60+ Valentine’s Day Gifts, Treats, and Date Ideas in St. Louis

This year, plan the ultimate St. Louis Valentine’s or Galentine’s Day celebrations. Start with shopping for local gifts, sweets, and treats from area artisans and bakers, then book a reservation at your favorite local restaurant. 

Looking for something more outside the box? There are plenty of date ideas to explore across the metro, from local museums and art galleries to outdoor adventures to enjoy together.

Local Restaurants:

Amaizing Arepa Bar

At Amaizing Arepa Bar in Downtown St. Louis, owners and sisters Mayra and Maria Pacheco share delicious Venezuelan cuisine. The house specialty, arepas, are cornmeal cakes made with sweet corn and stuffed with a variety of meats, veggies, and cheeses. Amaizing’s signature arepa, for example, La Galactica, features grilled pork, shredded beef and chicken, plantains, and cheese. Another favorite are the cachapas, made with queso de mano, a creamy white Venezuelan cheese. Popular entrees include Pacheco’s fried empanadas, a favorite at the Tower Grove Farmers’ Market, where the sisters have vended since 2019, and the Venezuelan grilled plate, which can feed two. The Pachecos recently added a cocktail menu, as well, including specialty margaritas, to complement their range of non-alcoholic Venezuelan drink offerings; stop in to share a meal or drinks with friends or your special someone.

Read our full story on Amaizing Arepa Bar and the Pachecos here.

Story by Nancy Stiles
Photo by R.J. Hartbeck

Chao Baan, The King and I, Oishi Sushi, and Oishi Steakhouse

Shayn Prapaisilp’s parents introduced Thai food to St. Louis in 1983. Now Prapaisilp is leading the family business into a new era, bringing Thai cuisine and other international flavors to younger generations of St. Louisans. The family operates restaurants Chao Baan, The King and I, Oishi Sushi, and Oishi Steakhouse, and international grocery stores Global Foods and United Provisions. Assemble a gift basket with restaurant gift cards and grocery items from Global Foods and United Provisions; both shops are a delight to explore while finding tasty treats for everyone on your list.

Read our full story on Global Foods and the Prapaisilp family’s businesses here.

Story by Ginger O’Donnell
Photo by Michael Thomas

City Foundry STL

Bringing together more than 20 dining options, more than 15 local shops, and 10 family-friendly attractions, there’s something for everyone on your list at City Foundry STL. Retail shops include Candle Fusion, Esther & Mila, Procure, Social Goods bookstore, and many more, plus attractions like mini golf at Puttshack and seasonal events and holiday markets throughout November and December. Meanwhile, City Foundry STL’s Food Hall draws St. Louisans to Midtown for breakfast, lunch, and dinner; visit to grab gifts or plan a date with your special someone.

Read our full story on City Foundry STL’s Food Hall here.

Story by Cheryl Baehr
Photo by R.J. Hartbeck

Little Fox

Craig and Mowgli Rivard are making a mark in Fox Park with their Brooklyn-inspired, modern neighborhood restaurant, Little Fox. Located in the heart of South St. Louis’ Fox Park neighborhood, the eatery has quickly become one of the region’s essential dining spots, garnering critical acclaim and national recognition, including a spot on the New York Times’ list of the 50 restaurants they were most excited about for 2021. Share the world-class food, drink, and hospitality at Little Fox with your Valentine.

Read our full story on Little Fox here.

Story by Cheryl Baehr
Photo by Jennifer Silverberg

Lona’s Lil Eats

From rural China to Fox Park, Lona Luo has come a long way in her journey to become one of St. Louis’ most beloved and recognized chefs. Luo, an accomplished chef, a successful restaurateur, a James Beard Foundation award nominee, and beloved throughout the St. Louis metro, opened her Fox Park restaurant, Lona’s Lil Eats, in 2014. Though her food is intensely flavorful and satisfying, Luo uses healthful ingredients in her dishes and serves them at an affordable price in a relaxed environment that doesn’t intimidate diners. Stop in the Fox Park restaurant to purchase gift cards or plan a date lunch or dinner there.

Read our full story on Lona’s Lil Eats here.

Story by Cheryl Baehr
Photo by R.J. Hartbeck

Maaji Street Kitchen

Maaji’s Street Kitchen in St. Ann offers wholesome homestyle Northern Indian Cuisine cooked lovingly by chef, owner, and resident “maaji,” or mother, Heena Chopra. Since 2022, the self-taught cook, who hails from New Delhi, has gradually expanded her business to nourish the community. Today, the menu is bigger and better than ever, and visitors can find Chopra’s flavor-packed dishes at the unassuming North County strip-mall restaurant as well as at a weekends-only stand at Soulard Farmers Market. Shop Maaji’s range of apparel and home goods products online or plan a date lunch or dinner with your special someone.

Read our full story on Maaji Street Kitchen here.

Story and photo by Mabel Suen

Mai Lee and Nudo House

The Tran family risked everything to emigrate from Vietnam to the United States four decades ago. Forged through sacrifice and sweat equity, their restaurants are now some of the most celebrated in town. Qui Tran was 8 years old when his mother, Lee, opened Mai Lee in late 1984; today the restaurant is one of the most beloved spots in St. Louis, famous for its delicious Vietnamese dishes. In 2017, Tran followed in his family’s footsteps with the opening of Nudo House, the ramen shop he opened in Creve Coeur and later expanded with a second location in the Delmar Loop. Stop in the restaurants for gift cards or treat your Valentine to warming bowls of pho, ramen, and more.

Read our full story on Mai Lee and Nudo House here.

