When the idea to write about St. Louis’ 100 best bars first came up, it triggered some nerves — and a lot of questions.
First, we wondered about logistics. Could our small but mighty crew visit enough bars to figure out which should make the cut? How would those decisions be made anyhow? Could we then actually do the work of writing about all of these places and photographing them? How many writers could we pull in? How would our art director even fit all of these bars into the book?
Then there was the wisdom of it all. After we settled on our picks, would our list completely piss people off? Would we miss stars and include some dumpster fires? Frankly, the thought of it was a lot.
But we wouldn’t be the Riverfront Times if we didn’t throw caution to the wind and just do the damn thing. So that’s what we did.
Here are the fruits of those labors: our take on the 100 best places to tip one back in the St. Louis area, in no particular order.
To make the task doable, we gave ourselves some restrictions. So, for example, you won’t find any breweries in here that only sell their own wares (there are just too many excellent ones to get into it, and we did a beer guide last year that you should absolutely check out). We also tried to avoid places that are primarily restaurants, even if they have great bars, though drawing the line on that was a lot more difficult. (And, this being St. Louis, it should go without saying that “best” does not equal “fanciest.”)
Developing the list took some thought, and we’ll admit that our proprietary method of doing so may include an element of subjectivity. Some hard decisions were made, and some tears were shed. But we did our darndest, and now you’ll find an authoritative roster that includes everything from the city’s most intriguing experimental cocktail lounges to its nastiest dives to dance clubs to …
Well, instead of us telling you about it, just scroll down and find out for yourself. There are some great ones in here.
The 100 Best Bars in St. Louis
By Riverfront Times on Thu, Aug 3, 2023 at 8:00 am
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Tim’s Chrome Bar
4736 Gravois Avenue, timschromebar.com
An unremarkable facade on Gravois opens up into a psychedelic lounge at Tim’s Chrome Bar in Bevo Mill. The beloved neighborhood spot got a facelift recently thanks to new owners Schuchard Event Spaces (Boo Cat Club, among others). That includes an updated drinks menu — cheeky cocktails, beer and wine — plus the food that you really want when you’re drinking, like pizza rolls.
— Jessica Rogen
4736 Gravois Avenue, timschromebar.com
An unremarkable facade on Gravois opens up into a psychedelic lounge at Tim’s Chrome Bar in Bevo Mill. The beloved neighborhood spot got a facelift recently thanks to new owners Schuchard Event Spaces (Boo Cat Club, among others). That includes an updated drinks menu — cheeky cocktails, beer and wine — plus the food that you really want when you’re drinking, like pizza rolls.
— Jessica Rogen
1 of 100
The Gin Room
The Gin Room
3200 South Grand Boulevard, natashasginroom.com
Heir apparent to her parents’ dearly beloved Persian restaurant Cafe Natasha, Natasha Bahrami instead decided to chart her own course, centered around a passion for gin that sparked when a proper martini changed her life. Now located inside Salve Osteria, the restaurant Bahrami and her husband opened after closing Cafe Natasha, the Gin Room has become a world-class, internationally renowned temple to the spirit, putting St. Louis in the conversation as one of the nation’s centers of gin culture and making Bahrami one of the premier gin experts in the world. It’s also just a fantastic place to have a drink, especially in its lush outdoor garden bar.
— Cheryl Baehr
3200 South Grand Boulevard, natashasginroom.com
Heir apparent to her parents’ dearly beloved Persian restaurant Cafe Natasha, Natasha Bahrami instead decided to chart her own course, centered around a passion for gin that sparked when a proper martini changed her life. Now located inside Salve Osteria, the restaurant Bahrami and her husband opened after closing Cafe Natasha, the Gin Room has become a world-class, internationally renowned temple to the spirit, putting St. Louis in the conversation as one of the nation’s centers of gin culture and making Bahrami one of the premier gin experts in the world. It’s also just a fantastic place to have a drink, especially in its lush outdoor garden bar.
