29 Must-Visit LGBTQ-Friendly Bars and Businesses in St. Louis

By Riverfront Times Staff on Fri, Oct 19, 2018 at 10:55 pm

Do you want to hit up the hottest gay bar? Are you a man wanting to buy your husband a bouquet without getting dirty looks? Are you in the process of transitioning and in need of a specialty tailor to alter your clothes? Or do you just want a place where everyone feels emphatically welcome ... gay, straight, and all points in between? St. Louis has all of this and more. As a bright blue dot in a big red state, St. Louis has long been an oasis for LGBTQIA+ people born in neighboring communities, and for good reason. Our thriving queer culture will make you proud to be from the Lou. If you want to spend your money in a gay way, these are the spots to drop those dollars where you won’t need to hide your love. All of these local businesses will joyfully welcome you (and your partner) with open arms. Some are LGBTQIA+ owned, and others are just super gay friendly -- either way, you can't go wrong.

As a bright blue dot in a big red state, St. Louis has long been an oasis for LGBTQIA+ people born in neighboring communities, and for good reason. Our thriving queer culture will make you proud to be from the Lou.

If you want to spend your money in a gay way, these are the spots to drop those dollars where you won’t need to hide your love. All of these local businesses will joyfully welcome you (and your partner) with open arms. Some are LGBTQIA+ owned, and others are just super gay friendly -- either way, you can't go wrong.

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Hamburger Mary's

400 Washington Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63102
(314) 833-4000

A whole bar full of drag queen servers? Yep. When this chain finally came to St. Louis it made waves! Check it out for the most entertaining brunch imaginable. Get a mimosa, kick back and enjoy.

Photo courtesy of Hamburger Mary's St. Louis

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NOTCH

4187 Manchester Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63110
(314) 764-5113

The pride flags outside this salon let you know that you are welcome here. Inside are a number of inclusive options, including a hairstyle menu that doesn't separate "men's" and "women's" styles. It's been said before, but Notch is really a cut above the rest.

Photo courtesy of Jaime Lees

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Block Garment Alterations

1922 Cherokee Street
St. Louis, MO 63118
(314) 218-5413

Run by an activist and a cis queer femme from St. Louis, this is the new storefront of Block Garment Alterations, where Aurora (who formerly worked at a bridal shop doing gown alterations) has set up shop. Aurora specializes in altering clothes to fit trans bodies.

Photo courtesy of Virginia Harold

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Bella's Frozen Yogurt

1021 Washington Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63101
(314) 553-9261

Owned by partners Corey James and Austin Blankenship, the pair revived the frozen yogurt shop three years after it closed because they just loved it so much. And St. Louis loves them back — especially after they showcased some amazing Red Hot Riplets-flavored frozen yogurt.

Photo courtesy of Bella's Frozen Yogurt

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Bar:PM

7109 S. Broadway
St. Louis, MO 63111
(314) 312-6683

You don’t have to be in the Grove to get gay. If you’re down in the S. Broadway area stop into Bar:PM where the friendly staff and fun activities like adult Easter egg hunts and chili cook-offs will keep you smiling!

Photo courtesy of Steve Truesdell

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Flowers to the People

2317 Cherokee Street
St. Louis, MO 63118
(314) 762-0422

If you’re planning for a wedding and you’re gay, you might have to deal with all kinds of judgmental folks. Not at Flowers to the People. This small shop gives you a personalized experience and welcomes couples of all types. Expect a fun, funny and inclusive experience here.

Photo courtesy of Google Maps

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Attitudes Nightclub

4100 Manchester Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63110
(314) 802-8603

It’s huge, it’s loud, sometimes it hosts drag shows (including high-level touring drag shows) and you can dance dance dance in every section of this joint, including in MTV-style cages. If you’re looking to break it off, shake some booty on down at Attitudes.

Photo courtesy of Jaime Lees

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Bastille

1027 Russell Boulevard
St. Louis, MO 63104
(314) 664-4408

Bastille has been holding it down as Soulard’s premiere gay bar for years. Appropriately, its style is heavily influenced by the New Orleans Mardi Gras scene. This is the place to visit if you want to drink buckets of booze and maybe loose a little bit of clothing.