Story by Liz Miller
Photo by Alexandria McFadden

Root Food + Wine

Root Food + Wine draws St. Louisans to the natural beauty of Augusta, Missouri. Chef Phillip Day, who opened the fine-dining restaurant in April 2021, sees it as his role to translate the hard work of Augusta’s various food and wine producers to the plate, telling the story of the land through a world-class culinary experience for diners. Make a reservation at the farm-to-table restaurant for that special someone.

Read our full story on Root Food + Wine here.

Story by Cheryl Baehr
Photo by Jennifer Silverberg

Take Root Hospitality

Michael and Tara Gallina’s Take Root Hospitality serves seasonally inspired and regionally sourced eats at three lauded spots in the St. Louis area: Bistro La Floraison, a Parisian-inspired restaurant and bar; Vicia, firmly established as one of the best restaurants in town; and Winslow’s Table, a casual neighborhood restaurant with a small market. Visit one of Take Root’s restaurants for breakfast, lunch, or dinner (depending on each restaurant’s hours), or visit Winslow’s Table to assemble a gift basket made with local eats and treats.

Read our full story on Take Root Hospitality here.

Story by Cheryl Baehr
Photo by R.J. Hartbeck

The Fattened Caf

Charlene Lopez Young and Darren Young serve up Filipino flavors with their barbecue and smoked meats business, The Fattened Caf. Having just launched a line of signature sausages in 67 Schnucks stores in the St. Louis metropolitan area, the Youngs hope to expand nationally to become the first American-made Filipino sausage brand on the shelves at mainstream grocery stores and raise the cuisine’s prominence to that of Chinese, Indian, or Thai food. Located in the Gravois Park neighborhood, the restaurant serves full lunch and dinner menus; stop in to purchase a gift card for your loved one this season or plan a date there. 

Read our full story on The Fattened Caf here.

Story by Cheryl Baehr
Photo by Michael Thomas

Local Eats, Drinks, and Sweets:

Big Heart Tea Co.

Lisa Govro, through her company Big Heart Tea Co., is not only revolutionizing how tea tastes, but ensuring it’s ethically sourced every step of the way. Founded in 2011 in St. Louis, Big Heart Tea Co. now ships its carefully crafted blends from St. Louis to stores and restaurants in more than 40 states, and can be found in national chain stores like Crate & Barrel and Anthropologie. Govro’s line of primarily herbal teas — fan faves including Chai, Fake Coffee, Cup of Sunshine, and Cup of Love — often start with a tulsi (also known as holy basil) base. Shop Big Heart’s range of teas online or at retailers across St. Louis for your Valentine.

Read our full story on Big Heart Tea Co. here.

Story by Alecia Humphreys
Photo by R.J. Hartbeck

Clementine’s Creamery

With nine shops in the metro and counting, from Lafayette Square to St. Charles, and shipping available across the U.S., pints of Clementine’s Creamery ice cream are always within reach. Owner Tamara Keefe takes pride in the growing national buzz around her superb ice cream, including signature flavors such as gooey butter cake and salted caramel cookies and cream. Keefe’s shop is known for its beloved seasonal flavors, non-dairy options, and “Naughty” ice cream made with alcohol (think maple-bourbon with candied pecans or pink champagne sorbet). Stop in for a sweet treat on Valentine’s Day.

Read our full story on Clementine’s Creamery here.

Story by Cheryl Baehr
Photo by Jennifer Silverberg

Goshen Coffee Roasters

With a focus on ethical sourcing and high-quality beans, Goshen Coffee Roasters, headquartered in Edwardsville, Illinois, serves up delicious coffee in the St. Louis region and across the U.S. Visit its cafes in Edwardsville or Glen Carbon or its St. Louis outpost in Soulard to enjoy a cup of coffee alongside a rotating menu of breakfast and lunch fare, including pastries and baked goods. Try favorites like the coffeecake, oversized muffins, scones, oat bars, and more this Valentine’s Day.

Read our full story on Goshen Coffee Roasters here.

Story by Nancy Stiles
Photo by R.J. Hartbeck

Honeymoon Chocolates

With ethically sourced cacao and local raw honey, Cam and Haley Loyet’s Honeymoon Chocolates makes bean-to-bar craft chocolate. By working with a local apiarist and donating a portion of the company’s proceeds to the Pollinator Partnership, Honeymoon Chocolates helps address the decline of honeybees while helping consumers eliminate refined sugar from their favorite treats – two main goals of the business. The other cornerstone of Honeymoon Chocolates is sourcing the best cacao and paying a fair price for it so their partner farmers don’t switch to more profitable crops, causing supply chain issues. Honeymoon sources cacao from Haiti, Peru, Colombia and Belize. Check out Honeymoon’s list of St. Louis area retailers, including area Fresh Thyme Market stores, and share something sweet this Valentine’s Day.

Read our full story on Honeymoon Chocolates here.

Story by Amy Burger
Photo by Michael Thomas

La Pâtisserie Chouquette

At La Pâtisserie Chouquette in Botanical Heights, co-owner and executive pastry chef Simone Faure makes dessert dreams come true. Treating each creation like it’s a work of art, Faure concocts everything from soaring wedding cake towers to triple-chocolate croissants to buttery Madeleines. Each item is sculptural in one way or another, with layers of frosting, flowers, and candy playing off of and into each other. It’s delicious art that has inspired thousands of Instagram photos from customers who weren’t prepared for what would spring from Faure’s mind but were delighted with the results. Stop in the store for its signature macarons or just to breathe in the sugary air and gorgeous confections.

Read our full story on La Pâtisserie Chouquette here.

