Top Bars in St Louis – Most Viewed (2025)

Venice Café stands out as one of St. Louis’s most idiosyncratic nightlife haunts. Located in the Benton Park neighbourhood at 1903 Pestalozzi St, the bar is a living art-installation and buzzing live-music venue rolled into one. Step inside and you’re greeted by a riot of colour, mosaic tile work covering walls, floors and ceilings, oddities of décor (skulls, button-covered surfaces, sculptures) and an ambience that says: stay awhile, look around, expect the unexpected. The bar isn’t just visually stimulating—it also functions as a lively social venue. Live music occurs most nights (including open mic nights). The vibe: relaxed yet vibrant, artsy but unpretentious. Reviews consistently emphasise how this “cash-only” venue feels like a neighbourhood gem—and how the drinks are reasonably priced, the people friendly, the décor entertaining. Bring your curiosity, your off-beat sensibility and maybe a few friends. Whether you’re lounging on the patio or catching a band indoors, Venice Café offers a unique micro-adventure in the St. Louis bar-scene.

Pieces Board Game Bar & Café in St. Louis offers a uniquely social experience: a full-service bar and café combined with a massive library of board games, all in one lively space. Located in the South Soulard area, the venue invites friends, families, date nights, and gamers of all kinds to gather, play, eat and drink. When you arrive, you’ll be greeted by rows of board-game shelves—titles ranging from family-friendly favorites to complex strategy games. Their “Game Navigators” are on hand to recommend games or help set them up, so even newcomers feel welcome. The menu offers a mix of casual bites, vegetarian/vegan-friendly options, and a full bar of craft beers, cocktails and wines. Many visitors comment on the relaxed, fun vibe: you can drop in for a drink and a quick game, or settle in for hours of play. The business operates with a small library fee for game access (if you’re playing games) but it’s flexible: if you just want to eat/drink you don’t have to pay the access fee. Their website clearly details the process. The setting is also recently updated: Pieces moved into a larger space at 2727 S. 12th St in South Soulard, expanding their footprint and improving bar and game-room offerings. Whether you’re a seasoned gamer or just looking for a relaxed, quirky night out, Pieces offers a playful alternative to typical bars—mixing food, drinks and board-game fun in a friendly, inclusive atmosphere.

Sophie’s Artist Lounge is a compelling blend of creative culture and nightlife, nestled in the heart of the Grand Center Arts District in St. Louis. Located at 3333 Washington Avenue (Suite 102), this lounge is operated by the Kranzberg Arts Foundation and designed to be more than a typical bar—it’s a meeting place for artists, creative thinkers and night-time socialisers alike. Inside Sophie’s you’ll find rich visual textures: murals and street-art elements line the walls, the lighting pulses with purpose, and high-fidelity audio-visuals complement the bar’s events and DJ sets. The space straddles the worlds of gallery and lounge, designed to intrigue: you might sip a craft cocktail while admiring large-scale art or dancing later in the evening as a DJ takes over. The beverage program emphasises creativity: cocktails alongside wine and beer selections, all in an environment where the art is interchangeable and the mood is contemporary yet relaxed. Sophie’s operates primarily Wednesday through Saturday evenings, making it a go-to for pre- or post-show drinks in the surrounding theatre district. Events are central to Sophie’s identity. The venue regularly hosts themed nights, DJ residencies (notably the 2025-2026 cohort announced by Kranzberg Arts Foundation), and programming that foregrounds local talent and creative community connection. Whether you’re an artist looking to connect, a group of friends seeking a vibrant evening, or simply someone wanting a cocktail in a space that feels curated, Sophie’s Artist Lounge brings a creative nightclub vibe with substance.