Photo courtesy of RFT file photo

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Cheap TRX

3209 S. Grand Boulevard
St. Louis, MO 63118
(314) 664-4011

The people at Cheap TRX are unshockable. Need to buy a ball gag while getting your penis pierced and wrapping yourself in a trans flag? Nobody here would bat an eyelash. They also sell essential (and silly) household items, too, in case you’re looking for a gift for your special someone.

Photo courtesy of Google Maps

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JJ's Clubhouse

3858 Market Street
St. Louis, MO 63110
(314) 535-4100

They have everything at JJ’s. A bar, space to roam, a whole big room for a club and, famously, bowls of cheese balls on the bar instead of peanuts for snacks. If you’re looking for a sexy BDSM daddy or a little bear cub, this is the best place in St. Louis to find one. And cheese ball dust doesn’t stick to leather, so suit up.

Photo courtesy of Scott Layne

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Left Bank Books

399 N. Euclid Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63108
(314) 367-6731

As the long-time heart of the Central West End, Left Bank Books has seen many of its neighbors come and go — including, sadly, the Coffee Cartel. Left Bank has always welcomed all people of all sexualities, races and economic status. A true ally, the store has embraced queer culture since it opened in 1969.

Photo courtesy of Harlan McCarthy

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Hummel's

7101 S. Broadway
St. Louis, MO 63111
(314) 353-5080

This little pub is the perfect place to make your new favorite “home” bar. It’s small, it’s welcoming and you are immediately treated like family. (And it’s darn cheap, too!) S. Broadway should be your home-away-from-home if you’re looking for gay beyond the Grove.

Photo courtesy of Steve Truesdell

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Four Strings

1730 S. 8th Street
St. Louis, MO 63104
(314) 312-6030

This quirky bar on the edge of Soulard is tons of fun. Not only have they adopted the Golden Girls as their patron saints, they also have drag, comedy and $1 on Mondays! If you haven’t been, you are missing out.

Photo courtesy of Google Maps

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Grey Fox Pub

3503 S. Spring Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63116
(314) 772-2150

Some of the best drag shows in St. Louis happen at this small-ish little corner pub. There is a bar room and a performance room and most nights (and every weekend) the ladies take the stage there and burn it down. Not sure what to do with your night but want to have a wild time? You can’t go wrong at the Grey Fox Pub.

Photo courtesy of Jaime Lees

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HandleBar

4127 Manchester Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63110
(314) 652-2212

This is not technically a gay bar but it is very gay friendly. If you’re looking to escape from your regular bar and check out something new, the Handlebar is in the Grove right near most of the other gay bars and, as you see from its proudly displayed rainbow flag, the staff will welcome you with open arms.

Photo courtesy of Jaime Lees

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Hiro Asian Kitchen

1405 Washington Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63103
(314) 241-4476

If you’re looking to have a nice dinner out where you and your partner can just enjoy yourselves, make sure to take date night to Hiro Asian Kitchen, where Bernie Lee offers hyper-local ingredients in Southeast Asian cuisine.

Photo courtesy of Janet Park

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Just John Club

4112 Manchester Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63110
(314) 371-1333

Just John is your go-to spot for fun entertainment in the Grove. At JuJo (that’s what you call it if you’re a regular), you can kick it both inside or on the generously-sized patio. You can just chill here or your can dance, JuJo offers a range of options to suit each customer’s preference.

Photo courtesy of Jaime Lees

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The Monocle

4510 Manchester Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63110
(314) 932-7003

This speakeasy is styled as an upscale cabaret and hosts queer-inclusive burlesque, gay reviews and a whole big selection of other types of entertainment. If you're looking for a fun date night where you and your partner can sit back and be entertained, check out the Monocle.

Photo courtesy of Danny Wicentowski

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Keypers

2280 Jefferson Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63104
(314) 664-6496

Like your whiskey with a side of gay-loving piano bar? Keypers is the place for you. You never know what you’ll find here — from a super-talented performer to a low-key (get it?) relaxing night. But what you will usually find is a rack full of Hawaiian shirts that you can borrow while you’re at the bar. If you need to get into a festive mood, a Hawaiian shirt will always start the party.

Photo courtesy of Google Maps

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Trops

4104 Manchester Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63110
(314) 899-9404

When this place opened it instantly became one of the hottest bars on Manchester Ave. Everybody loves to go to this place, gay or straight, young or old, everybody. But be careful. You might have to remind yourself when you visit that there really is booze in all of those tasty slushies.

Photo courtesy of Sarah Fenske

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