A Day in STL: Crescent & Downtown Clayton

We enjoyed taking you through one of our favorite areas in the city in our “A Day in St. Louis: DeMun & Forest Park” blog, so here’s another neighborhood to-do list as the weather gets even nicer! St. Louis has so many hidden gems to experience, and we’re excited to share them with you.

Now, we’re exploring Clayton, the county seat for St. Louis County. Clayton is a mixed business district and historic shopping neighborhood, with many tree-lined side streets filled with beautiful, stately homes. Clayton also has so many delicious places to eat and drink, and one of the best parks in the St. Louis area!

How well do you know the area? Find out by exploring:

• Kaldi’s at the Crescent
• Shaw Park
• Seven (Gables)
• Wasabi
• St. Louis Artist’s Guild
• The Wine & Cheese Place
• Casa Don Alfonso
• Protzel’s Deli
• & More!

KALDI’S COFFEE AT THE CRESCENT

It’s no secret that this is one of our best cafes for hunkering down and studying or working, while enjoying a honey oat cold brew or a velvety mocha. We recommend coming early; this is one of our smaller cafes, and the best seats can go fast!

See our Crescent Location Page for hours, address, and menu (currently not open on the weekends! 

Before giving you these things to do in Downtown Clayton, don’t forget to grab a cold brew can or an iced vanilla latte for the road! A granola bar wouldn’t hurt for some healthy energy, or try our popular Peanut Butter Energy Bites! 

SHAW PARK

This island of green is part of what makes Downtown Clayton so special. Shaw Park has walking and biking trails, volleyball courts, ball fields, restroom/changing rooms, and playgrounds for the little ones. The mornings are the best time, particularly as the weather gets warmer.

In the summer, Shaw Park’s Aquatics Center has one of the best pools in St. Louis County. Check their website for any scheduling and rules updates. 

SEVEN BISTRO & BAR (and SEVEN GABLES INN)

This newest incarnation of the restaurant at the Seven Gables Inn offers a classy, but uniquely St. Louis dining experience. With a menu that is both upscale and accessible, Seven at the Seven Gables Inn is a great destination for either lunch or dinner. Seven is also known for resurrecting notable dishes from Clayton restaurants of the past, called “Lost Classics”.

WASABI

This approachable sushi bar is right in the middle of the center of Downtown Clayton. Indulge your sushi and sashimi cravings at Wasabi Clayton, or peruse their tasty hot menu. 

ST. LOUIS ARTIST’S GUILD

Tour the St. Louis Artists’ Guild at Jackson and Forsythe. Saturdays in particular are a great time for the whole family. The Artist’s Guild hosts Free Family Saturdays; although registration is required, the workshop is still completely free, and a great way to spend time with family or friends. Even if you don’t opt for the workshop or any other classes, the Guild always has several fascinating art exhibits to view and appreciate.

Note: the St. Louis Artist’s Guild is closed Sun-Mon.

THE WINE & CHEESE PLACE

Shop for delicacies at The Wine & Cheese Place, just down the street from the Artists’ Guild, and around the corner from the Forsyth Metrolink Station. The experts here can help you find and pair many sophisticated cheeses and fine wines, but also offer a vast range of excellent spirits, beers, meats, and other products. This is the perfect place to browse for items to create homemade gift baskets, a romantic evening in, a fun picnic, or any other event from cozy to classy.

Note: The Wine & Cheese Place is open 7 days a week from 10am, but does close at 3pm on Sundays.

CASA DON ALFONSO 

Enjoy a classy dinner at Casa don Alfonso at The Ritz. Casa Don Alfonso is on the same street as our Crescent cafe, and promises some of the finest and most authentic offerings from Southern Italy and the famous Sorrento Coast. Enjoy elevated Mediterranean dishes for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner!

PROTZEL’S DELI

If you’re looking for more homey, cozy fare, venture a little bit further down Hanley to Protzel's Deli on Wydown. This old-school deli is less than a 10-minute walk south of our Crescent cafe, and serves some of the most iconic Jewish-American delicatessen dishes like corned beef, knishes, and chicken and matza ball soup. 

Walking in the nearby Moorlands neighborhood isn’t the same as an actual trip to Shaw Park, but it’s still very visually stunning, with gorgeous houses and majestic old oak and sycamore trees. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can even take Wydown all the way out east to Forest Park for boating, golfing, and so much more.

Honorable mentions:

801 Chophouse at the Crescent is a unique steakhouse that provides a memorable experience. Here, world-class chefs pair the finest USDA prime cuts with incredible savory side dishes, a deep wine list, and an elegant but intimate atmosphere that evokes old 1920s New York. It’s located on the same street as Kaldi’s Coffee at the Crescent, and Casa Don Alfonso at the Ritz.

Just down the block from the Forsyth Metrolink Station, Original J's BBQ is a comfy, tasty, old school BBQ joint. Open Wednesday thru Sunday, and offering a classic menu of Tex Mex and popular BBQ dishes, this is spicy, messy, delicious comfort food.

After all that tasty food, it’s time to hit the gym! TruFusion Gym on Forsyth at Jackson is the place to go if you’re looking to challenge yourself. With almost 20 different classes in a range of exercise styles, and with the first one FREE, TruFusion is the perfect destination for setting new goals in fitness and self-care. 

A DAY IN ST. LOUIS, ONE NEIGHBORHOOD AT A TIME

St. Louis is a city of contradictions and unpredictability, at times. But there’s a lot to love and appreciate about our many different neighborhoods. Each of our cafes is designed to be in a dialogue with its neighborhood, and we hope to show you more exciting ways to spend a day in St. Louis in the areas around each Kaldi’s Cafe. 

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Next up on our DISTL blog series: this iconic neighborhood is one of the liveliest, most vibrant areas of St. Louis. Straddling the County and the City, this neighborhood is jam-packed with bars, restaurants, eclectic shopping, and performance venues, and is guaranteed to make you a little....Loop-y.

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