Stopped into the Saturn Lounge and instantly loved the vibe. This place has such a chill, laid-back…read morefeel that makes it easy to settle in and stay awhile. The cocktail list is solid, and the beer selection is seriously impressive, packed with a great mix of local breweries and unique options. There's also a nice outdoor seating area, but honestly, the magic of this spot is at the bar. The atmosphere there really brings everything together. One of the coolest touches is the large display of vinyl records, it adds a ton of character and gives the whole place a unique, almost nostalgic energy. We didn't try the food this time since we just stopped in for drinks, but it's definitely on the list for next visit. Looking forward to coming back and spending more time enjoying this gem of a spot.

The Saturn Lounge is an upscale neighborhood dive bar. Can a dive bar be upscale? It can be if it's…read morea bar like, The Saturn Lounge. It was my first visit to, TSL and I was impressed. I was in need of killing time before a crochet lesson down the street and I thought enjoying a cocktail was a good idea. I was able to get a seat at the bar and immediately starting reading the menu of their signature cocktails. I went with, Sign Painter. It was served in a fluted glass and was made with rye whiskey. I'm a big fan of rye and I found this drink very refreshing. I am a cocktail snob, I enjoy a well made cocktail. Being a snob, I want a mixologist that prepares a masterful cocktail. Enjoying my cocktail and watching the gentleman working behind the bar, I can honestly say, he is a masterful bartender. This visit, I did not order any food items. However, seeing the food severed around me, I'll definitely be back to enjoy to enjoy some Crab Stuffed Mushrooms or a Crab Cake Sandwich. The inside of the bar is compact. In addition to the bar sitting, there's a row of booths along the wall. Beyond the barroom, is a backroom that's is pretty comfy and classy, too. In front of the building is a welcoming patio, that I'll be back to check out in better weather. After just one visit, I know I'll be back. If I still lived in STL, I'd probably be a regular. When: January 21, 2026 Why: Killing time with a cocktail.

What a great meal. It was very quick in and out waiting for the train to Kansas City. Our server…read morewas a great guy. Had our drinks replaces long before they we needed refills. The atmosphere if very loud with music and fun so don't go for a quiet lunch. The prices and serving sizes are some of the best downtown. I don't think you'll be disappointed with anything you order. We'll definitely go again if we're in downtown STL looking for a bite.

Found this place while searching for brunch spots. When we got there and seated, looked on the menu…read moreand no brunch. That was disappointing since I had my mouth set for breakfast. So we ordered a cheeseburger with onion rings...not bad. Our server did a decent job. There was a vibe there though: a DJ was on set and the music was entertaining. I would try other places before returning since I be mainly looking for breakfast places.

This bar was such a great find! While walking down the Delmar Loop, I was immediately drawn in by…read morethe DJ playing outside. I decided to give it a try, and I'm so glad I did! The drinks were delicious, and the staff was incredibly friendly and welcoming. They also serve food, although we only tried the drinks during our visit. I learned that they have a DJ on Thursdays, which adds to the fun atmosphere. The vibe is amazing, with R&B music playing and a really cute, stylish aesthetic throughout the space. Definitely a spot I would visit again and recommend to others looking for good drinks and great energy!

Cute cocktail bar. Drinks were good, loved the cold foam on the earl grey drink. Service was…read moredecently fast for a Saturday night, our waitress was attentive. Seats are comfortable enough, but not so much so that I'd be inclined to stay a while, but maybe that leans into their passport theme - pass through and travel on! Their travel decor borders on chaotic eclectic. Nice for a drink before a show at the pageant.

Club Beyoncé was a ball! Well played to host it over the holiday weekend…read more The DJ's were amazing. The Hive is a Vibe.

This is now my second time at this place and each time is better than the next! I came here with…read moresome friends to grab a drink before we headed to our next spot. Granted we got there relatively early (8:30), so there were ample seats at the bar. I went with the Flirt and Flounce, which consists of reposado, lemon, honey syrup, and sparkling rose. I tasted the reposado in the first few sips, but it wasn't until I got farther down in the drink that I tasted the sparkling rose and other drinks. The drink is subtle and not overly sweet. I love this place for its ambiance, good drinks, and nice vibes. I definitely feel grown being here, and it gives off that impression when you walk in the door. Although this may be a controversial take, it's nice that gratuity is already included! While we were only here for an hour, I know I'll be back and I can't wait to try more drinks.