Story by Allison Babka
Photo by R.J. Hartbeck

Latte Lounge

With three successful cafes opened in four years, Latte Lounge owner and entrepreneur Nyshaun Harvey is bringing coffee and community to the metro. The two-story café in Downtown St. Louis features a number of firsts for Latte Lounge: HG Eatery, serving a full-service breakfast and brunch menu; an outdoor patio space; and even a members-only upper level for regular patrons. The shop’s latte flights — a mini selection of five different coffee flavors — and split cups — one cup, halved in the middle to support two separate coffee drinks in one container — remain exceedingly popular. It’s exactly those unique and thoughtful offerings — as well as the dedicated smiles, the big-hearted service, and the indoor swings at the Downtown location — that keep customers coming back.

Read our full story on Latte Lounge and Nyshaun Harvey here.

Story by Jacqui Germain
Photo by Michael Thomas

Made. by Lia

With a passion for showstopping painted cakes and from-scratch baked goods, Lia Holter of Made. by Lia is ushering in a new generation of investment in her native Florissant. The shop, which opened in August 2020, has quickly become a staple in the community, known for its baked goods such as blueberry scones (both vegan and gluten-free), jumbo chocolate chip cookies with flaky salt, and St. Louis Cake, a silky, not overly sweet spin on the city’s famous gooey butter cake. Holter continues to take orders for her signature painted floral cakes for weddings and other special occasions, but the bakery, which also offers a full coffee and tea menu, is also an everyday neighborhood gathering spot and ideal coffee date destination. 

Read our full story on Lia Holter and Made. by Lia here.

Story by Heather Riske
Photo by R.J. Hartbeck

Marcoot Jersey Creamery

At Marcoot Jersey Creamery in Greenville, Illinois, Amy and Beth Marcoot are innovating and expanding their seventh generation dairy farming business. The family emigrated from Switzerland in 1840 with a Jersey cow in tow, and the family is still carrying on the tradition of raising the gentle brown cows that are known for high butterfat and high-protein milk ideal for making cheese, butter, and ice cream. The creamery offers gift boxes in its online store, including farm-to-table cheese gift boxes, and makes for a fun date day trip.

Read our full story on Marcoot Jersey Creamery here.

Story by Amanda Honigfort
Photo by Jennifer Silverberg

Pharaoh’s Donuts

At Pharaoh’s Donuts, Syeeda Aziz-Morris is carrying on her family’s tradition of donut-making. With locations in the Central West End and Downtown St. Louis, Pharaoh’s is famous for its classic glazed donut, glazed twist, glazed cake donut, jelly- or custard-filled, an iced long john, an apple fritter and donut holes. Aziz-Morris’ father, Amon Aziz, launched Pharaoh’s in 1994 when she was just 5 years old, delivering donuts to gas stations and corner stores. Pharaoh’s became a sleeper hit at those locations across the St. Louis metro, with longtime favorites like the classic glazed and donut holes garnering cult followings. Beyond the classics, Pharaoh’s now also serves more fanciful creations, available bright and early at 6 a.m. Try the bacon-topped glazed donut, red velvet cake donut, iced cinnamon rolls, cheesecake crumb donuts, or the aptly named Death by Chocolate.

Read our full story on Pharaoh’s Donuts and Syeeda Aziz-Morris here.

Story by Nancy Stiles
Photo by R.J. Hartbeck

Spoonful Desserts

After a corporate career that took her across the globe, Monica Lee returned home to open Spoonful Desserts, which offers up Korean desserts, drinks, and a palpable sense of community in Creve Coeur and Edwardsville, Illinois. By introducing guests to the epicurean pleasures she grew up with as a Korean American and came to love as a world traveler, she brings a taste of South Korea — and Asia more broadly — back to her fellow St. Louisans. Spoonful centers on two signature sweet treats. First, bingsu: Korean shaved ice cream made with milk and condensed milk and served with a range of possible toppings, from house-made fruit sauces to candy or cereal. A second and complementary item is taiyaki, a popular street food in both Korea and Japan. It is akin to a stuffed waffle and traditionally baked in the shape of a fish. The café also hosts a substantial beverage menu, from bubble teas to iced and hot coffees sourced from St. Louis’ Blueprint Coffee. 

Read our full story on Spoonful Desserts here.

Story by Ginger O’Donnell
Photo by Jennifer Silverberg

Sugarwitch

Sugarwitch’s ice cream sandwiches are unarguably delicious, with surprising and nuanced flavors, each one cleverly named for a witch in literature or pop culture. While the witchy names are endearing, they’re also a window into the minds of chefs/owners Martha Bass and Sophie Mendelson, and the care they’ve taken into launching their small business in St. Louis. Visit one of their locations — in the Botanical Heights and Carondelet neighborhoods — to get a taste of ice cream sandwiches like the Elphaba, with mint chip ice cream and salted mint brownie or the Tara, with miso brown sugar ice cream and milk chocolate chip blondie. Sugarwitch also sells ice cream cakes, sweet waffles, pints of ice cream, and more.

Read our full story on Sugarwitch here.

Story by Nancy Stiles
Photo by R.J. Hartbeck

Switchgrass Spirits

St. Louis’ Switchgrass Spirits is carving its own path with its grain-to-glass whiskey and brandy. Married couple Nick Colombo and Sarah Miller, along with head distiller Pat Grosch, opened Switchgrass Spirits in 2016; by February 2020, they released Copperhead Rock & Rye, a bottled cocktail inspired by a Prohibition-era recipe. Today they offer a range of spirits perfect for the cocktail enthusiasts on your Valentine’s Day shopping list, including a French-style apple brandy made with Midwest apples, rye, and wheat; a Bottled-In-Bond Bourbon Whiskey, Straight Bourbon, Straight Rye, and more.

Read our full story on Switchgrass Spirits here.