Tucked beneath the industrial bones of City Foundry STL in Midtown St. Louis, None of the Above offers more than a drink—it’s a journey. Enter through an unmarked steel door with only a red light as identification, walk down a graffiti-lined tunnel and stairs into a subterranean lounge where Art Deco glam meets underground cooling. Inside you’ll find rich velvet banquettes, brass and jewel-toned accents, wall murals, and an entrance into a hidden side-room called “The Library,” accessible through a floor-to-ceiling mirror. The ambience is intentionally intimate and thoughtful—developers describe it as a place where you’ll hear your companion’s voice and feel transported, not overwhelmed. The bar is led by the team from Niche Food Group under chef-owner Gerard Craft, with bartender Fionna Gemzon curating inventive cocktails that respect classics but lean playful. Drinks include elevated takes like black-sesame rye-based old-fashioneds, chili-crisp fat-washed tequila creations, and other complex pours. Snacks are light but luxurious—charred‐onion dip, candied ham & white-cheddar popcorn, and even a peanut-butter-with-foie-gras mousse cookie. The vibe is suited for a date night, a quiet celebration, or even just an escape from the everyday. Reservations aren’t always accepted for walk-ins, but you can secure space via wait-list. Parties of larger size can call ahead.

Three Sixty Rooftop Bar sits atop the Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark (One S. Broadway) and rises nearly 400 feet above downtown St. Louis, delivering panoramic views in every direction—from the glowing Gateway Arch and the Mississippi River to the bustle of Busch Stadium. Walk into a stylish lounge where indoor elegance meets an expansive outdoor terrace—fire-pits, lounge seating, sweeping glass walls and open-air decks make this a destination for sundowners, celebrations or just a memorable night out. The menu features an array of handcrafted cocktails, a solid wine and beer list, along with elevated small plates that go beyond finger-foods: think birria tacos, wood-fired pizzas, lobster rolls, and gourmet spins on shareables. Many reviews say you go here not just for drinks, but for the full city-scape experience. Evenings often include DJs (Friday & Saturday nights from ~9:30 pm) and the venue closes late (up to 2 a.m. on weekends) making it a top choice for post-game, post-show or special-occasion outings. For game-day visitors, it’s literally overlooking the stadium — arriving early around open time (4 p.m.) can help beat the crowd.

The Saturn Lounge, tucked away at 1915 Cherokee Street in the Benton Park/Antique Row district of St. Louis, delivers a mellow-sophisticated cocktail experience. Housed in a restored 1880s blacksmith-shop building, it artfully blends exposed brick, vintage accents and a rich vinyl-record collection with modern lounge comforts. You’ll enter to find an intimate front bar, comfortable booths and a quiet side lounge for groups, plus a leafy patio out front for warm-weather sipping. Reviews repeatedly highlight the vibe: “sophisticated but not pretentious… well-crafted cocktails, comfortable seating, some of the best music you’ll hear in any bar.” The cocktail menu features thoughtful creations like the Sign Painter (rye whiskey, Genepy liqueur, Benedictine, lemon, bitters) and the Slow Jam (coffee caramel-pecan liqueur, whiskey cream, coffee, orange bitters). They also offer craft beer, a curated wine list and light bites (with a kitchen that has grown steadily since opening). Music matters here: co-owner Doug Morgan’s 20 000-record vinyl collection shapes the ambience, and while it’s not a live-music venue, the audio experience is elevated and curated. Whether you’re looking for a date-night spot, a quiet catch-up or just a well-made drink in an interesting space—Saturn Lounge hits the mark.

Nestled beneath the historic Thaxton Building at 1009 Olive Street in downtown St. Louis, Thaxton Speakeasy is a little piece of vintage glamour carved out for those in the know. Down a discreet entrance, past the neon and shadows, you’ll find an underground cocktail lounge styled with Art Deco flourishes—rich wood, stylised murals, velvet seating and a bar glowing under amber light. The experience begins with the ritual: you’ll check the weekly password (typically posted on their Instagram @TheThaxtonSTL) and arrive when the space is open—only open when not privately booked, on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays starting around 8 p.m. Once inside, the ambience is intimate—lounge-style, moody, with service that feels personal and cocktails that respect the era. Reviewers the world over comment on how the mixologists craft beautifully balanced drinks with a nod to bygone days. Though the venue is small—roughly capacity 120 according to event listings—it works both as a romantic date spot and as a quiet night out with friends. The upstairs building is used for events and weddings, but the speakeasy lounge below keeps the secret-door charm alive.