Thaxton Speakeasy

The Thaxton has been hiding in plain sight since 2007. Tucked into the lower level of a circa-1927 building at 1009 Olive Street, the downtown lounge runs on a genuine speakeasy ritual: a weekly password posted to its Instagram account gets you through the door, seating is limited and first-come, first-served, and tables are capped at two hours to keep the waitlist moving. Public speakeasy nights run Thursday from 8 p.m. to midnight and Friday and Saturday from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. — but only when the room isn't privately booked, since the space doubles as a wedding and event venue, so checking the posted calendar and grabbing the password before heading down is part of the fun.

The drink menu's dedicated 'Temperance' section treats zero-proof drinkers to real cocktails rather than afterthoughts. The 20/20 Tim Vision shakes DHOS Gin Free with lime, cranberry, simple syrup, and egg white; the Razz But No Tazz blends the same NA gin with raspberry syrup, lemon, and Greek yogurt (the menu suggests omitting its dash of bitters for a fully alcohol-free build); and the Faux Blueberry Sage French 75 tops blueberry-sage syrup and lemon with Topo Chico. The NA fridge adds local heft with 4 Hands Brewing's non-alcoholic Incarnation IPA alongside Bud Zero, and the zero-proof list rotates over time — St. Louis Magazine's guide to nonalcoholic drinks previously flagged a Fauxrita and the kombucha-based Fatale Mule here.

That same St. Louis Magazine guide urged readers to come for 'one of the most distinctive date night experiences in St. Louis' and stay for 'a varied selection of mocktails, non-alcoholic beers, and more,' while Explore St. Louis bills the Thaxton as the city's only password-protected night spot, serving vintage vibes in a 1920s Art Deco building. Expect an intimate basement room, carefully built drinks, and a crowd that's in on the secret — arrive early, since the two-hour seatings and small footprint mean the room fills fast on weekend nights.