I love looking for a new (to me) speakeasy to visit. This one popped up during my search for…read moresomething to do neaby... sooo, why not?!? The dimply lit space was open, with plenty of intimate/cozy seating areas. Service was great & we enjoyed the cocktail options & appreciated the use of fresh herbs. I'd like to stop back when we have more time vs a quick stop-in... soon, soon

Such a cool place! The staff were great. The atmosphere was really neat and intimate. The drinks…read morewere great. Highly recommend it. Be sure to check their instagram for the daily password.

I literally live a 4 minute walk from here and have no idea why it took me this long to check it…read moreout. I took my boyfriend here last night for his 24th birthday celebration, and boy did it exceed every expectation. When we first arrived, we were taken aback by the waterfall feature at the front door. We genuinely thought we were at the wrong entrance. Turns out it was entirely intentional, and in the excitement of the evening, we forgot to ask about the story behind it. A fun little mystery to solve on our next visit. We arrived about 30 minutes early and were welcomed warmly from the moment we walked in. The staff gave us a lovely intimate table with a great view of the restaurant's eclectic decor and designs. The ambiance struck the perfect balance, lively and engaging without being so loud that we could not have a real conversation, which for my partner and me is genuinely one of the most important aspects of a dining experience. Since we both work incredibly busy schedules, this was not only a birthday celebration but our first proper date night in quite a while, and the atmosphere made it feel truly special. The staff even surprised us with a complimentary prosecco for the birthday, something we were absolutely not expecting and deeply appreciated. On the drinks side, although I am not personally a big drinker, my boyfriend loves exploring new spirits and cocktail combinations. The bartenders were fantastic: knowledgeable, approachable, and genuinely enthusiastic about their recommendations across both wines and spirits. They made the whole experience feel curated rather than transactional. Now, let me tell you about Jelly. Our server Jelly was, without question, the highlight of the entire evening, and that is saying a lot given how spectacular everything else was. I have a severe pineapple allergy, and if you dine out with food allergies, you know the usual routine. The server writes it down, maybe glances at it when the food arrives, and you spend the whole meal quietly hoping for the best. Jelly was on an entirely different level. She went completely above and beyond, meticulously checking every food option and wine pairing to ensure nothing contained pineapple and that there was zero risk of cross contamination. When a wine bottle did not clearly list its ingredients, she did not guess or assume. She looked it up on the internet right then and there to confirm it was safe for me. That gesture might sound simple, but for someone with a severe allergy, it is everything. It communicates that she genuinely cared about my wellbeing, not just about getting through her tables for the night. I felt completely taken care of, safe, and able to relax and enjoy myself without the anxiety that usually accompanies dining out with an allergy. Jelly, if you ever read this: thank you from the bottom of my heart. You are exceptional at what you do and an absolute asset to Blood & Sand. And now, the food, which was nothing short of breathtaking. From the presentation, to the pacing and timing, to the extraordinary depth of flavor on every plate, the food at Blood & Sand is spectacular and amazing in the truest sense of both words. My boyfriend and I had the 5 course tasting menu with wine pairings. We had originally hoped for the 10 course, but it was not being offered that evening. No matter, because the 5 course delivered more than enough to leave us completely floored. The evening opened with a palate initiator of carrots, goat cheese, and walnuts. I will be honest, I was not excited. Carrots and goat cheese are genuinely two of my least favorite foods on the planet. But I gave it a try and it was absolutely heavenly. A perfect encapsulation of what this kitchen does: it takes ingredients you think you know and transforms them into something you cannot stop thinking about. My absolute favorites of the evening were the tuna carpaccio, the wagyu flank steak, and the pierogis. Each one was cooked and composed to perfection. Everything melted in my mouth and left me wishing the courses would never end. My one constructive note is on the oyster course. I love oysters and eat them often, so I was genuinely looking forward to this one. The portion, two very small oysters with modest accompaniments of horseradish, a small salsa, and lemon, felt a little light even by tasting menu standards. I would love to see either four oysters at that size or two larger ones. It was gone so quickly and felt slightly out of step with the generosity of every other course. That small note aside, Blood & Sand delivered one of the most memorable dining experiences I have had in a long time. Every single person on that floor, from the bartenders to the host to the incredible Jelly, went above and beyond to make the night comfortable, fun, intimate, and genuinely special. We will absolutely be back, and next time I will not wait so long given that I practically live next door.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Trying hard to be a culinary star, but falls flat on both food and experience…read more Historic high-ceilinged setting that hasn't been fully restored, decor also leaves something to be desired. Unfortunately despite the establishment having a tasting menu and using culinary language, the food was a hodgepodge of elements that worked and elements that did not. None of our dishes earned 5/5 and none were memorable taste wise. With a hefty price tag to boot there are better places to go in St. Louis. We had two drinks, one was watery and one was delicious (pictured).

