Another fun party at Small Change! 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! read more

Small Change - Tiki party drink menu - Dive Bars Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

What a sweet spot to grab a drink and enjoy some good company. 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. read more

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Great service. The decor was nice. Very unique. Drinks were very well made. Would definitely go again. The location from outside looks sketchy but the entrance is actually from the back. Great place read more

During Christmas, Small Change transforms into the Miracle Popup! Santa definitely stops here. Check out these pictures/videos. I enjoyed the Snow Ball cocktail which was excellent. But business as usual, it's a beloved local bar in Saint Louis, occupying the historic spot that was once Benny's Pit Stop Lounge for over 35 years. As the more casual counterpart to Planter's House (its sister spot), it boasts a creatively evolving cocktail menu using local craft spirits. Established in 2018 at Lynch & Indiana, Small Change welcomes diverse tastes with craft beers, non-alcoholic choices, daily happy hours, and engaging weekly/monthly events. A nod to tradition with a fresh, spirited twist. read more

The most chill and welcoming environment in the city. You can not beat it! Get an Old Fashioned for sure! read more

Small Change - Old fashioned a la Small Change, view from the back patio - Dive Bars Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

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Amazing cocktails in a great atmosphere. Divey spot off the beaten path. Great patio for hanging out and chatting with friends.

One of the last places we visited and I'm glad we came. We pulled up and some in the group were worried about it, and maybe it was the wrong place to go to as a cocktail bar because it definitely doesn't look like a place for good cocktails. We were wrong on all counts. The cocktails here are top-notch and the vibe is definitely laid back and fun. While the cocktail list is more pared down, it's done well, maybe the best cocktail I had in Saint Louis. I got the Twinky and Pinky which came with a watermelon popsicle that I saved until the end. If you figure out how to get the right ratio of booze and popsicle consumption, let me know. However, it's hard to drink cocktails when the cheap beer is so...cheap. Stag beer on draft, 2 bucks, seriously. Also, cans of Busch for 2 dollars. Start out classy and then end up trashy, that's what I always say. read more

Small Change - Dive Bars Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

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Orders: FAT PUG Oatmeal Stout | Water w/ a paper straw!! Such cool vibes in this place & really amazing cocktails! I'm boring & ordered a beer (which was so so good), but I sipped my friends artsy gin drinks & they were masterpieces. Very cool lbgtqia+ environment with great music!!!! Oh we had so much fun :)))) read more

Small Change - PaPeR sTrAwS!!!!!!!!!*!*!*!*!!* - Dive Bars Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

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It's a dive bar. You'll have a good time drinking well prepared drinks at an amazingly affordable price. The ambiance is bland, but remember it is a dive bar, so that actually adds to its beauty. There is no bar food. Your snacks and munchies come out of a vending machine that is also reasonably priced. They have hooks and outlets under the bar. Nice asset for a dive bar. Bartenders are friendly, attentive and mix a good cocktail. They can even open a bottle or can of beer with finesse. I recommend that you grab some friends and head over to SC for a fun time. Or, you can go alone and make some new friends sitting at the bar. I'll be back? - Who's going with me? When - November 14, 2018 Why - Cocktails with Max, he's the man. read more

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I've been to small change twice now in the last couple months. Once for a normal experience, and most recently for their famous Christmas pop up Miracle STL. I love this place. The cocktails are fantastic, and the staff is all super friendly and knowledgeable. Their Christmas pop up is absolutely amazing. Note that while reservations sell out in minutes of going on sale beginning of December, they do have seats often available for walk ins. Miracle Stl is definitely not something to miss out on! Though if you do, an everyday visit to small change is still very enjoyable! read more

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Drag Queen karaoke and tasty drinks. What a perfect combo. Nice patio area. Street parking. Friendly bartenders. What a safe fun space in the city. read more

Had a round of drinks. Service was horrible and rude. Not a good feeling being newbies. Haven't been back since.

