Oh, Daddy. I like Catdaddy's…read more Catdaddy's recently went under new ownership. It's a new partnership that is mainly women. They are promoting themselves as, "A female owned space where women can let their hair down and have fun...We've got your back." They're promoting a safe place for ladies to have fun and not have to go it alone when feeling uncomfortable. The entire crew will have your back. It's a safe place. I met two female friends here for Happy Hour this past Friday. I thought I'd arrive early to secure a table, when I did the bar was already packed and it was just 5PM. I was greeted by a male bartender, who poured a good and refreshing Tito's with Seltzer. Pricing for a call brand was cheap. Not sure if it was a HH deal or not. I'll update that on next visit. The best way to describe, Catdaddy's is that it is an upscale dive bar. Its crowd was a good mix of ages, sexes and diversity. We were still there during the bartender change and the young lady who came on duty was also, attentive and friendly. There's no full kitchen, but they do offer bar pizzas, if you need a nosh to cut the liquor. I had fun, so I know I'll be back.

Really cool place in downtown Alton. Came here with my family and we had a great time. Very lively…read moreand well decorated place. I would recommend coming here to anybody who's looking for a fun bar experience. Service was quick and everything is great. Nice big space and plenty of parking in the area. I'm looking forward to coming back in the future, surprised I've never been here before as an Alton native.

Morrison's Irish Pub - Alton, IL…read more We finally stopped into Morrison's and it delivered that cozy, old-world Irish pub charm you want when you walk through those doors. I had the Irish cheese sandwich, Justin went with the corned beef -- and both were genuinely good. Comforting, hearty, and exactly what you hope for in a pub meal. Now... the kitchen was moving a bit slow this visit. Was it noticeable? Yes. Was it worth the wait? Also yes. Because Sam -- the female bartender -- absolutely made the experience. Fun, engaging, and the kind of personality that makes you feel like you're already a regular even if it's your first visit. That kind of service turns a "slow day" into a good memory. The menu is packed with authentic Irish favorites, and honestly, next time we're absolutely going to lean fully into the classics -- because this feels like a place that does traditional comfort food right. One small wish: I really wish they made their own chips. The bagged chips were a little lackluster and felt like a missed opportunity next to an otherwise hearty, made-with-care menu. Overall: a great spot that was likely just having an off day -- and still absolutely worth your time. Don't leave without ordering the pear cider. It is absolutely fabulous. Bright, crisp, lightly sweet, and dangerously drinkable. We'll be back -- and we're coming hungry.

This was my first time and let me tell you...it will not be my last! The food was phenomenal! The…read moreservice was perfect and the staff were amazing! The vibe had me wanting to book a trip to Ireland!

This place is what an arcade should be. Love going here. Went here with family and it's a lovely…read moreexperience. The games break down but the staff fix them quickly or reimburse, they're incredibly good with their service. The drinks are great, the games are fun, the food is delicious, and it doesn't close till 3am. What is not to like? There's 2 levels of games of all kinds for all numbers of people. There's a smoking patio. It's a great spot. One of my instant favorites.

Only giving this a "maybe" rating because my husband and I literally only drove by it by accident…read more Regardless, we will definitely be back to visit and I will give my full rating. I'm so excited for Alton - this place looks awesome! A good mix of adult and family fun. The bar area had a row of alcoholic slushies which I'm super excited to try! The food menu appeared to be extensive enough - wings, pizza, fries - what you'd expect at an event center. The service itself appeared to be pretty quick as they kept calling out orders. The building itself (split level with a basement) had games on each floor! I'm talking about Mario Kart, Guitar Hero, Connect 4, VR gaming, old school arcade games, pinball, racing, karaoke. Multiple options to choose from, wall to wall! I look forward to visiting again soon!

I'm biased because we frequent often, but if you still haven't made it over, do yourself a favor…read moreand go! Hubby and I were gifted tickets to their 11 year celebration. We were greeted by the owner, Lauren. During the event, we were housed in the newly renovated event space. Perfect for intimate events. They served guests a full spread complete and drinks on the house. The food was actually very delicious. There was this sort of cheese dip that we ate - all I know is that it had corn in it and spices, but everyone went back for seconds! It was good! (Put it as a regular menu option *wink wink*). Live music, photo ops, and a tour of the brewery where all the magic happens. Lauren led the tour and when I tell you she is knowledgeable, she is very knowledgeable! To learn about their inception makes me appreciate it even more. Go check them out!

I loved this place. I don't drink, but I got to try their local sodas, which lack all the HFCS…read morestuff and has real sugar. It was called Excel Bottling Company. I was pleasantly surprised. The walk to the restaurant area is very pretty and historic as well! They had board games and it felt pretty homey! The food was good, except for my fried chicken sandwich. It seemed to be over cooked, making it hard to chew from the outside. I enjoyed everything else, though! The service was great, too!

