If you know, you know... and if you don't, you're about to feel very in-the-know…read more Tucked away in true speakeasy fashion, NOTA is one of those places that makes you feel like you've stumbled onto a secret you almost don't want to share. Moody lighting, cozy corners, and an effortlessly cool vibe make it the kind of spot where time slows down in the best way. We stopped in for their Sunday late night happy hour (8-11pm) and honestly? Elite move. The energy was relaxed but still buzzy, perfect for winding down the weekend without feeling like the night is over. The cocktails are art. Every drink feels intentional, balanced, and a little unexpected in the best way. You can tell the bartenders really know their craft. Whether you go classic or adventurous, you're in very good hands -- especially during happy hour when trying a couple different options feels very justified. What really seals the deal is the overall mood. It's date-night perfect, ideal for catching up with friends, or impressing out-of-towners who think they've "seen all of St. Louis." Service is warm without being overbearing, and the experience feels elevated without a hint of pretentiousness. Don't rush. Order another round. Let Sunday stretch a little longer.

NOTA is such a great night out with immaculate vibes! The entrance is unassuming and…read morenon-descriptive with no signage, really living up to the speakeasy idea. I recommend placing a reservation online to ensure you can get in. Our group of 4 were seated quickly, and upon entering we could see that the place was filled. The waitress for us was incredible. She offered great recommendations and answered the question we had well, including getting to know our flavor preferences to make the best suggestion. The drinks are fantastic. All super classic but unique. My favorite was the espresso martini, which had a great slightly sweet tastes without the strong alcohol taste. I hope to be back for their happy hour sometime soon!

Went to Platypus for wedding welcome drinks and it was a fun spot. Drinks were really good and the…read morestaff was great. It's definitely more of a darker, dimly lit, hole-in-the-wall vibe. I didn't try the food, but it looked and smelled really good. Good spot for drinks if you're into a low-key vibe!

I've been here a handful of times with friends and it never disappoints. The crowd is really…read morediverse and the vibe is super welcoming. Great spot for anyone in their 20s and 30s looking for a chill but fun night out. The main bar area has karaoke nights and people get INTO it! They're so talented. If you keep walking through there's another room with games and a small kitchen for food. The menu is simple but the food is unexpectedly amazing and leans mostly vegetarian. The tofu is an absolute 10/10, the fries are good, and the buffalo cauliflower and chicken poppers are both must orders. Oh and the drinks are fun and the bathroom is a whole little experience on its own. Overall, it's just a good time. Definitely coming back.

I came here one evening with my girls and it was such a fun place! Staff is very friendly and the…read morebar is well decorated. There's a shot wheel, I spun and got the pickle shot. Strong! It was well-decorated too- Halloween is one of my favorite days of the year, and the Haunt is decorated spooky year-round! Parking was also easy, as there was plenty of street parking.

Took a friend here as she requested a spooky bar. Had a truly deranged time, bar tan was $12. Will…read morebe back.

Hidden Gems in St. Louis -- and darling, the name is not exaggerating…read more I had the absolute pleasure of attending a birthday celebration here and let me tell you... this place is a vibe, a moment, and a whole sparkling experience. The space is intimate, stylish, and perfectly appointed -- the kind of place that feels like you've stumbled into a secret little jewel box in the city. It's cozy in the best possible way, with an atmosphere that invites laughter, celebration, and maybe just a little fabulous mischief. The bartenders? Absolute pros. Warm, welcoming, and clearly masters of their craft. Naturally, I ordered my classic gin and tonic, and it was perfection in a glass -- crisp, balanced, and exactly what a proper G&T should be. I heard from the birthday boy and his wonderful wife that the owners were incredibly accommodating, and you could feel that hospitality throughout the entire evening. Everything felt effortless and welcoming -- the kind of place where people clearly care about creating a great night. And then... the party truly began. We had drag queens serving glamour and joy, music, laughter echoing through the room, and pizza delivered from the birthday boy's favorite local pizza spot that honestly deserves its own standing ovation. If you want to know where that pizza came from, drop a comment -- because it was outrageously good. By the end of the night I couldn't stop thinking: this place really is a Hidden Gem. A perfect little pocket of St. Louis where good drinks, great people, and a bit of fabulous chaos come together. Sparkle-tastic. Gem-tastic. Pure joy. Highly recommend discovering this hidden gem for yourself. -- Big Daddy Tedd Energy

