This Valentine’s Day, celebrate with a favorite bubbly—but consider moving beyond the pop of the cork and pour of frothy goodness. Opt instead for Champagne cocktails, mixed to perfection and served in cozy, très romantique places.
If cuddling near a crackling fire is your preference, stop by The Royale (3132 S. Kingshighway) and order a Champagne Cocktail. “We saturate a sugar cube with Angostura bitters, place it in a flute, and add Champagne,” says manager Marla Hare Griffin. Push past the crowd to the back patio and smooch by the fire.
Find the best food in St. Louis
Subscribe to the St. Louis Dining In and Dining Out newsletters to stay up-to-date on the local restaurant and culinary scene.
For a bite with your bubbly, stop by Extra Brut (16 S. Bemiston) the day after Valentine’s. (The Clayton Champagne bar’s only open Fridays and Saturdays.) “Our Good Night Kiss Champagne cocktail—with Appletti aperitif, a sugar cube, and bitters, topped with sparkling wine—goes well with the oysters on our raw bar,” says maître d’ Patricia Wamhoff, “but my favorite food pairing for this is our smoked duck breast, pan-seared, plated on a bed of arugula, and topped with a duck egg.”
Editor’s Note: Extra Brut closed unexpectedly on February 15. Bemiston Cocktail Club will open in the space in early April 2019.
Romance rules at Bar Les Freres (7637 Wydown), fostered by the reflection of soft lights in mirrors, the glint of gold, and soft murmurs of tête-à-têtes. “We serve a classic French 75—gin, lemon, and Champagne,” says owner Zoë Robinson. “It’s romantic, but I think our space goes beyond romantic and leads to intimacy.”
