Princeton Heights - Saint Louis, MO

Like Bevo Hill that sits on its northern border, Princeton Heights was originally settled by German immigrants, and these settlers helped to form one of the St. Louis area's oldest neighborhoods. The influence of German culture pervades the small shops that line Gravois Avenue and the established German restaurants that run along Hampton Avenue.

Flooding from the nearby River Des Peres has dramatically altered commercial development on the western border of the neighborhood. The Great Flood of 1993 closed numerous businesses and forced city planners to move new residential development to higher ground. Open space that includes one of the most heavily used city parks now forms the western edge of Princeton Heights. Earthen levees protect homes and businesses.

Forget restaurant chains and settle into one of the comfortable booths at Onesto.The upscale menu and casual service attracts a wide variety of diners. Onesto specializes in delectable pizzas and Italian dishes that include Stromboli and lobster macaroni & cheese. Diners enjoy freshly prepared dishes made with ingredients sourced from local farmers. Seasonal sangrias top the signature drink list at this popular south side restaurant. With a large Greek population residing within Princeton Heights, the demand for Greek cuisine has spurred several Greek restaurateurs to open culinary destinations. Apollonia serves classic Greek dishes such as Gyro and Greek Salad, while expanding the traditional Greek menu by adding Middle Eastern influenced dishes.

Settling into a bar where everybody knows your name represents the nightlife that dominates Princeton Heights. All of the commercial zoning areas within the neighborhood prohibit the development of large nightclubs. The nightlife found in Princeton Heights consists of full-service restaurants that focus more on food than drink. As an exception to the low-key nightlife motif, sports bars such as Friendly's and Barney's provide inviting venues for sports fans to root for their favorite teams. Princeton Heights residents that want to shake and groove on the dance floor travel to other St. Louis neighborhoods, including Soulard and the Central West End. As with the restaurants within Princeton Heights, the bars concentrate along both sides of Gravois and Hampton avenues.

Princeton Heights residents can avoid congested St. Louis roads by taking one of the major bus routes that slice through the heart of the neighborhood. The number 90 Hampton traverses busy Hampton Avenue until it reaches highly acclaimed Forest Park. Health care professionals who eschew stressful driving take the number 95 Kingshighway directly north to reach Barnes-Jewish Hospital. Both the number 90 and 95 intersect with the east-west route Number 11 Chippewa, which represents the most convenient public transportation conduit for reaching the Shrewsbury Metro platform. Public transportation complements the carpooling service Uber's rapidly growing presence in south St. Louis.

Traveling to downtown St. Louis only requires Princeton Heights residents to pass through a few stoplights on Holly Hills Boulevard until they reach the Loughborough exit at Interstate 55. The north-south interstate also provides convenient access to South County shopping hubs and restaurant centric neighborhoods. Princeton Height's close proximity to St. Louis County expands the number of taxi service options to include County Cab, a highly efficient cab service that accepts reservations. Busy streets such as Hampton Avenue and Kingshighway Boulevard include parking meters along the commercial sectors of the roads. Cyclists safely navigate through sycamore tree laden side streets by pumping the pedals on wide bicycle friendly lanes. Pedestrians have ample sidewalk space to enjoy the bucolic charm of the Princeton Heights neighborhood.

Which St. Louis park combines amenities for both dogs and humans, at no cost to either? If you said Wilmore Park, then you have discovered the finest gem within the Princeton Heights neighborhood. Southwest City Dog Park, inside of Wilmore Park, spans a large area that allows all canine breed to socialize in comfort. Wilmore Park also hosts annual area wide softball tournaments that attract the best players in the St. Louis region. Not to be out done by any other city park, Wilmore incorporates an exercise trail that combines aerobic and anaerobic exercises to keep you in top shape. Jog in place for a minute at one stop, before you move onto the push-up bars at the next exercise trail stop. Princeton Heights residents also have quick access to Carondolet Park, which offers nature lovers the chance to bird watch as well as walk among majestic oak and sycamore trees. Carondolet Park hosts a free summer concert series that plays in the pavilion overlooking the large fishing pond.

Why should you pay more than $4 for a 12-ounce domestic draft beer in downtown St. Louis, when you can quaff two 12-ounce beers for about the same price during happy hour at several Princeton Heights water holes? Motorists who live in Princeton Heights also enjoy lower prices at the gas pump, as a gallon of gas in the neighborhood costs 19% less than the average price of gas nationwide. Fares for a two-hour bus ride cost around $2, although frequent riders save money by purchasing a weekly or monthly pass. With the average one-bedroom rent running $540, Princeton Heights provides an affordable neighborhood for young professionals that have just embarked on their careers. Overall, the cost of living in Princeton Heights falls nearly 25% below the cost of living in several other St. Louis neighborhoods.

Schnuck's serves as the primary grocery store for Princeton Heights residents. The locally established grocery store operates at the corner of Hampton and Kingshighway at the southern tip of the neighborhood. Locally grown organic fruits and vegetables abound at the iconic Soulard Market, which requires only a five-minute drive once you enter Interstate 55 heading north towards downtown St. Louis. High-end stores anchor the two closest shopping centers in South County and at the St. Louis Galleria. Since the two shopping centers sit far away from the Princeton Heights neighborhood, most residents prefer to shop at local boutiques and specialty stores.