After enjoying dinner at a restaurant in downtown Alton, I wanted something else to do. So I did…read moresome Yelp, FB and Google searches and found out that Bubby & Sissy's was having their 20th Miss Bubby & Sissy's Pageant. Watching that would be something else to do and it would be totally different. The crowd for this evening show was almost as entertaining as the contestants and guest performers. It was an excellent mix of diverse individuals. There were multiple M/F couples, senior citizens, Bachelorette Party and of course many members of the LGBTQ community. I even saw my waitress from the restaurant, when she got off work. The bartenders were hustling making sure everyone had a cocktail, as they enjoyed the pageant. Two of the bartenders I knew from other establishments in the community, but they work at B&S now, because we all know gays are good tippers. Don't judge Bubby & Sissy's for being a bar supporting the LGBTQ community. Just think of it as a dive bar supporting the local community. I've seen wild deer out on their patio. So if deer feel safe at B&S, you can, too.

This is one of the last bars with acclamation of a Gay Bar. The best is that the bartendWes George,…read moreTrish, David Roni, and Bubby welcome everyone and ensure they have a great and safe experience. highly recommended, Great Female impersonators and shows on the weekends. .

We decided to make a whole day in Alton and Firehouse made the list…read more If you decide to make a day in Alton, this spot should be a must visit. They have a great indoor bar area and a fantastic outdoor bar area. I hope they market the outdoor area because it's perfect for summer and fall. The staff (we had Summer as a bartender-amazing) was great! We went right before Halloween and we learned the area always puts in a great Halloween parade.

It's a true "dive bar". It's a cash only bar. It's a heavy pour bar…read more When I moved to the Riverbend area, I thought it would be fun to visit all the local "dive bars". This one is located in downtown Alton just a few doors up from one of my favorite restaurants. I was picking up some bakery items across the street and also shopped at a new boutique next to the bakery. When I finished, I thought it was time for a cocktail and checking out another dive. The bartender was friendly and heavy on his free pour of my Tito's vodka. I use to bartender, so when they free-pour I watch and can tell if they go over or short a shot. My cocktail was refreshing. While I enjoyed my cocktail, it was interesting people watching. Everyone else in the bar knew each other and were buying each other shots. It was a beautiful day and the original garage door to the old firehouse was open. The other day drinkers were going back and forth from the patio and bar area. I am glad I got to experience another dive bar in my new hometown, but I can tell you, my neck is not red enough to return to this one. I truly stood out amongst this crowd. I didn't feel uncomfortable, but I was not a match for the clientele. When: March 27, 2021 Why: Dive Bar & Day Drinking

I ordered a cheeseburger and fries from the bar at Argosy Casino, and honestly, it was about as…read morebasic as it gets. The burger tasted like standard frozen fast food,no real flavor, or freshness and the fries were just cold, nothing crispy or seasoned enough to stand out. It wasn't terrible, but it definitely wasn't good either. For a casino setting, I expected at least some effort or flavor. This felt more like a quick filler meal than something worth recommending. If you're hungry and need something fast, it'll do--but don't expect anything special.

I love the atmosphere! Tons of games on the TV. People having a good time watching the games. There…read moreis a bar there to get all your drinks. The menu has appetizers and sandwiches and a few dinner plates. I was kinda shocked there was not more to choose from since this is in a casino! Some casinos have a buffet but they did not. However the bar tender was super nice. The food was great.

I love me some, Flock. It's a food truck park with a kick ass bar…read more The bartenders are masters of their skill. They can make you a classic cocktail, a simple liquor and mixer drink, or one of their specialty cocktails. My personal favorite from the specialty menu is, "I'll Have What Phil is Having". Imagine a cocktail if an, Old Fashioned and Manhattan could have a baby. It's taking the best of each of those classic cocktails and combining them into one. Thursday nights are for Trivia. This past Thursday, I thought they were too easy, but they got harder and harder as the rounds progressed. I still did okay, but some had me saying, What? Who? and Where? Occasionally on the week-ends you'll be lucky to catch live music. It's all outside, don't you don't have to worry about it being too loud. Listening to local musicians, helps the cocktails go down smoothly. The Brydies food truck is always there and at times you'll see a guest food trucks offering more variety. As stated earlier, the bartenders are awesome. However, sometimes I worry about myself, because a bartender at a food truck park knows my name and what I drink.

When I tell you, The Flock is MY PLACE. I really want to keep this Gem a secret but I also want to…read moretell the world about it. I loooove the Flock. The vibe... perfect. The drinks.... delicious. The Food.... great. The Atmosphere... everything. The massive covered patio is perfect for any weather and the food truck park so spacious. And when the sun goes down, there are lights outside offering such a good vibe. They have a great trivia night and hold all kinds of other events. 4th July here is a must do.