Off Elm

Off Elm opened on November 29, 2024, at 8709 Big Bend Boulevard in Webster Groves, the second brick-and-mortar project from Matt and Jess Longueville after The Vandy in Forest Park Southeast. The couple built their reputation with STL Barkeep, their St. Louis cocktail-catering company, and brought beverage director Patrick Gioia aboard for this neighborhood bar. Designed by Brian Leenig with mid-century modern lines, the room seats 16 at the bar, 20 at low-top tables, and 16 more at communal tables. There are no reservations: Off Elm is walk-in only, managing busy nights through an online waitlist, and the bar asks guests to text rather than call for the fastest reply.

The zero-proof program is written directly into the menu rather than hidden behind a bartender's shrug. The current menu's Non Alcoholic section leads with Blood For The Blood God — zero-proof rum, blood orange, lime, orgeat, and bitters — and the Crimson Gimlet, which pairs zero-proof gin with red wine syrup and lime, both priced at $12 right alongside their spirited siblings. The beer list backs them up with Gruvi NA lager and Best Day NA kölsch at $6, and sober guests can also opt for Mighty Kind CBD seltzers in Cherry Blossom or Heady Lemon, or Liquid Death sodas. Best of all is the printed pledge at the bottom of the section: most classic cocktails can be made non-alcoholic — just ask a server or bartender.

Off Elm drew immediate attention from the St. Louis food press. Sauce Magazine's first look praised how the bar "blends sophistication with approachability, offering guests a cozy yet refined space to unwind," while Feast Magazine described it as blending sophisticated cocktails and casual elegance, and St. Louis Magazine flagged the opening as a new cocktail destination for Webster Groves. Expect a deep whiskey selection with separate whiskey and spirits lists, a snack menu of bagel-crust pies and boards, and happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday. Doors open at 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, with last call 30 minutes before close — 10 p.m. on weeknights, midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.