8 Black-owned bars to visit in St. Louis this weekend

St. Louis has seen a boom of exciting new nightlife options over the past few years, from a new generation of wine bars to speakeasies to cozy neighborhood dives. Wrap up this Black History Month by throwing one back at one of these great spots. 

Saturn Lounge
Saturn Lounge is a unique new entry on Cherokee Street, equal parts cocktail bar and listening lounge, is co-owned by KDHX DJ Doug Morgan. Like other vinyl record bars, Saturn Lounge sets the scene with classic cocktails, craft beers and fine wine in a relaxed and spacious setting. Vinyl records fill the back-bar wall, providing an eclectic mix of music, and the volume is set at a level that entertains the listener while still allowing conversation. The main bar room provides booth seating along with a handful of bar stools, and the back room features comfortable couches and chairs surrounding a large coffee table. The brick patio, decorated with string lighting, delivers even more seating for guests to enjoy a drink on the quiet end of Cherokee Street. Wine drinkers can choose from almost 20 different bottles ranging from reds and rosés to whites and bubbly options. There are several beers on draft and close to 40 in cans and bottles along with a drink list that includes about 10 different in-house cocktails and a decent selection of NA spirits. 
1915 Cherokee St., St. Louis, 314.226.9473, thesaturnlounge.com

Videira Wine Shop & Bar
The St. Louis area has recently experienced a welcome uptick in new wine bars, bringing an even wider variety of vino to the thirsty metro population. Videira Wine Shop & Bar is the latest of these, opening its doors at 2702 Locust St. in the JCMidtown development last fall. While wine is the star at Videira (the name means “grapevine” in Portuguese), there’s far more to be enjoyed on the expansive liquid bill of fare. A tight collection of house cocktails is also available, like the I’ll Have What She’s Having, a tasty amalgam of vodka, raspberry syrup, lemon and Angostura bitters, and Call Me Old Fashioned, a solid take on the venerable classic based on Hard Truth Sweet Mash Rye. There are also several NA options for those who want to imbibe sans spirits, like the NA Pink Gin Fizz, with Lyre’s Dry London Spirit, Lyre’s Italian Orange and Indian tonic. Food-wise, Videira offers several small plates, perfect for noshing whilst tasting through the wine list.
2702 R Locust St., St. Louis, 314.377.9463, Facebook: Videira Wine Shop and Bar

Whisky on Washington
Whisky on Washington opened its doors in August 2021, offering a complete bar with liquor, wine, beer and signature cocktails such as the Wow-mopolitian, a whiskey twist on the classic Cosmo. But the star of their menu is their whiskey selection, which includes about 200 whiskeys from all over the world. Kentucky, Tennessee, Canada, Missouri, Scotland and Japan are just some of the locations from where they source their whiskey. 
1321 Washington Ave., St. Louis, 314.925.8409, Instagram: @whiskyonwashington

 

 

 

Wine Down Cafe
Owner Kevin Shed brings his life-long appreciation for fine wine and hospitality to the historic Carondelet neighborhood at Wine Down Cafe, a relaxed restaurant and wine bar. 
7529 Michigan Ave., St. Louis, 314.696.2205, winedowncafestl.com

Saint Louis Hop Shop
Brothers Justin Harris and Ryan Griffin want to talk to you about beer. They’ve set up their Saint Louis Hop Shop with that in mind: choosing the foot traffic-heavy Cherokee Street neighborhood, hosting beer events and offering a short menu of pours to enjoy while you peruse their shelves of carefully selected bottles. The shop also features a bar area with six rotating taps. Harris said guests can expect a different brew every seven to 10 days.
2600 Cherokee St., St. Louis, 314.261.4011, saintlouishopshop.com

Beyond Sweet Kitchen + Bar
Beyond Sweet Kitchen + Bar recently opened their new restaurant located in the Delmar Maker District. Founded by Dallas Holland, a St. Louis entrepreneur, Beyond Sweet Kitchen + Bar features food, drinks and dessert in a sophisticated and unique setting. The bar offers flights like sweet and spicy margarita or martini flights, along with daily drink specials, beer and wine, and wine tastings. The house special drink is called Beyond Sweet, made with tequila and decorated with assorted candies, and coming in at 60 ounces, it’s made for sharing. Over-the-top signature milkshakes are available in boozy and non-boozy options.
5143 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, 314.601.3628, beyondsweetkitchenandbar.com

Bar Italia
When Mengesha Yohannes left his native Ethiopia at 18 to attend Saint Louis University, he couldn’t have guessed that in five years he’d go from customer to co-owner of Bar Italia. More than 30 years later, Yohannes remains a guiding light at his ever-evolving Italian restaurant and bar that has become an anchor in the Central West End. 
13 Maryland Plaza, St. Louis, 314.361.7010, baritaliastl.com

The Wine Café
The Wine Café, a cozy spot to grab wine and eats, opened in March 2022 in historic St. Charles. Co-owned by Tiara and Terrence Curry, the Wine Café fuses Tiara’s passion for wine with Terrence’s background in the food industry, with carefully curated menus and pairing options. Made-to-order charcuterie boards include assorted cheeses, nuts, fruits and spreads, with options for solo diners, “buddy boards” for two to three and a deluxe pretzel board for large groups. The café also offers sandwiches, flatbreads and wraps, including a specialty grilled cheese sandwich with sriracha and honey on sourdough, a grilled shrimp fajita wrap and build-your-own pizzas. Wines are hand-selected by Tiara and Terrence and hail from local spots like McKelvey Vineyards, as well as renowned wineries in Oregon, California and New Zealand.
703 S. Main St., St. Charles, 636.410.8002, thewinecafe.biz