St. Louis's Best Craft Cocktail Bars and Speakeasies
Revised August 11, 2026
What are the best craft cocktail bars and speakeasies in St. Louis?
St. Louis’s best craft cocktail bars and speakeasies include award-winners Planter’s House (Lafayette Square), Blood & Sand (downtown), and The Gin Room (South Grand); hidden spots None of the Above (City Foundry), Bemiston (Clayton), Lazy Tiger (CWE), Thaxton Speakeasy (downtown, password on Instagram), and Mother May I (South Grand, behind a bookcase); plus Yellowbelly and Retreat (CWE), Monstera Mezcaleria (South Grand, agave), Wright’s Tavern (Clayton), and Pat Connolly Tavern (Dogtown). Tell the bartender two flavors you like, reserve the small rooms, and plan a safe ride home.
Keep reading ↓Picture a night out that’s actually about the drink in your hand — a cocktail built with intention, in a room with a little mystery to it. Maybe there’s an unmarked door, a single red light, or a bartender who asks what you’re in the mood for and then surprises you.
St. Louis has quietly become a serious cocktail town, with award-winning bars and hidden speakeasies scattered across the metro. Here are the ones worth dressing up for.
The award-winners
Planter’s House in Lafayette Square has anchored St. Louis’s craft-cocktail scene since 2013 with one of the city’s most decorated bar programs and seasonal, handcrafted drinks. Downtown, Blood & Sand — once a members-only club, now open to all — pairs a globally inspired cocktail list with nationally recognized food. And on South Grand, The Gin Room is the domain of Natasha Bahrami, the “Gin Girl of St. Louis,” whose gin program has earned national and James Beard recognition (and sits right along our South Grand dining stretch).
Hidden doors and speakeasies
Half the fun is finding the entrance. None of the Above, the modern speakeasy from James Beard winner Gerard Craft’s team at City Foundry, hides behind original factory tunnels marked only by a single red light. In Clayton, Bemiston Cocktail & Social Club tucks a 60-seat lounge down a long hallway behind a marked door. And in the Central West End, Lazy Tiger is the intimate, hard-to-find “hidden gem” sibling to Yellowbelly, serving its own sharply focused cocktail list. For a true password-protected experience, Thaxton Speakeasy downtown hides a 1920s Art Deco lounge behind a marked-only door and posts its weekly hours and password on Instagram — about as close to the real Prohibition-era ritual as the metro gets.
Tropical, agave, and the classics
For something with a passport: Yellowbelly in the Central West End leans into rum-forward, island-inspired drinks and coastal fare, while Monstera Mezcaleria on South Grand is all about small-batch mezcal, tequila, and agave spirits — and in its basement, the newer Mother May I hides a “cocktail dive” behind a bookcase door, pairing a serious drink program with dive-bar prices (think twelve-dollar martinis) on a walk-in-only basis. Prefer a perfectly built classic? Wright’s Tavern in Clayton runs a tight, classics-driven list (its negroni and Chartreuse julep are local favorites), and the historic Pat Connolly Tavern in Dogtown backs its deep Irish-whiskey selection with well-made standards.
The people behind the bars
St. Louis’s cocktail scene is smaller and more interconnected than it looks, and knowing the family trees helps you find your next favorite. In the Central West End, Retreat Gastropub is the parent concept that spun off both Yellowbelly and Lazy Tiger — a seasonal, spirit-forward program built on house-made juices, syrups, and shrubs, and the thread that ties the whole CWE cluster together. Over at City Foundry, None of the Above comes from James Beard winner Gerard Craft’s Niche Food Group, which is why the drinks and the food both punch well above “hidden bar” expectations. And on South Grand, the Bahrami family’s Gin Room has a new wrinkle as of 2026: it reunited with the returning Café Natasha Persian kitchen, so you can now pair one of the country’s deepest gin lists with genuine Persian cooking under one roof. The takeaway: once you love one of these bars, its siblings and its team’s other projects are a reliable map to the next great night out.