— Cheryl Baehr
2 of 100
Brennan’s
316 North Euclid Avenue, cometobrennans.com
In its 20 years in business, Brennan’s has established itself as the unofficial watering hole of the Central West End, a reputation that has survived both a move and a catastrophic fire. It’s the perfect bar for the tony neighborhood: Stylish, sophisticated and a little bit upscale, it captures the cosmopolitan essence of its environs while still giving its guests — many of them regulars — the feeling of being warmly welcomed into a place that knows their name and has their drink waiting before they even ask.
— Cheryl Baehr
316 North Euclid Avenue, cometobrennans.com
In its 20 years in business, Brennan’s has established itself as the unofficial watering hole of the Central West End, a reputation that has survived both a move and a catastrophic fire. It’s the perfect bar for the tony neighborhood: Stylish, sophisticated and a little bit upscale, it captures the cosmopolitan essence of its environs while still giving its guests — many of them regulars — the feeling of being warmly welcomed into a place that knows their name and has their drink waiting before they even ask.
— Cheryl Baehr
3 of 100
Fox & Hounds Tavern
6300 Clayton Road, cheshirestl.com
A dogs-playing-poker painting come to life, Fox & Hounds Tavern has the sort of intimate, country club backroom atmosphere that makes you feel like you could close a deal over scotch, even if you have no business background whatsoever. The longtime lounge inside the British-inflected Cheshire Hotel has been offering its patrons a cozy, plaid-bedecked place for fireside chats for decades, retaining a timeless-yet-relevant feel that stays unapologetically true to its old-school, beautifully musty aesthetic.
— Cheryl Baehr
6300 Clayton Road, cheshirestl.com
A dogs-playing-poker painting come to life, Fox & Hounds Tavern has the sort of intimate, country club backroom atmosphere that makes you feel like you could close a deal over scotch, even if you have no business background whatsoever. The longtime lounge inside the British-inflected Cheshire Hotel has been offering its patrons a cozy, plaid-bedecked place for fireside chats for decades, retaining a timeless-yet-relevant feel that stays unapologetically true to its old-school, beautifully musty aesthetic.
— Cheryl Baehr
4 of 100
Hammerstone’s
2028 South Ninth Street, hammerstones.net
From the outside, Hammerstone’s looks like any other corner bar. Don’t let its unassuming facade fool you. This beloved Soulard spot has been around 27 years for a reason. By day, it’s a cozy pub serving typical American fare. By night, it’s a lively music venue with a well-stocked bar. Hammerstone’s has live music seven nights a week. And if you’d rather not pay the cover, its beautiful patio, complete with an outdoor bar, provides just as good a vibe.
— Monica Obradovic
2028 South Ninth Street, hammerstones.net
From the outside, Hammerstone’s looks like any other corner bar. Don’t let its unassuming facade fool you. This beloved Soulard spot has been around 27 years for a reason. By day, it’s a cozy pub serving typical American fare. By night, it’s a lively music venue with a well-stocked bar. Hammerstone’s has live music seven nights a week. And if you’d rather not pay the cover, its beautiful patio, complete with an outdoor bar, provides just as good a vibe.
— Monica Obradovic
5 of 100
The Haunt
5000 Alaska Avenue
Halloween has a home year round at this tiny horror-themed south city dive bar. Walk underneath a hanging skeleton to get in, and then check out the walls jam-packed with skulls and bloody dolls. Pool tables, live punk music and horror flicks are among the many entertainments. But despite the theme, the bar is not just a kitschy variation on a St. Louis watering hole. It’s also a great place to grab a cheap drink and settle in.
— Jessica Rogen
5000 Alaska Avenue
Halloween has a home year round at this tiny horror-themed south city dive bar. Walk underneath a hanging skeleton to get in, and then check out the walls jam-packed with skulls and bloody dolls. Pool tables, live punk music and horror flicks are among the many entertainments. But despite the theme, the bar is not just a kitschy variation on a St. Louis watering hole. It’s also a great place to grab a cheap drink and settle in.