Story by Heather Riske
Photo by R.J. Hartbeck

The Cobblestone STL

In early 2024, The Cobblestone STL, a market, deli, and coffee shop opened on Laclede’s Landing in the six-story red brick Christian Peper Building. Co-owners Camille Jackson and Chris McMenomy, who opened The Cobblestone STL in partnership with Luke Jackson, Kyle McEvoy, Tim Meinecke, and Andy Roesch, are adamant about making The Cobblestone STL, which is 70 percent locally stocked and sustained, a community spot that’s safe, comfortable, and welcoming to all. The shop is well-known for its “Cheesecakes of the Week” made by CK Sweets, with rotating flavors such as Oreo-Reese’s, raspberry-kiwi-lime, and double layered cinnamon roll. 

Read our full story on The Cobblestone STL and the history of St. Louis brick here.

Story by Heather Riske
Photo by R.J. Hartbeck

WellBeing Brewing Co.

WellBeing Brewing Co.‘s craft nonalcoholic beers and waters are helping reframe the stigma around sobriety and giving folks looking to reduce their alcohol consumption new options. WellBeing’s brews are popular with beer enthusiasts and teetotalers alike because they’re made as craft beer, with barley, water, hops and yeast, before the alcohol is removed. Beers like the Coffee Cream Stout and Intentional IPA use lactose, just like their more traditional counterparts, resulting in a nonalcoholic option that gives you the taste and mouthfeel of various craft beer styles. Shop WellBeing’s selection online or at retailers across St. Louis for your Valentine.

Read our full story on WellBeing Brewing here.

Story by Nancy Stiles
Photo by R.J. Hartbeck

Winslow’s Table

Michael and Tara Gallina’s Take Root Hospitality serves seasonally inspired and regionally sourced eats at three lauded spots in the St. Louis area, including Winslow’s Table in University City. The casual neighborhood restaurant with a small market and prepared foods case was a beloved community gathering place before the Gallinas took it over in 2019. Under their stewardship, it has built upon that legacy and garnered a reputation as one of the city’s essential daytime eateries. Stop in for bakery favorites including cookies and bars, breakfast pastries, and breads; the salted caramel monkey bread and cinnamon rolls (the latter is only served on Sundays), are some especially beloved bites.

Read our full story on Winslow’s Table and the Gallinas here.

Story by Cheryl Baehr
Photo by R.J. Hartbeck

Skincare, Hair Care, and Beauty:

Bask & Bloom Essentials

With Bask & Bloom Essentials, Candera Thompson has created hair-care products that empower women and help with postpartum hair health. Based in Bridgeton, the company designs products specifically to support healthy postpartum hair and fight the loss, breakage, thinning, and drying that many women experience after giving birth. Products include leave-in conditioner, moisture cream, a root hair masque, a gentle herbal cleanser shampoo, curl mousse and more.

Read our full story on Bask & Bloom here.

Story by Jacqui Germain
Photo by Michael Thomas

Butter Love Skin

La’Crassia Wilderness founded Butter Love Skin, her line of clean, nature-inspired skin care products, in 2014. Butter Love products are now sold in 11 states, and in 2023, Wilderness opened her own retail store on Cherokee Street. Butter Love offers a range of skin care products, from body butters in signature scents such as rosemary-mint and vanilla-almond to hydrating face oil and milk soaks. 

Read our full story on Butter Love here.

Story by Liz Miller
Photo courtesy Butter Love

DEMIblue Natural Nails

Michelle Robinson’s DEMIblue Natural Nails was inspired by her mother, Juliet, who stopped wearing nail polish in the aftermath of her battle with breast cancer. The chemicals in Juliet’s usual nail polishes burned her sensitive fingernails, sparking a mother-daughter “aha moment” that sent Michelle Robinson down a rabbit hole of research — and then the development of a solution. Today, the business boasts a fully vegan, 21-free nail-polish formulation and has expanded to other products, including press-on nails, nail kits, and natural nail polish for kids. Stop in DEMIblue’s brick-and-mortar shop inside the Eric Outlaw Business Center Retail Incubator in The Grove to shop the full line, perfect for Valentine’s Day gifts.

Read our full story on DEMIblue here.

Story by Ginger O’Donnell
Photo by Jennifer Silverberg

Homegrown Hair

At Homegrown Hair Co. in Tower Grove South, Caitlin Tyczka creates an inclusive, welcoming environment for all by offering gender-neutral hair services. Services are labeled not by gender but by the type of haircut — think a clipper cut or barber cut, or a short scissor cut, medium/long haircut, or curly cut. Homegrown is also known for its range of expert hair color services, including bold colors — think dreamy purple, neon green, and bubblegum pink — or stripes with rainbow hues. For Tyczka, creating a healthy, welcoming environment for her clients, fellow stylists, and neighbors is the driving force behind her work at Homegrown. Stop in the shop to buy a gift card for that special someone in your life.

Read our full story on Homegrown Hair here.

Story by Heather Riske
Photo by Jennifer Silverberg

Lark Skin Co.

Founded by Lisa Dolan in 2017, St. Louis-based Lark Skin Co. offers a line of natural skin care products made with simple and clean ingredients. If you’re unsure of what specific skincare needs you might need to address, visit the company’s website to take its skincare quiz; from there, you can either order custom solutions or shop Lark’s range of products, from serums and oils to cleansing balm, hydrating night cream, facial toner, and more. Treat friends or that special someone to a gift basket of products, or opt for a gift card and let them do the shopping.

Read more about Dolan’s journey with Lark Skin Co. here.

Story by Cheryl Baehr and Liz Miller
Photo by Jennifer Silverberg

Pure Vibes

Tiffany Wesley creates health and wellness products with the greater aim of cultivating community through her worker-owned co-op, Pure Vibes. Shop a range of clean skincare and body care products, from facial oil and body butter to natural deodorant and body cleansers. When you shop at Pure Vibes, you’re also supporting a worker-owned business; in fact, in 2021, Forbes included Wesley in its 2021 “Next 1000” list honoring “upstart American entrepreneurs redefining the American dream.”

