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Small Change

4.6 (45 reviews)
Closed 5:00 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)
Updated 3 months ago

Small Change Dive Bars Photos

SMALL CHANGE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Divey
Casual
Trendy
Moderate noise

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Recommended Reviews - Small Change

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Reviews With Photos

Old fashioned a la Small Change, view from the back patio
Joe S.

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

Ted C.

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.

PaPeR sTrAwS!!!!!!!!!*!*!*!*!!*
Megan S.

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 :))))

Boulevardier
Steven B.

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.

a person sitting at a table
Kevin H.

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!

Mad as Hatters: Tow's Town Corruption Gin, Cherry Heering, Passionfruit, Lime, Angostura Bitters, Club Soda
Mary A.

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.

Mad as Hatters
Mandie B.

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!?!?!

Jason P.

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.

Here for Miracle STL!
Wanda H.

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.

French 75 oh my!
Max R.

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!

Aviation and Time is Made from Honey

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.

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Ask the Community - Small Change

Review Highlights - Small Change

I always love the low key vibe and skilled bartenders at this Benton Park historic neighborhood bar.

Mentioned in 6 reviews

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Purple Quarters - Karaoke every Thursday after 8pm!

Purple Quarters

4.6(7 reviews)
2.4 miForest Park Southeast

The BF and I stopped in after visiting Little Lucy. He noticed Purple Quarters on our drive through…read morethe Grove and thought it'd be a place I would like. I love that fact that they offer craft cocktails. The bar area is intimate and cozy. Since we just left from practically next door and enjoyed a plethora of cocktails. I couldn't drink any more nor did I want to. I follow them on IG to see what's the latest happenings and cocktail creations. We were greeted as soon as we walked through the door with smiling faces. As soon as I walked in the door I was so excited for this game room because it's not typical. It's clean and intimate, like an upscale parlor. The bar is inviting and cute. The games are beyond reasonable. We love ski ball and it's located in the center of the game room against the wall with several attached, so you have to be crammed next to other patrons. Ski ball is only $0.50 a game and if you score high enough it automatically resets to give you another game. Where can you play ski ball this cheap. They also have pin ball games, arcade games, board games and more. We played several games of Connect Four-----CLASSIC. They have comedy night and karaoke in addition to gaming. We absolutely love this spot, can't wait to return.

We have been here before, but it was a different name/owner…read more They still have a great list of arcade games and always have good pinball machines. Bartender was really nice and told us about their house shot, so we had to try it! Good spot!

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Purple Quarters - Holiday's at Purple Quarters

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Hidden Gem - Y2k pop up

Hidden Gem

4.7(75 reviews)
2.3 miMidtown
$$

If you've ever wanted to time travel back to the era of frosted lip gloss, flip phones, and Juicy…read moretracksuits, the Y2K Baby pop up at Hidden Gem is your portal. From the second you step into the back room, it's pure nostalgia in the best, most chaotic, glittery way possible. The decor, the music, the drinks, the details, all of it is dialed all the way into early 2000s energy without feeling cheesy. It feels intentional, immersive, and ridiculously fun. The cocktails are creative and on theme, the playlist is nonstop hits you forgot you knew every word to, and the whole space feels like a Y2K house party you wish you got invited to back in the day. What really makes this pop up special is how committed they are to the experience. It's not just decorations on a wall. It's a full vibe. People are dressed up, taking photos, singing along, and fully leaning into the theme. You don't just grab a drink here, you participate. Perfect for girls night, birthday plans, or just doing something different that actually feels memorable. Huge shoutout to Hidden Gem for absolutely nailing this concept. Y2K Baby is easily one of the most fun themed pop ups I've been to in a long time.

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

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Small Change - divebars - Updated May 2026

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