The 21c Museum Hotel St. Louis is the most stylish stay downtown and our pick for couples and art lovers who want to be close to City Museum. It occupies a historic building on Locust Street in Downtown West that was once a YMCA, restored as a boutique hotel with 173 rooms in a range of types, from kings and double queens to bunk rooms, lofts and suites. Like every 21c, it doubles as a contemporary art museum, with rotating exhibitions and installations in the public spaces and even the stairwells, so the hotel is worth exploring even before you head out. The restaurant, Idol Wolf, serves Spanish-inspired tapas made with local ingredients, and Good Press is the in-house cafe for coffee and breakfast. The old YMCA’s athletic heritage survives in the Locust Street Athletic and Swim Club, a wellness center with an indoor pool, training and massage treatments, which is a real advantage in a city where most hotel pools are outdoor and seasonal. City Museum is a five-minute walk, Union Station and the aquarium less than ten, and the stadiums and arenas downtown are within walking distance too.
Location and getting around: the hotel is at 1528 Locust Street in Downtown West, about 0.3 miles from City Museum and 0.4 miles from Union Station. Busch Stadium, the Enterprise Center and the soccer stadium are within walking distance, and the Arch is a short drive or a longer walk east. For Forest Park and the Central West End, take MetroLink from Union Station or drive.
Rooms: rooms are design-led and art-filled, and the bunk rooms and lofts are a fun choice for friends or families with older children. Expect a contemporary look rather than historic décor inside the rooms.
Who it suits: couples, art and design lovers, and families or friends who plan a big day at City Museum. The indoor pool makes it a good pick in the colder months.
Good to know: valet parking is charged per day, with in and out privileges. Breakfast is cooked to order and charged separately. Dogs are welcome for a fee per stay. The art exhibitions change, so ask at the desk what is on.
Why stay here
- ✓Contemporary art museum with rotating exhibitions
- ✓Idol Wolf tapas restaurant
- ✓Good Press cafe
- ✓Indoor pool
- ✓Fitness and swim club
- ✓Massage treatments
- ✓Dog-friendly
- ✓Valet parking
Good questions
How far is the 21c Museum Hotel from City Museum?+
City Museum is about 0.3 miles away, roughly a five-minute walk. Union Station and the aquarium are also within walking distance.
Does the 21c Museum Hotel St. Louis have a pool?+
Yes, there is an indoor pool in the Locust Street Athletic and Swim Club inside the hotel’s historic building. The club also offers fitness training and massage.
Can non-guests see the art at 21c?+
The hotel works as a contemporary art museum with rotating exhibitions in its public spaces. Ask at the front desk about current shows and visiting.
