*Cash only! Buuuut worth it*…read more I was in Saint Louis for one (1) night recently in early autumn, and my pal, STL Yelp Community Manager Max R, suggested our group meet here for a queer dance party on a Saturday night. UMMMM, YES PLEASE. My boyfriend and I showed up around 10:30 and were ecstatic to find how low-key and unique the place was, and knowing how inclusive it is makes it all the more badass. He grabbed us each a can of Hamm's, because when in Rome, and we headed out to the back area to meet our friends. This was where I became truly invested. Livery Company has a fabulous outdoor space, and when I say "fabulous," I mean it feels like you're hanging out in someone's backyard, except you are at a bar. It was about 55-60 degrees on this particular Saturday, so pretty chilly, but we still very much enjoyed ourselves around the big bonfire that was burning, because we were surrounded by both people we knew, and people who were welcoming even though we were new. The entire vibe of Livery Company is divey-inclusive-comforting, and I think that's the highest compliment I can give. I'm SO glad we were invited to this particular space during a very quick trip to STL. Thank you for existing, Livery Company.

Quintessential Dive Bar!…read more When you look up South City Dive Bar on Google, Livery Company on South Broadway should be the first one on the list. Everything about it makes it the quintessential South City dive bar. Emily Ebeling has been a city business owner for quite some time. She first opened Livery Company on Cherokee Street, and her clientele grew quickly. Years after she closed that location, the South Broadway has just as much appeal as its predecessor. Cheap bar and unique music. What else can you ask for? LC hosts artists from different genres, but mostly singer-songwriters. They have a monthly songwriters showcase where local musicians share brand new works. I have met some very cool people and now have more talented friends than ever, all because of Livery's commitment to local artists. And the beer is cheap. Yes, they had me at cheap beer. You can get domestic cans for two dollars each, and many of the craft beers are four dollars. I can drink all night on less than a twenty dollar bill. That has dive bar written all over it. And cash only. I am a huge fan. Establishments that welcome diversity and celebrate local talent are well-appreciate. Cheers to Livery Company!

This bar is such a vibe! Went for a burlesque show and boy did they deliver! The show was…read morephenomenal, great entertainment! They had a local fundraiser going on as well. They have great drink specials and a limited menu. We got the pepperoni pizza and it was delicious and hit the spot! Staff was all very friendly. They were attentive and striked up conversation with us.

Fun place! It's been a while since I have been in a divey bar. Nice selection of local beers and…read moresome featured cocktails. We just stopped in for a drink, but the booths were cozy (lamps and chargers included) and you could easily stay a while. It wasn't very busy on a Thursday, and we got our drinks and closed our tab quickly. I hear they do trivia and concerts and I'm sure that's a good time. Loved the festive 12-foot skeleton dressed for the season (like a pilgrim). The quirky decor makes it a fun place to start or end a night out in South City.

Iowa Buffet has been on my Yelp Bookmarks, for many years and I've finally visited. Let me begin by…read moretelling you it is definitely not in Iowa. It's not even on Iowa Avenue, it's at the corner of Iowa and Winnebago. Also, it's not a buffet. Its name is all a lie. What it truly is, is a diehard dive bar. If Bette Davis walked in she'd say, "What a dump." The decor is totally tacky and that is part of its charm. Another part of its charm is the welcoming atmosphere. When we entered not only did the bartender say, but so did a couple of the guest already seated at the bar. When reading the menu for your first time, you'll be shocked at low-low prices. Our plan was to have cheeseburgers and fries, but once we saw the pricing, we added wings as an appetizer. We had our wings, plain with Bleu Cheese for dipping. We received 6 pieces, 3 flats and 3 drums. I like it when the chicken pieces are the same quantity. They were super crispy and seasoned with only pepper and salt. I built my own cheeseburger. As my cheese, I chose Pepper Jack and added raw onion and jalapeños as garnishes. To make it perfect, all I had to add was ketchup and mustard. My dining partner enjoyed a Hank Burger, but changed the cheese from American to Pepper Jack. We both gave our burgers a thumbs up. Our adult beverage was Vodka and Club Soda. When the bartender brought us our drinks, at first we thought they were glasses of water. Yep, the cocktails were made in huge water glasses and they were strong. It's exactly what I'd expect from a dive bar. If you're on a tight budget and want to out, head over to Iowa Buffet for a budget friendly fun time. Good food and strong cocktails on the cheap.

If you love, great jukebox music that surprises you and like smash burgers and you like a dive bar…read morethat serves great food. This is the place for you, especially on Saturdays when they serve barbecue try the ribs, pork steak and now that summer you can get brats and also hamburgers.

