Best Burgers in St. Louis
St. Louis burgers run from decades-old drive-ins and legendary pub cheeseburgers to a new wave of smash burger counters in Princeton Heights, Cheltenham and South City.
Where to Eat
How to eat burgers in St. Louis
St. Louis has a deep bench of burger spots, from tiny drive-ins that have been serving for generations to neighborhood pubs with cult cheeseburgers and newer counters devoted to smash burgers. The city's strong neighborhood identity shows up in its burger scene: almost every part of town has a bar or counter locals swear by.
A few areas are worth knowing. Dogtown and Cheltenham sit just south of Forest Park, which makes them easy to pair with the zoo or museums. Shaw is near the Missouri Botanical Garden, and Tower Grove South and South City run along South Kingshighway. The Delmar Loop in University City is a lively strip of restaurants and venues, and inner-ring suburbs like Brentwood and St. John hold some of the region's classic drive-ins. Every spot below appears on the cards above, and you can browse more cities in our restaurant directory.
Best burgers in St. Louis by style
Classic drive-ins
Carl's Drive-In on Manchester Road in Brentwood is a tiny counter known for crispy-edged smashed burgers and long waits for a stool. Chuck-A-Burger in St. John keeps the retro drive-in tradition alive with its Triple Chuck. Hi-Pointe Drive-In gives the drive-in menu a modern spin with locally sourced ingredients and the Cowboy Burger. See more spots like these on our best classic burgers page.
Pub burgers
Some of the city's most loved burgers come from neighborhood bars. O'Connell's Pub in Shaw serves a cheeseburger that many locals consider the classic St. Louis pub burger. Seamus McDaniel's in Dogtown is known for its chili cheeseburger, and Blueberry Hill on the Delmar Loop pairs a 7-ounce charred burger with a famous music-bar setting. The Royale in Tower Grove South stacks two grass-fed patties on brioche, and our best gourmet burgers page has more in that lane.
Smash burgers
St. Louis has embraced the smash burger. The Golden Hoosier on South Kingshighway serves the lacy-edged Hoosier Burger. Jovick Brothers Burgers in Princeton Heights, opened by a former butcher, offers house combos like the peanut-butter-topped Macklind. Mac's Local Eats in Cheltenham is known for the four-patty Captain. New to the style? Read smash burger vs. regular burger and browse our best smash burgers picks.
Local burger traditions
St. Louis does not have one official burger style, but it does have a strong drive-in and pub culture. Small counters like Carl's and Chuck-A-Burger have been feeding the region for decades, and neighborhood bars like O'Connell's and Seamus McDaniel's have kept their burgers on the menu for generations of regulars. The newer smash burger shops are, in many ways, a return to the drive-in idea of thin patties on a very hot griddle.
If you want to try the style at home, our guide to cooking burgers on a griddle covers the basics, and our guide to American burger styles explains how smash burgers and pub burgers differ.
Tips for visiting
- Group stops by area. Seamus McDaniel's and Mac's Local Eats are both near the south side of Forest Park, and The Golden Hoosier and The Royale are a short drive apart on South Kingshighway.
- Expect small spaces at the classics. Carl's Drive-In has limited counter seating, so be ready to wait or go at off-peak times.
- Check hours before you go. Several spots on this list are bars or small counters with schedules that can change.
- Ask for a double at smash burger spots. A second patty means more crispy edges.
- Cooking at home? Our burger temperature and doneness guide covers the USDA-recommended 160°F for ground beef.
Browse by style
Want just one kind of burger? See our shortlists of the best smash burgers, classic burger joints, cheap burgers in St. Louis.
FAQ
What is the best burger in St. Louis?
It depends on your style. For a classic counter burger, try Carl's Drive-In. For a pub burger, O'Connell's Pub is the local benchmark. For a smash burger, The Golden Hoosier, Jovick Brothers Burgers and Mac's Local Eats are strong picks.
Where can I find a cheap burger in St. Louis?
Carl's Drive-In, Chuck-A-Burger, Hi-Pointe Drive-In and the smash burger counters like The Golden Hoosier and Mac's Local Eats keep things casual and affordable.
Where can I get a burger near Forest Park?
Seamus McDaniel's in Dogtown and Mac's Local Eats in Cheltenham are both just south of the park, and Hi-Pointe Drive-In is close to its southwest corner.
Where should I eat a burger on the Delmar Loop?
Blueberry Hill is the Loop's best-known burger stop, with a 7-ounce charred burger and a famous music-bar atmosphere.