5 warm and cozy St. Louis patios to chill on this fall

Well, here we are – already November, with only a few weeks left before patio seating is no longer an option. If you also feel like there’s nothing better than sitting near a fire on a cool night while sipping a stout beer, glass of whiskey or fall cocktail, here are five spots where you’ll want to pull up a fireside seat before winter.

Rockwell Beer Garden
Rockwell Beer Garden is a spacious outdoor patio in Francis Park offering ample seating. Decorated with string lights, this family-friendly beer garden has several heating elements and two fire pits to take the edge off those chilly fall nights. The food menu is simple but satisfying, with options like garlic-cheese bread, a mixed green salad, hummus and pizza. Pizzas include a margherita, pepperoni, supreme, and The Broccwell, made with charred broccoli, caramelized onions and red pepper flakes. The bar menu includes classic and seasonal cocktails and an assortment of spirits and wines, but the real draw is the beer. Rockwell’s list ranges from a light, Belgian-style witbier called Passing Clouds to the dark and malty Foeder Bock or the Moonbase Robust Porter. Rockwell Beer Garden is weather dependent, but they plan to stay open through Jan. 1. If you miss your chance to enjoy a beer at the fire pit before their winter break, you’ll have to wait until they reopen on March 1.
5300 Donovan Ave., St. Louis, 314.788.4849, rockwellbeer.com

Sasha’s on Shaw
Sasha’s has a fabulous indoor space, but their large stone patio with wrought iron tables and accent lighting is the real attraction. This garden-like patio has two fire pits and propane heating elements to keep you warm on a cool, late autumn evening while you sip on a glass of wine. With an amazing selection of sparkling, white, rosé, orange, red and fortified wines by the glass and bottle, there is something for every taste and occasion. But don't worry if you're not a wine lover. Sasha's also has a great beer list and a decent whiskey selection. You can try seasonal beers like the 4 Hands Chocolate Milk Stout, Left Hand Milk Stout Nitro or the Pumpkin Spice Latte Nitro by Left Hand Brewing. Pick from over 20 whiskeys to savor neat or in a classic cocktail like a Manhattan or Old-Fashioned. Sasha’s also has a delicious food menu that includes soups, salads, flatbreads, sandwiches, cheese plates and charcuterie. If it’s too cold for the patio, grab a couch inside by the fireplace. Whatever the weather, Sasha’s has a spot by the fire for you and your friends.
4069 Shaw Blvd., St. Louis, 314.771.7274, sashaswinebar.com

The Frisco Barroom
The Frisco Barroom in Webster Groves features two large patios: a rooftop space that offers one of the best sunset views in Webster, and a private, ground-floor brick courtyard with a retractable roof, heaters and a large, four-sided fireplace. The restaurant’s menu features soups, salads, pierogi, burgers, sandwiches and more. The Old Orchard grilled cheese – filled with smoked gouda, cheddar, American cheese, sliced apples and bacon – with a side of fries was a perfect meal. The salty bacon and tart apple were an excellent complement to the gooey, melted cheese. They also have a great bar menu, with seasonally appropriate beers including Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest and Schlafly’s Pumpkin Ale and Oatmeal Stout, as well as cocktails including a Boulevardier, Sazerac and prickly pear margarita. The gas fireplace on the ground-floor patio keeps the cold November nights at bay while you enjoy a stout beer and a pour of whiskey. The rooftop closes for the season in mid-November, but the ground-floor patio remains open through fall and winter.
8110 Big Bend Blvd., Webster Groves, 314.455.1090, thefriscostl.com

Tower Pub
Tower Pub is a classic pub located on Morgan Ford Road in the Tower Grove South neighborhood. It has two rooms: a main bar and a back game room where you can play pinball, darts and pool. The bar has a rustic and warm feel, with wood floors and classic pub decor. The game room leads out to the patio, where you can play corn hole or sit around the large stone fire pit. The pub offers seasonal beers like Samuel Adams Octoberfest and a variety of bourbons and Irish whiskeys. They also offer a delicious apple pie shot, which pairs perfectly with cool autumn temperatures and the warm patio fire pit. Tower Pub has great prices on beer and happy hour five days a week. They offer limited food options with Andoro & Sons St. Louis-style pizza, hot dogs, beef jerky and popcorn, but also allow you to bring in outside food. Sitting around the fire pit at the Tower Pub with a pint of ale and good company is a perfect way to ride out a crisp November evening.
3234 Morgan Ford Road, St. Louis, 314.771.7979, Facebook: Tower Pub

The Golden Hoosier
The Golden Hoosier combines a Missouri camping trip with a South City bar, making one perfect patio. The state park-themed patio includes an outdoor bar, The Campground, along with covered tables and a fire pit circled by tree stump seats. Smash burgers and sandwiches are the main food items, but salads and appetizers help to round out the menu. The Golden Hoosier also offers a variety of seasonal dishes and drinks. November’s seasonal soup is chicken tortilla, topped with pepper jack and crispy tortilla strips. Meanwhile, the cocktail of the month is Lost in the Sauce, made with apple brandy, vanilla, spiced pear liqueur, yellow Chartreuse, lemon and blueberry syrup. They also offer s'mores kits, which include everything you need to roast your own marshmallows and enjoy s'mores around the fire pit with a cocktail in hand. With a good beer selection and some amazing cocktails, it’s the perfect place to hang out with friends and enjoy the great outdoors in South City.
3707 S. Kingshighway Blvd., St. Louis, 314.354.8044, thegoldenhoosier.com

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Bill Moran is the creator behind the Instagram account @st.louis_taverns, where he anonymously reviews bars throughout the St. Louis area.