St. Louis, MissouriDowntown West
21c Museum Hotel St Louis
Art-filled athletic clubhouse
Downtown West St. Louis, Missouri
Opened
2023
Price
$$
Rated for
Design Heritage WellnessOutside the door
The house
21c Museum HotelsArt-filled athletic clubhouse
Public galleries stay open around the clock, letting guests drift between cutting-edge installations and a vintage athletic club.
“Located in a former YMCA building, the hotel dedicates more than 14,000 square feet to museum exhibition space that’s open to the public, featuring a rotating collection of works”
What it’s good at
Remarkable
A restored basketball court gallery with refinished wood floors displays rotating contemporary art.
Notable
The 1926 Renaissance Revival building preserves historic YMCA architecture on Locust Street.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
Also in AFAR.
turned a century-old Renaissance Revival–style YMCA building into a 173-room hotel and museum.
Right in the middle
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Downtown West warehouse blocks surround the building, with the Gateway Arch and riverfront a moderate stroll east.
The rooms
Every room displays original art by Missouri artists, and two loft suites occupy former racquetball courts.
The pool
Bring a swimsuit.
A rectangular hot tub sits where spectator bleachers once stood, beside the heated four-lane indoor pool.
Gym and steam room
A glass-walled steam room looks out toward the pool, and the fitness center houses dedicated cardio and weight rooms.
Dogs stay too.
Restaurant
Idol Wolf
The kitchen serves Iberian tapas and Spanish vermouth beneath vaulted ceilings, beside a curved tiled bar.
Restaurant
Good Press
The cafe pours locally roasted coffee beneath a kaleidoscopic ceiling mural, with orange banquettes lining dark wood walls.
At the table
Guests gather for an evening bourbon beneath the illuminated ceiling mural of the wood-paneled lounge.
How it began
The building served 5,000 YMCA members at its peak before closing in 2017 after nine decades of civic use.
Good to know
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21c Museum Hotel St Louis
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.