Opened on Feb 1, 2018. From the people that brought you Planter's House and Miracle Bar... Small Change is a mix of dive bar and cocktail bar. As you drive by, the only signage is a broken Falstaff Beer sign. Street parking is your only option. As you walk in you will find a few tables/chairs and then a row of seats at the bar. Sit at the bar for a front row seat to the cocktail making action. Bar manager Harrison Massie shakes a mean cocktail- he was more than willing to give us a few suggestions on what to order. They have become known for their peanut butter and jelly shots: One shot of peanut butter fat-washed cognac and a shot of Manischewitz grape wine. Take them fast or sip on them slowly for a new experience. A few specialty cocktails are listed on placards on each table and at the bar for about $10/each. The Mad as Hatters cocktail is erved with a umbrella and makes you look super classy as you drink it. There are a few beers on tap, a cocktail on tap, and several bottles/can of beer to choose from. The can/bottles are displayed above the bar so you know what your options are. There is no kitchen, so dogs are allowed inside. When the weather warms up, they plan to have seating on the patio. There is a vending machine in the back for your snacking pleasures. read more

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Small Change is a great spot for drinks and good times! My friends and I arrived here to celebrate a birthday on a Thursday evening around 8:15. The location is a bit inconspicuous; and I think I drove by it once before I realized it was where I needed to go. No parking lot, but street parking i east to find. When I walked in I could tell they had some regulars which is pretty cool. A few of my friends had already pulled up a table and some chairs and they all had drinks in front of them. What I like best is that Small Change sells beers like Busch and they also make craft cocktails! They have something for everyone. I looked over the menu and decided to order the Mad as Hatters. My reason? Well, it sounded good AND we were all wearing Birthday Cone Hats! Perfect match. I went up to the bar and asked for the drink and I also decided to order the birthday girl a Peanut Butter and Jelly shot; too fun! The drinks were made and I opted to pay my tab instead of leaving it open. The PB&J shot was actually 1 shot of PB and 1 shot of J! 2 shots in one...I have no idea what it tasted like, but the bday girl said they were tasty. The bar itself has a dive bar feel and at the same time feels like I am in an exclusive bar. I really enjoyed myself and I know the rest of the group did too. The drinks were all getting great reviews and we talked about making "Small Change" our new "spot" whenever we can't decide where else to go. Oh, and did I mention they have a vending machine with food inside? I wish I would have taken a picture. This is not your normal vending machine people. I really can't wait to go back during the spring when it's warmer so that I can try some of their cocktails outside on their soon to be patio. Is i patio season yet!?!?! read more

Small Change - Mad as Hatters - Dive Bars Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

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There are very few things in this life that I love more than Halloween and holiday themed experiences. Luckily for St. Louis, we have Small Change. Some members of the community may have first encountered Small Change during their "Miracle" pop up bar during the Christmas season. The drinks were warm. The decor was kitschy. And the experience truly captured the magic of the season. But I'm a spooky szn person. A basic witch, if you will. So, when I saw Yelp Elite Squad member Mary A post about their most recent pop up bar, I hopped on my broom and flew over to Small Change faster than you can say BOO. Let's dig into this experience that was anything but grave. The Halloween themed drink menu was well thought out and I loved reading all the creative names. Each drink was unique and had oodles of flavors. My boyfriend was cold from the short walk from our house to this Benton Park watering hole, so he opted for the warm drink called the Clang Boom Steam which was bourbon and tea. For my first drink I ordered The Killer was Smiling. It was a flavorful fall take on an old fashioned. I really appreciated the subtle sweetness the apple bitters added to this cocktail. Since we were having a spooky date night and the spirit was alive inside Small Change, we dove into a second round, ordering the Pale as Bone and the River of Flesh. I basically chugged the Pale as Bone because it was so delicious. It was like a wonderful margarita without the fake sweetness of a syrup. 10/10 for the cool skeleton that it was served with. Took that bad boy home to add to our Halloween decor. Speaking of decor. Small Change went all out. Lights. Statues. Cut outs. I was in Heaven... err... Hell? The vibe inside was second to none. They had some classic Alfred Hitchcock horror flicks rolling on the TV's to add to the ambiance. We've also been to Small Change for non-holiday pop ups, and absolutely love the dive-bar chic flair they serve up each and every day. And finally is customer service. I really really love the bartenders at Small Change. The handful of times I've been there, I feel like a regular. They really go out of their way to make everyone from any walk of life feel welcome the moment they walk through the door. And they have Labatt Blue on draught. read more

