St. Louis.
The Grove (Forest Park Southeast)
The Grove went from forgotten to packed in a decade. Manchester Avenue is the spine, lined with bars and restaurants that pull crowds every weekend. Great nightlife energy.
Tower Grove South
Tower Grove South is the quiet residential answer to Cherokee's chaos. Grand Boulevard has the restaurants. The farmers market at Tower Grove Park on Saturday mornings is essential.
Benton Park
Benton Park has beautiful old brick homes, a gorgeous park, and enough good restaurants to keep you fed for a week. Calmer, prettier, with better-kept sidewalks and newer awnings.
Three sides of the neighborhood
Where to go in Cherokee Street.
All 23 spots mapped out
Cherokee Street, corner to corner.
Our 23 top picks
The Cherokee Street guide.
Practical info
Good to know.
The boring numbers that decide whether you stay three days or four.
| Currency | USD |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Cost level | $$Moderate |
| Best months | May, June, September, and October |
| Local time | UTC-5 |
| Plug type | US plug · 120V/60Hz |
| Emergency | 911 |
Local tip
The Cinco de Mayo festival on Cherokee shuts down the whole street. It's the biggest party in south city all year.
North America · USA
If you like St. Louis, try one of these.
Head to head
How does St. Louis stack up?
Common questions
Things to know about Cherokee Street.
What is the Brooklyn of St. Louis?
The Brooklyn of St. Louis is Cherokee Street. Cherokee Street is where St. Cherokee Street packs over 180 independent businesses into less than half a mile, including six blocks of antique shops that still price like it's 2009.
What is the coolest neighborhood in St. Louis?
Cherokee Street is widely considered the coolest neighborhood in St. Louis. Cherokee Street is where St. Louis stops trying to impress anyone and just lives. Mexican groceries sit next to record shops and cocktail bars. Saturday afternoons, the sidewalks fill up with people who actually live here, not tourists. It's cheap, it's real, and the tacos are better than anything downtown.
What is the hippest neighborhood in St. Louis?
Cherokee Street is the hippest neighborhood in St. Louis. Mexican groceries share walls with record shops and cocktail bars, and Saturday sidewalks belong to people who live here, not visitors with cameras.
What is the trendiest neighborhood in St. Louis?
Cherokee Street is St. Louis's trendiest neighborhood right now. The street keeps gaining bars and taquerias without losing the gritty live-music rooms and vintage stores that got people walking down here in the first place.
Where do creatives live in St. Louis?
Cherokee Street is where St. Louis creatives put down roots. Rents stay cheap, and over 180 independent businesses pack into less than half a mile - record shops, antique rows, cocktail spots. Six blocks of vintage stores still price like it's 2009. It rewards people who stick around, not those passing through.
What is the most bohemian neighborhood in St. Louis?
Cherokee Street is the most bohemian neighborhood in St. Louis. Mexican groceries sit next to record shops and dive bars on one unfussy strip. Saturday afternoons the sidewalks fill with people who live here. It's gritty, cheap, and real, with live music and tacos better than anything downtown.
Where should I stay in Cherokee Street, St. Louis?
The best boutique hotels in Cherokee Street are Lemp Mansion and Benton Park Inn. A 33-room 1876 Italianate mansion turned inn and restaurant, built as headquarters for one of America's top brewing dynasties before Prohibition gutted everything.
Is Cherokee Street in St. Louis safe at night?
Cherokee Street is a lived-in creative neighborhood, not a tourist compound. Bars and restaurants here stay busy late, which keeps streets active. Use normal city awareness.
Is St. Louis expensive?
St. Louis rates $$ on a global travel scale. Affordable, with good value for food and drink.
When is the best time to visit St. Louis?
Aim for May, June, September, or October. July and August are brutally humid with highs near 95F and regular thunderstorms, while winter drops below freezing with occasional snow. Spring brings the Cinco de Mayo street festival on Cherokee, one of the Midwest's largest, and fall weekends are dependable for outdoor markets and patio time.
Last updated