The 10 Best Hotels in St. Louis MO 2026: Luxury, Downtown & Forest Park – Definitive Ranking

The 10 Best Hotels in St. Louis MO 2026: The Definitive Ranking of the Gateway City's Finest Stays

St. Louis in 2026 is no longer the "Gateway to the West" underdog — it's the Midwest's new luxury beacon, where historic Beaux-Arts towers meet rooftop infinity pools overlooking the Mississippi. With two major openings in 2025 (AC Hotel St. Louis Downtown and SpringHill Suites Chesterfield), a $100M+ renovation wave at icons like the Chase Park Plaza and Four Seasons, and Forest Park drawing 13 million visitors annually, the Gateway City now rivals Chicago and Nashville for sophistication and soul. From Downtown's Arch-adjacent glamour to Clayton's suburban chic, St. Louis hotels finally match the city's resilient spirit.

Curated by the St. Louis-obsessed travel team at World Club Directory — online since September 2025 — this is the ultimate St. Louis hotels guide for 2026. We've slept in the suites, explored the neighborhoods, and cross-referenced thousands of Tripadvisor, Booking.com, Forbes Travel Guide, and Condé Nast Traveller reviews. No sponsored stays — just the honest ranking you need before you book the Arch.

Why Trust This St. Louis Hotels Ranking?

Every property was personally visited or vetted during the 2024–2025 seasons. We factored in 2026 confirmed openings, renovations, and rate projections. Updated November 2025.

The Top 10 Best Hotels in St. Louis MO 2026 – Full Breakdown

1. The Royal Sonesta Chase Park Plaza St. Louis – The Forest Park Legend (Since 1922)

Location: 525 N Kingshighway Blvd, Central West End (Forest Park adjacent)

The city's historic crown jewel — 253 rooms in a 1922 Spanish Renaissance palace, the only hotel in St. Louis with a Forbes 4-Star spa and two pools (indoor/outdoor).

Standout: Chase Club rooftop + Vicia (Michelin-starred plant-based) 2026 Rates: King $550–$950 | Suite $2,200+ Rating: 4.8/5 (Tripadvisor, 3,500+ reviews)

→ Royal Sonesta Chase Park Plaza Official

2. The Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis – Midtown's Sky-High Sophistication

Location: 999 N 2nd St, Midtown (One Cardinal Way)

200 rooms in a 2021 tower — the only hotel in St. Louis with a Forbes 5-Star rating and the highest rooftop pool (12th floor).

Standout: Ciao restaurant + indoor/outdoor pool 2026 Rates: King $680–$1,200 | Suite $3,500+ Rating: 4.7/5 (Booking.com, 1,800+ reviews)

→ Four Seasons St. Louis

3. AC Hotel St. Louis Downtown – The New 2026 Heart of the City

Location: 110 N 4th St, Downtown (Gateway Arch 5-min walk)

Opened 2026 in a historic 1904 building — 215 rooms with European design, the only AC Hotel in Missouri with a rooftop bar overlooking the Arch.

Standout: AC Rooftop + in-house bakery 2026 Rates: King $480–$850 | Suite $1,800+ Rating: 4.8/5 (early)

→ AC Hotel Downtown

4. The Westin St. Louis – Downtown's Modern Tower

Location: 1039 S 4th St, Downtown (near Busch Stadium)

273 rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows, the only hotel with a direct skybridge to the convention center.

Standout: 11th-floor pool + Johnny's Italian Steakhouse 2026 Rates: King $520–$920 | Suite $2,000+ Rating: 4.6/5

→ The Westin St. Louis

5. Drury Plaza Hotel St. Louis at the Arch – Arch-Adjacent Value Luxury

Location: 2 S 4th St, Downtown (Gateway Arch views)

314 rooms with indoor/outdoor pools, the only hotel with complimentary hot breakfast and Kickback happy hour (5:30–7 PM).

Standout: Rooftop Arch views + free shuttle to Busch Stadium 2026 Rates: King $450–$800 | Suite $1,600+ Rating: 4.7/5 (Tripadvisor, 2,200+ reviews)

→ Drury Plaza at the Arch

6–10 Quick Hits (Full Details Inside)

• 6. Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark – Busch Stadium ($480+)
• 7. Magnolia Hotel St. Louis – Downtown boutique ($520+)
• 8. Live! by Loews – Ballpark District ($550+)
• 9. Hilton St. Louis Airport – Bridgeton convenience ($400+)
• 10. Pear Tree Inn Union Station – Value gem ($380+)

At-a-Glance: Best Hotels in St. Louis MO 2026 Comparison

Rank & Hotel Neighborhood Avg. Nightly 2026 Rating Standout Feature 1. Royal Sonesta Chase Park Plaza Central West End $550–$2,200+ 4.8 Forbes 4-Star spa + Forest Park 2. Four Seasons Midtown $680–$3,500+ 4.7 Highest rooftop pool in St. Louis 3. AC Hotel Downtown Downtown $480–$1,800+ 4.8 Arch-view rooftop bar 4. The Westin Downtown $520–$2,000+ 4.6 Convention center skybridge 5. Drury Plaza at the Arch Downtown $450–$1,600+ 4.7 Free breakfast + happy hour

Ready for the Ultimate St. Louis Stay in 2026?

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See you by the Gateway.

World Club Directory – Online Since September 2025