— Jessica Rogen
6 of 100
Pagan Wine Bar
239 North Euclid Avenue, paganwinebar.com
Former Big Sleep Books proprietor Ed King founded this den of sophisticated iniquity in the Central West End storefront from which he used to sell mystery novels, and it fittingly has an intimate vibe that’s both intelligent and sexily ominous. Beginning at 7 p.m. every day, Pagan is the place to be for both cocktails and smartly chosen varietals — to the point that you might have to wait outside before they even have space to let you in. Once they do, try the signature Green Dragon.
— Sarah Fenske
239 North Euclid Avenue, paganwinebar.com
Former Big Sleep Books proprietor Ed King founded this den of sophisticated iniquity in the Central West End storefront from which he used to sell mystery novels, and it fittingly has an intimate vibe that’s both intelligent and sexily ominous. Beginning at 7 p.m. every day, Pagan is the place to be for both cocktails and smartly chosen varietals — to the point that you might have to wait outside before they even have space to let you in. Once they do, try the signature Green Dragon.
— Sarah Fenske
7 of 100
Chris Andoe
Bubby’s & Sissy’s
602 Belle Street, Alton, Illinois; facebook.com/people/Bubby-Sissys/100063468192944
You simply can’t find a friendlier vibe than Alton’s Bubby’s & Sissy’s, a place where the patrons’ sexuality can be as fluid as the cocktails, but nobody’s worried about it. Shoot some pool or play some slots before enjoying the best drag on the Illinois side when the Babes of Belle Street take the stage every Friday and Saturday. The dance floor gets hopping afterward, and the spacious back patio and yard is a good spot to enjoy a conversation as the waterfall babbles and the fireflies blink.
— Chris Andoe
602 Belle Street, Alton, Illinois; facebook.com/people/Bubby-Sissys/100063468192944
You simply can’t find a friendlier vibe than Alton’s Bubby’s & Sissy’s, a place where the patrons’ sexuality can be as fluid as the cocktails, but nobody’s worried about it. Shoot some pool or play some slots before enjoying the best drag on the Illinois side when the Babes of Belle Street take the stage every Friday and Saturday. The dance floor gets hopping afterward, and the spacious back patio and yard is a good spot to enjoy a conversation as the waterfall babbles and the fireflies blink.
— Chris Andoe
8 of 100
Jessica Rogen
Sophie’s Artist Lounge
3333 Washington Avenue, kranzbergartsfoundation.org
Sophie’s Artist Lounge is the definitive bar of Grand Center — cool, artsy and filled with creatives of all stripes who gather in its salon-like atmosphere to take in its sights, sounds and tastes. Part art gallery, part DJ room and part cocktail bar, Sophie’s offers inspiration around every corner and is quickly becoming the arts district’s place to see and be seen.
— Cheryl Baehr
3333 Washington Avenue, kranzbergartsfoundation.org
Sophie’s Artist Lounge is the definitive bar of Grand Center — cool, artsy and filled with creatives of all stripes who gather in its salon-like atmosphere to take in its sights, sounds and tastes. Part art gallery, part DJ room and part cocktail bar, Sophie’s offers inspiration around every corner and is quickly becoming the arts district’s place to see and be seen.
— Cheryl Baehr
9 of 100
Jessica Rogen
Vino Gallery
4701 McPherson Avenue, vinostl.com
Strolling by the chic Vino Gallery, you would be forgiven for thinking the corner shop is an art space. But the art here is a collection of hundreds of bottles arranged in wooden cube display cases. The neighborhood wine bar and retail shop focuses on small production wines sourced worldwide and frequently offers wine tastings as well as a monthly wine club. Classic wine bar food is on offer, along with a small selection of beer and cocktails.
