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!

For a cocktail bar, I give this place 5/5 stars. The alcoholic and alcohol free cocktails are…read moredelicious and the vibe is immaculate. I particularly like how the menu has illustrations of the cocktails so you know how they are served. Plus everything is seasonal! For food, I give it a 4/5. The appetizers, including the cauliflower, onion rings, and poutine are excellent but the entree menu is limited to mostly sandwiches and I've found the entrees just ok-to-good for the price. It's easy to walk in for lunch but I recommend a reservation for dinner to avoid the chaos!

I've had several recommendations for this spot from friends and colleagues. I finally had the…read moreopportunity to stop in for brunch. I'm disappointed that it took me so long to make my way here. They won me over with the tiny dedicated parking lot. At my big age, difficult parking situations are a turn off and I will go home if I can't get reasonable parking. I was able to snag a space in the lot and headed in. The space is a bit dark with rich sage, brass, and terracotta. There are several hanging plants making it an inviting place. The bar has plenty of comfortable seating and cozy tables if you decide to bring some friends. Caleb was our server during our visit. He was an absolute delight. He made excellent cocktail suggestions. He looked after our group without being overly doting. Just a gem of a human. We tried approximately 9 cocktails during our visit. Did I mention we were at brunch! I highly recommend the peach bite and the Side Car. Every cocktail is thoughtfully made and well executed. They offer a small brunch menu along with the regular menu. I usually always get chilaquiles when they are available. But today the ruby trout and grits sounded perfect. This dish was amazing!! The trout was thin with crispy skin. The grits were creamy and delicious. The dish is topped with a house made radish pico and salsa macha. We also ordered a breakfast sandwich that was paired with the crispiest breakfast potatoes I've ever had. The burger and fries are also a good option. The seasoning on the fries is next level. The brunch menu has a sticky toffee roll that is a perfect size for sharing or not. Salty sweet fork tender cinnamon roll. Lastly, the deviled eggs were a group favorite. I am a big fan of Passenger Chili Crisp. If you are unfamiliar please look them up! It's hands down the best chili crisp I've ever had. It's locally made here in STL and can also be found in several dishes at restaurants around town. The eggs were creamy with the right amount of tang from the mustard. The chili crisp made these deviled eggs easily top five best I've ever had! Planning to stop in again soon for happy hour with more friends

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.

It's like drinking in a friend's basement, but drinking carefully crafted cocktails!…read more The mixologists were fun, inviting, and really made us feel at home. That coupled with the great drinks they are serving up make this such a fun place! The place is small, so be sure to make a reservation, you will be glad you did!

Drinks were good and fun atmosphere. We had a difficult time finding it which added to a fun…read moreexperience. The current set up was closing and change to open back up in February.

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!

Such a unique space. Finding out that this was an extension of Pagan Wine Bar was so interesting!…read moreIt feels like I've stepped into a dark, European space that serves aesthetic, delicious drinks. I ordered the Blue Skies and it was very floral. The blueberry soda added a nice balance, but highlighted the floral notes in the drink. Not something I would likely get again. Service was fast when we were seated, but we felt forgotten about as the crowd picked up. It was very busy on a Saturday night, but still a great time!

Saturdays are for cocktails! Just swung by Silk Road in the CWE for a cocktail aka the Central West…read moreEnd's very own neon shrine to pink and purple lighting (your Instagram feed will thank you). The vibe is disco unicorn and above ground speakeasy eloped and had a cocktail baby. Drinks are flowing, guests are chatting and seating is cozy. Plus, it shares the same half-block aura as Pagan Wine Bar, which is another favorite! Make sure you check the spot out!

