Neighborhoods

The Central West End (CWE) is the neighborhood immediately surrounding the Medical Campus. Boasting a unique assortment of restaurants, shops, bars, and cafes, the Central West End is a lively community that always has events going on. Forest Park is directly adjacent to the Central West End and has running trails and beautiful scenery. Be sure to check out the annual balloon race, frequent block parties, and the many other events going on in this bustling community.

I love living in DeBaliviere! It is a quieter and safer, more residential neighborhood north of Forest Park. My commute to school is also faster than many of my Central West End classmates. It’s only 15 minutes door to door with a quick three-minute train ride on the MetroLink lightrail. Because it is a more residential neighborhood, there are not many restaurants in the neighborhood, but we do have an amazing coffee shop, Park Place Market. It is located on the corner by the Metro stop and it is great for grabbing a quick bite to eat or for studying in a cozy environment. It is also very affordable and owned by a couple that lives in our community. There is also abundant free street parking in the neighborhood and you get a much greater bang for your buck in terms of apartments.

DeMun is a historic and charming neighborhood located on the west side of Forest Park. DeMun has a main street with a few restaurants, an ice cream shop, and the original Kaldi’s Coffee location. Residents are within walking distance of the Saint Louis Zoo, Probstein Golf Course, Art Hill, and the Saint Louis Art Museum. DeMun is near the WashU Danforth Campus, where medical students have access to the recreation center and several university libraries. DeMun is three miles from the Medical Campus via Forest Park. Biking to school through the park is great, weather permitting, but a car is likely necessary for the colder months. Apartments in the neighborhood are generally cheaper and larger than those in the Central West End. Housing options range from single-family homes and duplexes to smaller apartment buildings. If you are looking for a quiet, safe neighborhood and want to be centrally located to the St. Louis metro area, DeMun is a great option!

No one knows for sure why it’s called Dogtown. But everyone knows that this historically Irish neighborhood on the south side of Forest Park is the chillest place in St. Louis. Since moving into my small, brick, 1920s apartment overlooking the Saint Louis Zoo, I’ve loved my easy bike ride to school through Forest Park, the easy access to I-64, and the quiet streets lined with century-old duplexes and single family houses.

Dogtown also boasts several pubs, breweries, and mouthwatering barbecue. The best part is that these places are all within several blocks of each other in an extremely pedestrian-friendly neighborhood.  If coffee is your thing, Sweet Em’s ice cream and coffee will satisfy your cravings.

While it’s a little too far to walk to the Medical Campus, I’ve found the hourly city bus from Dogtown to the medical school to be very reliable, offering an alternative on those mornings when I’m too much of a wimp to cycle to class. Whether or not you have a dog, consider Dogtown when you’re checking out what St. Louis has to offer.

I live in Downtown St. Louis and I have found it enjoyable as there are a variety of activities and food options. When friends come by we have the option of going to a baseball game, bowling, or going to the aquarium. In terms of food, you can find some good BBQ, Italian, and several bars. I currently live in 11th & Spruce, which is a very nice building for the price, and I plan on staying there next year. A MetroLink lightrail stop is located down the street from me and provides a convenient option to get to campus.

I live in Gravois Park right off Cherokee Street four miles southwest of the Medical Campus. This neighborhood has the best tacos in town, a huge variety of people to interact with, a great community feel, and lots of neat festivals with live music. Aside from tacos, Yaquis is my favorite spot to grab a marg and delicious wood-fired pizza. On days that the weather is nice, I ride my bike the 4.5 miles to school, and it takes around 25 minutes depending on how I hit the traffic lights. Otherwise, I drive and park for free somewhere in The Grove neighborhood and walk to campus (about 25 minutes total) or use the free Metro pass courtesy of WashU Medicine (about 30 minutes total). The best part is I get to feel like I’m part of the St. Louis community by volunteering with my neighborhood association.

Skinker-DeBaliviere is a great neighborhood with a mix of single-family homes and apartment buildings just north of Forest Park. Our neighbors include graduate students, residents, families, and people who have lived in the neighborhood for 50+ years. The neighborhood puts on several community events throughout the year too. There is a pedestrian bridge with easy access to Forest Park from the neighborhood, and the neighborhood is between two MetroLink lightrail stops (Forest Park-DeBaliviere and Skinker) for easy use of public transportation. It is also less than a mile from the Delmar Loop, which makes it easy when you need to grab something quick for dinner.

The Grove is THE BEST. It’s a neighborhood just south of the I-64 freeway and the Central West End. I love it because it’s only a six-minute bike ride to the Medical Campus and it’s a lot calmer than the Central West End. It also has lots of fun restaurants and things to do on Manchester Avenue. You get a bit more space for your money than the Central West End. I found my place on Zillow.