How to actually order at a craft cocktail bar
The best way to drink at a place like this is to trust the bar. If nothing on the menu jumps out, don’t default to a vodka soda — tell the bartender two things you like (a spirit and a flavor profile: “something with mezcal, on the smoky-and-citrusy side,” or “bourbon, but not too sweet”) and let them build to it. A good bartender at any of these rooms would rather make you something you’ll love than pour a rote order. A few habits make you a welcome regular: read the room on pace (a carefully built cocktail takes a few minutes — this isn’t a shot bar), tip well because craft bartending is a craft, and if you’re not sure what to try, ask what the bar is known for — Wright’s negroni, Yellowbelly’s rum drinks, the Gin Room’s gin flights all exist for a reason. Order the house signature first, then explore.
Finding the door: a speakeasy primer
Half the appeal of St. Louis’s hidden bars is the small thrill of getting in, but a little prep saves the fumbling. Thaxton Speakeasy literally posts its hours and a rotating password on Instagram — check before you go, because it isn’t open every night. None of the Above is found through City Foundry’s old factory tunnels, marked only by a single red light. Bemiston sits down a long hallway behind a marked door in Clayton. Mother May I is literally behind a bookcase in the basement under Monstera. The etiquette inside these rooms tends to run a notch more civilized than a regular bar — they’re small and intimate by design, so keep your group modest, your voice down, and your phone camera respectful of other guests. That hush is the whole point; it’s what you came for.
What makes a cocktail “craft” anyway
If you’re newer to this world, the difference between a craft cocktail and a well drink is real, and it’s worth the extra few dollars. A craft bar makes its own syrups, shrubs, and infusions instead of pouring from a sour-mix gun; it uses fresh-squeezed juice, cares about ice (big clear cubes melt slower and dilute less), and treats balance — the interplay of spirit, sweet, sour, and bitter — as the whole job. That’s why a daiquiri at Planter’s House or a negroni at Wright’s tastes like a different drink than the same name at a chain: the bartender built it from parts they made, to a recipe they’ve tuned. You’re not paying for fancy; you’re paying for someone who obsesses over the details so you don’t have to. Order one classic you already know — a margarita, an old fashioned — and you’ll taste the gap immediately.
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A cocktail crawl you can actually do
Several of these bars cluster tightly enough to string together on foot or with one short ride, which makes for a great night without much driving (and gives your designated driver an easy route). The Central West End is the densest: Retreat, Yellowbelly, and Lazy Tiger sit within a few blocks, so you can go gastropub → rum bar → hidden gem without moving your car. South Grand is a two-stop dream — the Gin Room upstairs, then down into Mother May I beneath Monstera — bookended by the neighborhood’s international restaurants if you want dinner in the middle. Clayton pairs Wright’s Tavern and Bemiston for a more polished, dressed-up evening. And downtown lets you combine Blood & Sand’s dinner-and-cocktails with the hunt for Thaxton’s hidden door. Pick a neighborhood, plan two or three stops, and — the one non-negotiable — line up a rideshare or a sober driver before you start.
What to expect on the bill
Craft cocktails aren’t cheap, but St. Louis is gentler on the wallet than the coasts for the same quality. Expect most handcrafted drinks at these bars to land in the low-to-mid teens, with the fancier or spirit-heavy pours a bit above that; the exception is a deliberate value play like Mother May I, where the whole concept is serious drinks at dive prices. Many spots run a happy hour or feature a rotating list that’s a little friendlier on price, so an early arrival can save money as well as guarantee a seat. Build in tip the way you would at a good restaurant, and remember that the “expensive” craft cocktail you nurse for an hour in a beautiful room is often a better value than three rushed drinks somewhere forgettable. This is a sip-and-savor scene, not a volume one — and that’s exactly the point.
