Clayton, Missouri offers an urban vibe in the suburbs of St. Louis!
With a business district, shopping, restaurants, and parks aplenty, Clayton has lots to do— so much so, it can be overwhelming to list it all! As a St. Louis native, I have spent a lot of time enjoying all that Clayton has to offer. Some of the restaurants and businesses that I enjoy today, I’ve been patronizing since I was a kid! I could go on and on about all of the places to visit in Clayton, but to keep things relatively simple, I’m proposing an itinerary for a day and a night in my neighborhood.
Daytime with the Kids on Demun
Demun is a darling street in Clayton, near Forest Park, and it has everything (imagine me saying that in my best Stefon from Saturday Night Live voice): breakfast, lunch, dinner, treats, outdoor play areas, and parallel parking (the one downside of spending time in Clayton). Start at the north end of the street by grabbing a cup of coffee and a breakfast treat from the original Kaldi’s location (fun fact: all fare here is vegetarian!). Then enjoy playtime at the recently renovated Demun Park, which features two playgrounds.
If it’s a warm day and your little ones play extra nicely on the playground, treat them to a scoop from Clementine’s Naughty & Nice Ice Cream.
Don’t let anyone get hangry; grab lunch to go from Seedz Cafe, a totally vegan restaurant in Clayton featuring healthy (and delicious, I promise!) food, juices, and smoothies to help you balance out that ice cream! Smoothies are a particular favorite for my kids.
Mom Break!
After devoting your morning to making fantastic memories for your kids, you deserve a little break. The recently opened Clayton Winehouse has a beautiful selection of domestic and international wines with a really helpful staff to help you make your choice. They also carry charcuterie plates. You can enjoy your wine (and snacks) on-site or take the bottle(s) home in one of the cute totes they provide upon purchase. Join their email list to stay on top of complimentary wine tastings and events!
Lusso has been one of my favorite boutiques since my high school days, and it is still one of my top spots for gifts. They carry a little bit of everything, from clothes and jewelry to home decor and even baby gifts. I usually head there for gifts for others, but I think this Penelope dress is calling my name (I have my own little Penelope at home!).
Date Night on Wydown
Like Demun, Wydown has a small and charming stretch of businesses. Two of the most romantic restaurants in St. Louis (in my humble opinion) are found here: Bar Les Freres for French cuisine and I Fratellini for Italian. Unfortunately, both are temporarily closed but are due to re-open in 2021. We’ll be sure to share an update on both of those! Fun fact: I had my senior prom dinner at I Fratellini!
While we wait for those to re-open, the Seafood Stew at Peno Soul Food, a bit further east on Wydown, is just the comfort food we deserve!
Family Night Out in Clayton
Okay, so your babysitter canceled, and you need to change your plans from romantic to family-friendly. 5 Star Burgers’ Happy Hour is perfect for tiny diners like my kids. With sliders and fries for less than $2 (each), I don’t have to worry about overpaying for food my kids will barely put a dent in. If you have older kids who are more of the bottomless pit variety, CJ Muggs‘ half-pound burgers might be more your speed.
Another favorite of ours is Pastaria, which is sufficiently versatile for a date night, moms’ night out, or family dinner. If things go really sideways with your children, you can pick up fresh pasta and sauce to take home from their deli next door!
