In Downtown St. Louis, Live! by Loews Promises to Impress Every Palate

A stone’s throw from Busch Stadium, Live! by Loews – St. Louis, Missouri embraces its proximity to the home of the St. Louis Cardinals. The room décor reflects the views outside the windows, and the dining options appeal to fans clad in red as well as residents and visitors who enjoy the hubbub in Ballpark Village.

At Clark & Bourbon, the hotel’s main restaurant, modern flair elevates Midwest dining. Executive chef Steven Hall relishes seasonal ingredients, which impart freshness to every dish from breakfast through dinner, and he currently changes the menu twice a year, attracting patrons for a fresh taste.

“New dishes coming out of the kitchen at Live! by Loews are inspired by my experiences,” Hall says. “I’ve worked in hotels across the country [from Florida to Tennessee and Michigan to Nevada] and every one of them left an impression on me. I also read a lot, which helps with creativity.”

A dynamic steakhouse – that dabbles in brunch – Clark & Bourbon is known for its high-end cuts of meat, ranging from a 12-ounce filet mignon to Duroc bone-in pork chops to a rack of lamb served with charred mint chimichurri. Recently, Hall introduced a 22-day wet-aged whiskey rib eye, which has received rave reviews.

“We wrap the meat in cheesecloth, and every day, we baste it with lavender-infused whiskey,” Hall explains. “When you bite into the steak, you get hints of lavender and whiskey, but the flavors aren’t overpowering. I’ve had guests tell me that it’s the best steak they’ve ever eaten.”

Clark & Bourbon is one of the only restaurants in the St. Louis region that carries certified Black Angus from Creekstone Farms in Arkansas City, Kansas, and Hall recommends pairing the rich, tender, perfectly prepared beef with the wedge salad topped with blue cheese, bacon lardons, cucumber, cherry tomatoes and pickled red onion. If you’re not in the mood for steak, consider the crispy airline chicken breast plated with farro risotto, charred artichokes, pickled fennel, Parmesan broth and basil oil or the U10 scallops served with parsnip purée, mushrooms, fennel and celery ribbons and smoked bacon marmalade.

Vegetarian? The contemporary steakhouse offers blackened cauliflower steak on a bed of parsnip purée, complemented by seasonal root vegetables, romesco, garlic chimichurri and microgreens.

Before you dig into your entrées, though, share a starter – or two – such as chicken fried lobster tails, lamb empanadas and hummus topped with marinated tri-tip. Then finish on a sweet note with a piece of housemade gooey butter cake, which comes with bourbon ice cream and candied pecans.

The Bullock, a seasonal setting at Live! by Loews, is a more casual affair. Here, guests can snack on fries and kebabs while socializing at the open-air rooftop bar and lounge. The french fries come with an assortment of toppings – think chicken, bacon, Parmesan – and you can mix and match steak, chicken, shrimp and veggie kebabs as well as aïolis and other dressings.

“The Bullock is a fun spot to hang out before or after baseball games,” Hall says. “The food is easy to share, and the cocktails are easy to drink. Whether you come with one, two, three, four, five people, you’ll have a good time.”

Live! by Loews also has a private event space if you want a more intimate atmosphere. In The Whiskey Room, groups can sample, sip and savor any of the 480 curated bottles of whiskey and bourbon.

“Not to boast, but Live! by Loews is one of the funnest hotels in St. Louis,” Hall says. “It’s the perfect place for date nights, special occasions and postgame parties. No matter when you visit, you can expect a quality experience.”