One practical note on the newer and hidden spots: hours and concepts in this scene move fast. Bars reinvent themselves, add a kitchen, or shift their nights — the Gin Room’s 2026 Persian-kitchen reunion is a perfect example — so a quick check of a bar’s current Instagram before you go is never wasted. It’s the surest way to catch a changed hour, a private-event closure, or a new seasonal menu before you make the trip.
Which bar for which night
Matching the room to the occasion is half the battle. For a date, the intimate hidden rooms win — Lazy Tiger, Bemiston, or Mother May I trade on exactly the low-lit, discover-it-together mood a first or fifth date wants. For a special occasion or a dinner-and-drinks evening, Blood & Sand and Wright’s Tavern pair a serious kitchen with a serious bar. For a group, the larger, livelier spaces — Planter’s House, Yellowbelly, Pat Connolly Tavern — have the room and the energy without requiring a hush, and they make an easy first stop when the night is headed for one of St. Louis’s best dance clubs afterward. For a quiet solo drink where you actually chat with the bartender, sit at the bar at the Gin Room or Retreat and let them steer. And when you just want the experience of finding the door, Thaxton and None of the Above are as much an outing as a drink. There’s no wrong pick here — only the room that fits the night you’re after.
A few tips for a great cocktail night
Many of these spots are small and popular, so reservations (or an early arrival) help — especially on weekends. Tell your bartender what spirits and flavors you like and let them guide you; a great cocktail bar is at its best when you trust the people behind the stick. And as always, plan a safe ride home.
Want to build a full night out? Start slow with a browse through our guide to St. Louis’s best independent bookstores before the cocktails.
Or pair your drinks with a show — see our roundup of the neighborhood live-music venues locals actually love.
Looking for more bars, lounges, and nightlife across the metro? Browse the dining and nightlife listings in the St Louis Near Me directory.
And if you own a bar or lounge, listing it is how someone nearby finds your spot when they search “cocktail bar near me” or ask an AI assistant where to go tonight.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best craft cocktail bars in St. Louis?
Long-celebrated picks include Planter’s House in Lafayette Square, Blood & Sand downtown, and The Gin Room on South Grand, all known for standout bar programs.
Does St. Louis have speakeasies?
Yes — None of the Above at City Foundry (hidden behind factory tunnels), Bemiston Cocktail & Social Club in Clayton, and Lazy Tiger in the Central West End all offer a hidden-bar experience.
Where can I find tiki or agave-focused cocktails?
Yellowbelly in the Central West End specializes in rum-forward, island-inspired drinks, and Monstera Mezcaleria on South Grand focuses on mezcal, tequila, and agave spirits. In Monstera’s basement, Mother May I serves agave-friendly cocktails at dive-bar prices.
Which St. Louis speakeasy has a password?
Thaxton Speakeasy downtown runs closest to the classic password format — it posts its weekly hours and a rotating password on Instagram, so check before you go. Other hidden spots find you differently: None of the Above hides behind City Foundry’s factory tunnels and a single red light, and Mother May I is behind a bookcase in the basement under Monstera on South Grand.
Do I need a reservation for a cocktail bar in St. Louis?
For the small, popular rooms — Planter’s House, Lazy Tiger, Bemiston — a reservation or an early arrival really helps, especially on weekends. Walk-in-only spots like Mother May I reward showing up off-peak. When in doubt, check the bar’s Instagram or website for its current reservation policy and hours before you head out.
What’s a good cocktail bar in St. Louis for a date?
The intimate hidden rooms are ideal — Lazy Tiger in the Central West End, Bemiston in Clayton, or Mother May I beneath Monstera on South Grand all trade on a low-lit, discover-it-together mood. For a dinner-and-cocktails date, Blood & Sand downtown and Wright’s Tavern in Clayton pair a strong kitchen with a strong bar. Reserve ahead for the small rooms on weekends.
Written by a dedicated team of St. Louis locals who live, work, and play right here in the St. Louis metro. Founder Lane Forman and team are committed to building the region’s most trusted directory by verifying listings and connecting local businesses with loyal customers across Missouri and Illinois.