Great upscale bar and restaurant next to the ballpark. The…read morefood was fantastic, great bourbon handbook to choose from along with cocktails and wine. Open seating outside on patio and at bar. Inside bar looking right at stadium. Everyone was great and polite. Bathroom shared with hotel so it's nice and spacious.

Parking can be a little confusing if it's your first visit. You'll want to park in the Loews Hotel…read moreparking garage next to Ball Park Village, as they are connected. Be sure not to park in the garage across the street. Once you receive your parking ticket, Loews Hotel will validate it. As for the food, I found it to be somewhat inconsistent. The meal started with bread and butter, which was delicious. The crab cake was also very good. The Caesar salad was a bit bland, and although we requested no anchovies, they were still included. For our entrees, I ordered the half lobster, which was cooked well and enjoyable. My husband ordered the filet, and it was also very good. The broccolini was just okay and had better. For dessert, we tried the salted chocolate ice cream, which was absolutely delicious. Unfortunately, the flaming crème brûlée was disappointing. It is brought to the table while still on fire, requiring you to wait for the flame to burn out before eating. Once it was ready, the top lacked the traditional crisp shell that you expect to crack with a spoon. Instead, there was an unpleasant flavor that seemed to come from either the alcohol or fuel used for the presentation. I think the dessert would be much better if it were finished properly in the kitchen and served without the tableside flame. One of the highlights of the experience was the atmosphere. The interior is beautiful and inviting, and there is also a great outdoor area for those who want to stop in for drinks at the bar or enjoy a lighter meal outside.

Went for a chill night out at Art Bar for some drinks and live music on the rooftop. It was a super…read morechill vibe and got to see some nice views of the city. They offer a good amount of individual and small group seating, and a few options for large group seating. The drink I ordered, the Strawberry Galaxy long island, wasn't the best and was kinda pricey, so I don't think I'd order that one again, but I would try some of their other drinks.

A rooftop bar, facing straight at the arch. I mean, just that sentence is immensely cool. I came up…read morehere two nights in a row. The crowds were very different on each, but the bartenders and the overall vibe is great. It's almost meditative up here. The bartenders are the absolute coolest. The house cab is a very nice wine, and certainly not over-priced. I ordered the truffle chips with a garlic dipping sauce. The garlic balances well with the truffle essence. If there was a ballgame at SLU, you could watch it from the SE corner of the patio. If you are staying at the hotel and need to unwind, let it all go, and be one with the universe, you could do far worse than the Art Bar. I've heard it can be bougie on the weekends, but Wednesday & Thursday? Chill as you could ask for.

Monstera Mezcaleria is a welcome addition to South Grand. On a single stretch of this street you…read morecan already eat Vietnamese, Ethiopian, and Afghan food, and now a Mexican-forward cocktail bar too. The space feels like a well-traveled friend, maybe an Anthony Bourdain wannabe, turned their living room into a bar. Walls lined with mezcal and natural wine bottles, alcohol crates doubling as shelving, framed personal photographs that read as personal, and a gallery of art (perhaps from Oaxacan women artists, but worth confirming on your own). Be clear-eyed about what this place is: a cocktail-enthusiast, mezcal-forward bar. If you like mezcal, go. If you like watching a bartender think through a build, go. Come wanting to be curious. Bear, our bartender, is the reason the room works. We ordered mezcal old fashioneds off-menu and he was energized by the request: stiff, balanced pour, though I'd have liked a more pronounced orange note. When someone in our group couldn't pick a drink, he walked them through a few options side by side and landed them on something they actually wanted. No eye-roll. My wife had the Negroni Sin Ti, built on guajillo-infused mezcal, tortilla-infused blanc vermouth, xila, chocolate liqueur, and Campari. The guajillo and the chocolate liqueur together pushed it straight into mole territory, in the best way. The food menu is limited; they're a bar first. But the pork banh mi was a real surprise. Fresh, bright, and better than it needs to be. I wouldn't make a trip for the sandwich, but I'd happily order one again with a second cocktail. One caveat: the music is loud. Our group of five spent the night raising our voices across the table. Go as a two-top leaning in close, not a group spread out. It's almost perfect for a date. For a group, you'll leave hoarse. 4 Stars out of 5 What would move it up a bit: turn the music down a few clicks so groups can hang (queue cranky old man inflection), and lean harder into the food. The banh mi proved they can cook; two or three more snacks at that level and Monstera stops being a bar that happens to have food and becomes a full evening.