Went here with friends for brunch. The place has a cool retro vibe. By the time I got there my…read morefriends were already seated so I joined them. For brunch, I an iced lavender latte and the good morning sunshine. My coffee and food were delicious. The good morning sunshine had a bit of everything. After brunch we hung around and played a game for a bit. Only complaint was that they sat a family with little kids next to us and they were pretty loud. Parking in this area was a bit confusing, but tims is a cool place and they do bingo on Sunday's so I def want to go back for that!

Impossible to write about Tim's without talking about the fabulous retro design. So fun. I've…read morebecome such a fan of their brunch the last year or so. Sometimes with a DJ sometimes without, the drinks are great and OMG right now I'm in love with the Shell Ya Benny. Eggs Benedict with crab, and I'm super picky about hollandaise. And the little dish of free donut holes that they give you at the beginning it always yum. Our server this weekend was the lovely and attentive Raven. Now fair warning - the drinks are good. For serious! so it's entirely possible/probable that whatever your plans were for the day will be waylaid if you have more than two or three. ;) so plan accordingly.

Cheap booze, friendly staff, local bands. It's a great place to check out when you're in the area…read more Stop by for a pregame drink.

Great ambience, a very diverse crowd I really love the…read moreplace. I can't wait to go back extremely friendly bartenders, and the crowd was amazing.

Another fun party at Small Change!…read more Happy Tiki Birthday to Jamie and Bill! I love the cocktail creations that include the Big O Liquor, this year I enjoyed the Back Breaker and the Big O-Spresso Martini. The Back Breaker was refreshing with the different fruit flavors and had a cute pineapple swizzle stick. The Big O-Spresso was very rich with lots of cream, yum Good Strangers was there proving Tiki inspired tacos, I tried both the chicken and the brisket and both were great but the chicken was the winner for me, that slaw was such a great addition! Order at the bar or with a waitress, everyone is having a great time decked out in Tiki gear and the bar full of lots of props. Always a good time!

What a sweet spot to grab a drink and enjoy some good company…read more Stopped in for a night cap with a friend. The place is steeped in pride for both STL and LGBTQ+ community. The bartenders were awesome. We walked up to the bar and both bartenders got things rolling for us quickly. They have a really solid menu as well. They have some wildly unique cocktail options that blend dive bar ingredients with a craft cocktail approach. The vibes were great. The back patio was super nice and a great spot to just relax. I got a gimlet which was beautiful. Slightly tart, with just enough sweetness to balance it all out. There are not many things on this planet better than getting a damn good cocktail at a dive bar.

Amazing place!!! great vibes, everyone was extremely nice and friendly. Came from out of town and…read morereally glad we stopped in.

The Whiskey Ring is still going strong! It's an inclusive, welcoming space with great cocktails, a…read morefine selection of craft (and other) beer, and super friendly service. Of course they live up to their name, with dozens of bottles of whiskey and scotch. The vibe is cozy and cool, with plenty of barstools and booths. Step out on the huge patio when the weather's right for yet another party, with ample picnic tables and a second bar. Stop by on Western Wear Nights to see all the best--and most creative--takes on cow-person styles! The Whiskey Ring has a solid social media game so it's easy to track who's playing (I've bands and DJs) and what drinks are extra-special. Notes: street parking only. No food. I don't know whether they're officially "adults only" but I've never seen kids here.

I absolutely love a dive bar! A colleague recommended the Tavern and the Hawaiian restaurant next…read moredoor. The space is the perfect incarnation of a time warp. Where and when I've been transported to isn't quite certain but 1970's feels about right. You could spend an hour browsing the tchotchkes and knick knacks. The space offers plenty of seating at the bar or tables, so bring a friend or two. During the nicer weather, the back patio offers cozy seating with fire pits. The bar is cash only. They offer the standard fare of beer, cocktails, and wine. The service is fast and friendly. Pro tip: come hungry, the restaurant next door offers table delivery via QR code. I have a deep appreciation for community and the businesses that continually invest in the places and people that support them. Camaraderie through events like pot lucks, field day, and other social events is what makes this place a local gem.

Update: Tick Tock Tavern is better than ever! Still cash only, still laid-back and welcoming. Draft…read morebeers are around $3-$7 and cocktail specials are $6-$7. (Recommended: the gin rickey, generously loaded with lime.) Steve's Hot Dogs is no longer next door; instead enjoy Buzz's Hawaiian Grill Wednesday-Monday.