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Attended Miracle STL pop-up here and enjoyed it immensely. The cocktails were stupendous, but the prices were killer. Service was very good. Cute bar. read more

Small Change - Here for Miracle STL! - Dive Bars Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

Dive-y amazingness. Small Change is an awesome addition to the Benton Park neighborhood. As they would say, they are "Planter's House's dive bar chic step-child." They are completely different vibes, so don't compare them too much. Living a mere 6 blocks away from this beautiful haven of Stag on draft and cocktails galore, I like to bike over to catch a games that I want to watch on their TV. (I watched a lot of March Madness here and I think it bid me well, as I won my family's bracket!) They also have a quiet and relaxing patio that I love. Typically, you can find me with Busch in hand, but when I'm feeling something special, I get their French 75, it's so refreshing and who doesn't love gin?! As far as their specialty cocktails go, I highly recommend, "Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis," "Step Right Up," and "Rag Water and Bitters." Fun right?! You also need to know that they have vending machines and many Fridays they host Guerrilla Street Food's food truck! Yum-city! Beyond that, the bartenders are inclusive, helpful, and beautiful human beings who make Small Change great. Make your way to the broken Falstaff sign, you don't want to miss out! read more

Small Change - French 75 oh my! - Dive Bars Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

I normally only come here for Miracle but this place is great. It's basically a dive bar with mixologists. That make some really good cocktails and then have beers like Stag & PBR for cheap. I'll definitely be back. read more

Laid back little bar right in the middle of a neighborhood, as it should be! When it's not the holidays it a great spot to watch a game and still get a nice cocktail. I love my dive bars that are usually beer and shot places but having a well made cocktail in a neighborhood bar environment is nice sometimes too. When it transforms into Miracle STL over the holidays it's my absolute favorite! There are lots of pop up copy cats this year but for me, Miracle will always be the best. The small bar makes it feel cozy and the vibe is just always fun! Reservations are hard to come by for the pop up but if you go when they open during the week there's a pretty good chance you'll get in...that's what I'm doing this year! read more

I think this is the best cocktail spot in the city! They have adventurous rotating cocktails, along with classics. I've had both, and even the classics always have a bit of a spin. Bar tenders are very friendly and knowledgeable. The atmosphere in this cocktail bar is second to none; not at all pretentious. Friendly, neighborhood oriented, and welcoming to all. They also have a beautiful dog-friendly patio. read more

Small Change - Aviation and Time is Made from Honey - Dive Bars Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

I ain't been in yet, but when I got cash and ready for another excellent cocktail at a bar I have only seen seasonal awesomeness at... .... Don't ask me to show my east berlin papers again tho... great way to keep people out your biz read more

Cute little dive bar in Benton Park. Bartenders are super friendly and I love how queer-friendly it is. It's a small, intimate space with a great cocktail selection (although, the only reason this isn't a five star review is that when we tried to order a round of shots, they could not make our first or second choice). read more

Small Change is a little gem for people living in Benton Park. It has a carefully cultivated divey atmosphere with a great little patio, but it also (due to the relationship with planters house) has awesome signature cocktails. It really caters to everyone, whether you want a can of Busch or a gourmet libation. Also, make sure you stop by astound the holidays for a Christmas surprise! read more

