St. Louis may be famous for its blues and baseball, but this city in the heart of the Midwest also deserves credit for its booze. With STL’s cocktail and restaurant renaissance catching up to other cities in the Missouri region, discover 10 bars mixing the best drinks on this side of the Mississippi.
The final touches on a cocktail at Planter’s House (Photo courtesy of Planter’s House)
The Gateway to the West, St. Louis, Missouri, is a Midwestern city with a huge heart – and an equally ample appetite for delicious food and tasty cocktails. If you’re out on the town in ‘STL’, these ten cocktail bars won’t let you down. Drawing on St. Louis’ rich history of breweries and distilleries, they have become local favorites thanks to that irresistible recipe: ambiance and decor, an interesting clientele, and artfully concocted elixirs.
Saturn Lounge
Cherokee Street is an area of St. Louis known for its eclectic mix of culture, shopping, food, and drinks. Found in the heart of the Historic Antique Row District and co-owned by John Curtis and Doug Morgan, Saturn Lounge offers craft beers, classic cocktails, and wine in a modern and intimate setting. Formerly a blacksmith shop, the building boasts a brick patio that’s ideal for savoring your drink on a warm, sunny day, while the retro interior may feel like you’ve stumbled into an episode of That ‘70s Show. The owners care deeply about the music experience, and you’ll find vinyl records stacked alongside the whiskey bottles. Its short cocktail list is creative and offers one-of-a-kind drinks like ‘Slow Jam’ (a decadent blend of coffee caramel pecan liqueur, whiskey cream, coffee and orange bitters) and La Scala (mezcal margarita with basil and peach liqueurs), adding further flavor to the music-inspired vibe.
1915 Cherokee Street, St. Louis, MO 63118
Small Change
Near Saturn Lounge, on the other side of Benton Park, Small Change is a casual venue with a dog-friendly patio and a bevy of signature cocktails, mixed strongly and delicious to boot. The bar proudly displays its STL brewing heritage with a vintage illuminated Falstaff sign above the entrance. The cocktail list features classics and handcrafted brews tailored to each season, like ‘A Full Desert Sled’ (PH Single Barrel Rebel Bourbon, Cynar 70, Orange Bitters) or ‘Follow Me To the Eighth Hole’ (1220 Encrypted Vodka, Lemon, Lavender Lemon Syrup, Seltzer). Their mocktails are no less sophisticated (try the refreshing ‘That Salad Can Wait’ with passionfruit, pomegranate and green tea syrup, lemon and Seltzer). Feeling brazen? The mixed shots are particularly potent. Toss back a Pickle Back – any rail drink with a shot of homemade pickle juice.
2800 Indiana Ave., St. Louis, MO 63118
Frazier’s
A Soulard favorite for a special night out, Frazier’s is located among historic St. Louis homes in one of the city’s most beautiful districts. The cocktails are works of art, crafted with precision, with plenty of seasonal specials. Every October, for instance, they feature a mysterious ‘Witches Brew’, while in summertime, you’ll be treated to CBD seltzers and lemon drop-based cocktails. The cocktail monikers (try James and the Spicy Peach’) will certainly break the ice. Doubly refreshing when paired with food offerings like chorizo-stuffed dates, BBQ shrimp, oysters, and pork schnitzel.
1811 Pestalozzi Street, St. Louis, MO 63118
Planter’s House
Planter’s House, Saint Louis (Photo courtesy of Planter’s House)
Planter’s House is an award-winning bar and restaurant that presents gorgeous and delicious hand-crafted cocktails. Flowing with the seasons, themed cocktails might include the likes of the Nippon-inspired ‘Our Carpets Match Our Drapes’ (Bols Genever, Toki whisky, matcha-Porcini, orgeat) or the bold combinations of ‘Tan In Real Life’
(North Shore Aquavit, Banhez Mezcal, coconut, lemongrass). They also have an extensive cocktail list based on their exclusive ‘barrel picks’ of whisky and bourbon. This date-night-vibes spot has high ceilings, leather booths, and a long, elaborate bar. Its cozy
and elegant interior with brick walls and curved ceilings will make you feel like you’ve just
stepped into a bar from the Golden Age of Hollywood. Here’s looking at you, kid.
