Rob's Place. Photography by Courtney Zahner
As indicated by the title, most of these places are located on corners. And, collectively, they represent a nice, little cross-section of sipping culture on the Northside.
Rob’s Place
1428 Benton, 63106
314-588-7627
The interior of Rob’s Place is built on a color scheme of three: red, black and white. Nary an item of furniture or wall reflects any differently. And though lights were dropped a bit after the first few minutes of our recent visit, the room remained a somewhat brightly lit one. If it didn’t make the place cozier, it made things easier to ID; and it was more obvious when a young woman danced, backwards, all the way down the bar to ask me who was playing on the jukebox. (I assumed Rihanna, but didn’t say so, waiting for the jukebox to show the “now playing” screen; I was admonished for cheating. The artist playing was: Rihanna.)
If there’s such a thing as “a North Side pour” (and there is exactly such a thing), it’s on display at Rob’s. After requesting a vodka-and-tonic and gin version of the same, we were informed that there was no tonic, though that word came after a thorough search. Opting for cranberry juice, we watched our bartender slowly pour a shot into each glass. Then another half-shot, for good measure. Then a splash of cranberry, which turned the clear liquids into pinkish ones. “I’m not much of a juice person,” we were told. The drinks, as expected, meant business. Wah-hah!
While the TV played a college baseball game that was getting little love from the crowd, a game of darts broke out in a small side room. Discussions were relatively quiet along the full bar, with a mellow mood reflecting a quiet Tuesday night’s visit. Rob’s is one of three bars open in the immediate vicinity, within the Old North St. Louis neighborhood; each is quite different, each possessing its own mood and feel. This one wins the truest “North Side pour” award of the three. Hands (and feet) down.
Daddy’s Money
5300 N Broadway, 63147
314-241-7600
A recent shooting incident took place near Daddy’s Money, a long-running tavern on what’s unquestionably an interesting stretch of North Broadway. It involved a high-ranking police officer in an unmarked car; the news and comments in the local daily’s coverage made Daddy’s Money sound like a St. Louis version of Mos Eisley spaceport’s cantina. (Gratuitous Star Wars reference: check.) Though Daddy’s Money has been around for only a couple of years, the place is pretty well-known for a bar of its size, largely because of a large, decorative, slightly racy mural on the side of the building, featuring young ladies washing cars in their finest bikinis.
Once upon a time, car washes were a regular component of the scene at this place, as was outdoor volleyball. A couple of visits in the past few months have never shown either of those activities, just the drinking part of any bar’s experience. After leaving Rob’s Place, still on the fresh side of midnight, it seemed that Daddy’s Money would be a good place to go for the night’s last round. The mood was 100 percent different than Rob’s, with a live DJ cranking out the jams at concert volume, rocking the mic and keeping a birthday party in everyone’s thoughts. On the other hand, like a Rob’s, there was no tonic water; club soda accompanied our gin and vodka, in big ol’ tumblers. Oh, well.
If the crowd at Rob’s edged just north of 30-ish, Daddy’s featured a younger set, most of the audience around 25 or less, with an equal mix of ladies and gents. And while some interesting conversations looked to be taking place, something else was, too: with the volume at its bass-obvious level, the crowd was almost-universally locked into the digital world. Every other person was scrolling and flipping through their lit phone screens, taking part in both their physical and electronic lives. There’s little doubt that Daddy’s Money bumps and kicks like a bull ride on a Friday or Saturday night. But on this Tuesday, it was a like a really loud library. One that serves the wrong drinks.
Valerie’s Sit & Sip
3701 Sullivan, 63107
314-531-5085
Sometimes a friend passes you photos, based on a mutual interest of the “old St. Louis,” the one that’s not necessarily found in the history books. The shots, though, wind up being nothing if not a lesson in St. Louis history. For example, I’ve seen photos of Valerie’s Sit & Sip about a half-century back, around the time when Sportsman’s Park was visible from the front door. The interior’s a far bit different nowadays and the clientele... well, it was a different group of people hanging out at Valerie’s.
These days, it’s a friendly group that inhabits the Sit & Sip. Non-regular guests are greeted and sent to a small back room, if that’s where their party’s found. If traveling solo, you’re free to roam a small, classically set-up space, with tables and chairs taking up virtually every bit of floor space, allowing (almost mandating) that larger groups are going to mix and mingle. Visitors seem to enjoy the mixed drinks more than the bottles and cans of beer available, but no matter what you order, you’re going to be handed a tiny receipt, quickly and efficiently keeping your cash transactions straight.
A recent weekend visit coincided with the spin of DJ Disco T, who spent the night calling out names, encouraging good vibes and keeping the sounds in the kind of mid-tempo simmer that works for an early evening. He’s got everything from new wave (Nu Shooz!) to the classic R&B burners that turn on an audience of this sort, and he’s not shy about letting you that the tip jar is there and waiting for a well-deserved drop on requests. The DJs at Valerie’s get it, and are one of several reasons that V’s Sit & Sip is always a good time.
The Palomino Lounge
5876 Delmar Blvd, 63112
314-361-3099
There are nights when you’re in The Loop and the choices feel strangely limited. That shouldn’t be. But, every so often, the crush of Blueberry Hill seems daunting. Cicero’s seems too far down the block. The dancers at The Halo are... worrisome. And the hookah bars! How many hookah bars can this street support, even with school coming back into session in a month? On the nights when you’re already in The Loop, but searching for something less intense, consider a short trip eastward.
Not all bars in town offer a website with detailed info. The Palomino, though, has one. And here’s the short history: “Palomino Lounge was established back in 1961. We are known all around the country for the best drinks in St. Louis. Barbara Rice is the current owner of our lounge and has been since 1986. Palomino Lounge is a family owned and operated establishment. We are a community bar that hosts numerous group events as well as birthday parties. If you’re looking for a place you can chill, watch the game, throw some darts, listen to some great music, or get your Friday night party on, this is the place to be. The Palomino is also known for playing the best combination of jazz and blues in the city. We have a great staff of DJs that know they're [sic] music. If you wanna step, bop, slide, or drop it like it’s hot.”
Located just a couple doors down from a kickin’ spot called Renee’s, the Palomino Lounge offers a space to sit and relax, enjoying a jukebox that was recently booming out everything from old school R&B to reggae. The drinks, per Northside custom, were stiff as boards. Located just a couple minutes’ drive from The Loop, the Palomino offers an oasis from the various concepts up the block, with an audience that’s sporting some gray. In effect, the type of crowd you sometimes you wanna be in, when the “party” portion of your evening’s already taken place, and the comedown’s the key.
