South Grand

South Grand Boulevard boasts the most diverse collection of restaurants in St. Louis – and that’s not an overstatement.

Within six blocks, you can dine on Turkish kebabs, Ethiopian injera, Italian arancini, Indian curry, Cantonese steamed buns and all-beef hot dogs, just to name a few delicious bites. Vegan? You have innumerable options – think housemade spicy barbecue seitan with diced onions, cilantro and “sour cream” in a fried corn tortilla shell, New York-style slices made with cashew cheese and plant-based pepperoni, jackfruit tinga sopes with guacamole and butternut squash ravioli with amaretto butter, “goat cheese,” black walnuts and fried sage.

Just shy of Tower Grove Park, the tree-lined stretch of South Grand also attracts imbibers who like stiff drinks and live music. It’s even the base for Ginworld, an annual gin festival founded by Natasha Bahrami, owner of The Gin Room and Salve Osteria on South Grand – and the first and only American to have been inducted into the Gin Hall of Fame by Gin Magazine. “Every gin is not for everyone; however, there is a gin for everyone,” Bahrami says. “Let’s find your palate together.”

Before or after you dig into the dining scene, check out the eclectic shops along the street, which offer a hip selection of locally made and ethically sourced products. Whether you’re shopping for yourself or your loved ones, you’ll find it difficult to resist the artisan chocolate, handmade jewelry, leather wallets, colorful crystals, inspirational notebooks, chic clothing, sustainable toys and more throughout the welcoming spaces.