Read our full story on Pure Vibes here.

Story by Alecia Humphreys
Photo by Jennifer Silverberg

Rebundle

Rebundle’s CEO Ciara Imani May is revolutionizing the hair extension industry with the first U.S.-made, plant-based hair braiding brand, Braidbetter. The braids are made from naturally extracted banana fiber, non-toxic dye, grapeseed oil and aloe vera juice, and are designed to match textured hair. The banana fiber comes from the usually discarded banana tree stumps left behind after harvest, giving, in May’s words, what was waste a second life. Braidbetter braids are available directly to consumers via the Rebundle website, as are gift sets and gift cards, and May stresses that it remains a women-led, Black-owned, St. Louis-based company, with a production facility in Maryland Heights.

Read our full story on Rebundle here.

Story by Nancy Stiles
Photo by Jennifer Silverberg

Clothing and Accessories:

Daily Disco

Abbey Eilermann and her team at the Daily Disco bring fresh eyes and unique designs to the vintage art of chainstitching. Her stunning handiwork ranges from denim jackets emblazoned with the likeness of a celestial Dolly Parton alongside a bejeweled homage to Harry Styles, his face peeking out from behind his ring-covered hands. Every single jacket is a unique expression of Eilermann’s undeniable artistry. Daily Disco takes custom orders for jackets, and you can shop the online store for its colorful and fun patches, sweatshirts, hats, bags, pins, bandanas, home goods, and more.

Read our full story on Daily Disco here.

Story by Cheryl Baehr
Photo by Michael Thomas

Golden Gems

Sisters Amanda Helman and Susan Logsdon founded Golden Gems to uplift, inspire, and help people feel seen. Their products are now found in their two St. Louis-area locations and around the country. Founded on the notion that “there is a badass inside of everyone,” Golden Gems has won fans for its empowering, uplifting and sometimes cheeky product line, including keytags, pins, banners and T-shirts emblazoned with phrases like “Women Will Save the World” and “Take a Deep Breath and Remember Who the Hell You Are.” The popular lifestyle brand also sells accessories, apparel, stationery goods, home décor, and more.

Read our full story on Golden Gems here.

Story by Heather Riske
Photo by Jennifer Silverberg

House of Vision

In 2023, community development and youth empowerment organization Dream Builders 4 Equity opened a retail store, House of Vision, in the Old North neighborhood. The shop sells clothing, hats, books, and other items made by local Black and Brown artisans and teaches youth skills such as screen printing and embroidery, including through its Summer Youth Academy internship program. Stop in and shop lines including Melanin Beauty by Julissa Reed or Leading Man by Kwame Myton and support local artists and youth with Dream Builders.

Read our full story on House of Vision here.

Story by Cheryl Baehr
Photo by Michael Thomas

Liberated Roots Co

Coming out of law school roughly three decades ago, Kimberly Franks could never have imagined that she would one day be running a sustainably focused lifestyle brand. However, after engaging with St. Louis’ Black-owned businesses and creatives over the years, Franks founded Liberated Roots Co, a dynamic outlet for her activism. The collective includes an online store where she curates vintage fashion accessories, gifts, and lifestyle products that empower both the makers and the consumers to connect with themselves and their communities with pride.

Read our full story on Liberated Roots Co here.

Story by Cheryl Baehr
Photo by Jennifer Silverberg

LOVEtheLOU’s Brick City Shop

Founded in 2009 and based in The Ville neighborhood, LOVEtheLOU aims to revitalize North St. Louis from within, involving neighbors as an active part of the solution. In 2022, LOVEtheLOU purchased the property now home to its Resource Hub, and the brick-and-mortar home has helped the organization grow and offer more programs and projects. That includes the organization’s Maker’s Space, featuring several hands-on learning stations where students can develop skills such as woodworking, sewing, 3D printing, digital design, button-making, jewelry-making, glass fusing, and pottery. Certain products are even made available for sale in the Brick City Shop, LOVEtheLOU’s e-commerce platform, which also sells products made by neighbors in North City.

Read our full story on LOVEtheLOU here.

Story by Heather Riske
Photo by Michael Thomas

Lux & Nyx

Through her luxury handbag line Lux & Nyx, Lisa Hu seeks to empower women through functional, sustainable bags that marry style and substance. Hu has created everything from backpacks and wallets to crossbody bags and more from beautiful yet sustainable materials like Freedom Fiber (a vegan microfiber) and upcycled leather. Thoughtful details are the bags’ signature, like the fan convertible crossbody’s built-in passport compartment and two straps inside to hold pens or lip products in place. 

Read our full story on Lux & Nyx here.

Story by Alecia Humphreys
Photo by R.J. Hartbeck

May’s Place

With May’s Place, Katie May highlights the merits of shopping vintage — both for you and for the planet. The store, which operates a booth at The Green Shag Market, offers a curated selection of vintage clothing, fashion accessories, handbags, shoes, and more. Quality is of utmost concern to May, and she and her team keep the construction and condition of garments top of mind when sourcing pieces to sell, either from customers who come into the shop or estate sales. The Green Shag Market isn’t the only stop to shop the selection: Through its quarterly night markets, May’s Place gives St. Louisans another opportunity to shop secondhand while also bringing together small business owners from across the city. 

Read our full story on May’s Place here.

Story by Heather Riske
Photo by R.J. Hartbeck

Ope Outdoors

Hawn State Park and Pickle Springs Natural Area are Juno Musonda’s favorite parks. The neighboring natural beauties are just over an hour’s drive south of St. Louis, boasting especially lush forest greenery and sparkling, boulder-lined rivers, creeks, and waterfalls. And thanks to Musonda’s clothing company, Ope Outdoors, both parks have been turned into one-of-a-kind designs available for purchase as short sleeve and long-sleeve T-shirts. Musonda’s line now features parks across Missouri, Illinois, and the Midwest, including ones closer to home such as Castlewood State Park, Tower Grove Park, and Lone Elk Park.

