(Pictured above: St. Louis Union Station Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton)
The D.E.A.L. (Dining, Entertainment, Attractions & Lodging): St. Louis
by Jeanne Brei, Chiara Peretti & Explore St. Louis
Self-proclaimed “neighborhood redevelopers,” Amy and Amrit Gill (pictured right) are dedicated to restoring important landmarks to their previous splendor and impacting communities in a positive way, most recently with their unveiling of the Hotel Saint Louis. The Gills coined the term “hipstoric” in reference to the adaptive reuse properties that they’ve restored within St. Louis and beyond. Their term implies the “hip” factor of renovation and modernization, but also emphasizes the importance of the original historical elements that make this architecture stand out in the community.
Housed in the Louis Sullivan-designed St. Louis Union Trust Company Building through a $68 million adaptive reuse renovation project, Hotel Saint Louis is the city’s first Marriott Autograph Collection. This 1893 historic landmark is one of only 30 Louis Sullivan designed buildings left in the world. Hotel Saint Louis creates a unique sense of style and vitality in the epicenter of St. Louis’ urban renaissance which includes more than $8 billion in development projects. Each room has a record player—guests can listen to a selection of records directly in their room or choose from a larger collection located in the Hotel.
Making the old new again is no small feat and the Last Hotel, which opened in July 2019, takes its name from the foot-form tool used by cobblers and cordwainers. Located in what was formerly the International Shoe Company, this ten-story 1905 building is also on the National Register of Historic Places. Celebrating the fusion of history, fashion and culture, area residents and travelers can come 
together to share genuine, local experiences, whether it be on The Rooftop bar or at one of Last Hotel’s two restaurant concepts, The Last Kitchen & Bar and The Pantry. The Hotel is steps away from City Museum.
But the granddaddy of them all is the St. Louis Union Station Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton (top picture), a “hipstoric” AAA Four Diamond, award-winning hotel where you can stay in style. A National Historic Landmark, located steps from Scottrade Center, Busch Stadium, Citygarden and other famed attractions, has two restaurants, outdoor swimming pool and 35,000 sq. ft. of meeting sp
ace. The hotel was originally opened as the largest terminal in the U.S. in 1894 and boasts a lobby with a 65-foot, barrel-vaulted ceiling and stained-glass windows known as the Grand Hall (pictured right, photo credit Explore St. Louis). The Grand Hall has a daily 3D light show—watch as flowers sway, fireworks burst and other images dance around the ceiling of the Grand Hall lobby in a state-of-the-art show designed specifically for this St. Louis hotel by the same people who design lighting for Cirque du Soleil. The Grand Hall lobby is also this Union Station hotel’s lounge, offering signature cocktails, local brews and light bites as well as plenty of seating for guests to watch the show.
Some newer hotels include Live! by Loews (pictured left), which opened last spring and is just steps from Busch Stadium; the Angad Arts Hotel, which opened in Nov. 2018 and is in The Grand Center Arts District; and the Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis, which has sweeping views of the Gateway Arch, Mississippi River and downtown skyline. Other upcoming hotels are Le Meridien (in downtown), opening in early 2021, and a 21c Museum Hotel in late 2021.
This story originally appeared in the Mar./Apr. 2021 issue of Exhibit City News, p. 49. For original layout, visit https://issuu.com/exhibitcitynews/docs/ecn_mar-apr_2021