1000 Mississippi Ave., St. Louis, MO 63104
Trust
Trust – once a speakeasy in a 19th-century bank (Photo courtesy of Trust bar)
At this cool, downtown bar, you’ll get to sip drinks in what used to be a bank. Originally the Mississippi Valley Trust Company bank, with stunning architecture in the Parisian Beaux-Arts style, this was the site of a speakeasy that is said to have been supplied alcohol by AL Capone. Steps away from the iconic Gateway Arch, today this craft cocktail bar and cafe will have you buzzing with excitement at the abundance of offerings on their list, divine drinks served with stately ice cubes and sipped from delicate vintage glassware. You’ll also find a selection of local beers here.
401 Pine Street, St. Louis, MO 63102
The Gin Room
Gin is the magic word here, with hundreds of variations of the spirit at your fingertips from a true expert, the self-proclaimed ‘gin girl’, Natasha Bahrami. The Gin Room offers house-made tonics, martinis and classic cocktails, alongside more creative fare. The Gin Room was named a James Beard Semi-Finalist Nominee for 2023 for “Outstanding Bar,” and it’s easy to see why. Classics like the Mad Men Gimlet and Dry Rye Old Fashioned offer a touch of class, and each drink packs a terrific punch. Their gin and tonics (‘English Rose’, ‘Summer Garden’) are crisp, refreshing, and fragrant. Nibbles include charcuterie plates and cheese boards, and some truly decadent desserts that you won’t want to skip.
3200 S. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63118
The Fortune Teller Bar
Fortune Teller, where you can have an oracle reading with your cocktail (Photo courtesy of Fortune Teller)
A good bartender should be able to read your mind… But could they also see your future? This one-of-a-kind spot on Cherokee Street welcomes the weird, the wacky, and the wild, with some eccentric cocktails to match. You’ll find intriguing objects d’art, crystals and skulls to tickle your fancy; there’s even an antique scale that tells your fortune – best steel yourself with a good stiff drink. This cabinet of curiosities is perfect for hosting a memorable birthday party or event, not least because it features a sunny backyard patio (where the owners grow witchy herbs, of course). Visit on a day when the in-house oracle readings are in session. We sense a delicious cocktail in your future.
2635 Cherokee Street, St. Louis, MO 63118
Brasserie
Brasserie bar and restaurant (Photo courtesy of Brasserie)
It doesn’t get much more sophisticated than St. Louis’s Brasserie by Niche, a beloved French restaurant and bar in the Central West End. The food is mouthwateringly
gourmand – Parisian brasserie classics like croque madame sandwiches, steak frites, and
mussels that pair well with divine cocktails concocted by Melinda Cooper. Always crowded, this fan-favorite is home to a loyal clientele. Order the Manhattan Noir, the Parisian (bien sûr!), or the Missouri Daisy. Even the mocktails are moreish, like the Zir Royale: a tasty treat made of luxardo syrup and ginger beer.
4580 Laclede Ave., St. Louis, MO 63108
The Whiskey Ring
Founded in 2013, the Whiskey Ring has the feel of a corner bar: cozy and easy-going, with affordable drinks, tons of different whiskies, classic cocktails and friendly, knowledgeable bartenders. It’s a hipster’s paradise: tattoos and pinball machines aplenty in this laid-back space. Outdoor seating adds to the lazy Sunday-afternoon vibes to be enjoyed at the Whiskey Ring.
2651 Cherokee Street, St. Louis, MO 63118
The Lucky Accomplice
Smore garnish at The Lucky Accomplice (Photo courtesy of The Lucky Accomplice)
This chic but welcoming establishment, helmed by Logan Ely and Justin Bell, enjoys
a fun and lively atmosphere featuring local cuisine and a well-curated cocktail list that includes the Sunday Driver, Turning Red, and A Street Corn Named Desire. Their cocktails are created as a complement to the sharing plates. At this arty, trendy spot, you’ll get big-city vibes at a small-city price.
2501 S. Jefferson Ave, St. Louis, MO 63104