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.

Great atmosphere and strong drinks at The Famous Bar! Parking available behind the building with a…read morefew steps down to enter. Handicapped accessible parking located in front of the bar. Two pools tables and a golf game inside along with lots of chairs at the bar and high top tables too. No kitchen, but they do have snacks to buy including terrific beef jerky! Bartenders are amiable and knowledgeable. Service is very prompt. Clean bathrooms too.

This is THE place to go when it comes to martinis in Stl. A few of us came in a small group and…read morewith it being late in the night, we still managed to get in on the pool tables and find a place to sit. The list of martinis is extensive and considering they have a martini for every taste profile, you can't go wrong. Even though they all looked good, I couldn't help but go with my favorite Three Olives Grape and Sprite with a lime. The atmosphere was lively as there were pockets of people in deep conversations, people playing pool, and others happy to be there in the moment. I mostly sat on the couch while my boyfriend and his friend played pool. The couch was super comfy, which is always a plus. While we didn't stay long, I certainly enjoyed my there and def intend on coming back to try some martinis!

[July 2025] A group of myself and 6 other friends came here on a Wednesday night to send a friend…read moreoff (she was moving to another state) over karaoke. I've always loved this place. From occasional piano bar to karaoke. This is probably hands down one of my top 3 favorite bars when it comes to having a consistent tasting cocktail. We had several shots that night and surprisingly they had pizza! So, we ordered a sausage pizza as well. The bartenders are amazing there and I always have a great experience!

This is a great dive bar and I am so glad I went the other night! Parking was super easy to find on…read morethe street and when my friends and I arrived, we were easily able to grab a table for the 10 of us (we were celebrating a bday). The bartenders were helpful and I appreciated how they had a specific spot to stand if you wanted to place an order. Genius! They had live music when we got there and it was quite loud so it was hard to talk to people at our table, but we managed. They had some bar games that some people were playing and the atmosphere was just right for a chill Friday night. Some of my friends were hungry so they ordered a pizza which looked good. It was typical bar food so they said it was just okay, but since they were hungry, it was enjoyed! They have some seating outside, but it was too cold to be out there. But I can see this being a fun spot in warmer weather! Bathrooms were clean which was impressive for a Friday night.

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.

Cute little spot. Off elm near 44. We came without…read morereservations but were able to grab the bar by the window. Have an extensive cocktail menu. Ordered a couple drinks. Server checked on us & made recommendations on drinks when asked. They have some unique cocktails which was nice for a change from the standard cocktail. They had fun ice cubes with the name etched in them.

Off Elm? Yep, it's just two doors down on Big Bend and they're laughing and having a party…read more The staff of bartenders are from STL Barkeep, so you instantly know the cocktails are masterfully made. I came for a HH and enjoyed three different cocktails. My first was a Gold Rush. It's basically a Bees Knees with Vodka instead of Gin. It was light and refreshing, making it a great start. The second cocktail was one of my all-time favorites, a Old Fashioned. I can honestly say, it was one of the best, if not the absolute best one I have ever had. I finished the HH with a Espresso Martini. It was a good ending to my HH. They use a Cold Brew instead of true espresso, so it had a milder coffee taste. My nosh while drinking was a, Jalapeño Popper Dip. It was okay, in my opinion, it did not fit the description on the menu. Especially, the type of chips described. My friend ordered, The Small Board and it was fantastic and a good value. Our bartenders were friendly and as I stated earlier, they are masters of their skill. What stopped them from getting a 5 Star review, is simple. They do not offer a Martini on their Happy Hour Menu. I'm a Martini Man and that disappointed me, but it wont keep me away, it just keeps them short of 5 Stars.

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.

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

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.

Cool little hole in the wall dive bar. My husband is totally into spots like these, so he was…read moreecstatic to be here. PLUS an awesome patio out back. Bartenders were friendly and effecient, and drink prices were fantastic. I haven't been able to justify buying my bartender a shot in YEARS, but I did here. I fear if we lived in the area, we would be in here a lot haha!

Good atmosphere on a Saturday! Made our way through a good number of buckets throughout the night…read moreand servers were attentive, but started off with a Guinness (personal favorite) and was left bitterly disappointed seeing it being badly poured straight into the glass giving it the "milkshake" effect. Would go back but wouldn't order a Guinness!