Chase Park Plaza Royal Sonesta

The Central West End is St. Louis's most distinguished residential neighborhood and the city's premier walkable urban district outside of downtown. Bounded by Forest Park to the south and the Washington University Medical Campus to the north, the CWE is a dense grid of Victorian and Edwardian brick mansions, restored apartment buildings, sidewalk cafés, independent bookstores, and dozens of restaurants ranging from neighborhood diners to internationally recognized fine dining. The Chase Park Plaza sits at the southwestern corner of the neighborhood with direct sightlines into Forest Park across Kingshighway, and the hotel's location places guests within a 10-minute walk of essentially everything the CWE offers.

Maryland Plaza, immediately east of the hotel, is the heart of the CWE restaurant district, with about 25 restaurants concentrated in two blocks. Notable options include Pastaria, Gerard Craft's Italian flagship that helped establish him as a James Beard Award winner; Herbie's, a brasserie with one of the best wine programs in the Midwest; The Pageant, the historic 1908 theater renovated as a 2,300-seat live music venue; and Left Bank Books, the city's most distinguished independent bookstore. The Bissinger's Chocolate boutique on the Plaza is one of the few American chocolatiers operating continuously since 1668 (under various names; the family began in France).

The St. Louis Zoo, the Saint Louis Art Museum, the Missouri History Museum, and Forest Park's other major attractions are all 5 to 12 minutes by foot or bicycle from the hotel through park paths. The Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis, an extraordinary 1907 Byzantine-revival cathedral with the largest mosaic installation in the Western Hemisphere, is six blocks north on Lindell Boulevard and merits a 90-minute visit on any St. Louis itinerary. The free Forest Park Trolley summer shuttle connects all the major park attractions and stops directly in front of the hotel.

The 414 guest rooms range from entry-level Park View rooms at about 290 square feet to grand two-bedroom suites at over 1,400 square feet, and most rooms have been completely renovated since 2019 with new furniture, marble bathrooms, refreshed mahogany detailing, and either a Forest Park or city view. The most desirable standard rooms are the higher-floor Forest Park View options, with floor-to-ceiling windows looking south across the park's tree canopy toward Art Hill and the Apotheosis of St. Louis statue at sunset. Several signature suites, including the Truman Suite on the 25th floor where President Truman stayed during his St. Louis visits, are available for booking with advance arrangement.

Hotel amenities include the rooftop indoor pool with city views, the renovated Tenderloin Room steakhouse on the ground floor, the Preston modern American restaurant in the East Wing, the Chase Park Plaza Cinemas 5-screen multiplex on the lower level (one of only two hotels in America with an in-house movie theater), a full-service spa, and the 24-hour fitness center. Valet parking is available at $42 per night; self-parking in the underground garage is $32 per night with in-and-out privileges. The hotel does not have a free guest parking option, which is the standard for downtown St. Louis luxury properties.

Pets are welcome with a non-refundable $75 fee per stay, and the hotel maintains a small dog-walking program with maps of Forest Park dog-friendly trails. Wi-Fi is complimentary throughout the property. The 2,400-square-foot Khorassan Room ballroom and the 4,000-square-foot Empire Room remain among the most sought-after wedding and event venues in St. Louis, and groups regularly book the hotel as the headquarters for Cardinals away-game weekends, Forest Park bicycle tours, and Route 66 Centennial Mother Road heritage tours. The Sunday brunch at Preston, served 10 am to 2 pm, is regionally famous and includes unlimited mimosas and a champagne table.

Rates at the Chase Park Plaza vary substantially by season and demand. Standard Forest Park View rooms run about $189 to $289 per night in winter and shoulder seasons, climbing to $289 to $389 in peak summer and during major Cardinals home stands or downtown convention weeks. Suites range from $429 to $999 per night depending on size and views. Booking through Sonesta directly via the hotel website often returns the lowest rate, and Sonesta Travel Pass loyalty members earn double points on direct bookings. The hotel publishes a Route 66 Centennial package for 2026 that includes overnight accommodation, dinner at the Tenderloin Room, and tickets to special events at the Saint Louis Art Museum.

The Chase Park Plaza sells out quickly on Cardinals home weekends from April through September, particularly when the team plays the rival Chicago Cubs or hosts post-season games, and the Forest Park View rooms on the south side disappear first. Wedding season runs heavily April through October, and the hotel's grand ballroom and Khorassan Room are often booked 12 to 18 months in advance for Saturday weddings. Mid-week travelers in winter find substantially lower rates and excellent room availability. Holiday season around Christmas brings a special hotel package that includes the rooftop pool, the Cinemas multiplex, and complimentary breakfast.

Reviews consistently rank the Chase Park Plaza among the top three hotels in St. Louis, alongside the Four Seasons downtown and the more contemporary Angad Arts Hotel in Grand Center. The Chase's competitive advantage is the location: no other major St. Louis hotel sits directly on Forest Park, walking distance from world-class free attractions and the city's best neighborhood restaurant district. Visitors who specifically want a downtown ballpark or convention center location should consider alternatives, but for travelers wanting to experience the cultural heart of St. Louis, the Chase Park Plaza is the unmatched choice.