Small Change - Dive Bars Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

This place is quirky and I dig it. Dive bar feel with an interesting cocktail menu, and no shortage of interesting decor to stare at. They also have a decent sized patio which is great when the weather is nice, but I particularly enjoy coming here when it's chilly because it's the perfect cozy dive to hole up and enjoy a drink. read more

I highly recommend this old-timey looking, quaint little corner speakeasy. The actual bar and back-bar are beautiful antiques and have all majesty of a bygone era. I love the feeling of stepping back in time. The bartenders are basically experts in their trades and oh boy you can tell! I dig the creativity and the passion that is 'literally' poured into the very interesting house cocktails! Don't let this little gem pass you up especially now since the weather is nice. They do have a little patio as well. Cheers! read more

As a regular frequenter of Planter's House I had very high expectations for Small Change. While Small Change is just ok, it fell short of those high expectations. The atmosphere is intentionally different than Planter's House (divey, more casual) and cocktails are on the slightly cheaper end ($10), but they're also a lot more basic and underwhelming to me. I had a tequila drink that really tasted no better/different than a very average margarita. Plus, the service I happened to receive on the night I was there was not great (I was one of a couple people at the bar and was largely ignored). I honestly see no reason for coming here as opposed to Planter's House. Planter's House is superior in terms of the quality of their cocktails and having significantly more personable and knowledgeable staff. If I'm looking for a dive experience, there are more than enough of those in STL to fill the need for me. read more

As far as neighborhood watering holes go, I really appreciate that Small Change isn't trying to appear like it's actually *not* trying to achieve a certain type of ambiance; that is, whereas some of the similar locations I've visited, in both the same as well as in surrounding neighborhoods, often give the impression that they're putting forth an exceptional amount of effort in order to create pseudo-hipster or "accidentally trendy" environments only to wind up, most often, being much less impressive practically than they might at first seem to be superficially. Small Change doesn't put on such similarly strained airs, and as a result offers an unimposing, somewhat minimalist aesthetic, one with a refreshingly intrinsic transparency that is reflected, for example, in the overall lack of any glaringly kitschy or aggressively-themed decor or art/furnishings. Other positive factors of note include a wide and pretty diverse drink menu; affordable prices (even if you're a barely-paid grad student!); the fact that it appears--at least from my experiences there--to be a dog-friendly establishment, even inside; brilliant music selections playing 24/7; and a spacious outdoor patio area that is well-kept (ie clean) and adequately furnished to comfortably accommodate several separate small groups at once without making people feel cramped. Parking has also proved to be less of an annoyance or hassle each time I've visited (as well as free), which always adds to an establishment's general appeal. read more

Great bar in Benton park. Focus on drinks. Vending machine food. Super friendly bartenders.

Perfect casual spot, you could come in, in your comfy clothes eating a bowl of chili(which has happened before) and no one passes judgement. Get a $14 dollar cocktail, or a $6 cocktail(during happy hour 4-7p m-sat and all day Sunday) or a $2 Busch can or Stag on draft. LGBTQIPA friendly, super friendly(Pose watch parties are a safe space to cry my queer little eyes out). No kitchen, so we're also dog friendly. Perfect place to sit and have a conversation with friends and still be able to understand them or sit in a corner and stare at a wall. Will also put on sporting games if requested on the televisions. read more

I loved this place the moment I stepped in...or maybe the moment prior to walking in. There is no real signage to tell you that this bar exists, and I think that is quintessential to the dive bar feel, it just blends in to the surrounding neighborhood. However, upon walking in, it is everything but a spot to be ignored. Everything about the setup and atmosphere was planned very carefully and unlike some other dive bars (which I love so this is not a diss) it is very clean. There are a few seats at the bar, another tall standing/stool area off to the side, a few small tables and a few large. It is small and when I went, it was pretty solidly packed, but this was a Friday night at 8:30pm. That being said, it is good to know that yes, this place serves both $2 cheap canned beers, cheap Stag on tap, but also serves craft cockails that will run you $10 a piece, but that also means that you might wait a minute to get your drink. You want one quick, I suggest the rotating Manhattan on tap or just get a pint of Stag with a shot of Jameson. No food except vending machines, pretty sure you can bring in food, but I think this place screams more of a before or after drink place. read more

