Living the Good Life in the CWE

The Central West End (CWE) is a area of St. Louis that has a rich history, a dense and vivacious street scape, gorgeous architecture and abundant culture.  Jon, a recent resident of the CWE, chose this area for many reasons.  He loved its location in the city and is proximity to Forest Park.  He also enjoyed the ability to walk to many restaurants and shops.  And lastly, he loved that so many other CWE residents were just like himself, young, active and social.

So he bought a condominium in a high-rise on Lindell.  It is a fantastic building with a great view of the Cathedral Basilica from his balcony, interesting neighbors, and even a doorman.  When you walk into his condo, you instantly feel a little cooler as it exudes such a professional yet laid back vibe.  Jon loves the community and has met many great people in his building and around the neighborhood.  He was happy to share some of his favorite hangouts with me, starting with his favorite CWE bar.

Brennan’s: http://www.yelp.com/biz/brennans-st-louis

Located right near the bustling Maryland/Euclid Intersection, Brennan’s subtle exterior may not catch your eye.  Search for it online, and they don’t even have a website.  It is one of those places that doesn’t need a flashy sign or even web presence as it has a loyal following of an interesting mix of patrons – yuppies, hipsters, grad students, etc.  It has a great beer garden in the basement, wine shop on the first floor and wine bar/cigar lounge upstairs.

The Scottish Arms:  http://www.thescottisharms.com

The Scottish Arms is a great pub with a dimly lit cozy atmosphere.  They have a wonderful beer selection, the largest whiskey selection in St. Louis and fantastic high quality food.  They feature local meat and produce and have a board displaying the origin of the week’s fresh ingredients.  Jon raves that the Shepard’s Pie is one of the best he has ever had.  And now that the weather is finally warming up, the patio out back is a great place to have a few cold ones.

Cafe Ventana: http://cafeventana.com/

Cafe Ventana describes itself as a Bohemian Bistro with a French Quarter Feel.  That tag line lets you know right away that this is a unique and interesting place.  Known for their house-made beignets, they offer a large breakfast, lunch, dinner and even late-night menu.  It is a great place to take your favorite book and enjoy a cup of their phenomenal coffee, milky way latte anyone?  They also offer live jazz performances, board games and a meeting room. Jon recently used the meeting room for a Condo board meeting, and was impressed by the space and service.

And these places are just a small sampling of the lively neighborhood of the CWE.  It really offers a big city feel in a small enough neighborhood to still feel homey.  It is a great place for sidewalk dining and people watching, and as Jon would agree, a great place to live.

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