— Jessica Rogen
4701 McPherson Avenue, vinostl.com
Strolling by the chic Vino Gallery, you would be forgiven for thinking the corner shop is an art space. But the art here is a collection of hundreds of bottles arranged in wooden cube display cases. The neighborhood wine bar and retail shop focuses on small production wines sourced worldwide and frequently offers wine tastings as well as a monthly wine club. Classic wine bar food is on offer, along with a small selection of beer and cocktails.
— Jessica Rogen
10 of 100
Monica Obradovic
The Cue
3632 South Big Bend Boulevard, Maplewood; facebook.com/thecuestlouis
The Cue is a welcoming pool hall for both die-hard 8-ballers and novices. It’s also a great place to socialize and drink for a reasonable price at its spacious bar. You can either BYOC (bring your own cues) or utilize the hall’s stock of quality cues. Located in a Maplewood strip mall, the Cue would be easy to miss. But don’t pass it up. If the clean tables and easy atmosphere don’t lure you back, the friendly staff will.
— Monica Obradovic
3632 South Big Bend Boulevard, Maplewood; facebook.com/thecuestlouis
The Cue is a welcoming pool hall for both die-hard 8-ballers and novices. It’s also a great place to socialize and drink for a reasonable price at its spacious bar. You can either BYOC (bring your own cues) or utilize the hall’s stock of quality cues. Located in a Maplewood strip mall, the Cue would be easy to miss. But don’t pass it up. If the clean tables and easy atmosphere don’t lure you back, the friendly staff will.
— Monica Obradovic
11 of 100
Monica Obradovic
The Honky Tonk
756 South Fourth Street, thehonkytonkstl.com
The Honky Tonk is as close to Nashville as St. Louis will ever get. Located downtown next to sister establishment the Garage, Honky Tonk is one of a handful of the venues in the “Music Quarter STL.” The music here surely delivers. At least one artist plays every night Honky Tonk is open. If the “welcome ya’ll” sign at the front door doesn’t give you a hint of what you’re getting into, the crowd of dancers wearing cowboy hats near the stage will.
— Monica Obradovic
756 South Fourth Street, thehonkytonkstl.com
The Honky Tonk is as close to Nashville as St. Louis will ever get. Located downtown next to sister establishment the Garage, Honky Tonk is one of a handful of the venues in the “Music Quarter STL.” The music here surely delivers. At least one artist plays every night Honky Tonk is open. If the “welcome ya’ll” sign at the front door doesn’t give you a hint of what you’re getting into, the crowd of dancers wearing cowboy hats near the stage will.
— Monica Obradovic
12 of 100
Nick’s Pub
6001 Manchester Avenue, nicksirishpub.com
To some, Nick’s Pub is the immediate answer to the question, “Where do we go after 1:30 a.m. bar close?” The watering hole on an industrial stretch of Manchester has been filling that void for legions of half-crocked imbibers for years. However, Nick’s is much more than just a place to end the night with a round of bad decisions. The unassuming Irish pub has an impressive draft beer selection, shuffleboard, Skee-Ball, solid bar eats and live music on Friday nights, making it possible to have a great time even when your eyes aren’t so bleary.
— Cheryl Baehr
6001 Manchester Avenue, nicksirishpub.com
To some, Nick’s Pub is the immediate answer to the question, “Where do we go after 1:30 a.m. bar close?” The watering hole on an industrial stretch of Manchester has been filling that void for legions of half-crocked imbibers for years. However, Nick’s is much more than just a place to end the night with a round of bad decisions. The unassuming Irish pub has an impressive draft beer selection, shuffleboard, Skee-Ball, solid bar eats and live music on Friday nights, making it possible to have a great time even when your eyes aren’t so bleary.