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!

Classic local hangout on Washington Ave with plenty of foosball tables and zero pretense. Grab a…read morebeer, jump into a game, and suddenly you're having way more fun than planned. Exactly what a neighborhood bar should be.

Just a trash place. drinks are weak and the service is poor, not to mention how filthy dirty the…read morebathroom is. so many better places to go in the area that are 100 times better. don't waste your time here.

All are welcome! After finishing dinner with some friends, one suggested we come to the Crack Fox…read moreas it was their 15-year anniversary. We arrived a little after 11 and found a space in the back parking lot. The lot is convenient as it's pretty well-lit and is diagonal from the CF. We entered through the back where the deck is and walked right in. Upon first glance, you'll notice the hanging lights above the entrance and then after a few feet, the bar is immediately to the right. The tables are all along the left side as to make a walkway for the bar (super convenient). Due it being their anniversary, it was a bit crowded but not too bad where you couldn't get a drink or walk through. My usual go-to is a flavored vodka (three olives grape) and sprite. While they had a plethora of spirits, sadly this wasn't one of them. They had other flavored vodkas but I opted to get a simple Cosmo while my friend got a makers and coke. The Cosmo was just what I needed and might I add, well made!After we got our drinks, we did a quick walk through of the other side called The Oddities (coming soon), as well as the upstairs that overlooks the entire place. The stairs are steep, so it would behoove you to hold on to the railing. While I love trying new places, I was a bit apprehensive because I thought I'd stick out like a sore thumb. Turns out, everyone was friendly, the drinks are great, and the music wasn't bad! They had different acts going on for this particular evening (I'm not sure if this is the norm), but I know my friend is a regular on Tuesday's for karaoke. I do intend to come back and try out some more drinks and food and check out the other place once it officially opens.

Great vibes, casual but cocktails you'd find at a much fancier bar. They're unique and fun. I've…read morenever had a bad drink there. The staff is always nice and quick. Not a ton of seating and it gets kinda crowded depending on the night. There is a dance floor and their events are a great time. Very open minded, positive atmosphere.

Food 10/10 | Ambiance 10/10 | Service 10/10…read more My first experience at The Moniker was absolutely amazing! The staff were incredibly welcoming, which for me is always the biggest indicator of whether I'll enjoy a place. I arrived during their daily Happy Hour (4-6 PM) and ordered the crab dip with homemade crackers, while my friend tried one of their cocktails. Everything tasted delicious, and the staff remained very attentive throughout our visit. I was also impressed by the cleanliness and the interior design. I noticed a beautiful mural on the wall and later learned it is a portrait of one of the owner's mothers, how sweet is that? If you're thinking about stopping by this new downtown spot, don't hesitate! My only feedback is that the entrance can be a little difficult to find as the signage wasn't very visible to me, but that's it. Highly recommend!

I've been wanting to check out The Moniker for months and luckily finally made it over after a…read moreCardinals game recently. They were just opening up for the evening and it took a few minutes to get served, but everyone was super friendly and I was impressed by the design/vibe inside. I ordered the strawberry rhubarb pie mixed drink which came with a little side of dessert. I loved the drink itself but the fruit in the dessert was definitely past its prime and I ended up eating around it. We also got the wash ave flatbread for the table. We all loved the crunch of the giardiniera on the flatbread and it was a great plate to split for the table. I do wish prices were included on the menus just for visibility. Would definitely stop in again to try another drink from the menu!

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.

Club Beyoncé was a ball! Well played to host it over the holiday weekend…read more The DJ's were amazing. The Hive is a Vibe.

This is now my second time at this place and each time is better than the next! I came here with…read moresome friends to grab a drink before we headed to our next spot. Granted we got there relatively early (8:30), so there were ample seats at the bar. I went with the Flirt and Flounce, which consists of reposado, lemon, honey syrup, and sparkling rose. I tasted the reposado in the first few sips, but it wasn't until I got farther down in the drink that I tasted the sparkling rose and other drinks. The drink is subtle and not overly sweet. I love this place for its ambiance, good drinks, and nice vibes. I definitely feel grown being here, and it gives off that impression when you walk in the door. Although this may be a controversial take, it's nice that gratuity is already included! While we were only here for an hour, I know I'll be back and I can't wait to try more drinks.