Still in love with Hidden Gems and everything it has to offer! The bar itself is such a fun spot…read more The décor is playful and whimsical, and the dance floor is always a good time. The upstairs lounge is perfect if you want to hang out with friends or just take a break and rest your feet for a bit. I absolutely love that space and how comfy it is. One of the biggest perks of Hidden Gems is their back room, which allows them to host events and fun pop-up experiences. I've been to a few, and most recently attended the "Taylor Swift: Bejeweled" experience. The space was decked out in all things Taylor, with every era clearly represented. Giant friendship bracelets hung from the ceilings and lined the walls, which was such a fun touch. And of course, there were plenty of photo ops with my close personal bff, Taylor herself! The drink menu was themed to match the eras, with tons of creative options. My friends and I tried several cocktails, along with a few NA options as well. I really appreciate that they offer non-alcoholic drinks as I've been cutting back on alcohol over the past few months, and it's nice to still have fun choices that actually taste good! The Mirrorball was easily my favorite drink of the night. It tasted just like an orange creamsicle and was served in a disco ball...so good and so fun. My last drink of the night was "So Long London," which was almost like a dessert in a glass. Highly recommend ending your night with that one!

Miracle is the OG Christmas pop-up and it's seriously SO cute. The decor is over the top in the…read morebest way and instantly puts you in the holiday spirit. I was genuinely shocked they don't require reservations because it feels like the kind of place that would be booked weeks out. We walked in on a Tuesday night and were seated immediately with no wait. I really appreciated that they offer a full bar and not just the typical overly sweet, novelty Christmas cocktails. Everything felt thoughtfully done on the drink side. The only downside is the food situation. Options are very limited, and while I understand they likely don't have a full kitchen, it's definitely something to plan around. Eat beforehand or expect this to be more of a drinks-only stop.

-- The OG of Holiday Cheer, Served in a Glass…read more Finally getting around to this review -- but Miracle STL deserves it. This is the original pop-up holiday bar, and it's everything you want in a seasonal escape: warm, delightful, a little bit tacky in the best possible way, and bursting with love. From the second you walk in, it's a full-on sensory sleigh ride -- twinkling lights, over-the-top décor, and a playlist that makes you feel like you've just stepped into a Hallmark movie (with a better soundtrack). The cocktails are inventive, festive, and downright delicious -- second only to the truly amazing staff who pour them with so much personality. It's fun, it's magical, and it's a DO NOT miss for the holiday season in St. Louis. Come for the drinks, stay for the vibes, and leave with a little more holiday spirit than you came in with.

Fun arcade bar with nostalgia for all ages!…read more There are 2 floors with multiple bars and arcade games of all decades throughout. There's also skeeball on both floors but we prefer playing the one on the lower level. Pinball machines are also on both levels. Tokens can be purchased at the bar or from one of the several token machines. UpDown has friendly bartenders and frequently has theme nights and seasonal cocktails to match the holiday or theme. You can order pizza at their pizza window and it is the only food they offer. The slices are huge though! During summer, it's fun to sit on the patio off the upstairs level. Been going to UpDown for years and it's always a good time for everyone!

