• about
    • City Guides
    • Tips and Tricks
    • Work with Me
    • shop

    round trip travel and lifestyle blog

    Photo Diary: Brunch in Soulard

    May 16, 2018

    You learn something new every day, including a town you’ve lived in for decades.  This week I met up for brunch with my friend Kait, and when we were deciding where to dine, I suggested City Coffeehouse and Crêperie (per usual).  But she suggested we try a new place she’d never been to in Soulard.

    It’s honestly crazy that I’ve never been to Soulard in all my years of living in St. Louis since I live and breathe anything French.  This historic neighborhood is St. Louis’s oldest, according to Explore St. Louis.  It was named after Frenchman Antoine Soulard who surveyed the area for the King of Spain.  Soulard’s claims to fame are its farmer’s market, which has been running since 1779, and its mega Mardi Gras festival.Geyer St Louis Soulard BrickGeyer Ave Brick Home Stoop Downtown St. LouisJust a few minutes away from arriving at Soulard Coffee Garden Cafe, Kait called to tell me that she’d just woken up and, therefore, would be late.  Although I had a few other things to get done later that day, I chose to be in the moment.  I took my time parking, looking over the menu and sipping my iced white mocha.  (Heck, I even worked on a blog post!)  Even though it put a delay in my day, it honestly was refreshing to adopt the European lifestyle of slow, progressive meals.

    The cafe is aged, certainly not new and shiny.  The pastry signs are written in black marker, its bakery items wrapped in cellophane.  It’s a bit cramped.  But the longer I spent there, the more my fondness grew for this small block of the street.  It’s a loved cafe with its regulars; even being there for a couple hours, I know it’s a cherished part of the neighborhood.Soulard Coffee Garden Cafe St LouisSoulard Coffee Garden Cafe SummerSoulard Coffee Garden Cafe Outdoor Seating

    Once Kait arrived, we moved to the outdoor patio.  As humid as it was, this choice was completely worth it with its historic aura, overgrown garden, church peeking out above the fence, calm conversation and cigarette smoke sifting through the air.  I could feel the French influence from centuries ago permeating the air.

    I’m a sucker for omelets and opted for ham and brie cheese in mine.  I’ve never had brie with an omelet.  The culinary presentation was a bit odd, but I felt fancy just the same.  I enjoyed its rich flavor, but probably won’t make that my go-to order when I return.Ham Brie Omelet Soulard Coffee Garden CafeSoulard Coffee Garden Cafe Backyard OutdoorProcessed with VSCO with c1 preset

    This visit to Soulard was all too short-lived.  I love that there’s always more to exploring to do, and it’s all at my fingertips.  Here’s to finding more brunch spots and forever traveling wherever I am.

    Author Signature

    Share with a friend & save for a future adventure!

    • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
    • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
    • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
    • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
    • Click to print (Opens in new window)
    1 Comment

    My Fave Finds

    Previous How to Make a Killer Summer Bucket List
    Next Juliana Dever on Travel, Fear and Facing the Unknown

    You might also like:

    Why A Picture is Worth a Thousand Lies

    10 Things to Do in Barcelona

    Round Trip Roundup: JANUARY

    Reader Interactions

    Trackbacks

    1. Round Trip Roundup: MAY – round trip says:
      May 30, 2018 at 2:14 pm

      […] up in St. Louis, but this month I stepped foot in a neighborhood I never had before.  Kait and I brunched in Soulard, and I’m still thinking about those dreamy brick houses.5. A chat with Juliana Dever from […]

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Bonjour

    Hi, I'm Kristin. I'm a content creator living and working in southern France. You can find me planning my next weekend trip, sharing my best expat trips and sipping iced coffee.
    learn more about my story

    Ad

    Bienvenue

    Hey there, I'm Kristin, a Missouri girl living and working in southern France. I love planning weekend trips, sharing my best expat tips and sipping iced coffee.

    Categories

    Copyright © 2023 round trip
    Theme by SheShoppes
     

    Loading Comments...