Embracing St. Louis’s French heritage, Le Meridien St. Louis Clayton offers guests sophisticated accommodations in the Clayton business district. Within walking distance of several delicious restaurants and just a short drive from Forest Park, it provides easy access to all St. Louis has to offer from a neighborhood setting.
A special thanks to Explore St. Louis for inviting me to experience their fair city. (<– See what I did there?) But you can count on me to always share my honest opinions, regardless of who foots the bill.
After a multi-million dollar renovation, Le Meridien St. Louis in Clayton, MO, reopened its 17-floor, 268-room hotel on Bonhomme Avenue in October 2020, providing guests with spacious and comfortable modern guest rooms with luxurious amenities. Here’s my review of Le Meridien St. Louis Clayton after a recent stay.
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Where is Le Meridien St. Louis Clayton?
Le Meridien St. Louis Clayton is located in the Clayton business district on the southern edge of St. Louis. The surrounding area is quite walkable, with a variety of coffee shops, cafes, and other eateries nearby.
It’s a perfect choice for visitors who want to stay near, but not in, Downtown St. Louis. The sprawling greenspace, zoo, and free museums at Forest Park are just a short drive from Le Meridien. And Downtown St. Louis is just another ten minutes beyond the park.
Parking at Le Meridien St. Louis Clayton
The hotel was bustling with activity the Thursday evening I arrived in St. Louis, but there was plenty of parking available, especially on the two lower levels of the garage. The private lot felt safe and secure.
If you park a car at Le Meridien St. Louis Clayton, you’ll take a paper ticket from the dispenser to enter the lot upon arrival. But once you’re checked in, your hotel room key card will grant you access to and provide your exit from the gated lot.
Parking is currently $25 per night. At first I thought the price was a little steep, but just a few miles away in the city of St. Louis, many hotels charge $30 per night or more. I have to remind myself that I’m rather spoiled living in a metropolitan area where many venues offer free parking.
Sage Advice: For just $5 more per night, you can enjoy valet parking at Le Meridien hotel.
Note that the parking garage exit at Le Meridien St. Louis Clayton leads you to a fairly narrow, fast-paced highway feeder lane. If you want to avoid that, make an immediate right onto what looks like an alley to remain in the neighborhood.
Checking Into Le Meridien St. Louis Clayton
I arrived at the hotel around 8:00 pm, and the check-in process was fast and easy. The front desk clerk had my room ready and helped me navigate the logistics of ordering a pizza from Imo’s for dinner. Since I was traveling solo, I didn’t want the pie delivered directly to my room. I appreciated that the desk clerk happily offered to call my room when the food arrived so I could pick it up in the lobby.
My Guest Room at Le Meridien St. Louis Clayton
When I opened the door to room 1418, the first thing that caught my eye was the St. Louis skyline blinking across the horizon through the large picture window. Although it’s about ten miles away, it was easy to spot the Gateway Arch and The Wheel at Union Station
My guest room included a king-sized bed, a small desk near the window, and a comfortable chair near the bed. The room was clean, quiet, and comfortable, and I slept soundly every night of my stay. I think it was the pillows — they were almost magical! As soon as I turned off the light, I was out. That might not seem like a big deal, but I’ve long battled insomnia and nearly always toss and turn the first night in a new place. Not here!
The bathroom had a large circular mirror with a ring of light around it. While it looked cool, it provided the only light in the bathroom, and I found myself using the mirrored door of the closet to apply my makeup instead.
The tiled shower was not only pretty, but the water spray was nice and strong. Many hotel showers — even those at luxury accommodations — incorporate water-saving features that reduce the spray strength, which is especially annoying if you have to rinse shampoo and conditioner out of long hair.
I was delighted to see an abundance of power outlets, both traditional and USB ports. This is often an overlooked feature in hotel rooms, which is why I travel with an outlet extender. But what’s really frustrating is when you also have to move the furniture to find an available spot for your outlet extender. Fortunately, Le Meridien St. Louis Clayton had ample plugins on both sides of the bed, the desk, and on the walls of the room.
If I Could Change One Thing
If I could snap my fingers and magically change one thing about my room at Le Meridien St. Louis Clayton, it would be to include a mini fridge. Without a fridge, I wasn’t able to store my leftover pizza for a midnight snack the next evening or bring home the other half of the heaping portion of pasta I enjoyed at Cunetto’s in Little Italy. Looking at the drawers built into the cabinet below the coffee maker, I think swapping that likely largely unused feature for a mini fridge would be much appreciated by most guests.
Extra Safety Measures During the Pandemic
With the pandemic still raging, it was comforting to see that Le Meridien St. Louis Clayton had taken extra steps to help put guests’ minds at ease. For example, a set of wrapped disinfectant wipes were left on the nightstand in my room, and the remote control was cleaned and wrapped in a plastic bag.
