The Brooklyn
of St. Louis is
Cherokee Street.

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Multicultural Street food Vintage Live music Record shops Gritty
The case for Cherokee Street

Cherokee Street is the coolest neighborhood in St. Louis for taquerias, record shops, and antique-row browsing.

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 runs through the center, 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.

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Three sides of the neighborhood

Where to go in Cherokee Street.

01
Stay in Cherokee Street

There's no hotel on Cherokee itself.
02
Eat & Drink in Cherokee Street

Taqueria El Bronco will feed you better for six dollars than most restaurants in the Central West End will for sixty.
03
Do & Shop in Cherokee Street

Dead Wax Records and Cherokee Antique Row can eat a whole afternoon if you let them.
All 23 spots mapped out

Cherokee Street, corner to corner.

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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.

CurrencyUSD
LanguageEnglish
Cost level $$Moderate
Best monthsMay, June, September, and October
Local time UTC-5
Plug type US plug · 120V/60Hz
Emergency911
Local tip
The Cinco de Mayo festival on Cherokee shuts down the whole street. It's the biggest party in south city all year.
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Head to head

How does St. Louis stack up?

All comparisons →

Detroit vs St. Louis

North America

Kansas City vs St. Louis

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Los Angeles vs St. Louis

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New Orleans vs St. Louis

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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.
Where should I stay in Cherokee Street, St. Louis?
The best boutique hotels in Cherokee Street include Benton Park Inn and Lemp Mansion. Benton Park Inn is the one to book first. A small bed and breakfast in a restored brick townhouse on Arsenal Street in quiet Benton Park. Just a few rooms, a neighborhood pace, and an easy walk to Cherokee.
Is Cherokee Street in St. Louis safe at night?
The commercial stretch is active during the day and on weekend evenings when galleries and bars draw crowds. Side streets get quiet after dark. Use normal city awareness: park in lit areas, don't leave anything visible in your car. Most visitors stay in adjacent neighborhoods like Benton Park or Tower Grove East and walk or drive in.
Is St. Louis expensive?
St. Louis sits mid-priced, easier on the wallet than the coasts. A rideshare from the airport runs $25 to $35, the free major museums cost nothing, and tap water is safe to drink anywhere. Book a hotel in January or February for the cheapest rates, tip 18 to 20% at sit-down spots.
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.

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