What It’s Like to Live in Soulard
Where Is Soulard?
Soulard is a historic neighborhood immediately south of Downtown St. Louis. Its triangular boundaries are generally formed by Interstate 55 to the west and north and South 7th Street and Broadway to the east and southeast.
Primarily within the 63104 ZIP code, Soulard sits close to Downtown, Lafayette Square, Benton Park, McKinley Heights, and the Mississippi River. Its location also provides quick access to major highways and many of the city’s central attractions.
What Is Soulard Known For?
Soulard is one of St. Louis’ oldest residential neighborhoods, known for its historic brick architecture, walkable streets, restaurants and bars, live music, and a busy calendar of neighborhood events.
The neighborhood began developing extensively during the 1840s as St. Louis expanded south. German and Eastern European immigrants contributed to the area’s growth, and much of Soulard’s distinctive 19th-century architecture remains today.
At the center of the neighborhood is the historic Soulard Farmers Market, whose roots date to land donated for use as a public market by Julia Soulard. Soulard is also well known for its annual Mardi Gras celebration and its proximity to the Anheuser-Busch Brewery.
Soulard Homes & Real Estate
Types of Homes in Soulard
Soulard’s housing stock reflects nearly two centuries of development. Historic brick homes dominate the neighborhood, including rowhouses, townhomes, detached single-family homes, duplexes, multifamily properties, and smaller houses built on the area’s narrow city lots.
Federal, Italianate, Second Empire, and other 19th-century architectural styles can be found throughout Soulard. One particularly distinctive St. Louis housing type found here is the flounder house, a narrow, asymmetrical home historically built to make efficient use of small lots and alleys.
Individual properties vary substantially. Some historic buildings remain configured as multifamily residences, while others have been converted into single-family homes. Buyers can also find apartments, loft conversions, and some newer residential development mixed among the neighborhood’s historic buildings.
Original and restored architectural details can include exposed brick, hardwood floors, tall ceilings, fireplaces, decorative millwork, historic masonry, and interior courtyards or small urban yards.
What to Expect When Buying in Soulard
Buying in Soulard often means evaluating a much older property than buyers will encounter in many other parts of the St. Louis region. Two houses with similar square footage may differ significantly in age, layout, renovation history, parking, outdoor space, and overall condition.
Buyers considering historic homes should pay particular attention to masonry, foundations, roofing, sewer laterals, plumbing, electrical systems, windows, and the quality of previous renovations.
Soulard has also been a local historic district since 1972. Exterior alterations to properties within the historic district may be subject to preservation standards, making it important to understand applicable requirements before planning renovations.
Parking is another property-specific consideration. Some homes have garages, off-street parking, or dedicated spaces, while others rely more heavily on street parking.
Schools in Soulard
Public and Charter Schools Serving Soulard
Soulard is located within the St. Louis Public Schools district. Residents have access to neighborhood public schools as well as charter and magnet school options throughout the city. SLPS magnet programs provide additional specialized educational options, with enrollment and eligibility requirements varying by school and program.
Because school assignments, enrollment policies, and availability can vary by address and change over time, buyers should verify current options directly with St. Louis Public Schools and individual charter schools when considering a specific property.
Private and Parochial Schools Near Soulard
Soulard’s central location provides access to private, independent, and parochial schools throughout St. Louis.
School locations, grade levels, enrollment requirements, and availability vary, so buyers interested in private education should research individual schools based on their needs.
Things to Do in Soulard
Parks and Outdoor Recreation
Soulard’s outdoor spaces are smaller and more urban than the large parks found in some St. Louis neighborhoods, but several parks and public spaces are integrated into the neighborhood.
Soulard Market Park sits adjacent to the farmers market and serves as a gathering place for neighborhood events. Pontiac Square Park provides additional green space within the neighborhood.
Soulard’s compact street grid also makes walking part of everyday life for many residents, with restaurants, businesses, entertainment, and neighborhood destinations frequently just a few blocks apart.
Restaurants, Shopping, and Local Favorites
Soulard Farmers Market is one of the neighborhood’s defining destinations. The public market has roots dating to the 19th century, while the current market building dates to 1928. Vendors sell produce, meats, spices, baked goods, flowers, prepared foods, and other products.
Soulard is also one of St. Louis’ best-known dining, nightlife, and live-music districts. Longstanding neighborhood destinations include Tucker’s Place, 1860 Saloon, McGurk’s Irish Pub, Bogart’s Smokehouse, and Hammerstone’s, alongside numerous bars, restaurants, cafes, and local businesses throughout the neighborhood.
The nearby Anheuser-Busch Brewery is another major destination, offering brewery tours and events just south of the heart of Soulard.
Mardi Gras is the neighborhood’s most famous annual event, bringing parades, parties, and large crowds to Soulard each winter. Other events and celebrations take place throughout the year.
Getting Around Soulard
Walkability in Soulard
Soulard’s compact layout and traditional city street grid make much of the neighborhood practical to explore on foot.
Restaurants, bars, the farmers market, parks, shops, and other businesses are distributed throughout the residential streets rather than concentrated exclusively along a single commercial corridor. That creates a distinctly urban environment where many neighborhood destinations can be reached without driving.
Walkability and parking conditions can vary by block, and major events such as Mardi Gras can temporarily have a significant impact on traffic and parking.
Major Roads and Highways
Interstate 55 borders Soulard and provides connections toward Downtown St. Louis and South St. Louis. Interstate 44 is immediately north of the neighborhood, while Interstate 64 is accessible nearby.
Broadway, South 7th Street, Russell Boulevard, and Gravois Avenue provide additional connections between Soulard and surrounding city neighborhoods.
Commute to Downtown St. Louis and Nearby Areas
Soulard is located immediately south of Downtown St. Louis, making Downtown employment, entertainment, and attractions particularly accessible.
Busch Stadium, Ballpark Village, the Gateway Arch, Enterprise Center, and other Downtown destinations are only a few miles away. Soulard is also close to Lafayette Square, Benton Park, McKinley Heights, Downtown West, and other neighborhoods surrounding the city’s central corridor.
MetroBus routes provide public transportation connections through the area, while access to I-55 and nearby I-44 makes driving to other parts of the region relatively straightforward.
Buying or Selling a Home in Soulard
Buying a Home in Soulard
Soulard can offer a very different home-buying experience from neighborhoods dominated by newer or more standardized housing. Buyers may encounter a restored 19th-century single-family home, a historic rowhouse, a condo, or a multifamily property within the same search.
Architecture and renovation quality are particularly important considerations here, as are parking, outdoor space, historic-district requirements, and the condition of an older building’s major systems.
Working with a real estate agent familiar with Soulard can help buyers compare properties that may differ considerably even when they’re located only a few blocks apart.
Selling a Home in Soulard
Pricing a Soulard property requires understanding the differences among the neighborhood’s historic housing. Square footage alone may not capture differences in architecture, restoration quality, parking, outdoor space, property configuration, historic features, and overall condition.
Our team can help Soulard homeowners identify relevant comparable properties, understand current market conditions, and position the features that distinguish their home within this historic neighborhood.
Explore Neighborhoods Near Soulard
Looking beyond Soulard? Explore homes and real estate in nearby neighborhoods including Lafayette Square, Benton Park, McKinley Heights, LaSalle Park, Downtown, and Kosciusko.