First Look: Bemiston Cocktail Club in Clayton

Bemiston Cocktail Club, Clayton’s latest watering hole, officially opened for business on Wednesday, May 8 at 16 S. Bemiston Ave.

The bar replaces Extra Brut, the sparkling wine spot owned by Louie’s Wine Dive next door. 

The same ownership group also operates Bemiston Cocktail Club, which will also be used as a special events space.

Much about the space remains the same from its previous incarnation: guests enter via a long hallway, speakeasy style, and emerge in the bar, which opens into a main room featuring a mix of banquettes and tall four-top bar tables. Decor is still minimal, but it has been softened with the addition of some dark wood furniture, eclectic artwork and strategically placed greenery.

The approachable and affordable beverage menu at Bemiston features a tight selection of classic and original cocktails, plus beer and wine. For those who want their drink ASAP, two cocktails, the Gin Gin and the Cosmo, are available on tap, and there’s also a bottled dirty martini. Budget-conscious types take note: the Bemmy, an Old Milwaukee and a shot of the house whiskey blend, can be had for a mere $5.

The food menu is small, but it features some tasty takes on bar food favorites like nacho popcorn, onion rings and tater tots.

Bemiston Cocktail Club is open from 5 p.m. to midnight Wednesday through Saturday. Here’s a look at the newest addition to the Clayton nightlife scene:

Matt Sorrell is a staff writer at Sauce Magazine.