Where to find dinner and drinks with a side of fun in Midtown St. Louis

Midtown is undergoing a revival on multiple fronts, but, in just a few short years, the transformation of the neighborhood’s western edge along Vandeventer Avenue has been nothing short of remarkable. We’ve covered countless great places to eat at City Foundry STL’s food hall and around the broader Midtown area, but if you’re looking to pair your food and drink with a movie, a concert or a competitive-but-friendly game with your crew, the past six months has seen four major new additions to the neighborhood.

Alamo Drafthouse
This Texas-based brand ups the ante for food and drink at the movies, offering an experience that’s unlike anything else you’ll find in St. Louis. Each seat is equipped with a table and a tiny light that allows you to browse the menu even after the movie starts, though we recommend arriving 10 to 15 minutes early to place your order. You don’t need to order food or drink, but it’s a fun, indulgent alternative to the standard moviegoing experience. Servers come and go, taking orders and delivering food and drink while maintaining a discreet presence during the show. Whether you want appetizers like loaded fries, chips and queso, wings or mozzarella sticks, sandwiches, pizza or desserts, the menu has something for you. Pro tip: If you’re going to be eating during the movie, consider what foods are easier to consume in relative darkness. The popcorn is bottomless, but we recommend changing things up with the herb-Parmesan or truffle-Parmesan seasonings. 

Alamo’s monthly programming combines the latest box office hits with well-curated selections of movies that might highlight a particular genre, theme or simply the most iconic works by a certain actor or director. The bar lives up to the theater’s name, with over 40 beers on tap and a plethora of local breweries offered, but signature cocktails like the Italian 75 are also worth exploring. If you prefer something non-alcoholic, try the milkshakes, or go for the bottomless coffee or iced tea if you need a pick-me-up to get you through a longer movie. 

3765 Foundry Way, Suite 275, St. Louis, 314.669.2079, drafthouse.com

The Armory STL
This enormous space combines multiple bars and a walk-up food counter with a seemingly ever-expanding array of yard games, video games and more. The lengthy food menu includes tacos, nacho-style “chip boards,” chicken sandwiches, burgers, paninis, brats and – we’re in St. Louis, after all – toasted ravioli. You can follow your favorite sports team on big game days with The Armory’s gigantic screen, or gather a group of friends on a Saturday afternoon for fierce games of cornhole or four square badminton. There’s also a large see-saw and the twists and turns of what they call the “super happy fun slide.” Every Wednesday is happy hour from 4 to 8 p.m., with $4.50 draft beers, $5 Hornitos margaritas and $2 off wine and chip boards. 

3660 Market St., St. Louis, 314.282.2720, armorystl.com

City Winery
Founded in New York City in 2008 by Washington University alum Michael Dorf, City Winery landed in City Foundry STL in March this year, giving St. Louis an intimate venue for music, comedy and other live performances. The live schedule is busy, with shows already on the slate through early 2024 including local talent and touring acts as varied as Souls of Mischief, Rickie Lee Jones, Martha Wainwright and The Dirty Dozen Brass Band. 

The 250-seat concert space is fitted with top-of-the-line audio equipment, and your show ticket gives you access to your table for dinner before and during the event itself. As the name suggests, you’re probably going to be drinking wine, so think about pairing with charcuterie boards, burrata, risotto balls or a beet salad, but don’t let us stop you from going for a burger if that’s where your cravings lead you.   

City Winery has long produced its own wine, sourcing grapes from vineyards in top wine regions including the Napa Valley, Willamette Valley, Finger Lakes and Sonoma. The St. Louis location also features its own wine production facility and wine shop, with a range of delicious wines on tap and growlers that you can take home. 

3730 Foundry Way, Suite 158, St. Louis, 646.751.6033, citywinery.com

Puttshack
Topgolf’s Chesterfield location has been a roaring success since arriving on the scene in 2018, so it was only a matter of time before Puttshack, Topgolf’s tech-powered mini golf-focused cousin, launched in St. Louis. Puttshack makes great use of a post-industrial space at City Foundry, with a sleek bar and restaurant area and graffiti adding a conscious pop of color to the space’s concrete-and-steel bones. The St. Louis location has four separate courses, with nine holes on each. Players score points as they navigate each obstacle-strewn hole, with the system automatically keeping track of the score. 

Puttshack’s eclectic menu draws inspiration from points around the globe, with shareable dishes like the Puttshack poutine, Korean barbecue bao buns, Thai fried chicken and chorizo and cheese empanadas. Flatbreads, salads and sandwiches like the Atlanta hot chicken (a vegan mushroom option also available) or hatch chile cheeseburger round the menu out.

The spiced pineapple mezcal margarita and Smokin’ Painkiller are among the highlights of the cocktail list, and one or two of these will certainly help steel your nerves for a round or two of mini golf with your friends. Reservations can be made in advance and are highly recommended, especially if you’re playing with a larger group. 

3730 Foundry Way, Suite 100, St. Louis, 314.887.7888, puttshack.com