It’s 3:30 in the afternoon and here we sit, dressed in our best, in high-back, upholstered chairs, facing a table dressed in fresh white linen and laden with china and silver serving pieces. We sip tea, nibble small sandwiches, sample scrumptious desserts and chat away. Call it the fitting conclusion to the perfect day out. For the last eight hours, no one has asked either of us to pick up anything, find anything, solve any problems, go to the bank or call the doctor. For the past eight hours, it has been nothing but bliss. Two adults in unadulterated delight.
There’s not a woman alive who couldn’t use a little quality time with her mother, sister or best girlfriend. A lunch on the run here, a quick phone call there—neither amounts to more than a way to touch base. You deserve more. And so do we. So under the guise of research, we—intrepid reporters that we are—took it upon ourselves to put together the perfect girls’ day out.
Breakfast, Companion Bakehouse
We begin with breakfast at Companion Bakehouse & Café (8141 Maryland, 314-721-5454, www.companionbaking.com). Even if you’re not a fan of eggs, we suspect you’ll relish every bite of Companion’s bacon and cheddar or potato and Gruyère eggs. Served with an oversized spoonful of fruit, they’re the perfect way to start the day. Or opt for the stick-to-your-ribs oatmeal. Or one of the amazing baked goods. Over cups and cups of coffee, we talk. And talk. And more than an hour later, we’re off.
Or... Hidden in a corner of a strip mall just west of I-270 on Olive, La Bonne Bouchée (12344 Olive, 314-576-6606, www.labonnebouchee.com) is modeled after a French patisserie and café, and it serves breakfast—from pastries to eggs Benedict and waffles—every day in two casual, open dining rooms. Linger over a cup of coffee and enjoy the relaxed ambience and fragrance from the bakery.
Signature Pedicure, Ginger Bay
No day is perfect without a trip to the spa—but what service to choose? A massage is always nice, but doesn’t allow for the chat factor (and though many spas offer couples massages, lying naked side by side may be too intimate for friends). A facial? Same problem. Ah-ha! A pedicure. And not just any pedicure. We can go sit in an assembly-line nail place any day. Our assignment called for something special—a Signature Pedicure at Ginger Bay (437 S. Kirkwood, 314-966-0655, www.gingerbay.com), the most deluxe (and expensive—$100, yikes!) pedicure around. It will leave you as close to walking on air as humanly possible.
When we arrive, we’re ushered back to pick colors. (Ginger Bay always has the latest OPI colors, if you care about such things. And we do.) Then it’s on to the lovely and private spa pedicure suite. The talking ceases; relaxation commences. Perched on thrones angled toward each other and divided by a drawn sheer curtain, we have our feet soaked in a tub of oiled water covering flat, tootsie-massaging stones. A 10-step process ensues: hand massage and heated mitts, heated neck pillow, polish removal, nail shaping, exfoliation, mask, hot towels, reflexology, massage, paraffin, polish. By the end, one of us has fallen asleep; both of us agree it’s the best $100 we’ve ever spent. Stomach rumbles urge us to our next destination: lunch.
Or… We’re convinced Ginger Bay’s Signature Pedicure is the most indulgent single spa service in the city. If you want to devote a whole day to a spa splurge, or if you want more buffing for your buck, try any of the following:
- Spa Pick Me Up. Express facial or massage, pedicure, manicure and makeup touchup for $100 at Ginger Bay.
- Miracle Morning. Fresh flowers upon arrival, European spa facial, Swedish massage and manicure for $190 at The Face & The Body Spa, 2515 S. Brentwood, 314-725-8975, www.faceandbodyspa.com.
- Solace Splurge. Massage, facial, manicure and pedicure for $190 at Solace Spa at Wellbridge, 998 Woods Mill, 636-207-3000, www.solacespa.com.
- Stonewater Ritual. Energy zone facial, therapeutic massage and manicure for $210 at Stonewater Spa, 3 Plaza Frontenac, 314-569-2111, www.premierspacollection.com.
While you won’t be together during the services, all four spas offer a relaxation area where you can sip a cup of tea, relax and compare notes.
Lunch, Café Eau
The setting at Café Eau (Lindell & Kingshighway at the Chase Park Plaza) is movie perfect—high ceilings, parquet floors and an elegant raised bar complete with mirrors behind the pyramids of bottles. To get the full effect, ask to be seated in one of the booths, which feature walls so high you feel comfortably hidden away. The service wouldn’t exactly garner a four-star rating (two of only a few people in the place, we still had trouble getting bread, and though we mentioned that we were trying to make the 1:30 movie, we found ourselves gesturing frantically for the check at 1:35). But the pear salad with pancetta and candied walnuts made for a lovely lunch, and the crisp flavor was the perfect complement to our lunchtime glass of champagne. Pleasantly full, and with our car safely ensconced in the Chase Park Plaza garage (valet parking is free for restaurant patrons), we decided the time had come for entertainment. A movie. Down the hall and to the left.
