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.

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.

When I lived in Kirkwood I would drive to this bar every weekend almost, to drink and have a great…read moretime with the locals. I met my now exgirlfriend there and won her over with a match of thumb wrestling. (she always won) The house Bday shot is the 3 wise men. I don't recall which nights but through the week they have $1PBR drafts, $5 PBR pitchers, and $2PBR bottles. Now don't start thinking I'm some South City Hipster. They serve this beer because it's cheap not trendy. The place is smaller than most would be used too. In the front it's just a bar with like 3-4 tables you can sit 4 people at each. With a bar you can fit maybe 15-20 people. The line for the bathroom works like clock work! The back room where the bands play is very large, while the stage is small, Singers usually on the floor in more than 3 piece band. They have a great Reggae night, as well as some great local bands that play as well. Muddy pub books a wide array of musical acts so there isn't really a set genre. The real action to me even now that I'm a non smoker, is out front of the muddy pub, nothing beats standing around the front door, talking to random people, and watching the people bar hop around the block of 3rd street Alton that is like a mini St. Louis Landing. One of my favorite all time bars for sure!

This is a bar I've been dragged to way too many times and for reasons I still don't understand. If…read moreit's up to me, I won't be back again. It has a basic problem that there's no good place to sit anywhere if you have a group of friends with you. Assuming there are seats open at the bar at primetime, when you most want to be out drinking (and that's a big assumption because there probably won't be seats open), your group is spread several people wide and not everyone can hear everyone over the music and other people. You want to be in that room because it's where the beer is, and where most of the people are, but it's hard to hang out in there because the space is too narrow and awkward. Then of course because you're having to stand behind your friend who's sitting at the bar, you're constantly moving out of the way of someone who's in line for the bathroom. The upstairs is never open (that I've seen), so forget about that. Then, on the ground level past the room with the bar and bar stools, you've got the big open room with ample tables and seating where they put bands. Whenever a band is there, the band usually sucks, so it's no fun to sit there then. Whenever no bands are there, the room is too dark and empty to hang out in and not feel like a weirdo. Or they turn on the light and then it's too bright. You're never in the sweet spot when you're in that room, with the right amount of lighting and non-shitty music. Ironically, the best place to hang out at Big Muddy is outside the back door of the bar. Sometimes you can get away with taking a drink out there with you, and it can be fun to stand there and look at what's left of downtown Alton's industry. But I find it funny and telling that the best place to hang out is not actually part of the business. It's just a place where people stand when they go to Big Muddy because the bar itself isn't much to speak of, and yet all your friends want to go there anyway, so you can't just leave without having a drink.

One of my favorite stops. Great bourbon selection with rotating pour of the day to try something…read morenew or rare along with tastings from brands like Hard Truth, New Riff, or Penelope. Great sandwiches and snacks. Live music nearly every Friday & Saturday night. Awesome owner and bar staff.

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

If you know, you know. And when you do, you'll have the time of your life…read more Heads-up, the signage of this classic 1920's themed bar is minimal. There's a small sidewalk sign and then you have to figure out how to open the door from the street. Once inside the small butcher shop, you gotta figure out where the secrete passage is. Once inside, you'll be blown away by the vintage 1920's ambiance. There's approximately 4 or 5 stools at the bar and several seating areas with plush sofas and overstuffed chairs. If you prefer a table with chairs, they've got that, too. Whatever you like, you can find a comfortable seat to enjoy your cocktail. The cocktails are masterfully made and served up in classic vintage glasses. I enjoyed a Dirty Gin Martini and a Rye Manhattan. Both cocktails were smooth as silk and the presentation was stellar. I gotta go back and have another Martini, I forgot to take a picture. It looked so good, I just started drinking. When I typically order a Martini, I tell the mixologist to "make it skate". Chatting with the bartender about what Gin to use, I forgot to request that detail. To my delight, when the cocktail was placed in front of me, it had the "make it skate" detail. I love that thin topping of ice chips on my martini. While sipping classic cocktails, sometimes you need a little nosh and The Speakeasy has that, too. I choose the Spinach Artichoke Dip and it was rich in flavor. The mixture of the artichoke with the spinach in cream cheese went perfectly with the super thin crackers. I hope they are still offering it when I go back for another martini. The two bartenders were exceptional. Both of them were very personable, making my time sitting at the bar enjoyable. If you haven't been, go find The Speakeasy and then you'll know.

The best kept secret in Granite City! What a fun little place with an older and dark interior as…read morewell as an outdoor seating area. I ordered one of the gin specials as it was National Gin Day. The drink was delicious and beautiful, so I ordered two! This is my kind of place, darker and quiet without too many people, and a super fun ambiance. The bartender, I believe she said her name was Carrie, was very helpful and friendly. I ordered the charcuterie board and it was beautifully presented and large as well. I will be back, with friends!

Pete's Lounge is a pretty cool dive bar. The food is good and priced well. The cocktails are strong…read moreand they have a good variety of beers. Their bartenders are friendly and so are the other patrons. Sitting at the bar, all conversations overlap and everyone participates. I've been back several times since my first visit. I mainly come for the Kobe Burger at lunchtime. A cold beer, burger and a basket of crisp fries always hits the spot. Their Friday and Saturday Steak Specials are pretty damn good, too. One visit I added, shrimp. A Caesar Salad, Steak with 3 Shrimp and a Baked Potato made for a great meal. I kept telling myself to try the pizza, so the next time I go for lunch, I will order pizza instead of my typical Kobe Burger.

Nice place lots of TV's burger and fries were very good. Good cold beer and a very friendly…read morebartender and patrons .

Old Towne is so quaint and simple; it's is everything you would hope for in a local neighborhood…read morebar. The workers are friendly and the beers are always sliding.

Dive bar with decent pizzas. Full premium and cheap liquor selection, jukebox lots of tv's and pool…read moretable, nice patio in back. Service varies with the bartender, but always good pours. Can be a variety of characters depending on the night, but I've never had a bad time here.

We love this small bar. Friendliest service with welcoming patrons. Growing up in the area, I love…read moregoing back and being treated like a local even though I'm not anymore. Just good people here. We always have a few drinks. Not much seating inside, but we go outside to the covered patio and sip on beers while talking. It's perfect. Even in a storm as it poured down, we were warm and cozy there. Cheers!

This bar has multiple areas where you can enjoy drinks, but you have to first go into the actual…read morelittle "bar" area to order. Then you can take your drinks to whichever other part you choose. We wanted to sit on the cool couches with the firepits but the firepits weren't on. We ended up sitting on the outside deck but this deck was kinda scary... it is shaky. Even when people were just walking across it.... I'd stop in here again if I just wanted a drink but it may not be my first choice with the other options.