St. Louis County's civic and business center, with a walkable downtown of restaurants and galleries ringed by tree-lined residential streets.
About Clayton
Clayton exists because two farmers gave away their land. When St. Louis County separated from the city in 1877, Ralph Clayton and Martin Hanley donated acreage for a new county seat, and the courthouse town that grew around it became the business center of the region by mid-century. That history explains the mix here, a skyline of offices and hotels a few blocks from some of the area's most peaceful residential streets. Downtown runs on power lunches at Café Napoli and client dinners at the 801 restaurants, while DeMun keeps its own pace with Louie, Peno and the patio at Sasha's. Maryland Avenue and Colonial Marketplace cover the shopping, Parties in the Park fills Wednesday evenings all summer, and every September the Saint Louis Art Fair turns downtown into a gallery.
18,860 people live in Clayton, where the median age is 30.3 and the average individual income is $74,008. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Total Population
Median Age
Population Density Population Density This is the number of people per square mile in a neighborhood.
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Neighborhood Guide
A few places I send clients when they ask what it’s like to live here.
Pastaria – Gerard Craft's house-made pastas and wood-fired pizza, easy for a weeknight and good enough for guests.
Louie – The DeMun bistro with the roast chicken everyone orders.
Wright's Tavern – The Louie team's steakhouse on Wydown, polished without being formal.
Casa Don Alfonso – Southern Italian cooking from the Amalfi Coast's Iaccarino family at The Ritz-Carlton, with Sunday brunch.
Café Napoli – The Forsyth Boulevard power-lunch spot, with Bar Napoli next door for a drink after.
Sasha's Wine Bar – Wine flights, small plates and one of the best patios in Clayton, on DeMun.
The Crossing – Jim Fiala's classic European dining room, where every meal starts with a blue cheese soufflé and the tasting menu suits an anniversary.
Half & Half – Weekend brunch on Maryland Avenue, where the mascarpone-and-raspberry pancakes justify the line.
Bar Moro – A small Spanish tapas bar on Wydown.
BARcelona – The larger, livelier tapas room on Central Avenue.
801 Chophouse – A classic steakhouse on Carondelet Plaza for a business dinner.
801 Fish – The seafood dining room next door to 801 Chophouse.
Oceano Bistro – Fish delivered daily and generous wine pours, a Clayton favorite for years.
Peno – Sicilian cooking and pizza on Wydown in a relaxed, family-friendly room.
Protzel's Delicatessen – The Wydown deli for corned beef and a Saturday lunch.
Ivy Cafe – Sourdough tartines by day and creative dinners priced in the teens, on Meramec.
HiFi – A coffee bar and vinyl listening lounge on Maryland Avenue for a daytime meeting.
Clementine's Creamery – Small-batch ice cream on DeMun, including boozy flavors for adults, and the walk-after-dinner stop.
Colonial Marketplace – An open-air center on Ladue Road with more than 20 boutiques for fashion, beauty, children and home.
Ylang Ylang – Fine jewelry chosen to be passed down, at 8845 Ladue Road in Colonial Marketplace.
Ivy Hill Boutique – Women's apparel and gifts at 8835 Ladue Road in Colonial Marketplace.
City Sprouts – Children's clothing from infant through age 12, plus gifts and educational toys, at 8807 Ladue Road in Colonial Marketplace.
The Woman's Exchange – A boutique and tea room at 8811 Ladue Road in Colonial Marketplace, selling handmade and artisan goods alongside a classic lunch.
Lusso – A lifestyle boutique at 165 Carondelet Plaza with clothing, jewelry, home décor and gifts.
Happy Up – A locally owned toy store at 8103 Maryland with games and gifts for every age, wrapped for free.
Sweet Boutique – Monogrammed and personalized gifts, accessories and game-day gear at 8115 Maryland, gift-wrapped on request.
Lola & Penelope's – A boutique for dogs, with everything from everyday sweaters to party dresses.
Timekeepers – Fine jewelry, watches and collectibles at 17 N. Meramec since 1996, with watch, jewelry and clock repair, appraisals and engraving.
Simons Jewelers – A fine jeweler at 8141 Maryland and an authorized Tudor retailer.
Savile Row Custom Clothiers – Custom men's suits, shirts and accessories at 8101 Maryland, with tailors who will plan a wardrobe during a home visit.
