Ask George: How many speakeasy-type bars are there in St. Louis at present?

Born in the Prohibition-era, speakeasy bars rely on secrecy and nostalgia, beginning with hidden or disguised entrances—think alley doors, down basement hallways, or tucked behind a curtain, bookshelf, false storefront, even a vintage phone booth—that sometimes require passwords to gain entry. Inside, the mood turns intimate, with low lighting, velvet booths, dark woods, antique glassware, and décor nodding to the 1920s. Guests can expect curated jazz/swing/soul music, elevated hospitality, and craft-forward cocktails (including pre-Prohibition classics), that create a feeling of discovery and escapism, like you’ve stepped into another world.

Across the country, speakeasies are trending, and St. Louis has its fair share. Below is a roughly chronological look at the city’s modern-era entries.

Thaxton Speakeasy (1009 Olive): Opened in 2007, arguably the city’s first modern speakeasy sits beneath the Thaxton Building. Open Thu–Sat evenings; check social media for the weekly password. Seating is first come, first served.

Planter’s House (1000 Mississippi): The 2013 restaurant itself isn’t a speakeasy, but its hidden-in-plain-sight Bullock Room—tucked behind a curtain and up a half flight of stairs—certainly qualifies. The space is also available for private events.

Clements Bar (2626 Cherokee): Clements Lock & Security becomes Clements Bar on Thursdays from 4 p.m.–midnight, ”or by chance,” reads the website. “If the sign says BAR, we’re serving.” Owner Jason Deem told Feast magazine that “During the day, you can get a beer from a locksmith, and at night, the bartenders can cut keys if they’re not too busy making drinks,” qualifying it as one of the city’s quirkiest hidden-gem concepts. Seating is first come, first served.

New Society (3194 S. Grand): Located Inside Monstera Mezcaleria along the South Grand strip, the brainchild of Michael Fricker and Meredith Barry is deliberately sassy. Their social media says it best: “Dark, moody, and just the right amount of mischief. New Society is where we push the boundaries of cocktails, and pull you into a world that feels a little hidden, a little indulgent, and a lot of fun.” Open Thu-Sat from 5 p.m. Make reservations here.

None of The Above (3730 Foundry Way): Gerard Craft’s entry at City Foundry STL made a major splash when it debuted in December 2023. Guests enter through an unmarked door, walk a graffiti-lined tunnel, then descend to an underground lounge that arguably delivers more “wow” moments than any bar in town. Open Wed–Mon, 5 p.m.–1 a.m. Make reservations here.    

Big Chief Speakeasy (17352 Manchester): Accessed via a phone booth on the first floor, this second-story lounge nods to the Prohibition-era history of Big Chief Roadhouse in Wildwood. The speakeasy serves drinks only; food is offered downstairs. Open Thu–Sat, 4–10 p.m. Seating is first come, first served.

Bemistion Cocktail & Social Club (14 S. Bemiston): A simple door marked with a “B” leads to the reincarnation of downtown Clayton’s former Extra Brut. The 60-seat space shares a kitchen with sister spot Louie’s Wine Dive. Open Thu–Sat, 6 p.m.–midnight. Reservations available.

Silk Road Lounge (243 N. Euclid): Opened in summer 2025 next to sister concept Pagan Bar, it has all the moody hallmarks of a speakeasy bar, including a hidden entrance. Open Tue–Sat, 8 p.m.–1:30 a.m. Seating is first come, first served.

Oak Street Speakeasy (5521 Oak): Part of the Oak Street Inn & Lounge complex in Cottleville, access is via an exterior stairway. Guests can enjoy an Asian-fusion menu starting at 6 p.m. Wed–Sat. No reservations required, but you’ll need the entry code, available via Instagram stories here.  

Prohibition (2017 Chouteau): Opened in October on the lower level of the Centennial Malt House building (former home to Vin de Set), this bar is dedicated to the women of Prohibition. Location clues, design details, reservation info, and passwords are disseminated via its website and Instagram page. Make reservations here.   

This season:

Bevo Fox Den (One Busch Place): For the first time in more than four decades, the historic Bevo Bottling Plant’s hospitality room will reopen, this time as the Bevo Fox Den, a Prohibition-themed speakeasy, open on select nights from November 22–December 30, in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of the Brewery Lights celebration. Guests will follow a trail of carved wooden foxes to a discreet door and present a nightly password to step inside, where there will be live jazz music, parlor games, hors d’oeuvres, signature cocktails, and A-B’s roster of beers. Make reservations here.

Coming soon:

Clandestino’s SpeakEasy Bar (415 N. Tucker): Located inside the renovated Jefferson Arms Building, the elegant space boasts deep crimson walls, art-deco sconces, elegant semicircular velveteen booths, a bold marble bar, and zebra carpeting. If early renderings are any indication, it’s poised to become one of the city’s most elegant speakeasies. It might qualify as the most elegant speakeasy in town.  

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