When Live! By Loews hotel at Ballpark Village opened back in February, its rooftop bar had a dusting of snow, and staff were eagerly prepping for warmer weather and the start of baseball season. Things didn't quite go as planned, as Cardinals fans well know, but 10 days ago, The Bullock rooftop bar and lounge made its official debut just in time for the Redbirds' scheduled return to Busch Stadium for summer camp.
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The Bullock terrace overlooks the north side of Busch Stadium and Ballpark Village's outdoor concert plaza, giving guests prime views of a 15-foot LED screen and live performances, along with the Gateway Arch. Its own bar area features lawn games, an oversized fire pit, and a 12-foot viewing screen for baseball broadcasts, movies, and more.
“This experience up here is a little bit more upscale, a little bit more luxurious and comfortable, but also very approachable,” says Geneya Sauro, the hotel's general manager. “It really is breathtaking in the evenings—it takes on a really different personality.” With the plush sofas and floor lamps throughout the space, “you feel like you're in your living room,” she adds. “It's more of a residential feel versus any other outside patio that I've seen downtown.”
Guests will find a selection of local draft beers, along with a comprehensive selection of wine and spirits, but they'll also soon be able to try the Clover Leaf cocktail, a mix of gin, grenadine, and an egg white, originally crafted by the bar's namesake, Tom Bullock. Bullock, who tended bar at the St. Louis Country Club, became the first African-American bartender to publish a cocktail book when The Ideal Bartender was released in 1917.
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Currently, the food menu is comprised of lighter snack foods from their downstairs kitchen (which services the hotel’s restaurant, Clark & Bourbon), including burgers, smoked wings, pizzas, and sandwiches, as well as a basic cocktail list as Live! By Loews eases into reopening. Michael Manning, the director of Food & Beverage, says they have plans to eventually launch a full menu and cocktail program—guests can likely expect margaritas and the mint juleps Bullock was known for, along with seafood items such as cold lobster sandwiches and oysters.
“It will be cooler, refreshing items with housemade pieces—that's the concept that we're going to have up here,” Manning said. “It's exciting right now for us to open because we have room now to test what does and doesn't work… We are transplants, so [it's about] knowing what people are expecting, what would they like to see and getting their feedback, so that when everything is back to normal, we can be ahead of the game.”
Until then, The Bullock's spacious floorplan—which is open air, save for a partially covered bar area—allows for social distancing. The rooftop is designed to hold up to 800 people for events, but the hotel is following the city's guidelines on capacity restrictions and safety protocols. Hand sanitizer is available throughout the hotel, masks are required, and extra staff are on hand to clean and sanitize seating areas between guests.
The Bullock is currently open from Thursday to Sunday, starting from 4 p.m., but be sure to check back on Live! By Loews website as those hours are subject to change.
