Cinco de Mayo celebrations draw residents and visitors alike to Cherokee Street in St. Louis.

Cherokee Street

Cherokee Street boasts a diverse assortment of independent businesses, active public spaces and a culture of creativity and empowerment. The street emanates a beatnik vibe that locals perpetuate and visitors embrace.

Art galleries, storefronts and blank spaces, parks, buildings and sidewalks are all canvases for the artists, musicians and residents who live, work, play, eat and create on and around Cherokee Street.

As you explore, take time to chat with shopkeepers, bartenders and neighbors. Serving as the street’s unofficial tour guides, most have fun facts about the area’s history and tips on how to make the most of your time here.

If you’re looking for antiques or vintage clothing, stroll along Cherokee Antique Row – six blocks of shops between Jefferson and Lemp avenues – where you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the quirky offerings.

On the other side of Jefferson Avenue, art and food take center stage. Studios, galleries and creative incubators showcase weird and wonderful works, and offbeat bars and breweries welcome imbibers late into the night.

Cherokee Street also has the largest concentration of Hispanic-owned and -operated bakeries, restaurants, groceries and shops in St. Louis, and their presence maintains the exuberance of the area. Fill up on tacos, tortas, conchas, paletas and more, and don’t miss the epic Cinco de Mayo celebration if you’re in town at the time.

Throughout the year, other unmissable festivals and events include the Cherokee Street Jazz Crawl, an annual celebration of music and dance in November; the Print Bazaar, which takes place on the first Saturday in December and attracts more than 100 artists to the street; and the Brewed Arts Festival, which fills one mile of Cherokee Street with unique brews, curated art and live music.

Even if you only spend an hour or two here, the experience will make a lasting impact.