As I was returning to my room after a second day of exploring St. Louis, I realized I should ask for additional coffee supplies at the front desk since most hotels have discontinued daily housekeeping services during the pandemic. But as I pushed open my room door, I was pleasantly surprised to see that the housekeeping staff had tidied the room for me and replenished those supplies during the day.
Related Article: 5 Reasons St. Louis is First Rate for Second City Travel
Amenities at Le Meridien St. Louis Clayton
Although I was too busy exploring St. Louis to swim in the rooftop pool or work out in the fitness center, both looked amazing. The state-of-the-art fitness center includes a long line of treadmills and elliptical machines, Peloton bikes, and a large weight area. And while I didn’t use any of the equipment, I did enjoy the touchless water bottle filling station several times a day.
Dining at Le Meridien St. Louis Clayton
Cafe La Vie is a French-inspired eatery inside the hotel that’s open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and drinks. I opted for dinner at Cafe La Vie one night of my stay because it was a convenient option later in the evening when many of the other nearby restaurants were closing. (And as much as I would have happily had a second Imo’s pizza, I wanted to try something different.)
I ordered the fried chicken sandwich with frites. The meal wasn’t that special, but it got the job done. My waitress was friendly and attentive. And when I commented about the very generous remekin of ketchup that she brought for my fries, she quipped, “It’s good for your health!” making us both laugh.
Related Article: 12 Delicious Dishes to Try in St. Louis
Restaurants Near Le Meridien St. Louis Clayton
If you prefer to venture outside the hotel for meals, here are a few recommendations within walking distance of Le Meridien St. Louis Clayton.
Breakfast Places Near Le Meridien St. Louis Clayton
If you want a universal grab-and-go option, then you’ll be delighted to know that there is a Starbucks just a few blocks away. Or if you want to eat locally, then head to City Coffee & Creperie for sweet or savory crepes, Belgian waffles, fruit smoothies, and more.
Lunch and Dinner Options Near Le Meridien St. Louis Clayton
Just across the street from Starbucks, Sauce on the Side serves filling calzones and hearty salads. Another Italian-inspired option is Il Palato, offering delicious Southern Italian dishes just around the corner from Le Meridien St. Louis Clayton.
And if you’re looking for a fine dining experience, The Capital Grille has everything from oysters on the half shell to filet mignon.
Le Meridien St. Louis Clayton is Pet Friendly (and Then Some)
Although I didn’t travel with one of my dogs on this trip, if you’re visiting St. Louis with your four-legged bestie, you’ll have a hard time finding a more dog-friendly accommodation than Le Meridien St. Louis Clayton. The hotel does charge an additional $50 per night, and cats are not allowed. (Which in a way makes the hotel even more dog-friendly, right?!?!)
Your dog will be welcomed with a list of nearby dog-friendly restaurants and bar patios as well as directions to local parks. He or she will also enjoy a comfortable pet bed in your guest room. If you want to truly pamper your pet, then purchase a Chic Dog Package which includes a $25 gift card to Lola & Penelope’s — Clayton’s premier pet boutique, spa, and nutrition center — complimentary self-parking, and a pet amenity bag with a water bowl, treat, and bandana. And if that’s not enough, Le Meridien St. Louis Clayton also has a room service menu made just for dogs!
Related Article: Petiquette 101: Etiquette Rules to Follow When Traveling with Your Dog
Sage Advice: Guests are encouraged to pose for a pic by the hotel’s dog-inspired art installation at the front of the building. If you post your photo on Instagram with the hashtag #ChicDogLeMeridien and tag the hotel @leMeridienClayton, the hotel will donate $1 to the APA Adoption Center in Clayton, Missouri.
Is Le Meridien a Marriott Hotel?
Originally founded by Air France (thus the French name), Le Meridien is now a Marriott property with just over 100 locations worldwide. You can earn and redeem points with Marriott Bonvoy when you stay at Le Meridien St. Louis Clayton.
Sage’s Summary
Le Meridien St. Louis Clayton met all my must-have requirements:
- Clean
- Safe
- Quiet
And went above and beyond on the little things that matter to me:
- A shower with a strong spray
- Plenty of readily accessible outlets
- A touchless water bottle refilling station
The hotel is in a great location to reach the sights quickly while avoiding the noise, lights, and traffic of downtown. My biggest disappointment was that the room didn’t include a mini fridge.
To Book a Stay at Le Meridien St. Louis Clayton
Le Meridien St. Louis Clayton is located at 7730 Bonhomme Ave. in St. Louis, Missouri, just north of Forest Park Parkway and just east of I-170. The hotel can be reached by phone at +1 314-863-0400, and you can see additional photos, check availability, and get current rates here.
Have You Stayed at Le Meridien St. Louis Clayton?
How was your stay? What did you like most? Was there anything disappointing about your stay? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments section below.
Looking for more information to plan your St. Louis vacation? Check out my additional recommendations to help you plan your trip to St. Louis including what to see and do in St. Louis, the best places to stay in St. Louis, where to eat in St. Louis, and more!
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