He’s arguably the most popular celebrity chef in the world, known for his Michelin-starred restaurants and television shows like “Hell’s Kitchen” and “Master Chef.” He’s the top food influencer on Instagram. And, as of this summer, you can treat yourself to an individual Beef Wellington at the Scottish-born chef’s latest North American restaurant opening – Ramsay’s Kitchen by Gordon Ramsay at the Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis, an under-three-hour drive from Evansville.
I was among a group of travel, food, and spa writers invited to the Four Seasons St. Louis, Missouri, in advance of the grand opening of Ramsay’s Kitchen by Gordon Ramsay. If you’re looking for a late summer retreat – how about an Aperol Spritz at the glamorous rooftop pool overlooking the St. Louis Gateway Arch, followed by an 80-minute signature massage? – then head west from Southern Indiana on I-64 to the Four Seasons. Summers in St. Louis are busy; take a tip from us and don’t try to do it all. Instead, choose a few highlights, like visiting the Gateway Arch National Park (the second closest national park to Evansville; the closest is Mammoth Cave National Park north of Bowling Green, Kentucky), the hidden gem Pulitzer Arts Foundation, or the ever-changing City Museum.
Four Seasons St. Louis
But first, the Four Seasons St. Louis. If you’ve crossed the Mississippi River into St. Louis since 2008, you have likely noticed the gleaming 19-story hotel positioned with perfect views of the Gateway Arch. The hotel has 200 guest rooms and suites, all designed with floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the city or the river. As expected with the Four Seasons brand, rooms are styled and equipped with luxurious amenities – plush bedding, chaise lounges, marble bathrooms with deep soaking tubs, and state-of-the-art technology for entertainment and convenience.
The Four Seasons St. Louis sits atop Horseshoe St. Louis Casino, which is part of Caesar’s Entertainment. Ramsay’s longstanding relationship with the gambling company contributed the rebrand of the Four Seasons St. Louis’s fine dining option from Cinder House to Ramsay’s Kitchen by Gordon Ramsay. (Highlighting Ramsay’s commitment to Caesar’s, Gordon Ramsay Steak opened in January 2023 at Caesar’s Southern Indiana in Elizabeth, Indiana, across the river from the greater Louisville, Kentucky, area.)
“St. Louis is an incredible foodie destination, with its own vibrant Midwest flavours and influences,” says Gordon Ramsay in a prepared statement from the Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis. “I’m delighted to open Ramsay’s Kitchen at Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis, a stunning restaurant with amazing views of the Gateway Arch and famed Mississippi River. It really is the perfect location for family celebrations, date nights and breaking bread with friends.”
Located on the hotel’s eighth floor, Ramsay’s Kitchen St. Louis offers a breathtaking backdrop of the iconic Gateway Arch and mighty Mississippi River. With a capacity to accommodate more than 250 guests, the restaurant’s spacious layout includes a bar and lounge, the main dining room with a seasonal patio, two private dining rooms and the outdoor RK Bar, providing a perfect setting for a memorable dining experience that is both elevated and approachable. Guests can enjoy signature entrees such as Chef Ramsay’s legendary Beef Wellington, Crispy Skin Salmon, flaky Fish and Chips, and Pan Seared Scallops. Starters include his buttery Parker Rolls, Tuna Tartare, Jumbo Lump Crab Cake, and his unique twist on a local fan favorite, STL Style Ribs. The dessert menu features British classics such as Chef’s signature Sticky Toffee Pudding and Strawberry Eton Mess, as well as new takes on timeless treats like Chocolate Tart and Vanilla Mascarpone Cheesecake.
During my visit, we dined in the main dining room and on the patio, and we also were offered the Ramsay’s Kitchen menu while we played golf and hockey at Top Golf Swing Suite located in the hotel.
You literally must book a treatment at the Spa at Four Seasons St. Louis if you stay at the hotel. (It’s not an actual requirement, of course, but you must). Pamela Dittmer McKuen is a travel, interior design, and spa writer (she aptly calls herself a “baby boomer traveling in style) – a Hoosier native living in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. I know from her blog and social media posts that she visits lots of spas!
“The Four Seasons spa experience is extraordinary — the premises are soothing and peaceful, appointed with every luxe amenity imaginable,” McKuen says. “Be sure to allow for extra time in the relaxation lounge, where expansive views of the river are sure to augment your feeling of serenity.”
Gateway Arch National Park
You will be inspired by the view from the Four Seasons St. Louis to learn more about the tallest monument in the U.S. Completed in 1965, the Gateway Arch is a 630-foot-tall stainless structure designed by Finnish American architect Eero Saarinen to commemorate westward expansion of the U.S. and St. Louis’ role as the “Gateway to the West.” Our group took the tram to the top of the Arch, my third time to view the city from that panoramic view.
