6. India Palace
4534 North Lindbergh Boulevard
Step out of the everyday to India Palace, a discreet (and unique) Indian restaurant at the top of the Airport Plaza Inn. From your perch eleven floors up, watch travelers arrive and depart from Lambert International Airport in a tropical-themed fine dining setting complete with bamboo-covered walls and white linen-topped tables. It's one of the city's more unique dining experiences — but a wonderfully intimate one.
Planter's House | Greg Rannells
7. Planter's House
1000 Mississippi Avenue, Lafayette Square
Enjoy the moment with some of the best craft cocktails in the city in the Bullock Room of the stately Planter’s House. In this tucked-away hideway up a few wooden steps from the main dining room, the windows are cleverly covered, creating a sense of timelessness ideal for a night you never want to end.
Bridge Tap House and Wine Bar | Jess Dewes
1004 Locust Street, Downtown
The branch chandelier catches your eye as soon as you enter Bridge Tap House & Wine Bar. Then you notice the smaller versions above the custom crafted bar. The graceful curve of the bar, gleaming wine glasses hung above, surrounding warm brick and low lighting are smartly combined for a cozy evening tucked inside. Take the stairs up to the second floor loft and enjoy the great cheese selection and the view below.
Cielo | photo courtesy of Chloe Caylor
999 North 2nd Street, Laclede’s Landing
The sweeping view through Cielo's floor-to-ceiling windows shows the Gateway Arch, the Mississippi River and the rural Illinois landscape, a breathtaking setting for a rooftop meal eight stories removed from downtown’s hustle and bustle. Add to this an unrivaled menu infused with executive chef Gian Nicola Colucci’s passion for Italian fine dining and you’ve got one spectacular night.
PHOTO BY KELLY GLUECK
Herbie's.
8100 Maryland Avenue, Clayton
Cozy booths, candlelit ambiance and chic French-inspired art are still on offer at Herbie's even after the Central West End mainstay moved west to the old Cardwell's spot in Clayton. The restaurant has long been a favorite destination for formal and casual occasions — and from the bar to the bistro, there's not a bad seat in the house. Tasty morsels such as oysters on a half shell, whole live Maine lobsters and dark chocolate fritters tempt the taste buds as well.
Editor's note: This story was updated one year after publication to include details about Herbie's after its move from the Central West End to Clayton.
Follow Sara Graham on Instagram and Twitter at @engagetaste. E-mail the author at sara@engagetaste.com.
