Get even more insights about St. Louis’ doughnut scene on the Arch Eats podcast.
A North County staple since 1977, this north county gem keeps it classic. The drive-through opens at 4 a.m. Remember to bring cash (the only acceptable form of payment here) for a couple of chocolate-covered long johns fresh from the fryer. Then drive east to North Riverfront Park and enjoy breakfast while watching the sun rise over the Mississippi. 3605 Dunn.
Want a cinnamon roll from the ’50s? OK, not literally—that’d be gross—but at this tiny South City institution, those sweets are made from the same time-tested recipes. The shop’s open till midnight on weekends, when you can expect long but fast-moving lines. Consider going on a weekday night and savoring your prize outside. And if you can’t make it to south city, cruise through the brand’s tiny Brentwood stand, where the apple fritters are as monstrous as they are at the original spot. 6525 Chippewa.
This decades-old St. Charles shop nearly closed a few years ago until Paul and Alissa Thoenen swooped in to save the day. They’ve kept things much the same, including that famous Chop Suey doughnut, a generously glazed gargantuan cinnamon bun. Another special touch: You can have your long John filled with either cream or custard. 658 First Capitol.
Since 1979, the late Stan Smith’s tasty treats have been a hit at Soulard Farmer’s Market, where he began making doughnuts as a way to spend time with his family on the weekends. His three sons—Adam, Mark, and Phil—essentially grew up behind the counter in the stall. Today, the business lives on, with 5,000 mini doughnuts sold there every Saturday. The reasons behind Stan’s success are many, but Mark Smith says his father’s ability to build relationships with people—three generations deep, in some cases—contributed to the business’ longevity: “He enjoyed seeing people enjoying the doughnuts.” 730 Carroll.
An Ellisville institution since the early 1990s, Donut Palace is the embodiment of the quintessential St. Louis indie doughnut shop with excellent apple fritters, long johns, cinnamon rolls and everything in between. They even have beautifully decorated doggie doughnuts so your best friend can get in on the morning fun. 37 Clarkson, Ellisville and 3751 South Lindbergh, Sunset Hills.
In 2021, Food & Wine named this South County shop the “Best Doughnuts in Missouri,” though St. Louisans have been arguing this point for nearly seven decades. Much of that argument centers around the delectable two-bite-able Cinnamon Globs, which are basically mini cinnamon buns, or the buns’ “unrefined cousin,” as the shop describes them. 1101 Lemay Ferry.
At 3 a.m., it’s time for owner Eddie Strickland to make the doughnuts. Strickland started in the business decades ago at Dunkin’ Donuts, and as he moved from shop to shop, he learned that each neighborhood has distinct tastes. Eddie’s caters to a South City neighborhood that prefers glazed blueberry doughnuts. Toffee-caramel chocolate rounds (a happy accident, born when the wrong topping was sent) and a chocolate mousse–filled doughnut (given a scatological nickname by the local kids) are also popular. Strickland hand-cuts all of the yeast doughnuts and has just two employees, who handle deliveries for the wholesale side of the business and the busy counter on weekends. The owner’s gift for gab keeps customers coming back; Strickland jokes that the shop should be called “Eddie’s Donuts/Psychiatry.” Talking through problems—whether with his customers, employees, or children—is part of his system for accomplishing all that needs to be done in a day. Then he starts over at 3 a.m. the next day. 4701 S. Kingshighway.
Find the best food in St. Louis
Subscribe to the St. Louis Dining In and Dining Out newsletters to stay up-to-date on the local restaurant and culinary scene.
Doughnuts and Superman go together like…well, Batman and sushi? Nonetheless, there’s a Metropolis’ worth of Man of Steel memorabilia here, making for an offbeat atmosphere. The Soulard staple is open from 11 p.m. until the doughnuts are gone, typically before noon. Expect lots of fun banter from staff and clientele. 1618 S. Broadway.
Doughnuts may only be part of the story at this popular St. Peters cafe, but they are certainly a compelling main character. The name “donut restaurant” is fitting; Mario’s is known for its great breakfast dishes and Mediterranean-inflected lunch items like its delicious gyro. Combine the genres with an excellent gyro omelette, but make sure to save room for an outstanding apple fritter or chocolate long John from its comprehensive doughnut case. 2786 Muegge, St. Peters.
