50 Best Cocktail Bars near Clayton

“So..... this place is a hidden gem in Clayton. You gotta check out the High Bar up on the 11th floor of the AC Hotel, operated by Marriott. Everyone from the GM and manager to the wait staff and bartenders were extremely helpful, professional and on their 'A' game for the entire evening. They have a great bar with nice spacious booths, tables and a lounge area with leather sofas for seating. The entire hotel staff was amazing, including the front desk clerks and valet. Highly recommend.“

“Stayed up late and made a reservation a month in advance for my hubby‘s birthday and it was well worth it. Wright’s has a romantic & moody vibe, perfect for a date night. We started off with the crab cake which was by far the most delectable bite we had. An absolute must have! For our entrees, we chose the potato-crusted halibut and 14oz New York strip. The halibut was delicate in flavor, but the lemon beurre blanc sauce packed richness. Unfortunately the NY strip was disappointing. It was cooked to a perfect medium rare, however the steak & crust itself was dry & tough. We would recommend future guests just stick with the seafood entree options, as they were absolutely delicious. The onions rings were good as is, but the tavern aioli made them great. The service we received was impeccable. Overall, we still had a 5 star experience at Wright’s and will be back!“

“Wow this place was amazing, I cannot wait to go back next time I’m in town!!! The menu was a unique take on brunch familiar brunch items. Everything sounded so good it was tough to decide what to get. We all got different meals to share and all of it was delicious! And pretty big portions, oh it was SO good. I had a medicinal mushroom coffee tasted great and had me feeling great all day.“

“What a wonderful end to our day. fast friendly clean and the food was AMAZING... not to mention the drinks, stout and made right. 10/10 Love this spot.“

“AMAZING FOOD ! Bao was so soft and warm . The soft shell crab was fried perfectly. Couldn’t recommend this place more .“

“The best eggs Benedict I have ever had! Muffins toasted perfectly, eggs done perfectly, delicious hollandaise, the most crispy & meaty ham/bacon ever... all served warm from a smiling server! The waitress was so sweet and accommodating with our family including our daughter and two young grandchildren. The hostess who seated us was so friendly. So, from beginning to end we had a wonderful experience! Thank you all so much!“

“Absolutely delightful! The pizza had the best gluten free crust and the Ozark mushrooms on top were so fresh. I will absolutely be back“

“Cocktails. Food. Service. Music. Vibe. Everything was top tier. Had a lovely time and we will be back again. We made a reservation on Google, it was simple and we got sat right away. Can’t wait to go back!“

“This was a wonderful cocktail bar. The mixologists were super personable and so much fun! The drinks were delicious and inventive. Thanks for a great night!“

“My husband and I have been to to The Vandy twice.

Once to have a cocktail: the service was great, the ambiance was awesome, but the drinks were incredible!

The second time for a mixology class (Oct 2025): set up was great, but our Mixology Expert, Parker? TOP NOTCH. We expected a fun time learning, making, and having drinks, but it was more than that. It was an awesome experience. He was so knowledgeable, accomodating, and just overall superb! I highly recommend doing this class! It was a great Saturday afternoon date.“

“Let’s get one thing straight, the Arancini Bites at 360 Westport are not food… they’re a full-blown personality trait.
I ordered them thinking, “Yeah yeah, fried rice balls, how life-changing could this really be?”

Turns out… I was wildly unprepared.
These things show up looking all casual, golden, minding their own business, then you take one bite and suddenly you’re sitting there in silence, questioning why you’ve tolerated lesser appetizers your entire life. Crispy on the outside, molten three-cheese chaos on the inside like it was engineered by someone who clearly understands power.

And then they hit you with the marinara, not some sad side sauce, but a full supporting actor that deserves billing. Pecorino romano comes in hot with that salty punch, and the truffle oil? Just enough to remind you that you’re eating something way out of your league.

Here’s the problem… they only give you so many. Which is bold. Because now you’re sitting there doing math, deciding which “friends” at the table you’re willing to cut out of your life so you can secure one more bite.