Read our full story on Ope Outdoors here.

Story by Jacqui Germain
Photo by R.J. Hartbeck

STL Stylehouse

The best T-shirts are often the cheekiest — at least for Randy and Jeff Vines. At their Cherokee Street shop, STL Stylehouse, you’ll find tees, stickers, hats, posters, and all manner of St. Louis swag. Jeff’s favorite shirt design actually predates the store, which the twin brothers opened at the corner of Cherokee Street and Compton Avenue in 2010. Based on a photo Randy took years earlier on South Grand, the tee features the wide grille of an old Cadillac framed by the slogan “Fo’ Chouteau.” Visit the brick-and-mortar store or shop online; nothing is more St. Louis than gifting a loved one a T-shirt featuring a cartoon toasted ravioli relaxing in a bath of hot marinara sauce.

Read our full story on STL Stylehouse here.

Story by Nancy Stiles
Photo by R.J. Hartbeck

Gifts:

Delmar Maker District

In the growing Delmar Maker District and beyond, restaurants, maker and retail spaces, and nonprofits are ushering in a new era for the neighborhood. Located on Delmar Boulevard between Union and Kingshighway boulevards, the district boasts retail and gift destinations including Third Degree Glass Factory, Craft Alliance, and The Cellar Cigar Lounge. Enjoy a day of shopping with your Valentine and grab lunch at neighborhood restaurants including Esca, Florentin, and Nixta.

Read our full story on the Delmar Maker District here.

Story by Valerie Schremp Hahn
Photo by R.J. Hartbeck

Dharma + Dwell

At her sustainable lifestyle shop, Dharma + Dwell in Webster Groves, Jordan Blackhurst helps consumers make more environmentally friendly choices. By offering eco-friendly, package-free and responsibly sourced home goods, beauty products and vintage items, Dharma + Dwell aims to be a catalyst for sustainable living by helping people make small to large changes in what they bring into their lives. Blackhurst offers everything from bulk personal care and household cleaning products (shoppers can either purchase reusable containers or bring in their own) and package-free products, to reusable and plastic-free items. She also offers a selection of vintage goods, stocked and curated by Hannah Storment of Mayfield Vintage, which dovetails with her mission to find new uses for often discarded things.

Read our full story on Dharma + Dwell here.

Story by Cheryl Baehr
Photo by Jennifer Silverberg

Flipstik

Akeem Shannon will tell you his product creates a moment of magic, particularly for skeptics, when he demonstrates what the Flipstik can do — whether on the side of the iconic Arch or on a glass wall in his office — as he pulls his hands away and the phone stays mounted on the surface, defying gravity. The cell phone accessory is made of double-sided adhesive material that is placed on the back of a mobile device and allows the user to mount it to a variety of surfaces over and over again. Shannon is widely known for his November 2020 appearance on ABC’s show “Shark Tank,” where he performed his Flipstik rap for a national audience and accepted Lori Greiner’s offer to invest $100,000 for 25% equity.

Read our full story on Flipstik here.

Story by Dana Rieck
Photo by Michael Thomas

Greenway Goods

Great Rivers Greenway is working to connect the region, one project and pathway at a time. The organization, which celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2025, has built 135 miles of greenways so far in St. Louis, St. Louis County, and St. Charles County. Show off our hometown pride in the greenways and support the organization by shopping at its Greenway Goods online store, which features T-shirts, hats, tote bags (the perfect packaging for a greenway-themed gift), candles, stickers, felt pennants, and more, all made by local creatives. Once you’ve shopped the store, plan a date to walk, run, cycle, or get moving on one of the region’s many beautiful greenways.

Read our full story on Great Rivers Greenway here.

Story by Valerie Schremp Hahn
Photo by R.J. Hartbeck

Missouri History Museum’s Sold on St. Louis Shop

Hometown pride and local history meet at Sold on St. Louis, the gift shop inside the Missouri History Museum. Visit the museum to explore its immersive exhibits and do some shopping on your way out the door. Browse books on local and state history, apparel, food products, and more. The shop even offers St. Louis-themed gift boxes for everyone from foodies and coffee lovers to themes like self care and City Flag Swag.

Read our Q&A with Missouri Historical Society president and CEO Jody Sowell here.

Story by Liz Miller
Photo by R.J. Hartbeck

Opera Theatre of Saint Louis

A national and international jewel, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis brings world-class opera to the metro in welcoming and accessible ways. Regarded on the national and international stages as one of the jewels of the art form, the company, based in Webster Groves, is considered a major incubator of talent. Its artists go on to earn contracts with the Washington National Opera and the Metropolitan Opera. It plays with a Grammy Award-winning symphony orchestra. It’s presented 37 world premiere operas — one of the highest, if not the highest percentage of new works presented by any U.S. company. It consistently leads the industry in finding innovative ways to empower new voices. Buy season tickets as a gift for the opera lover in your life or dip a toe in by purchasing tickets to one of Opera Theatre’s community events throughout the year.

Read our full story on Opera Theatre of Saint Louis here.

Story by Cheryl Baehr
Photo by Jennifer Silverberg

Posie Pots

With her line of self-watering planters, Posie Pots founder Kay Wells uses 3D printing technology to make good plant care easier. Posie Pots are available in several sizes and stylish designs, including the popular wave and twisted square pots, and Wells also takes custom orders for pots incorporating specific logos and branding. Posie Pots require just one third of the soil and 95 percent less water than a typical pot, making them less susceptible to pests, root bound, and root rot. The pots are designed to take the guesswork out of taking care of plants, as evidenced in the company’s tagline — “Worry not, you’ve got a Posie Pot.”

