The Chase Park Plaza is the classic St. Louis hotel and our pick for couples and museum lovers. The Chase Hotel opened on Kingshighway in 1922, and the 27-story Art Deco Park Plaza tower was added next door in 1929. For decades the complex was the social heart of the city, and its guest list runs from Elvis Presley and the Rolling Stones to nearly every U.S. president since it opened. Today it is a Royal Sonesta hotel and a member of Historic Hotels of America, with a grand lobby, guest rooms and suites and a set of furnished apartments for longer stays. Few hotels anywhere have their own cinema: the Chase Park Plaza Cinema has five screens and a bar. Dining runs from the Chase Club gastropub and lounge to The Preston for contemporary American food and The Tenderloin Room, a long-standing steakhouse. A heated Mediterranean-style outdoor pool opens in season, and the Santé Fitness Center is unusually large, with round-the-clock access for guests. Outside the door are the cafes and boutiques of the Central West End, and Forest Park, with its free zoo and art museum, is close by.
Location and getting around: the hotel is at 212 North Kingshighway Boulevard in the Central West End, about a mile from Forest Park, where the free Saint Louis Art Museum and Saint Louis Zoo sit. The neighborhood’s restaurants and bars are steps away, the food and history tour of the Central West End starts nearby, and MetroLink from the Central West End station runs to downtown and the airport. The Arch is about fifteen minutes by car.
Rooms: standard rooms have mini-fridges and coffee makers but no kitchenettes, while the furnished apartments add full kitchens and washers and dryers for long stays. The historic building has character, though some corridors and lifts feel their age.
Who it suits: couples, history lovers, museum-focused travelers and families who want Forest Park nearby and a pool in summer. It also suits longer stays thanks to the apartments.
Good to know: parking is not included in the room rate, with self-parking and valet both charged per night. The outdoor pool is seasonal, so it will not be open on a winter visit. Pets are welcome for a fee. Breakfast is served at The Preston.
Why stay here
- ✓Chase Park Plaza Cinema with five screens
- ✓Chase Club gastropub and lounge
- ✓The Preston and The Tenderloin Room restaurants
- ✓Seasonal heated outdoor pool
- ✓24-hour fitness center
- ✓Furnished apartments for long stays
- ✓Pet-friendly
- ✓Valet and self-parking
Good questions
How far is the Chase Park Plaza from Forest Park?+
Forest Park is about a mile from the hotel, an easy walk or short drive. The free Saint Louis Art Museum and Saint Louis Zoo are both in the park.
Does the Chase Park Plaza have parking?+
Yes, there is self-parking and valet parking, both charged per night and not included in the room rate. Hourly parking is also available.
Does the Chase Park Plaza really have a cinema?+
Yes, the historic Chase Park Plaza Cinema has five screens and a theater bar. It is a rare perk for a hotel.
