Quirky St. Louis: 13 Offbeat Attractions and Experiences Only Found Here

Imagine plastic legs dangling from the ceiling of an eclectic lounge. Picture a giant eyeball tracking your movements through a sculpture park. Envision detailed scenes recreating historic moments in miniature. In St. Louis, the unexpected is everywhere, offering a kaleidoscope of quirky attractions, experiences and events for travelers who crave the unusual.

Want to fully immerse yourself in the quirky side of St. Louis? Book a room at the Moonrise Hotel, a stellar accommodation with the world’s largest rotating manmade moon on its roof, where those 21 and older can savor craft cocktails, small plates and bird’s-eye views of the quintessential neon signs of the Delmar Loop.

“Like all my businesses, the Moonrise Hotel combines history and whimsy,” businessman, developer and civic leader Joe Edwards says. “I have a huge collection of space artifacts, including an Apollo 11 patch taken to the moon and signed by all three astronauts aboard the mission: Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins. It’s one of the rarest space artifacts in existence, and it’s just sitting in a display case, waiting for you to find it.”

If you haven’t already noticed, St. Louis marches to the beat of its own drum. Explore the extraordinary spots that make this city delightfully unpredictable.

Strap on Your Kneepads at City Museum

The sky is the limit at City Museum, an all-ages architectural playground housed in a 600,000-square-foot former warehouse. With an intentionally labyrinthine layout, you’ll never run into a dead end as you explore underground tunnels, enchanted caves, spiral slides, pinball halls and the “artquarium,” which is home to axolotls and other odd aquatic life. The weirdly wonderful exhibits encompass everything from pancake art to taxidermy insects to items found in outhouses – plus, the world’s largest pair of underwear, which makes for a great photo op!

Toast the Unexpected at Venice Café

Creativity rules at Venice Café. Tucked into the Benton Park neighborhood, the cash-only bar feels more like a bohemian hideaway, with every inch covered in mosaics, murals, memorabilia and found-object sculptures. Sip drinks on the whimsical patio, explore the maze of colorful rooms and catch live music from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. every day except Sunday. With hidden gems such as a costume-wearing tortoise named Big Tiny and a Doric column topped with button-nosed bunnies strewn about the space, this legendary spot defines offbeat attractions in St. Louis, rewarding curiosity and celebrating unconventionality.

Uncover the Neon Museum of Saint Louis’ Flashy Glow Up

“Neon is very enticing,” artist Deborah Katon says. “Bright, bold colors stimulate dopamine release, and when you add electricity, you feel positive emotions such as joy and excitement. That’s why bars are covered with neon signs to this day.” Get a hit of happy at the Neon Museum of Saint Louis, a fitting addition to St. Louis’ stretch of Route 66. Entering under the NEON MUSEUM sign that features the Gateway Arch at sunrise, you’ll find classic neon signs alongside contemporary neon art – all tied to the Lou.

Dial into History at the Jefferson Barracks Telephone Museum

Did you know that operators once judged pay phone payments by listening to the coins? Test your ear at the Jefferson Barracks Telephone Museum! The self-guided history museum astounds visitors with antique telephone books and preserved telephone poles, military phones from World War II and novelty phones shaped like Snoopy, Pac-Man and the Keebler elf, among other beloved characters. “We have everything from wood wall phones to candlestick phones and rotary dial phones to touch-tone phones,” curator Sharon Krist says. “Many people have never seen these telephones, which adds to the intrigue of the museum.”

Celebrate the Little Things at the Miniature Museum of Greater St. Louis

Imagine a French armorer’s workshop gleaming with chest plates and shields; a Viennese music room strewn with harps and violins; or a bright red barn brimming with hay barrels and farm animals. At the Miniature Museum of Greater St. Louis, these scenes and more are created using a one-inch scale and fine craftsmanship, encouraging us to understand and appreciate more with less. “I kicked and screamed the whole way here,” a visitor admits, “but I’m so glad that I came.” Take it as a sign: These small worlds pack big charm.

Indulge Your Curiosity at the Oddities & Curiosities Expo

From funeral collectibles to quack medicine and odd jewelry to preserved specimens, The Oddities & Curiosities Expo is your destination for all things peculiar. Everything at the show is sustainably sourced and legal to own, and alongside carefully curated vendors, dealers, small businesses and artists, sideshow performers will entertain attendees throughout the day. In 2026, the unusual annual event will come to America’s Center Convention Complex on May 16 and 17.

