We haven't yet, but will definitely be staying there in the near future. STL really needed something of this caliber closer to the downtown area than the Clayton RC.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fraser
The guys I was staying with have all spent several weeks at the Chase. FWIW, they preferred the FS and have rebooked their stays at the FS.
I used to go to STL once a month. It is less now, and a bit intermittent. I absolutely refuse to stay at the Chase. That was the preferred location for the company I visit. Myself and a couple of others wont stay there though. I will stay at a Marriot Courtyard before staying at the Chase. STL is indeed in need of a high end hotel. I currently stay at either the Hyatt at Union Station or one of the downtown Hiltons, the Ballpark one just having completed a major renovation. Both have very friendly staff. The FS sounds very nice but that isnt a great area. Then again, there really arent any great areas in STL.
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Depending on where you are going, and if you want to walk, the FS is not that convenient. Great for a Rams game, but a bit of a hike to the core of DT STL. The Renaissance on Washington Ave is closer to the convention center and Wash Ave restaurants/bars. The Hilton on Olive is closer to most of the central business district.
Prior to the FS, the Westin was the best hotel downtown - it's a really nice Westin in converted warehouse buildings, across the street from Busch Stadium...but a bit further from most business locales (except for Purina and Anheuser-Busch) - but if you plan on cabbing in everywhere, not an issue.
As far as the Chase - it's probably in the most interesting neighborhood in STL in terms of hotels. The Central West End is great for restaurants, bars and overall walkability - plus the hotel is across the street from Forest Park...but mixed reviews on rooms, service, etc. They are more interested in the residential portion than the hotel, IMO.
Having returned to the Four Seasons St Louis, I must say that I continue to be impressed with their service, facility and food. They are without doubt the finest in St Louis and have had one of the smoothest openings of any of the new Four Seasons I have stayed at.
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I am a big fan of the Ritz-Carlton St. Louis and have stayed there many times.
I went for drink to the FS once and was not impressed! There were no staff on the ground level and the lobby was empty. When we got ourselves to the bar and ordered drinks, we didn't get any nuts/snacks with them.
Overall, I think that they have tried to be modern in their decor and ended up overdoing it!
A flowing river/waterfall on the ground floor? Looks and feels a little bit Vegas style. No?
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Having lived in St. Louis, the FS is...as others have posted...in an area of town that most locals avoid like the plague unless we're going to a Rams Game...and as poorly as they're playing these days, there's not even much of that going on.
Within walking distance is the very cool, up & coming "loft district" of town, "Washington Avenue", with its clubs, bars, shops, loft apartments/condos, and the City Museum (has to be one of the most unique places around, and quite popular with both locals & tourists alike). "Rooster" is a popular breakfast spot there...whilst not at all as upscale as the FS, probably some of the best crepes in town 'tho.
The better parts of the city such as the Central West End, Soulard, Lafayette Square, etc. would all involve either cabs and or Metrolink.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by skye1
Having lived in St. Louis, the FS is...as others have posted...in an area of town that most locals avoid like the plague unless we're going to a Rams Game...
We were a bit surprised when we asked for directions to a steakhouse to be told that for a two block walk in broad daylight that we should stick together as a group
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fraser
We were a bit surprised when we asked for directions to a steakhouse to be told that for a two block walk in broad daylight that we should stick together as a group
Which is exactly what my friends & I did the last time we went to what I think is the steakhouse you're referring to . Walked there after an afternoon on Wash. Av.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by skye1
Which is exactly what my friends & I did the last time we went to what I think is the steakhouse you're referring to . Walked there after an afternoon on Wash. Av.
Al's Restaurant?
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That would be it. Al is no longer with us, but one of his employees has kept the place going. The whole area around there reminds me of an episode of "The Wire" (after having lived in Baltimore for a while).
A British accent in that part of St. Louis would be quite interesting.
Al's is definitely up there in a "best steakhouses in St. Louis" category...yet there are plenty of other steakhouses & steak places in the Lou that one could find a fantastic steak at w/o the protective entourage to get there. , or having to make sure nothing is visible thru car windows, etc. etc. Some find it kind of "old school" as far as places like that, others say that's what makes it great.
"Sleek", in the Lumiere Place casino next door to the FS, also puts out a good steak...as long as one has the personal resources or generous expense account for it.
"Citizen Kane's" in Kirkwood, in suburban St. Louis, remains a great local fav. About 20 from downtown by car.
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Since I got this started I thought I should comment. We were in STL a few weeks ago and ended up staying at the RC in Clayton since it was more convenient for us. As we were leaving town we decided to drop by the new FS and check the place out.
My impression after a five minute walk through was that the hotel seems very nice. However I was left with a negative impression of the area and the proximity to the casino. We will try the FS when it works out but I feel like they wasted a perfectly good hotel on a poor location.
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Since I got this started I thought I should comment. We were in STL a few weeks ago and ended up staying at the RC in Clayton since it was more convenient for us. As we were leaving town we decided to drop by the new FS and check the place out.
My impression after a five minute walk through was that the hotel seems very nice. However I was left with a negative impression of the area and the proximity to the casino. We will try the FS when it works out but I feel like they wasted a perfectly good hotel on a poor location.
Most certainly I agree with you regarding the proximity to the casino/neighborhood, however, I found that it is very well seperated and you will never see it unless you want it. As casinos go it is a much nicer one like you might find in Vegas versus many local ones.
As for the bar service that another poster refered to, I found their service to be top notch even in the middle of the day as well as when they were busier at night. Truly top notch food on par with the best in the Four Seasons chain.
Most certainly I agree with you regarding the proximity to the casino/neighborhood, however, I found that it is very well seperated and you will never see it unless you want it. As casinos go it is a much nicer one like you might find in Vegas versus many local ones.
As for the bar service that another poster refered to, I found their service to be top notch even in the middle of the day as well as when they were busier at night. Truly top notch food on par with the best in the Four Seasons chain.
Thanks for your impressions of the place. We will certainly try in some time soon. I guess we place to much emphasis on surroundings.
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Thanks for your impressions of the place. We will certainly try in some time soon. I guess we place to much emphasis on surroundings.
I have to agree that I was hesitant when we drove up and that I would not walk alone at night far from the casino. But cabs are readily available and the experience more than makes up for it. Still, I would not have your wife out alone at night.
. Walked there after an afternoon on Wash. Av.