Read our full story on Posie Pots here.

Story by Heather Riske
Photo by Jennifer Silverberg

Sara Patino Jewelry

St. Louis-based jewelry designer Sara Patino of Sara Patino Jewelry crafts eco-friendly, ethically sourced pieces. Patino uses recycled metals and ethically sourced stones to make beautiful earrings, rings, bracelets, necklaces, and more. In addition to its sustainable jewelry, the company helps protect the planet by donating a portion of each purchase to the Women’s Earth Alliance, which supports women-lead environmental initiatives. Shop the full line on the company’s website or snag a gift card and let the sustainable jewelry lover in your life choose their own pieces.

Read more about Patino’s journey with her jewelry company here.

Story by Cheryl Baehr and Liz Miller
Photo by Jennifer Silverberg

Stonemaier Games

With Stonemaier Games, Jamey Stegmaier turned his favorite hobby into a St. Louis-based company that publishes beautifully designed board games with fans around the globe. The tabletop game publisher is responsible for such hits as Viticulture, Euphoria, Between Two Cities, and the runaway success, Wingspan, which has sold 1.3 million copies around the world. In October, Stonemaier released its newest offering, a superhero card game called Origin Story. Shop the company’s games online and delight the gamer in your life this Valentine’s Day.

Read our full story on Stonemaier Games here.

Story by Cheryl Baehr
Photo by Jennifer Silverberg

Zee Bee Market

At Zee Bee Market, Julio Zegarra-Ballon’s colorful fair trade merchandise supports artisans around the globe with a living wage. Located in the heart of Maplewood, Zee Bee Market is an ethical retail company that offers hand-crafted, fair trade, and sustainably produced gifts from across the globe. Visit the store or shop online for fashion and accessories, home goods, body care and spa items, and much more. 

Read our full story on Zee Bee Market here.

Story by Katlyn Moncada
Photo by David Treadway

Date Ideas:

Arch Rival Roller Derby

Arch Rival Roller Derby, St. Louis’ oldest roller derby league, celebrated 20 years of skating, competition, and belonging in 2025. They entered their anniversary year on the heels of a huge win: In November 2024, 13 of the best roller derby teams worldwide met in Portland, Oregon, for the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association global championships. St. Louis’ Arch Rival All Stars took second place. See the team in action during its regular season, starting in January 2026 (there’s even a game from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Valentine’s Day!), at Midwest Sports Hockey in Ballwin’s Queeny Park, or gift tickets and merch to the roller derby fan in your life.

Read our full story on Arch Rival Roller Derby here.

Story by Valerie Schremp Hahn
Photo by Michael Thomas

Arkadin Cinema & Bar

Arkadin Cinema & Bar opens up worlds in the Bevo neighborhood, where owners Sarah Baraba and Keith Watson share a love of film and add to a growing repertory movie scene. The indoor portion of the city’s first microcinema, which seats 50 people, has been open to moviegoers since March 2023; the theater’s outdoor backlot has been screening films since July 2020. Here, cinema can be almost anything Baraba and Watson dream up: a VHS movie night, where moviegoers are invited to bring in an old tape and everyone votes on which one they watch. Share the love of film with the cinemaphile in your life this Valentine’s Day with tickets to an upcoming show.

Read our full story on Arkadin Cinema & Bar here.

Story by Valerie Schremp Hahn
Photo by R.J. Hartbeck

Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis

In 2024, Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis (CAM) celebrated 20 years of art and growth in the Grand Center Arts District. In the museum’s two decades here, they’ve shown the work of more than 600 artists, hosted more than 260 exhibitions, and welcomed more than 550,000 visitors. CAM has become an anchor of the arts district, an integral part of the St. Louis cultural landscape, and a nationally respected contemporary art museum. The museum is free and does not have a permanent collection, enabling curators to seek out and add fresh exhibits from all around the country. They have two exhibition seasons a year, and each season includes one or a few exhibitions in its main galleries. Plan a date to the museum and explore its current exhibits or view its calendar for events throughout the month and year.

Read our full story on the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis here.

Story by Valerie Schremp Hahn
Photo by Jennifer Silverberg

City Museum

From the depths of the caves to its 10-story slide, City Museum continues to find new ways to delight and surprise visitors from around the world. Part ever-evolving art installation, part interactive playground, part public studio space, the entire point of the place is to be experiential; what that means to each individual, whether nine or 90 years old, is different, and that’s by design. The museum is not simply one of St. Louis’ most thrilling and well-visited attractions; it’s internationally acclaimed as one of the world’s great public spaces, attracting visitors from all over the globe. Plan a date to the museum and grab some City Museum merch on your way out the door.

Read our full story on City Museum here.

Story by Cheryl Baehr
Photo by Jennifer Silverberg

Foundry Arts Centre

The Foundry Art Centre in St. Charles creates community through unique exhibitions, artist development, education and outreach, and more. The Foundry is located near Main Street in a former train car factory from the 1870s — now an expansive space filled with abundant natural light. The institution recently celebrated its 20th anniversary, having served the St. Louis community since 2004. In addition to its exhibitions and events, Foundry Art Centre offers a robust gift shop featuring art and gifts made by local artists and makers, including those made by artists in residence at the Foundry. Visit the Foundry to take in local art and make a stop in the gift shop before heading out.

Read our full story on Foundry Arts Centre here.

Story by Ginger O’Donnell
Photo by Jennifer Silverberg

Local Hiking Groups and Resources

St. Louisans find peace and purpose in parks and on trails throughout the region. 