Didn't know if we should enter - the sign for please wait to be seated is right inside the door and…read morethe restaurant is separated with a drape. I peaked my head in and no one was around I asked a customer if I come In it was awkward. The hostess was great and our server was great also! Explained all drinks and about the place. The food was so amazing - we got a bunch to try and liked each thing. The place is small and cozy without feeling crowded. It was a little dark

Staying in the CWE area and happened to walk into this amazing place, unsure where to start! From…read morethe great vibe to the best tracks playing to the inviting staff - this place was off to a great start. Then comes the menu with some of the best cocktails I've had in bit, and onto the food, which was amazing, I highly HIGHLY recommend! I started with the 'one trick pony' cocktail, then had the citrus ginger salad, and wrapped up with the chili-glazed pork belly. That combo

Went on a Wednesday evening after work. My friend and I pretty much had the whole place to…read moreourselves. We brought in food to go with our drinks and had a great chill night. The owners are the absolute sweetest. I ended up ordering their whipped coffee cocktail BUT decaf, and a chocolate martini. Both were absolutely perfect. Luvwoo always hits the mark. Great service, great drinks and great vibes.

First time trying out this cute little spot, been trying to get here for a while now! I'm glad I…read morewas able to stop in and check it out. They are drinks only however they do have snacks on hand that you can purchase which is cool. We ate before hand but I also seen them bringing out some pack eager ramen so that may be available for purchase as well. I love the uniqueness of the menu and the fact that they allow customer creations to be on the menu as well. Customer service was top tier! The drinks were great I'd give them a 9/10. I will def be back to visit.

If you spot the "John B. Gutmann Construction Co." sign on the building, you are at the right…read morelocation. There is no big Vandy sing outside when you walk up, but if you look closely to the side of the door you will get the confirmation you seek with the hard to read wooden sign etched with the name. The inside was long and narrow and the artificial greens all around gave it a cozy vibe. The place was packed on a Friday night and there was one lone bartender that was kicking butt and taking names. We did not have to wait long for our libation. Cocktail prices range between $12 - $16. They have a small snack menu offering things like mixed nuts, bacon wrapped dates, and deviled eggs. .|\---/| | @_@ | ..\_^_/..2026

Showed up for drinks before dinner. First time coming here, and was told to sit wherever. We waited…read morefor what seemed like 10 minutes before they made the comment that we had to walk up to the bar to order. Not a big deal, but would've been nice to know before sitting down. Ambiance is nice, natural light through the windows, greenery and lights from above was a nice touch. The drinks were ok. The description on the menu was vague in my opinion. I think the thing that turned me off the most was the bartenders openly vaping behind the bar. Not only is it unsanitary but also creates a bad look for the venue itself.

Fantastic happy hour from 3-5…read more The Elephant Never Forgets is an amazing creation. Best cocktail I've had in quite some time. I usually only have a cocktail when dining out...but I would buy a gallon of this to take home if I could. It's that good! The rest of the cocktail list is full of creativeness and I feel you can't go wrong with any of them. And then the dips! So good plus the homemade pita is delicious. Dinner menu starts at 5 so we stayed to try more of what The Rabbit has to offer. We ordered the onion rings, gnocchi and meatballs. Unexpectedly, the gnocchi was in a light yet very flavorful broth. It was our favorite dish from the dinner menu. The onion rings were okay and pretty greasy. The labneh sauce was the standout part of the onion rings. The meatballs were also flavorful with a hint of spice yet a tad bit dry. Still worth ordering.

This is my favorite restaurant in St. Louis!! The space is dark, elegantly intimate yet whimsical…read morewith candles and rabbit ears peeking up from lampshades - but it was their food and drink that blew me away. We ordered the NOR and Lillian's revenge cocktails, onion rings, mac & cheese, red snapper, pork tenderloin, and gooey butter cake. I love it when I get to experience flavors I've never had before and every dish gave me a revelation. The cocktails were perfectly balanced, the pork was cooked sous vide and so succulent, and the veggies were tender with drool-worthy flavor. Most of all, everything tasted so delicious and real. It was also not too expensive for this high quality of dining, delivered with warm, genuine service. Our dining experience was an incredible 10/10. I would recommend this restaurant to everyone and can't wait to return.