— Cheryl Baehr
13 of 100
Daniel Hill
Rhonda’s
10528 Page Avenue, Overland
The storied institutions on the East Side can be a good time when you’re in search of scantily clad women and intoxicating beverages, but sometimes you’d rather eschew the pomp and circumstance for something more down to earth. Rhonda’s has you covered. The humble north county dive bar gives new meaning to the term “strip mall,” with its small, pole-equipped stage and darkened environs serving as the perfect place to consume some Busch beer and take in the pastie-clad women on hand. It may be devoid of the frills and bourgeois sensibilities of, say, Larry Flynt’s Hustler Club, but Rhonda’s proves that you don’t have to be fancy to have a good time.
— Daniel Hill
10528 Page Avenue, Overland
The storied institutions on the East Side can be a good time when you’re in search of scantily clad women and intoxicating beverages, but sometimes you’d rather eschew the pomp and circumstance for something more down to earth. Rhonda’s has you covered. The humble north county dive bar gives new meaning to the term “strip mall,” with its small, pole-equipped stage and darkened environs serving as the perfect place to consume some Busch beer and take in the pastie-clad women on hand. It may be devoid of the frills and bourgeois sensibilities of, say, Larry Flynt’s Hustler Club, but Rhonda’s proves that you don’t have to be fancy to have a good time.
— Daniel Hill
14 of 100
Rosalind Early
Gregg’s Bar and Grill
4400 North Broadway, 314-421-1152
There’s no reason to know Gregg’s if you don’t live or work in the Near North Riverfront area. But if you’re up there, then you probably should start using Gregg’s as an ersatz living room. There’s just something homey about it. On a recent stop, the bartender summarized the evening news that was playing above the bar: “A guy in California found a million pennies.” A patron said he’d been in for lunch and was having the baby-back rib special for the second time that day. OK, we’ll bite. And they were delicious.
— Rosalind Early
4400 North Broadway, 314-421-1152
There’s no reason to know Gregg’s if you don’t live or work in the Near North Riverfront area. But if you’re up there, then you probably should start using Gregg’s as an ersatz living room. There’s just something homey about it. On a recent stop, the bartender summarized the evening news that was playing above the bar: “A guy in California found a million pennies.” A patron said he’d been in for lunch and was having the baby-back rib special for the second time that day. OK, we’ll bite. And they were delicious.
— Rosalind Early
15 of 100
Rosalind Early
Amsterdam Tavern
3175 Morgan Ford Road, amsterdamtavern.com
The beating heart of St. Louis’ soccer spirit, Amsterdam Tavern is the watering hole to catch a City SC game. From the outside, it looks like a pub from a London street corner, and the intimate interior draped with every kind of soccer scarf enhances the vibe. The back patio transports you to a German biergarten with long picnic tables, a bar and TVs blaring the game. People come as much for the camaraderie as the good game viewing, so don’t expect to hear the play-by-play, but you won’t mind as you settle into a sea of City SC jerseys and make yourself at home.
— Rosalind Early
3175 Morgan Ford Road, amsterdamtavern.com
The beating heart of St. Louis’ soccer spirit, Amsterdam Tavern is the watering hole to catch a City SC game. From the outside, it looks like a pub from a London street corner, and the intimate interior draped with every kind of soccer scarf enhances the vibe. The back patio transports you to a German biergarten with long picnic tables, a bar and TVs blaring the game. People come as much for the camaraderie as the good game viewing, so don’t expect to hear the play-by-play, but you won’t mind as you settle into a sea of City SC jerseys and make yourself at home.
— Rosalind Early
16 of 100
Rosalind Early
HandleBar
4127 Manchester Avenue, handlebarstl.com
No bar is more dedicated to giving you a place to shake your ass than HandleBar. DJ Whiz, Umami, Tristano and DJ Jilliane are regulars on the ones and twos. There’s also a monthly swing dancing night, and Maven Logik Lee hosts his Tens ballroom nights on site. You can even catch a monthly queer line dancing party. If you hate dancing, you may still love the HandleBar for its trivia nights, Wednesday karaoke, booze school lessons or sip and paints. Basically, it’s a social club with lots of bikes on the wall and booze behind the bar.