By the end, I wasn’t sharing. I wasn’t talking. I wasn’t even pretending to be a decent human being. I was protecting the last arancini like it was my retirement plan.

360 Westport didn’t just make an appetizer, they created a situation.
Order them. And if you don’t… stay home.

You’re not ready.“

“Amazing people, a spectacular Benton Park gem for those located nearby. No fake fancery or pompous attitude, just some awesome people, both bartenders and customers. Also- you can BYO food. And there is a Rallys a block away. So, in essence, they serve rally’s. If that’s your thing.“

“The melon cocktail paired perfectly with the spicy food! Food was delicious, glad we tried this place out. But be prepared for some heat in most dishes! They were also out of the salad we wanted to try so that was a little disappointing. Would have been the perfect cold element to balance out all the heat.“

“I want to extend my deep gratitude to the great Hostess last Saturday afternoon who kindly went above and beyond her responsibilities not only as a host but as a human being by letting me (offering!) charge my lon foot and had a dead phone. It was about 4 pm and the place was slightly busy (almost outside full and inside) but not much else was around the area so my hunch and restaurant experience tells me they’re doing everything right: good food, good prices and good staff. The atmosphere is inviting, unpretentious and sort of a homey, cozy n stylish flair. I would’ve rather stayed and ate but thankfully the hostess helped me on my way. thank you for helping and not being annoyed when I asked for directions twice! (Also,“

“Go to this bar. Bike parking right up front, every band I've seen so far are all very good, I immediately made friends with everyone there, I became family in 3 visits. Everyone watches out for everyone, no fights, drinks are very reasonable, there's good parking around back. The bar owner Judy commands respect and everyone loves her. If you like slayer, and pink Floyd, and grateful dead, and megadeth, this is the bar. I'd say it's my favorite bar period.“

“Always a fun place to go to have a relaxing time!!“

“Honestly, some of the best and most creative drinks in all of STL. The atmosphere is also amazing. The orange creamsicle drink is probably one of the best things I have ever tasted. Great bar right in central west end next to the chess museum.“

“Wonderful experience all around. From their delicious unique cocktails at the bar with very knowledgeable staff, to the amazing food experiences we had for dinner. Fantastic wine list with a really unique experience!“

“Great place to connect with friends and family.“

“This little dive bar is so adorable. There were a couple of pups there which i loved. But im not sure if dogs are allowed so they might have been service dogs. The bartender was very nice and i even got "gonged" for being a first timer. It sucks they dont serve food. But the regulars there were very nice and welcoming. There is a touch tunes juke box available. Only down side is that there is smoking allowed inside. But i will definitely be back because it was a great experience.“

“The food is top tier for me, the environment, the , vibe, the music. it's like one big family reunion everytime we meet.I love Janey she a young black queen with a beautiful soul“

“friendly. neighborhood bar vibe. a place where you can drink and think or laugh and talk. oh, you can smoke in here! small stage for karaoke/live music. no darts or pool table but there is golden tee! smokers can be free here (they have a cig machine.) super friendly service. 5/5 will be coming back here for sure“

“NBC was a really nice place to go and hang out and socialize. It was pretty crowded but the people it was crowded with was pretty cool and laid-back. The drinks was good they weren't to water down and the prices were Fair. My overall experience at NBC was great.“

“Pretty nasty hole in the wall. Thank God it's shut down.“

“My fiancé and I always have such a great time when we visit. We LOVE viewing the latest art being displayed and the Dj/Dance atmosphere. The staff is kind and eclectic and professional. We highly recommend this spot!!“

“Awesome place!!! they make ANY type of drink, anyway you want it!!! Plus, the main bartender there is amazing!!! 💯“

“I had an amazing experience at Tschuss! The atmosphere is vibrant, and the drinks are top-notch. A special shoutout to bartender Kellen, who was incredibly friendly and made some of the best cocktails I've ever tasted. Also, big thanks to bar back Alex for ensuring everything ran smoothly behind the scenes. Their teamwork really made the night enjoyable! I can't wait to come back. Highly recommend this spot!“

