St. Louis Like You've Never Tasted It
The Central West End is St. Louis' most storied neighborhood — a place where Gilded Age mansions brush shoulders with beloved neighborhood restaurants, where World's Fair legends haunt every corner, and where you can eat your way through decades of culinary history in a single afternoon.
A Taste of Two Cities is a 3-hour, 2-mile walking tour led by Mike Nichols — a native St. Louisan, compulsive historian, and the kind of storyteller who makes you want to keep walking long after your feet say otherwise. Along the way, you'll sample 5–6 bites from iconic local restaurants and neighborhood mainstays that have been feeding the CWE for decades.
This isn't a canned tour of famous landmarks you could find on any travel blog. This is a walk through a living neighborhood, told honestly — the wealth, the beauty, the self-inflicted wounds, and the remarkable people who stitched it back together.
What You'll See & Do
Your 2-mile route winds through the heart of the Central West End, beginning at the corner of Euclid and Washington. Along the way, expect:
- Grand hotels and Gilded Age mansions that once hosted European royalty
- The site of the 1904 World's Fair — "the city we still won't shut up about"
- The story of St. Louis pizza — and why it's unlike anything else on Earth
- The Delmar Divide: what it is, how it happened, and why it still matters
- Architecture that traces 150 years of American ambition and consequence
- 5–6 stops at local restaurants — bites that will have you planning your next CWE visit before the tour ends
The Food
You don't truly know a neighborhood until you've eaten in it. At each stop, you'll try something that locals have come back to for years — the regional specialties, the "IYKYK" items, the dishes that Guy Fieri came here to try. You haven't been to St. Louis until you've had a toasted ravioli, a gooey butter cake, or a bite of something made with provel cheese.
Bottled water is provided throughout, and neck-cooling towels are available when summer heat is a factor.
The History
In the late 19th century, the Central West End was the epicenter of Gilded Age wealth in America's fourth-largest city. It hosted a World's Fair that drew 20 million visitors. It produced a "Spirit of St. Louis" that crossed the Atlantic. It was home to brewing heirs and future presidents, to robber barons and poets alike.
It also made choices — about race, about development, about community — whose consequences are still being reckoned with today. Mike doesn't shy from that history. He uses it to tell the full story of a city that had enormous gifts and didn't always use them wisely, but is finding its way back.
Note: This tour includes candid discussion of St. Louis's racial and social history, including events involving race, social justice, and urban development.
What's Included
5–6 food tastings from local restaurants
Bottled water at multiple stops
Expert narration by a native historian
Neck-cooling towels in hot weather
Small group experience (personal attention)
All the dad jokes you can handle
Tour at a Glance
Meeting Point
Corner of Euclid & Washington Ave, Central West End. Look for Mike!
Departures
Thursday–Saturday at 2:00 PM. Check the booking widget for availability.
Fitness Level
Easy — leisurely 2-mile walk on flat, paved streets. Suitable for most guests.
Rain Policy
Tours run in light rain. Severe weather cancellations are fully refunded.
Frequently Asked Questions
Meet at the corner of Euclid Avenue and Washington Avenue in the Central West End. Look for Mike! Street parking is available nearby, and it's a short walk from CWE MetroLink stops.
The tour is best suited for adults and older teens. Content includes historical topics involving race and social justice that may require context for younger children. The 2-mile walk and 3-hour duration can also be challenging for young ones.
We are currently unable to accommodate specific dietary restrictions or allergen concerns. If you have severe allergies, please contact us before booking at info@tourcwe.com.
You can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour for a full refund. Cancellations within 24 hours are non-refundable. In the case of severe weather, we will cancel and refund automatically.
Comfortable walking shoes are essential. Dress for the weather — we walk in all conditions except severe weather. Bring your appetite! We recommend not eating a large meal beforehand. Water is provided, but you're welcome to bring your own.
Absolutely. Private group tours are available for corporate events, bachelorette parties, birthday celebrations, and more. Contact us at info@tourcwe.com to discuss custom dates, sizes, and itinerary options.
The tour covers approximately 2 miles on flat, paved sidewalks. Most guests with average mobility find it comfortable. We do not have a wheelchair-accessible route at this time. Please contact us with specific accessibility questions.
What Recent Guests Are Saying
"Mike's passion for St. Louis history is contagious. We got to enjoy a range of local eats and left with a plan for where else to eat. CWE Tours paid attention to so many little details."
"If you're looking for a unique way to experience St. Louis, this is it. Our guide was fantastic — he loved sharing the history of his neighborhood and it showed in every story."