This spot in West County delivers fun and flavor. The shop’s doughnut style—a fusion of an American doughnut and a Japanese rice cake (mochi)—became popular in Hawaii 30 years ago but is relatively new to our area. The fluffy, pleasantly chewy, uniquely shaped doughnuts span a dozen flavors, plus rotating options, all made fresh. Popular varieties include chocolate, cinnamon-sugared churro, and cookies and cream. “People love mochi because they pull apart, so they’re less messy and more sharable,” co-owner Jaen Henson told SLM. “When they find out they have fewer calories than regular doughnuts, they love them even more.” 16023 Manchester, Ellisville.
Old Town Donuts
In 2025, the rest of the country found out what north St. Louis County residents have known for decades: Old Town Donuts makes truly life-changing doughnuts. That year, the Florissant institution won a national, bracket-style doughnut contest from the online platform The64, deeming it the “Best Donuts in America.” It’s a title that’s hard to argue with once you’ve tasted one of these hand-cut impossibly soft, yeasty beauties. Every variety here is magical – apple fritters, cinnamon twists, fritters, classic glazed. That they are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week is more than just convenience; it’s a public service. 508 New Florissant, Florissant and 3941 Mid Rivers Mall, Cottleville.
It’s cramped, cash-only and a little dive-y—but what beloved St. Louis doughnut shop isn’t? The cheesecake doughnut—no hole, with white icing, a cheesecake filling, and a bit of cinnamon—is a standout. 5120 Southwest.
In Shamrock’s genius crossover of classic pastry and iconic St. Louis dessert, the gooey butter cake is made from scratch and fresh fruit is used each morning for the apple and banana fritters. 1901 Richardson, Arnold.
The tiny green building stands alone on Hampton. Inside, you can bet that someone’s ordering one of the shop’s unique cheese flips. The doughnut–Danish hybrid has a layer of gooey cheese in the middle. 6917 Hampton.
The popular shop lives up to its name, with some creative collaborations. Consider some of the previous options: a burger doughnut created with Bolyard’s Meat & Provisions, a“Bad 2 the Bone” pulled rib meat doughnut devised with Bogart’s Smokehouse, a slinger doughnut topped with Billy Goat chips, a Beef “Wellingdone” collaboration with Herbie’s, and a “Mai Pho King Done” made with Mai Lee. Multiple locations.
Burgers, gyros, omelets… If this convivial hangout doesn’t have it, you don’t want it. The Sweet Spot offers one of the largest doughnut and pastry selections in town. 3586 Adie; 9951 Winghaven, O’Fallon, Missouri.
On Christmas Day 2025, the Hazelwood location of Tony’s Donuts suffered a catastrophic fire that shuttered that business. What it didn’t extinguish was the bright light that Tony’s has been to the community for 30 years, which was apparent by the outpouring of support the shop and owners received. Now, having a delicious long john or breakfast sandwich at their original Maryland Heights storefront feels even more meaningful. 11525 Dorsett, Maryland Heights.
After seeing a plethora of high-end pastry shops during a 2010 trip to Berlin, founder Brian Marsden came back to St. Louis inspired to create an elevated doughnut experience. Knowing that he had to get into this market before anyone else, he meticulously and obsessively tested recipes before launching his Vincent Van Doughnut food truck in 2013, winning the Cooking Channel’s Donut Showdown competition the next year, buying a fryer with the prize money, and opening two brick-and-mortar shops within two years. In that decade-plus, this creative shop has become an essential destination for elevated doughnuts, a reputation its current owner and longtime employee Mike McKinlay continues to keep alive. 1072 Tower Grove.
The “& More” in the name includes lottery tickets and the best biscuits and gravy in Wood River. 102 W. Edwardsville, Wood River.
World’s Fair DonutsThe Shaw shop might not be as old as its name suggests, but it’s been in St. Louis long enough to be a doughnut institution. Current owner Jason Bockman (co-founder and owner of Strange Donuts) serves some of the best doughnuts in town, which began under its founders Terry and the belovedly blue-eyeshadowed Peggy Clanton in the 1970s. 1904 S. Vandeventer.
Get even recommendations on the Arch Eats podcast.