Can't believe I haven't came here sooner! Super cute place on South grand, came on a Saturday night…read moreand sat at the bar and got served right away. The bartender was super sweet and helpful and even let my friend who is knowledgeable about mezcal try some samples. The drinks were super delicious and unique. The space was super cute. We made our way downstairs for a second round and loved the vibe switch up. Will be coming back.

I literally live a 4 minute walk from here and have no idea why it took me this long to check it…read moreout. I took my boyfriend here last night for his 24th birthday celebration, and boy did it exceed every expectation. When we first arrived, we were taken aback by the waterfall feature at the front door. We genuinely thought we were at the wrong entrance. Turns out it was entirely intentional, and in the excitement of the evening, we forgot to ask about the story behind it. A fun little mystery to solve on our next visit. We arrived about 30 minutes early and were welcomed warmly from the moment we walked in. The staff gave us a lovely intimate table with a great view of the restaurant's eclectic decor and designs. The ambiance struck the perfect balance, lively and engaging without being so loud that we could not have a real conversation, which for my partner and me is genuinely one of the most important aspects of a dining experience. Since we both work incredibly busy schedules, this was not only a birthday celebration but our first proper date night in quite a while, and the atmosphere made it feel truly special. The staff even surprised us with a complimentary prosecco for the birthday, something we were absolutely not expecting and deeply appreciated. On the drinks side, although I am not personally a big drinker, my boyfriend loves exploring new spirits and cocktail combinations. The bartenders were fantastic: knowledgeable, approachable, and genuinely enthusiastic about their recommendations across both wines and spirits. They made the whole experience feel curated rather than transactional. Now, let me tell you about Jelly. Our server Jelly was, without question, the highlight of the entire evening, and that is saying a lot given how spectacular everything else was. I have a severe pineapple allergy, and if you dine out with food allergies, you know the usual routine. The server writes it down, maybe glances at it when the food arrives, and you spend the whole meal quietly hoping for the best. Jelly was on an entirely different level. She went completely above and beyond, meticulously checking every food option and wine pairing to ensure nothing contained pineapple and that there was zero risk of cross contamination. When a wine bottle did not clearly list its ingredients, she did not guess or assume. She looked it up on the internet right then and there to confirm it was safe for me. That gesture might sound simple, but for someone with a severe allergy, it is everything. It communicates that she genuinely cared about my wellbeing, not just about getting through her tables for the night. I felt completely taken care of, safe, and able to relax and enjoy myself without the anxiety that usually accompanies dining out with an allergy. Jelly, if you ever read this: thank you from the bottom of my heart. You are exceptional at what you do and an absolute asset to Blood & Sand. And now, the food, which was nothing short of breathtaking. From the presentation, to the pacing and timing, to the extraordinary depth of flavor on every plate, the food at Blood & Sand is spectacular and amazing in the truest sense of both words. My boyfriend and I had the 5 course tasting menu with wine pairings. We had originally hoped for the 10 course, but it was not being offered that evening. No matter, because the 5 course delivered more than enough to leave us completely floored. The evening opened with a palate initiator of carrots, goat cheese, and walnuts. I will be honest, I was not excited. Carrots and goat cheese are genuinely two of my least favorite foods on the planet. But I gave it a try and it was absolutely heavenly. A perfect encapsulation of what this kitchen does: it takes ingredients you think you know and transforms them into something you cannot stop thinking about. My absolute favorites of the evening were the tuna carpaccio, the wagyu flank steak, and the pierogis. Each one was cooked and composed to perfection. Everything melted in my mouth and left me wishing the courses would never end. My one constructive note is on the oyster course. I love oysters and eat them often, so I was genuinely looking forward to this one. The portion, two very small oysters with modest accompaniments of horseradish, a small salsa, and lemon, felt a little light even by tasting menu standards. I would love to see either four oysters at that size or two larger ones. It was gone so quickly and felt slightly out of step with the generosity of every other course. That small note aside, Blood & Sand delivered one of the most memorable dining experiences I have had in a long time. Every single person on that floor, from the bartenders to the host to the incredible Jelly, went above and beyond to make the night comfortable, fun, intimate, and genuinely special. We will absolutely be back, and next time I will not wait so long given that I practically live next door.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Trying hard to be a culinary star, but falls flat on both food and experience…read more Historic high-ceilinged setting that hasn't been fully restored, decor also leaves something to be desired. Unfortunately despite the establishment having a tasting menu and using culinary language, the food was a hodgepodge of elements that worked and elements that did not. None of our dishes earned 5/5 and none were memorable taste wise. With a hefty price tag to boot there are better places to go in St. Louis. We had two drinks, one was watery and one was delicious (pictured).