Or… What could be better than combining a bit of shopping with a five-star lady’s lunch? Not much. The Zodiac Room at Neiman Marcus (100 Plaza Frontenac, 314-567-9811, www.neimanmarcus.com) is the place to go. Be sure to sample one of the legendary popovers—and ask the waiter to bring them out when they’re hot. If you want to continue a St. Louis tradition that dates back to the days when Saks and Montaldo’s reigned on Maryland Avenue, head to The Woman’s Exchange (9214 Clayton Road, 314-997-4411, www.stlouiswomansexchange.com). Mothers have been bringing daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren here for decades. The standard order: The Woman’s Exchange Salad (a chef salad, all chopped up with just about everything you can imagine). Almond’s (8127 Maryland, 314-725-1019) has its own superb version of chopped salad as well as a hearty bowl of chowder. It also has a friendly neighborhood feel that encourages diners to talk endlessly without fear of getting the hook.
Matinée, Chase Park Plaza Movie theatre
In reality, almost any theater will do for a matinée. But it’s our girls’ day out, so we choose one of the best in the city (and one that’s in the same hotel as our lunch spot, which means we can linger at lunch until the last minute). We share the theater with one other pair. It’s delicious to slip into an alternate reality—in our case, one in which Hilary Swank and a procession of tough-looking women slug the lights out of each other. It’s a heavy movie, not exactly the bright and breezy comedy normally picked on a girls’ day out—but hey, who better than a girlfriend to share a three-hanky film? With tear-stained cheeks and running mascara, it’s time to go on to merrier matters—and places. Tea. At The Ritz.
Or… If you prefer your movies after dark, the hottest place in town is the Moolah Theatre & Lounge (3821 Lindell, 314-446-6868, www.stlouiscinema.com/moolah, lounge open 4 p.m.–12:30 a.m., matinées on weekends only). The Moolah features a huge screen and leather couches and loveseats, as well as stadium and balcony seating. Go early to have a drink in the bar, or grab one to enjoy during the show.
Afternoon Tea, The Ritz
The assortment of dainty treats, attentive service and leisurely pace make English-style afternoon tea an excellent addition to our perfect day. (And no, we don’t mean high tea, which actually refers to a heavier, dinner-like meal not at all like the sweets-filled experience we crave. There, now you’ve learned something. The perfect girls’ day out isn’t all indulgence—we can stand a bit of education as well. A tiny bit.) There’s only one place to go: The Ritz. You know a hotel chain is setting the standard for excellence when its name becomes an adjective. Everything about The Ritz is indeed ritzy, including the tea (100 Carondelet, 314-863-6300, tea served Thursday–Sunday 1:30–3 p.m., $27 per person).
The Ritz’s version of afternoon tea is thought by many to be the best in town, and with good reason. Held in the sumptuous lobby bar area, the tea starts out with a choice of four Taylors of Harrogate teas—jasmine, Earl Grey, mango and blue sapphire (the last made exclusively for The Ritz). The choices vary, but The Ritz always offers one decaffeinated and one herbal. You’re encouraged to look at and smell the teas to help you make a choice. A tower of treats follows, including four types of sandwiches, scones with Devon-shire cream and a selection of sweets that changes daily. As with all our choices for the perfect girls’ day out, tea at The Ritz is a lazy, luxurious experience perfect for whiling away the afternoon with conversation.
Or… Tea at The Ritz is served in the bar area, which, while sumptuous, isn’t what you might think of when you think “ladies tea.” If that’s the experience you want, go to Ladies of Lucerne (in the Barn at Lucerne, Ballwin, 636-227-7300, www.ladiesoflucerne.com, tea served Saturdays noon–3 p.m., $25 per person including tax and gratuity). Where The Ritz is dark, luxurious and has a men’s-club feel, Ladies of Lucerne is open, airy and totally feminine. It also is a bit more substantial on the food side, serving soup before the impressive tier of goodies arrives, including scones with house-made Devonshire cream and (bonus!) lemon curd, finger sandwiches, mini quiches and assorted desserts. To accompany this avalanche of comestibles, you have your choice of any of the Harney & Sons teas Ladies of Lucerne serves.
Remember to call before you go—fine tearooms require reservations.