If you would rather pass on the tram ride, you can still visit the Museum at the Gateway Arch. Located beneath the Arch, the Museum at the Gateway Arch was renovated and reopened in 2018 with dramatically expanded and updated exhibits that tell the story of America’s westward expansion, the history of St. Louis, and the construction of the Arch. These stories are told in six beautiful interactive galleries. The “Manifest Destiny” exhibit explores the concept of the belief that the U.S. was destined to expand across North America and examines the impact of the expansion on Native American populations. Building the Arch focuses on the design and construction of the Gateway Arch and includes models of the competing designs.
And, if you opt not to go up or in, Gateway Arch National Park spans 91 acres along the Mississippi River as part of the Jefferson Memorial Expansion Park. Arch architect Eero Saarinen and landscape architect Dan Kiley designed the original vision for the grounds surrounding the Arch. The landscape underwent a major renovation in 2018 which reconnected the park with the surrounding city and made the area more pedestrian friendly. If you wish to experience the Arch from the ground outside, the grounds are designed for walking and enjoyment.
Pulitzer Arts Foundation
The Pulitzer Arts Foundation somehow had escaped my attention on numerous prior St. Louis trips. I’m reporting on it to ensure you don’t make the same mistake. Located in the Grand Center Arts District, near other cultural institutions like the Contemporary Art Museum next door, the museum is known for its commitment to accessibility and free admission. Founded in 2001 by the Pulitzer family, the museum blends contemporary art exhibitions with a distinct architectural experience. The museum is housed in a building designed by renowned Japanese architect Tadao Ando, known for his minimalist approach and use of concrete, natural light, and water.
In addition to exhibitions, the Pulitzer Arts Foundation offers a variety of public programs, including lectures, workshops, performances, and educational activities.
City Museum
So, you’ve been to City Museum? Of course, there is never enough time in one day to truly do City Museum justice, so a return visit is in order, plus City Museum is very much a dynamic entity – changing constantly. City Museum opened in 1997, the vision of artist Bob Cassilly, who, along with a team of artisans, transformed a 600,000 square-foot building into a fantastical space filled with repurposed architectural and industrial objects. Is city museum a children’s museum? Indeed, it was filled with kids when I visited, but there’s also a bar, the Cabin Inn, as well as various food vendors throughout the museum.
I asked our guide City Museum Creative Director Rick Erwin if anything like City Museum exists elsewhere in the U.S. There are copiers and wannabes, he explained – in fact, the creators Meow Wolf have visited – but none offers an adventurous, immersive, quirky and fun experience for all ages. (Meow Wolf is an immersive, interactive art and entertainment company that aims to create multi-sensory experiences in its galleries.)
Katie’s Pizza
What makes St. Louis pizza unique? Like the style we tend to prefer in Southwestern Indiana, St. Louis pizza has thin cracker-like crust made without yeast, topped with a sweet tomato sauce and Provel cheese. Katie’s Pizzeria began in 2008 when Katie Collier, then just 24, created a business plan along with her father to begin offering Neapolitan and artisan-style pizzas to the area. The newest Katie’s Pizza & Pasta Osteria opened in May 2023 in the popular Ballpark Village. Katie’s space here is colossal – 10,000 square feet that can seat nearly 400 guests, including 100 on the gorgeous patio overlooking the green space that is central to Ballpark Village.
Our table started with prosecco and proclaimed favorites to be charred cauliflower with lemon preserves and pecorino, the Famous Fried Artichoke Salad, and the pancetta and fig pizza.
If you’re thinking about a time to go to St. Louis, know this – the pool at the Four Seasons St. Louis is heated and ready to welcome you even as cooler weather approaches.
Arch City Off the Beaten Path
Craving more excursions to fill in the gaps during a long weekend in St. Louis? Get your fill of baseball and history, but don’t sleep on these hidden gems.
“St. Louis is full of iconic attractions – from the Gateway Arch to Busch Stadium to Forest Park – but some of my favorite spots fly under the radar,” says Explore St. Louis Content Manager Rachel Huffman, herself a St. Louis native. “History buffs will love walking the tree-lined paths of Bellefontaine Cemetery and Arboretum, and the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis will astound almost anyone, not just art lovers. The latter boasts the largest mosaic collection in the world outside Russia, which you can learn more about in the on-site museum. While you’re in the Central West End, pop by Left Bank Books and grab dinner at Brasserie, the brainchild of James Beard Award winner Gerard Craft.”
