The Best Cocktails in St. Louis: A Niche Food Group Drink Guide
Whether you're looking for one of St. Louis' best craft cocktail bars, a hidden speakeasy, a lively happy hour, or the perfect brunch drink, Niche Food Group has a cocktail destination for every occasion. From award-winning, technique-driven creations at None of the Above to French classics at Brasserie, Italian-inspired aperitivos at Pastaria, and weekday morning cocktails at Bowood by Niche, each concept offers a distinct drinking experience. Here's where to sip based on your mood, your budget, and what you're celebrating.
Best Craft Cocktails: None of the Above
For the most ambitious cocktail menu in the city, head below City Foundry to None of the Above, Niche Food Group's hidden speakeasy. The House Cocktails feature impressive pours like Ghost in the Shell (carbonated apple, barley, oat, shochu, Strega), Garden of Eden (jujube, honey, whiskey-aged vinegar, grapefruit, Cardamaro), and Hejaz Railway (tahini fat-washed armagnac, zaatar, marjoram, suze, honey, lemon, fee foam), recently featured in Flavor & the Menu’s “Best of Flavor 2026” issue. For something familiar but elevated, the NOTA Classics menu fearures a clarified New York Whiskey Sour, a Dirty Gin Martini, and one of the city’s best Espresso Martinis made with locally roasted Blueprint Coffee. Whiskey lovers should try the NOTA Manhattan, poured with Whistle Pig Old World 12 Year.
The menu also rotates seasonal cocktails worth watching for, including the summer lineup of Madame Zeroni (gin, white grapes, champagne syrup, lemon, Bruto Americano, Campari), The Grand Budapest (gin, raspberry, Cocchi Rosa, rose water, lemon), and Her Name Was Lola (gin, hibiscus, coconut, Amaro Nonino, lime, honey, salt). Follow @notastl for the newest seasonal cocktails as they drop.
With dim lighting, intimate seating, and a menu built for slow sipping, it also doubles as the city's top pick for date night and special occasions.
Best for: cocktail enthusiasts, date night, special occasions Where: Midtown / City Foundry (None Of The Above) Price range: $15–$41
Best Approachable, Premium-Quality Cocktails
Great cocktails don't have to come with a big-city price tag. At Pastaria in Clayton, most cocktails run $14–$15, including the Blackberry Julep and Sicilian Daiquiri, while the Pompeii Paloma (ghost pepper reposado, agave, grapefruit, lime) is one of the best values on any Niche menu at $12. At Bowood by Niche in the Central West End, cocktails like the Cucumber Gimlet and Persephone's Jewel start at $12. And for the single best deal in the group, Brasserie by Niche's Cinq à Six happy hour (Sunday–Thursday, 5–6 PM) pours cocktails like the Aviation and Dark 'n' Stormy for $10.
Best for: budget-conscious cocktail lovers, after-work drinks, happy hour Where: Clayton (Pastaria), Central West End (Bowood by Niche, Brasserie) | Price range: $10–$15
Best Non-Alcoholic Cocktails
Non-alcoholic cocktail menus don’t have to be an afterthought. None of the Above's Simulacra N/A lineup includes the Saturn (Non-Alcoholic Gin, Passionfruit, Tiki syrup, Orgeat, Lemon) and Dolce Vita (Blood Orange N/A Vermouth, Ghia, Nozeco), plus rotating housemade shrubs. Brasserie by Niche offers the mimosa alternative, Nomosa, and the Nospresso (Bare gin, espresso, fig syrup, & cinnamon syrup). Bowood by Niche mirrors its full menu with drinks like the N/A Cafe Martini. And Pastaria rounds it out with an N/A Gin Spritz, N/A Negroni, plus N/A wine and beer across the concepts.
Best for: sober and sober-curious guests, designated drivers Where: Midtown / City Foundry (None Of The Above), Clayton (Pastaria), Central West End (Bowood by Niche, Brasserie) Price range: $6–$13
Best Brunch Cocktails
Brasserie by Niche's Sunday brunch (10 AM–2 PM) pairs French classics with drinks like the Corpse Reviver, Violet 75, and the playful Elvis Elevator (peanut butter bourbon, banana liqueur, espresso), plus mimosas by the glass or $48 carafe. Bowood by Niche puts a weekday twist on brunch with Morning Happy Hour (Monday–Thursday, 8–9 a.m.), featuring $8 Aperol Spritzes, Frenchies, Blackberry 75s, Mezcal Margaritas, and Mimosas, plus $6 Bloody Marys and Craft Coffees. With alcohol-free cocktails available, too, these two Central West End favorites make it easy to gather with friends for everything from birthday brunches and coffee dates to celebratory breakfasts and weekend brunch in St. Louis.
Best for: weekend brunch, weekday mornings, celebratory Sundays Where: Central West End (Bowood by Niche, Brasserie) | Price range: $7–$14