What's not to like about this bar? Unmarked, located in a historic brick building on a corner in Benton Park--and the cocktails are named after Tom Waits songs. My god, it's heaven. read more

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I always love the low key vibe and skilled bartenders at this Benton Park historic neighborhood bar. The bar is located on a residential street and plays host to Miracle STL (retro Christmas bar by reservation only Thanksgiving thru New Year). A nice mix of affordable craft cocktails and cheap beer. Vending machines with snacks. No kitchen. read more

This is such a gem to have in my neighborhood. The establishment is cozy and has a nice ambiance. They make a great Manhattan. All-day happy hour on Sundays is an added bonus. read more

We stopped by for Happy Hour drinks and take in their Christmas/Holiday decor. It is quite the site and extremely festive. The drinks were delicious and staff was very attentive. My favorite part of the evening was the donation of $5.00 per drink to local charity. It is a swell place to stop by before heading out for dinner. It is also nice to see they setup a tent outside for the entrance and waiting area. It provides good protection from the weather and doesn't make the bar too crowded with people standing over your shoulder. The drinks were appropriate size and catchy names for each particular cocktail made them fun! read more

Love this place. Super chill. Not crowded. Great space. Fun drinks. Plenty of tables. And cool people in general.

One of my favorite spots in the entire city. The staff is incredible and it's a super added bonus that my pups can join me in the bar or on the patio. They even have dog treats in the vending machines. Awesome rotating cocktails and cheap beer. Stop in, you won't be disappointed. read more

I've been wanting to make my way here for some time and finally was able to last night. When we walked in around 10pm the only patrons were out on the patio so we had the full bar inside to ourselves. That didn't last long but it was kind of fun for a moment! We started with the PBJ shot, which actually does taste like PB&J. Then we ordered The Innocent Victim was my choice and it was incredibly well balanced and delicious. I couldn't even try another cocktail because I loved it so much. The feel is a mix between a cocktail bar and a dive bar and I absolutely love that kind of vibe. The service was wonderful - I enjoyed the bartenders. I will be back and cannot wait to try out some other drinks. read more

Great cocktails & knowledgeable bartenders mixing old classics well. Hidden little gem.

DELICIOUS cocktails and a friendly staff that was happy to educate us on mixology. I wish we were spending more time in St. Louis so we could come back! read more

The Kilgores brought the craft cocktail movement to St. Louis. Ted Kilgore gave us the Purgatory cocktail. Their flagship bar, Planter's House, is a venerable (if overpriced) institution. They should be forgiven, then, for thinking that a $10 cocktail bar should be marketed to the public as a "dive bar." This isn't a dive bar. This isn't even the first St. Louis bar to marry the dive bar aesthetic to a mid-shelf cocktail bar concept. Honestly, this bar is the Kilgores imitating Royale. "Kilgore Royale" isn't a bad idea, though. $10 house/$8 classic cocktail bars are great when they're done well. Small Change does a good enough job. I was underwhelmed by the house cocktail menu the last time I visited. I think the Royale does a better job. The classic cocktails were all very well done, though. They weren't the best $8 classics in the city, but they were good. A friend of mine asked his bartender to go off-menu, and he was very pleased. Mostly, I get annoyed at how people tend to gush and fawn over anything Kilgore-related. There was a time when St. Louis had a severe lack of serious mixologists. That time is gone. This city now has plenty of Kilgore-level alcohol aficionados, yet the Kilgore name is usually enough to earn the kind of hype and reviews that other top-notch bars could only dream of. read more