Traverse Storybook Worlds at Adventures of Intrigue

An attraction unlike any other in the Midwest, Adventures of Intrigue boasts otherworldly quests in an open-concept escape room. The immersive, story-driven experience begins with the turn of a page, igniting your curiosity and activating your ingenuity. “In our magical library, the books have come to life and the stories have blended together,” head librarian Addison Lewis explains. “Entering Adventures of Intrigue, you truly step into a different world. Everyone who works here is a member of the library staff, and our job is to guide you on your journey without breaking character.”

Get Lost Among the Pages and Paraphernalia of Hammonds Books

Literary collectibles aren’t the only things lining the shelves of Hammonds Books. At the Cherokee Street bookstore, vintage treasures such as paper dolls and costume jewelry live among childhood classics and scholarly tomes. The local haunt also has a collection of more than 200,000 paper articles printed from the 1850s to the 1960s. “I want the store to accommodate readers as well as collectors,” owner Jovanka Hammond says. “It’s fun to sell an $800 book to a collector who has spent years searching for it, but it’s equally satisfying to sell a $10 book to a customer who comes back to tell me how much they enjoyed it.”

Try Not to Scream at Terror Tacos

Horror meets heavy metal at Terror Tacos, providing a completely different experience than other vegan restaurants, which usually champion peace, love and happiness. As you look over the menu, take note of the face-melting music playing over the speakers, the cult horror movie playing on the TV and décor items such as the 237 on the basement door that reference some of the owners’ favorite films. Whether you appreciate the theme or not, the tacos are indisputably delicious. Packed with meaty, textured plant-based proteins, the Citrus Mistress (spicy “chorizo” topped with pineapple-mango-pickled jalapeño salsa), the Carnage Asada (housemade peppered “carne asada” piled with diced onions, guacamole and cilantro) and the Cowboy From Hell (barbecue seitan with red onion, cilantro and housemade “sour cream” on a grilled corn shell wrapped in a grilled flour tortilla and layered with Terrorize Sauce) appeal to all eaters. “We summon every dish with the same unapologetic intent – be bold, be loud and change the perception of plant-based food,” co-owner Bradley Roach says. “Together, they tell the story of our brand – an ode to the flavors that raised us combined with the drive to carve out something new.”

Sleep with the Spirits at the Lemp Mansion

Steel your nerves and open your senses. The Lemp Mansion is one of the 10 most haunted places in America – and undaunted travelers can sleep in one of its four suites! The home bore witness to the suicides of three members of the Lemp family, along with other tragedies such as heart failure and debilitating madness. Here, the air hangs heavy with despair, and it’s believed that the sudden and tragic nature of the deaths has eternally tethered the family’s spirits to the house. Over the years, visitors have glimpsed their tortured figures in different areas, from the attic to the stairway to the basement, which the staff refers to as the Gates of Hell.

Visit the Victorian Past at the Campbell House Museum

Step inside a bygone era at the Campbell House Museum, a dazzling glimpse into St. Louis’ Gilded Age. Built in 1851 as the first home in the fashionable Lucas Place neighborhood, this elegant residence tells the story of fur trader and entrepreneur Robert Campbell and his family, who lived here from 1854 to 1938. The museum is a treasure trove of original possessions, from furniture and fixtures to paintings, clothing, family documents and even carriages. One particularly whimsical highlight: a rare set of interior photographs from the mid-1880s, capturing the house as the bustling center of St. Louis society. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977, the Campbell House underwent a meticulous five-year restoration in 2005, returning it to its former opulent glory.

Break Out of Your Shell at Turtle Playground

Giant reptiles slink through Forest Park – and they’re made for climbing! Turtle Playground features concrete sculptures of a common snapping turtle, softshell turtle, red-eared slider, Mississippi map turtle, stinkpot turtle and three box turtles, along with seven oversized turtle eggs. There’s even a long, sinuous snake that appears to be taking a bite out of the nearby overpass. The result? A delightfully quirky playground that draws children of all ages who can’t resist the urge to scramble over its scaly inhabitants.

Dine in Your Fun Uncle’s 1950s Basement at Mainlander

With an unwavering commitment to Missouri-grown ingredients, Mainlander serves elevated Midwest cuisine with German roots and Taiwanese influence. “We’re fully committed to regional ingredients,” chef-owner Blake Askew emphasizes. “We’ll change our menu before we ever use, say, commodity meat, and we’re not interested in growing in a way that causes us to lose our core values. Don’t get me wrong – we’ll buy a pineapple here and there, but it’s all about accentuating local ingredients.” Quirky décor and novel dishes – think sweet potato dumplings, smoked pork ribs with chile dipping sauce and five-spice lava cake – earned the Central West End restaurant a spot on Esquire’s 2025 list of The Best New Restaurants in America. Have a seat, take a bite – you’ll understand.