“Absolutely incredible food and service here. We’ve done both dinner and brunch. One of our favorite spots in STL. Highly recommend“

“This place was AMAZING!! The food was so thoughtfully creative and prepared with obvious talent and love. We enjoyed meeting owner brothers and hearing their story of bringing their Yucatan culture and roots to the St. Louis food scene. Everything we tried was beyond delicious. This is a must-try for authentic Mexican food inspired by the Yucatan region.“

“Great cocktails, food, and service. Maggie was a great waitress!“

“This is the best burger in the city. I will die on this hill lol“

“The espresso martini flight is AH-mazing!“

“I absolutely love The Fountain on Locust! It is by far one of my favorite restaurants in St. Louis! The food is amazing and the dessert is always the perfect way to end the meal! Every time I have been to The Fountain on Locust, I have left happier than when I came in! The staff is very welcoming and they always do a great job, providing top-tier service!“

“Great drinks. Sting so worth the price“

“Great food, great service, great atmosphere, & great vibes!!!“

“The waiter was excellent! The food was amazing. The entire staff did a awesome job with greeting and service! I will definitely be back🎉🥰“

“Great wine, place to lounge and relax with friends . Best bartender and server“

“As a person with Celiac visiting your town I felt so welcome and safe- and it was a huge treat to eat an entire plate of yummy fried goodness that was safely prepared for someone like me. But the awesomeness didn’t stop there- the friendly bartender shared more Celiac safe local hotspots with us as well!“

“While I did not eat there myself, I called in from 600 miles away to surprise my son and his girlfriend! They were there to celebrate his birthday and the news that he had just passed the Bar exam! The staff were just as excited to be in on the plan as I was - they asked all the right questions to make sure it went down exactly as I envisioned and even called me afterwards to let me know it was a success! This South Carolina Mom really appreciated how the restaurant took the extra time on a busy Friday night (Halloween no less) to make patrons feel special! THANK YOU!“

“Uniquely decorated inside, and it's beautiful. Outside patio is awesome, loved the music, We had amazing service as well♥️ and great food!“

“The food is amazing. The location is great. The service is impeccable. This is THE place to be!“

“Beautiful place. Excited to try their night time cocktail hour.“

“an amazing restaurant, amazing food, owners and staff have hearts of gold“

“The drinks here are incredibly affordable! This is truly a hidden gem in south city. The patio is gorgeous and the live music and DJ shows are plentiful! This is a great place to gather with friends, especially on a beautiful night outside!“

“I stumbled upon this gem on Halloween and it has easy become me and my friends favorite spot to unwind and enjoy a nice cocktail. The Passport is relaxing, family ran , and very intimate, the music is 10/10, the drinks are handcrafted by some amazing Bartenders who knowledgeable and friendly, it’s a must try! I definitely know you won’t be disappointed!“

“Fabulous food. So glad they have re-opened“

“Bar PM doesnt have food but they make up for it in good vibes!
I truly enjoy the lgbtq+/ all-inclusive atmosphere they provide. The music is always top notch, the staff is extremely friendly and quick to serve! They also have a super cute patio and open-air garage area, giving patrons a variety of areas to hang, dance or socialize. They also host some really unique, fun and exciting events that Ive thoroughly enjoyed attending or vending with my business. This Bar is definitely a hidden GEM in St. Louis!“

“We had a great dinner. Kids had the steak and unlike many places, they were willing to go as rare as my 8 year old wanted for her child size steak which was nice. Service was also great, excellent timing and attention. …and bit off topic but if the hostess with the curly red hair sees this, I hope you know that your natural runway walk doesn’t need to be ignored.. if you aren’t modeling, you should be! ✨💃🏼“

“Great bartenders, fun cocktails, and overall good time. Highly recommend!“