The first Sunday of the month is family friendly. One of my kids is a gamer and this was a perfect…read moreplace to spend some time. Please note: the place was packed with kids and adults. Do not let that deter you. The space is much larger than it looks. There is an indoor bar and an outdoor bar with some table games and outdoor seating. There is a separate pick up window for snacks. They offer pizza by the slice, hot dogs and other goodies. The food is cheap and the pizza was solid for the price. The games require tokens which you can purchase at the bar. They have just about every game you could want! Even had a Super Nintendo set up, Dane Revolution, and my all time favorite skee ball!! My Zennial spirit was happy for this bit of nostalgia.

The food is delicious especially the fresco pizza! Service is without a doubt top notch! No matter…read morewho is behind the bar day or night you'll be met with a smiling face and the best service around! It can get crowded on Fridays and Saturdays but that's to be expected when everyone loves it here. It has pool tables and darts. It also has karaoke on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Great place to take friends for a great night out! Ambiance is warm and inviting and a place where everyone will know your name eventually.

We visited The Fireplace Bar for Friday night karaoke. This is a dive bar, in a good way. There are…read morepool tables and darts. It was very loud when we visited, not because of the karaoke, so it was a bit difficult to speak with the bartenders. I guess people were having a good time! There are lots of drink choices at reasonable prices. There is also food, which I didn't try. For the karaoke, you go up to the KJ get into the queue, and then add your songs across the evening for each of your turns. There was quite a variety being sung. You sing in front of the fireplace. There is a little bit of room to dance around the edges but not much. Despite being a "nonsmoking" bar, there were patrons vaping indoors and there was a cigarette smell inside (perhaps wafting in from the smokers outside?). The ladies bathroom was very clean. There is free parking outside in their attached lot, but you might have to get creative if you get there later in the night, as the lot gets crowded. This bar has a fun vibe for your friend group to go blow off some steam, but probably not a good place to take a first date.

Went in late & the bartender was more than accommodating. I had never been to this place- honestly…read moredidnt even know it was in the hotel. Its a dark cabiny vibe. The drinks are stroooooong & delicious. We walked around the hotel after & were amused with the decor. Check it out. Perfect place for a drink to catch up w friends.

Just because it wasn't what I was looking for, I can't punish the store, and I think I'm not…read more.. But I'm going to admit with "Fox and Hounds", the problem was my expectations. British Bar INSIDE a "British designed hotel", so I had my hopes probably heightened more that it should have with my previous British bar results. I went in thinking British craziness and got a "Edgar Allen Poe" feel... But I'm going to say this was NOT what I was expecting. First and foremost, your eyes are going to need adjusting. Plain and simple, it felt more like a dark ... room? (Part of the problem I think is that as it was already June, you can forget using the fireplace to lighten the room up) so it felt.. "Small", and I"m going to feel weird saying this... "Romantic Horrorfest". Wait, before you go "wha??", this isnt' necessarily a bad thing. The Taxidermy , the photos on the wall. the fireplace. the VERY (and I mean VERY) dim lighting... The limited seating on the main floor, the one door in and out it had a "wooden cabin feel".. Yes, if you had a wonderful romantic film and it was suddenly invaded by some monster villain... This where it would take place and it would be perfect. (See I can find positive things to say about things i wasn't looking for) As for the service, apparently (going back to the Romantic filmfest), I was struggling to get any attention for the bartendress, cause I guess I was solo'ing by myself, and because of how I wasn't able to get the bartendress attention... I kinda felt like an unwanted customer in a place more for couples or friends getting together which had me leaving shortly thereafter, so no real food score (although I will say, much like Oh London ,the menu wasn't really much to work through...), Anyway, no TV's, no world cup game on the air.. just like I said a vibe of a cabin in a "romantic movie, where the monsters lurk". And Apologies for some of the iffy pictures, it just didn't feel right using a flash on the camera in such a secluded locale) and like I said, it wasnt' what I was expecting (rowdy British fans watching the local club or something), but there's something about it that even i have to admit, would make this location a nice "date night" or "out with friends' location, more so than just a single person looking for a nightcap. (And Maybe there really is a monster hiding in the fireplace, to keep the "Horror" feel going?? :)