University City is a true gem to STL! It has so much to offer and is an excellent place for families.
It’s been almost three years since I became a U City mama. I can finally say I love it here! It took some time for me to admit it, but it was all thanks to some of the treasures I’ve discovered!
Here are some of my finds:
There are so many kid-friendly places to take kids in U City! There are also a ton of parks, but I wanted to highlight some of our favorites!
Our top favorite playgrounds:
Miller
Fogerty
Heman
Janet Majerus
Heman Park Pool
7210 Olive Boulevard, University City, MO
This pool connects to the Centennial Commons community center on Olive. There is a great kid area with a pool and a mini slide.
The University City Library
6701 Delmar Boulevard, University City, MO 63130
The upstairs level of this library is a section for young kids and teens. My kids’ favorite part of this library is the tubs (yes, bathtubs) available for kids to sit in and read their books. Or, in my kids’ case, perfect for looking at the pictures.
Family Restaurants
Chong Wah
4129 Lindell Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63108
There is something about STL Chinese food that hits different! Seriously, this is one of my favorite Chinese food spots ever. Confession: I craved Chinese food my entire second pregnancy! We weren’t even living in University City at the time, but my mother-in-law was kind enough to bring me some every time she came to visit us in Chicago!
Phillies Cheesesteaks
6800 Olive Boulevard, Unit F, University City, MO 63130
A newer restaurant to the U City area with fantastic Philly Cheesesteaks and great fries.
Fitz’s
6605 Delmar Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63130
This is an American-style food place. But the highlight is you can see them make root beer right in the restaurant! My kids love watching how root beer is made. I have to say their root beer floats are the best in town!
Date Night Spots
My husband and I love close date nights (you know, just if one of the kids gets unruly). Here are a few spots we love and even spots we have on our list to visit:
Soup Dumplings STL
8110 Olive Boulevard, University City, MO 63130
This place has terrific dumplings with a lovely intimate setting.
Taco Buddha
7405 Pershing Avenue, University City, MO 63130
Tex Mex restaurant with a unique aesthetic.
The W Karaoke Lounge
6655 Delmar Boulevard, University City, MO 63130
The W Karaoke Lounge is located in the Loop. This is an upscale karaoke bar!
Frank & Helen Pizzeria
8111 Olive Street Road, University City, MO 63130
Mom and pop Pizza place! I love pizza that isn’t from a major chain.
Delmar Loop
The Loop has a great selection of food, clothing, and specialty shops.
Vintage Vinyl
6610 Delmar, St. Louis, MO 63130
Yes, they sell vintage vinyl records. They also sell CDs (that word sounds so weird to even say anymore!). It’s a cool trip down memory lane. Surprisingly some more modern artists choose to make their latest albums on vinyl and CD!
Every city has its hidden gems, and here are some I love in U City!
Ruth Park Nature Trail
1100 McKnight Road, University City, MO 63130
We are a nature-loving family, and this trail is a true gem. It’s simple but yet so beautiful. The trail is a bit of a hike but well worth it. As a homeschooling mama, I enjoy the many teachable moments you can create on the path.
EyeSeeMe
6951 Olive Boulevard, University City, MO 63130
An African American Bookstore. We have been rocking with this book store since we moved to STL, mainly because it used to be walking distance from our home.
Jilly’s Cupcake Bar
8509 Delmar Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63124
This has to be one of my favorite places! The cupcakes here are so delightful! I love that they always have new cupcakes in rotation, so most likely, you won’t find the same cupcakes each time you go.
Growing Together: The U City Schools Food Garden Network
This is a newer gem to U City! Growing Together is a network of the schools of University City that’s goal is to bring gardens into homes in the community. The hub is at Brittany Woods middle school. This program provides materials, training, and support to anyone who desires to grow their own food! We were able to start our own garden through this program and also got an opportunity to connect to others in our community. Such a great asset to the community!