For Debbie Njai, that journey began when she stepped into the world of hiking for the first time in early 2020. With the help of a good friend who had outdoor experience, Njai says she was encouraged to go on her first hike at Castlewood State Park in Ballwin. While the trail was a brief 1.7 miles, Njai remembers feeling like the hike was exactly what she needed. The other thing that she noticed was that her invitations to family and friends to join her were not met with enthusiasm. 

That’s when Njai realized hiking was a need for the community, not just her own network. The group Black People Who Hike was born. She believes having a group of people that represent one another creates a feeling of safety and trust. 

For Mark and Stephanie Hampton, exploring local trails and parks gave them a way to connect with their children in the great outdoors. Stephanie started documenting local parks through the Instagram account she created to help others find trails, exploreSTLparks. Her background as an educator came in handy when writing about the places she visited, including tips on parking, the best times of day to visit, and information on what portions of the trail are paved or unpaved and if there are any creeks or water features — all things helpful to know before starting out on the trail, especially with kids in tow. 

In Missouri, there are more than 700 miles of trails. Check out St. Francois State Park in Bonne Terre, where thousands of bluebells bloom each spring, or Shaw Nature Reserve in Gray Summit, where you can spot water lilies in August. 

Read our full story on local hiking groups here.

Story by Ymani Wince
Photo by R.J. Hartbeck

Noboleis Vineyards

Like other important vineyards in the Augusta, Missouri, area such as Mount Pleasant or Montelle, Noboleis Vineyards is a natural place for exploring all of the beauty in this region of the state. Founded in 2005 by Lou Ann Nolan and her late husband, Bob, Noboleis has gone on to become one of the area’s most vital winemaking operations, providing grapes for both its own wines and several other vineyards in the Augusta AVA. Now in its 20th year, Noboleis is a thriving wine operation, tasting room and events venue; plan a day trip (and enjoy outdoor winter wonderland igloos through March 1) to treat the oenophile in your life to Noboleis bottlings such as Dry Vignoles, Chambourcin, or Baril de Blanc, or snag a gift card to share the experience together at the winery.

Read our full story on Noboleis Vineyards here.

Story by Cheryl Baehr
Photo by Jennifer Silverberg

Saint Louis Art Museum

The Saint Louis Art Museum (SLAM) is a highly regarded institution, not just in St. Louis, but in the Midwest, thanks to its premier collection and internationally renowned scholarship. For the art lover on your list, plan a date to the museum and then visit the museum’s two gift shops, both fully stocked with an eclectic assortment of art-inspired gifts, including art glass, jewelry, books, posters, and toys. 

Read our full story on Saint Louis Art Museum here.

Story by Cheryl Baehr
Photo by Jennifer Silverberg

Skate King

For over 50 years, Mathew and Mattaniah Foggy have built community while circling the roller rink at Skate King. Mattaniah, who goes by Niah, is the manager of Skate King — another step in her increasing leadership role at the business her father launched in 1970. 

Today, Niah operates and manages Skate King’s flagship location in Pine Lawn, putting her MBA to use as she dives into St. Louis’ thriving small business community with a strong entrepreneurial legacy already under her belt. The rink hosts everything from birthday parties and family reunions to themed nights and festive work parties. And their age-specific themed nights include an expansive range, from sessions for 13- to 17-year-olds to sessions for skaters 45 years old and up — something Niah and Mathew both say helps build skate fans for life.

Read our full story on Skate King here.

Story by Jacqui Germain
Photo by R.J. Hartbeck

So iLL and Climb So iLL

With Climb So iLL and So iLL, the Chancellor family has created an aesthetically pleasing, environmentally conscious experience for the modern urban rock climber, all while cultivating the next generation of climbing enthusiasts. Brothers Dan and Dave Chancellor went from making climbing holds in their parents’ basement, to studying entrepreneurship at Southern Illinois University Carbondale to opening their first indoor climbing gym, Climb So iLL, in Lafayette Square. In 2020, Dave opened a second climbing gym in St. Charles, and in late 2021, Dan, along with his wife Hannah, opened the doors to the first shop and showroom for their retail business, So iLL. Buy the adventurer in your life a pass to the gym and shop So iLL’s collection of climbing shoes, apparel, gear, and more, or plan a date to climb together.

Read our full story on So iLL here.

Story by Ginger O’Donnell
Photo by R.J. Hartbeck

St. Louis Symphony Orchestra

On Sept. 19, 2025, the refreshed Powell Hall, home to the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra (SLSO) opened with a formal ribbon cutting. The expansion, called the Jack C. Taylor Music Center, includes a new box office and lobby. There are more elevators, larger dressing rooms, and 12 practice rooms. There are fewer total seats, but the plush, new ones are slightly larger and more comfortable. Share the beauty of the renovation and the symphony with friends and family; the 2025-2026 season is in full swing at the venue, including conductors and artists returning and making debuts; four world premieres of SLSO commissions; movie score concerts like “Home Alone” and “The Lion King;” and performances from the St. Louis Symphony Chorus, the St. Louis Symphony IN UNISON Chorus, the St. Louis Children’s Choirs and the St. Louis Dance Theatre.

Read our full story on the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra here.

Story by Valerie Schremp Hahn
Photo by Michael Thomas

Wildey Theatre

Downtown Edwardsville, Illinois, is thriving, thanks in part to the musicians and events Al Canal brings to the restored Wildey Theatre. The theater, which is a key draw to the downtown strip, is located in a three-story art-deco building featuring a majestic marquee. The Wildey hosts everything from classic rock bands to local plays to long-lost films, all the while contributing to the reemergence of Edwardsville as an economic and cultural stimulant for the St. Louis region. With 325 seats in the theater, every performance is intimate, every note crystal clear. Plan a visit to the Wildey for a Valentine’s Day date or buy tickets to a future show as a fun experiential gift.

Read our full story on the Wildey Theatre here.

Story by Allison Babka
Photo by Jennifer Silverberg