Welcome to Clayton
The wealthy neighborhood of Clayton is a thriving commercial center that borders the city of St. Louis. Some of the most sought-after properties in the neighborhood are locally owned, such as charming townhouses, opulent apartments, and enormous, magnificent estates. Clayton is a major higher education hub. Concordia Seminary, Washington University, and Fontbonne University are all within the city.
Downtown Clayton is a significant shopping area and the county seat of St. Louis County. The spectacular towers of downtown Clayton are home to the corporate headquarters of several Fortune 500 firms, including Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Centene, and Graybar. Locally owned restaurants and specialty shops in the area offer upmarket shopping experiences exclusive to St. Louis County.
What to Love
Local Lifestyle
This tranquil suburban community offers the best of both worlds. Several housing styles and pricing points are available in Clayton's great residential communities, including majestic single-family houses, condominiums, and multi-family apartments. Most of these neighborhoods are close to business areas, offices, restaurants, galleries, and specialty stores and boutiques.
The Parks & Recreation Department regularly maintains the city's parks. It also hosts various sporting events on lit soccer, sand volleyball, baseball, and softball fields. The city's community recreation center, The Center of Clayton, provides recreational, educational, sport, fitness, swimming, and lifestyle-improving programs. Clayton is within a fifteen-minute drive from some of the best tourist destinations in the St. Louis region.
Dining, Entertainment, & Shopping
Repeatedly voted the best gift shop in St. Louis, Lusso stocks a modern array of women's clothes, gifts, jewelry, and home décor. This is the place to go if you are looking for a unique gift. The Normal Brand is a St. Louis-based clothing shop that crafts comfortable, versatile, and durable clothing for everyone. Head to Ylang Ylang for pretty, eye-catching jewelry pieces. Bespoke Apparel specializes in custom formal attire.
Herbie's two patios offer stunning views of downtown Clayton. Chef Cawthon's menu offers refined versions of Midwestern comfort food with French influences. Every meal at The Crossing starts with a blue cheese soufflé that'll leave you wanting more. 801 Chophouse harkens back to a time when servers in green coats drove guéridon carts around elite dining establishments. The restaurant is anchored by an oval bar with more wine and beer options than you can imagine. At 801 Fish, everything is lavish and sleek. Although the crab cake is small, it is the main draw of this posh eatery. Most of the menu at Pastaria is made up of a large assortment of organic pasta produced in-house. The wood-fired pizza and cacio e pepe are the standouts. Other notable eateries include Peno Soul Food, Café Napoli, Almonds Restaurant, The Ritz-Carlton, Oceano Bistro, and Tony's.
Things to Do
Shaw Park, the oldest and largest park in Clayton City, is located near the heart of Clayton's business district. It provides a haven from the hustle and bustle of the city with its beautiful flowers, open grassy areas, and warm canopy of imposing trees. It has amenities such as a competition pool, a diving pool, a play pool for children, two sand volleyball courts, three playgrounds, ten tennis courts, a pavilion, and several gardens. Artists and art enthusiasts should head downtown for the St. Louis Art Fair. With artists coming from far and wide using different mediums, this is one event you won't want to miss. Parties in the Park take place on the second Wednesday of each month from May-September. It features live music, wine, beer, and libations.
Shakespeare in Shaw Park is an event that plays in several locations across St. Louis. This event offers free, large-scale productions of works by Shakespeare and occasional musical or non-Shakespearean performances. Enjoy endless entertainment, music, and wine at the Clayton Music and Wine Festival, which attracts over 3,000 people and is one of Clayton's most popular events. Party in the Patch is held in Shaw Park to celebrate the fall season with hay rides, candy hunts, games, inflatables, and arts and crafts.
Schools
Clayton falls under the Clayton School District (the #1 school district in Missouri). Top schools in this town include:
- Glenridge Elementary School, Grades K-5
- Meramec Elementary School, Grades K-5
- Wydown Middle School, Grades 6-8
- Clayton High School, Grades 9-12