St. Louis tavern expert Bill Moran shares 5 of his top local bars
From dive bars to lounges, cocktail bars to taverns, St. Louis has a bar to satisfy all types. I am usually pretty confident when making bar recommendations, but when asked to name my favorite, I stumble: There are so many great bars, and I keep adding more to my evolving list of top spots. With that in mind, here are five recommendations from my rotating list of favorites.
The Crow’s Nest
This Maplewood bar can satisfy any hungry crowd. The diverse menu includes meat and vegetarian options, and the weekend’s Metal Brunch is a hangover-busting breakfast serving cocktails and classic heavy metal music. Enjoy service inside or on the large, covered deck out back.
7336 Manchester Road, Maplewood, 314.781.0989, crowsneststl.com
Jack Nolen’s
This Soulard staple has an elevated tavern vibe. Come for the burgers and stay for the friendly crowd. The patio is comfortable, and the inside bar is great for watching a game or chatting with the many regulars. For whiskey fans, keep your eye out for some surprises: I’ve seen pours of Thomas H. Handy, Van Winkle 12 Year, Weller Full Proof and Antique 107, to name a few.
2501 S. Ninth St., St. Louis, Facebook: Jack Nolen’s
The Silver Ballroom
The Silver Ballroom is an iconic dive bar with pinball machines and punk rock music. There are as many as 20 new and vintage machines, and the collection rotates regularly. Hungry? Order a housemade Australian meat pie or dine on some incredible Korean food created by Melanie Meyer of The Tiny Chef.
4701 Morgan Ford Road, St. Louis, 314.832.9223, thesilverballroom.com
Tick Tock Tavern
For a classic tavern feel and decor unlike any other in the St. Louis area, check out this Tower Grove East neighborhood bar. The theme here is great service, craft beers and owls. The large front patio is dog-friendly and perfect for people watching.
3459 Magnolia Ave., St. Louis, Facebook: Tick Tock Tavern
The Vandy
If craft cocktails and a diverse whiskey selection are more your speed, then look no further than The Vandy. Not only does this bar serve cocktails created with housemade mixers and locally sourced ingredients, but their curated list of single-barrel whiskeys can also be purchased by the bottle. Boss Taco provides tacos and dips Tuesday to Saturday while Pizza Politano serves up Neapolitan-style pizza on Sunday nights.
1301 S. Vandeventer Ave., St. Louis, 314.472.5321, thevandystl.com
Bill Moran is the creator of Instagram account @st.louis_taverns, where Moran anonymously reviews bars throughout the St. Louis area. He created the account in March 2021 after seeing many of his favorite bars struggling through pandemic restrictions. It has since evolved into a fun pastime of exploring the many neighborhoods in and around St. Louis.
