In every city, I've learned I most love the first or second ring of neighborhoods outside of DC. In STL's case, that's Soulard, Tower Grove, and the Central West End. Unfortunately their Downtown had a lot of demolitions for parking garages and other things back in the 70s and 80s and hasn't had the economic boom to bring it all back yet.
Detroit even has a really good second ring (Clinton Township, Sterling Heights, Troy, etc). I happen to live in the third ring, 2 miles away from the second.