— Rosalind Early
4127 Manchester Avenue, handlebarstl.com
No bar is more dedicated to giving you a place to shake your ass than HandleBar. DJ Whiz, Umami, Tristano and DJ Jilliane are regulars on the ones and twos. There’s also a monthly swing dancing night, and Maven Logik Lee hosts his Tens ballroom nights on site. You can even catch a monthly queer line dancing party. If you hate dancing, you may still love the HandleBar for its trivia nights, Wednesday karaoke, booze school lessons or sip and paints. Basically, it’s a social club with lots of bikes on the wall and booze behind the bar.
— Rosalind Early
17 of 100
Rosalind Early
John D. McGurk’s
1200 Russell Boulevard, mcgurks.com
McGurk’s is a Soulard institution, one where you’re just as likely to see frocked priests grabbing a meal with their parishioners as singles out on the prowl. Widely regarded as a great place to hear live (mostly Irish) music and grab a Guinness stew or fish and chips, it’s also a classic St. Louis setting with a beautiful patio, stained glass, brick archways and hammered tin ceilings.
— Rosalind Early
1200 Russell Boulevard, mcgurks.com
McGurk’s is a Soulard institution, one where you’re just as likely to see frocked priests grabbing a meal with their parishioners as singles out on the prowl. Widely regarded as a great place to hear live (mostly Irish) music and grab a Guinness stew or fish and chips, it’s also a classic St. Louis setting with a beautiful patio, stained glass, brick archways and hammered tin ceilings.
— Rosalind Early
18 of 100
Rosalind Early
Molly’s in Soulard
816 Geyer Avenue, mollysinsoulard.com
Molly’s is a bit of a chameleon. Every Thursday from 8 p.m. to close, it hosts a party with $5 drink specials and two-for-one domestics, while a DJ gets the expansive patio bumping. Drunk young people lurch around to the tunes of Lil Baby and Sam Smith. But then come back on Sunday before 3 p.m. and the brunch crowd is enjoying the dining room and mimosas. Whatever way you arrive at Molly’s, you’ll definitely leave happy.
— Rosalind Early
816 Geyer Avenue, mollysinsoulard.com
Molly’s is a bit of a chameleon. Every Thursday from 8 p.m. to close, it hosts a party with $5 drink specials and two-for-one domestics, while a DJ gets the expansive patio bumping. Drunk young people lurch around to the tunes of Lil Baby and Sam Smith. But then come back on Sunday before 3 p.m. and the brunch crowd is enjoying the dining room and mimosas. Whatever way you arrive at Molly’s, you’ll definitely leave happy.
— Rosalind Early
19 of 100
Rosalind Early
Riley’s Irish Pub
3458 Arsenal Street, facebook.com/rileyspubstl
This is an old-school kind of pub. Even the prices seem from the past: It’s just $3.50 for a well drink. Thursday through Sunday, Riley’s also offers specials where you can get different pints for $3.50 (Guiness on Thursday, Schlafly on Friday, Civil Life on Sunday). The bar has all the notes of an Irish pub: There are wooden booths, an Irish flag, a map of Ireland and a drinker’s prayer watching over the establishment. So raise your glass and “Sláinte!”
— Rosalind Early
3458 Arsenal Street, facebook.com/rileyspubstl
This is an old-school kind of pub. Even the prices seem from the past: It’s just $3.50 for a well drink. Thursday through Sunday, Riley’s also offers specials where you can get different pints for $3.50 (Guiness on Thursday, Schlafly on Friday, Civil Life on Sunday). The bar has all the notes of an Irish pub: There are wooden booths, an Irish flag, a map of Ireland and a drinker’s prayer watching over the establishment. So raise your glass and “Sláinte!”
— Rosalind Early
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