The 40 Sexiest Restaurants in St. Louis

808 Maison
(808 Geyer Avenue; 314-594-4505)

Soulard's newest restaurant may also be the one it's been waiting for, with classic French dishes in two elegant rooms. Sink into a blue velvet banquette with your date while you sip negronis and wait for the fireworks.

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Photo credit: Spencer Pernikoff

The Benevolent King
(7268 Manchester Road; 314-899-0440)

Ben Poremba's most personal concept yet combines small plates of Mediterranean food with the creative cocktails of master barman Tony Saputo. It's an intimate, intoxicating experience.

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Photo credit: Mabel Suen

Billie | Jean
(2642 Wydown Boulevard; 314-797-8484)

Zoe Robinson's newest concept, which combines her signature style with chef Ny Vongsalay's pan-Asian cuisine, has been named the best new restaurant in town by more than one critic. But despite what those honors might connote, it's far from stuffy. With a black-and-white palette, Billie-Jean offers a seriously sensuous setting.

Find out more here.

Photo credit: Mabel Suen

Bar Les Freres
(7637 Wydown Boulevard; 314-725-8880)

Zoe Robinson's French boite -- one of three restaurants she owns on Wydown -- will have your date swooning over its red walls and chic mix of old and new. And check out that antler collection on the walls!

Find out more here.

Photo credit: Jennifer Silverberg

Vin de Set
(2017 Chouteau Avenue; 314-241-8989)

Outdoor brunch at Vin de Set may get all the buzz, but the inside dining room is just as high-flying, and strikingly warm. Feast on Mediterranean inspired delights in a space with a classic French feel.

Find out more here.

Photo credit: Tara Mahadevan

Louie
(706 De Mun Avenue; 314-300-8188)

Matt McGuire's restaurant on De Mun remains one of the toughest reservations in town even now that it's a year old -- and with great food in a charming, stylish space, it's easy to see why. Superstar Drake dined here no less than three times during his most recent visit to St. Louis .... and who knows sexy better than him?

Find out more here.

Photo credit: Mabel Suen

Basso
(7036 Clayton Avenue; 314-932-7820)

The restaurant in the basement of the Cheshire Hotel shows that "basement" doesn't have to mean dingy. Here, it's sublimely sexy, a space that feels more like a stylish secret hideaway for the beautiful people than an afterthought. The food is great, too.

Find out more here.

Photo credit: Jennifer Silverberg

Boundary
(1915 Clayton Avenue; 314-932-7818)

Just upstairs from Basso at the Cheshire is Boundary, a restaurant named for the way it straddles city and county lines. While the dining room is exceptionally attractive, the perfectly lit bar is also an inviting spot to begin (or end) the night -- and hey, there are rooms to keep the party going right around the corner.

Find out more here.

Photo credit: Mabel Suen

I Fratellini
(7624 Wydown Boulevard; 314-727-7901)

Zoe Robinson's Italian concept sometimes gets overshadowed by its sisters on Wydown (Billie-Jean, Bar Les Freres), but it shouldn't. For any other restaurateur, this place would be a smash hit on its own. And Robinson's touch is always true; like its siblings, I Fratellini is a sensuous good time with every last detail made perfect.

Find out more here.

Photo credit: Greg Rannells

Planter's House
(1000 Mississippi Avenue; 314-696-2603)

Lafayette Square's cocktail mecca is that rare establishment where both rooms are equally good. In fact, if anything, the back space (called the Bullock Room) may be even sexier than the noisier front one. Dive into acclaimed mixologist Ted Kilgore's long list of cocktails and get intoxicated.

Find out more here.

Photo credit: Greg Rannells

Blood & Sand
(1500 St. Charles Street; 314-241-7263)

With a name that references both a classic cocktail and a movie starring Rudolph Valentino as a bullfighter, Blood and Sand couldn't be anything other than sexy. Originally a private club, the cocktail-oriented spot is now open to all with a full menu of both craveable small plates and entrees.

Find out more here.

Photo credit: Jennifer Silverberg

Bridge Tap House & Wine Bar
(1004 Locust Street; 314-241-8141)

Few things put us in the mood for love more than wine and cheese .... and Dave Bailey's Bridge has great options for both. Beer lovers, too, won't be disappointed by an evening in this soaring yet surprisingly intimate space.

Find out more here.

Photo credit: Jennifer Silverberg

Cinder House
(999 N. 2nd Street; 314-881-5759)

Gerard Craft's new Brazilian-inflected steakhouse inhabits one of the most gorgeous spaces in town, a high-flying spot atop the Four Seasons overlooking the Arch. The food is as sexy as the digs.

Find out more here.

Photo credit: Mabel Suen

Elmwood
(2704 Sutton Boulevard; 314-261-4708)

The food at Adam Altnether and Chris Kelling's new Maplewood hotspot pushes the envelope, and so does the soundtrack -- it can get noisy! But hey, that's a great reason to lean close to your date .... or even a stranger at the long communal table.

Find out more here.

Photo credit: Sarah Fenske

Brasserie
(4580 Laclede Avenue; 314-454-0600)

This warm, cozy spot in the heart of the Central West End offers French bistro food in a space designed to put you at ease. Linger over a glass of pinot noir by the dining room's candlelight or adjourn to the small bar right next door; either way, you won't leave until you're sated.

Find out more here.

Photo credit: Jennifer Silverberg

Frazer's Restaurant & Lounge
(1811 Pestalozzi Street; 314-773-8646)

These days, this Benton Park mainstay is looking better than ever, with a sophisticated seasonal cocktail menu and a menu of expertly executed dishes. The mid-century modern stylings of the space make Frazer's casual enough for jeans but elegant enough to get dolled up, if that's your jam.

Find out more here.

Photo credit: Mabel Suen

Herbie's
(8100 Maryland Avenue; 314-769-9595)

City residents may lament that Herbie's has left the Central West End, but their loss is Clayton's gain. Restaurateur Aaron Teitelbaum has brought some of the distinctive touches from the original to the former Cardwell's space, and while the crowd may have fewer bohemians and more wealthy lawyers, it's still a great place to meet someone new or rekindle the flame; your choice.

Find out more here.

Photo credit: Mabel Suen

Katie's Pizza & Pasta
(9568 Manchester Road; 314-942-6555)

Chef Katie Lee-Collier's two restaurants utterly transcend their strip-mall surroundings, with terrific Italian food in striking surroundings. As for the food, there's far more than just pizza and pasta here, though you won't go wrong ordering either.

Find out more here.

Photo credit: Jennifer Silverberg

Nixta
(1621 Tower Grove Avenue; 314-899-9000)

Ben Poremba's Nixta will have you dancing to a Latin beat, with authentically Mexican dishes in a town all too quick to opt for Tex-Mex instead. The top-notch cocktails would put even the Grinch in a good mood.

Find out more here.

Photo credit: Mabel Suen

Polite Society Restaurant and Bar
(1923 Park Avenue; 314-325-2553)

This Lafayette Square restaurant offers two dining rooms facing Park Avenue and a wonderfully large bar -- and you can feast on a menu of well-crafted dishes at all three. Excellent service helps the two-year-old spot live up to its name.

Find out more here.

Photo credit: Mabel Suen