Drinks and desserts at Bailey’s Chocolate Bar
Our day ended after tea, but yours doesn’t have to. After a bit of shopping and perhaps a leisurely walk, nothing caps the perfect day off like a drink and a dessert. Bailey’s Chocolate Bar in Lafayette Square (1915 Park, 314-241-8100, www.baileyschocolatebar.com, open Tuesday–Saturday 4 p.m.–1:30 a.m.) is a great place to indulge in both. Bailey’s features an extensive selection of delicious desserts and cheeses, as well as a full bar with more than 60 beers, 24 martinis, spirits, champagne, even hot chocolate and shakes, all served in a hip and opulent setting. It’s the perfect place to wind down … provided you don’t try to go late on a Saturday night, when waits for a table can stretch past an hour.
OR… If that’s the case, go next door to 33 Wine Shop & Tasting Bar (1913 Park, 314-231-9463), which has a great selection of wines and beers. If you’re hankering for dessert, and maybe a little entertainment, try the new Finale (8025 Bonhomme, 314-863-8631, www.finale-stl.com), which serves desserts (including espresso crème brûlée and toasted chocolate ravioli) until 11 p.m. on weekdays (midnight on weekends) and has live entertainment Wednesday through Saturday nights.
Other Perfect-Day Ideas
OK, so the typical girls’ day out probably wouldn’t include physical exertion of any kind, but for those looking to bond in a healthy way, a yoga class is a great solution. And now that the weather’s warmer, there’s no reason to be cooped up in a yoga studio. Try an outdoor yoga class in Lafayette Park (held by Marbles Yoga, 1905 Park, 314-621-4744, www.marblesyoga.com) or on the Terrace at the Butterfly House (15193 Olive, 636-733-2339, www.butterflyhouse.org).
Nothing is more girlie than makeup, and Sephora (37 West County Center, 314-821-5200, www.sephora.com) is the perfect place to spend an hour or more sampling cosmetics, learning about new products and trends and taking advantage of the free consultations offered by Sephora’s staff of professional makeup artists. Don’t forget to ask for samples.
For the reader in all of us, an hour in a bookstore can be a piece of heaven. While in our heart of hearts we are rooting for the independent, we have to confess that those overstuffed chairs at Borders are very inviting. If you’d like to check out the person who wrote the book, visit or log on to Left Bank Books (399 N. Euclid, 314-367-6731, www.left-bank.com) and see who’s coming to town. The site lists not only the events at the store but those at libraries all across town.
It’s hard to imagine the perfect girl’s day out without a soupçon of shopping. Of course, all excursions work best when plotted out and paired with locations nearby. Lunching at The Woman’s Exchange? Stop in at Just Chic (9220 Clayton, 314-993-8875) to see the latest arrivals. Breakfasting at Companion? Laurie Solet (8228 Forsyth, 314-727-7467) and Byrd (8117 Maryland, 314-721-0766) beckon. Meeting at the Chase? Sohalia (4739 McPherson, 314-367-4879) is just blocks away.
If you prefer to have the racks reviewed by someone else, the Saks Fifth Avenue Club (1 Plaza Frontenac, 314-567-9200, www.saksfifthavenue.com) offers what’s considered the top in-store personal shopping in town. They work the floor, find the clothes, call you about sales and send everything to your house. Once your shopper knows you, you may never need to go out again.
If clothes aren’t your thing (what kind of girl are you?), an hour or two at the Warson Woods Antique Mall (10091 Manchester, 314-909-0123, www.warsonwoodsantiques.com) can add just the right touch to the day (and if you’re lucky, your home).
Of course, the clothes may not make the girl if the girl’s makeup is yesterday’s news. If you’re already at Plaza Frontenac, swing by Neiman Marcus’ Bobbie Brown counter (314-567-9811, www.neimanmarcus.com), or better yet, make an appointment with Stefani Stella. She works magic with brushes and a tiny sponge and (as is true of virtually all the makeup counters) she doesn’t charge.
A day out with the girls could (and perhaps should) include a bit of art, a touch of culture. Of course, for serenity of the soul, it’s hard to imagine a better way to start the day than a leisurely walk through the Missouri Botanical Garden (4344 Shaw, 314-577-9400, www.mobot.org), say around 7 a.m. on a Wednesday or Saturday morning. If you want the experts to alert you to the specifics of the garden, you can take the tour, offered (for free) daily at 1 p.m. (The narrated tram ride is $3). Alternatively, take a walk down Gallery Row in the Central West End or a stroll through the Saint Louis Art Museum (1 Fine Arts Drive, 314-721-0072, www.slam.org). Make it Tuesday morning around 11 a.m. and take in a gallery talk by one of the curators.
By Elaine X. Grant and Christy Marshall
