Kid-Friendly St. Louis Spots Where Parents Can Get a Damn Drink

Civil Life Brewing Co.
(3714 Holt Avenue; no phone)

Small breweries are havens for parents of young children who are still trying to have a social life. Gather together with all of your other friends with young children and let hem run around the patio of Civil Life while you sip suds. Playdate and beer? Everybody gets what they want!

Photo credit: Robert Rohe These gentlemen were more than happy to share their collected knowledge on beers and brewing.

Hi Pointe Drive-In
(1033 McCausland Avenue, 314-349-2720)

The food at Hi Pointe Drive-In is kid-approved (who doesn't want a juicy hamburger?) and the novelty of the place makes it more of an experience than just going out for dinner at a regular ol' restaurant. And most importantly: they have boozy shakes.

Photo credit: Mabel Suen

Clementine's Naughty & Nice Creamery
(two locations including 1637 S. 18th Street; 314-858-6100)

The kids want ice cream. You do, too, but you also want alcohol. Clementine's Naughty & Nice Creamery can hook you up. Get the kids their strawberry treat and get yourself an adult treat. Clementine's sells boozy ice cream. It's the best of both worlds.

Photo credit: Ed Aller

Grant's Farm
(10501 Gravois Road, 314-577-2626)

Need to get the kids out of the house but also wouldn't mind a brew? Not only is Grant's Farm free but they also give the adults two free beers in the biergarten. Feeding goats is cool, but feeding yourself free beer is cooler.

Photo credit: Dave Herholz / Flickr

The Fountain on Locust
(3037 Locust Street, 314-535-7800)

The Fountain on Locust is a treat for everyone; adults can enjoy alcoholic ice cream martinis while the restaurant's famous “world’s tiniest ice cream cone” and “world’s tiniest hot fudge sundae” are just enough for your little ones to enjoy without destroying their outfits and appetites.

Photo credit: Lauren Milford

Milo's Tavern
(5201 Wilson Avenue; 314-776-0468)

A fenced-in patio at a restaurant that serves booze is a parents' heaven in summer. You can let the kids off of their leashes and be free. And at Milo's, they'll have something to do, too. During the warmer months, the entire Hill neighborhood gathers here to watch bocce ball players go for the gold on the courts outside. The old-timers love having kids around and often show them how it's done while you sit back, drink your wine and dream of Roma.

Photo credit: Kelly Glueck

South Broadway Athletic Club
(2301 S 7th Street; 314-776-4833)

Going to watch wrestling at the South Broadway Athletic Club is a south city tradition. You can't really claim that you're from the south side until you've spent the night sweating and screaming in this crazy atmosphere. It goes without saying that kids love it. It's like a television show, but in real life! They also serve beer and basic mixed drinks in the back corner and they're essential to the experience.

Photo credit: Lindsay Toler

Busch Stadium for a Cardinals Game
(700 Clark Avenue; 314-345-9600)

If you're raising your kids right in St. Louis, you'll be taking them to quite a few Cardinals baseball games. Enduring the summer heat and sweating through your Cardinal red shirt are St. Louis traditions that your kids must learn early. And for you? You know a cold beer never tastes better than it does here. Sip it while you watch your kids run around the provided play area.

Photo credit: Phil / Flickr

Layla
(4317 Manchester Avenue, 314-553-9252)

Serving burgers, shakes and shawarma, Layla's delicious burgers and fries should make most kids happy -- and in addition to a good kids' menu, the friendly servers happily provide crayons. And if there's ever a way to get your kids to eat their kale, it's got to be the delectable flash-fried version served here at happy hour. Naturally, there is a full bar available to make most parents happy, too.

Photo credit: courtesy of Layla

Kingpin Lanes
(12249 Natural Bridge Road, Bridgeton; 314-291-3215)

Drinking and bowling go hand-in-hand, but this Bridgeton spot also has indoor volleyball. That makes it practically a theme park, which means you can let the kids run wild while you get to chill out for once. Pretend you're at the beach and have a nice drink.

Photo credit: Courtesy of Arizona Building Systems

Olympia Kebob House and Taverna
(1543 McCausland Avenue, 314-781-1299)

There is no kids menu at Olympia Kebob House and Taverna, but they do have high chairs and a friendly neighborhood atmosphere. Service is usually pretty fast, which is excellent when you are eating with someone who has a very short attention span. And there is a full bar that actually can get pretty rowdy at night. Send the kids home with your spouse and stay to party.

Text by Lauren Milford. Photo credit: Caroline Yoo

Pieces
(1535 S. 8th Street; 314-797-8200)

If the kids have cabin fever but the weather is too ugly to get outdoors, check out Pieces, the board game bar and cafe. The kids will have fun choosing from the hundreds of games available, you can feed them right in that room and you can also get a little special sippy-cup for yourself.

Photo credit: Sarah Fenske

Pi Pizzeria
(multiple locations including 400 North Euclid Avenue; 314-367-4300)

Pi restaurants offer high chairs and booster seats, and the favorite food of many children: cheese pizza. Pi makes adults happy too, with its deep-dish and thin-crust pies (and craft beers). The wait for your food can be a bit longer than waiting for a frozen pizza to cook at home, so bring a toy, book or electronic device.

Text by Lauren Milford. Photo credit: Jennifer Silverberg

Beatnik Bob's at the City Museum
(750 N. 16th Street; 314-231-2489)

Children and adults both love the City Museum, but the adults can get a special treat at this playground/art installation. Alcohol is available inside the museum at Beatnik Bob's (the dark, cozy interior cafe), outside in the cabin (a little pub on the grounds) and sometimes even on the roof, which turns into a a bar and a cool hangout zone in the summer.

Photo credit: Texas Tongs / Flickr

Friendly's
(3503 Roger Place, 314-771-2040)

It's a crowded sports bar full of young south siders tipsy on (supremely) cheap drinks at night, but during the day they'll let you bring your kids in and it's like your own personal Dave & Busters. There are games galore here to keep the kids busy (including video games, darts, pool, golf, skeeball and even claw machines) while you and your fellow parents split a cold bucket or two.

Photo credit: Jaime Lees

Pin-Up Bowl
(6191 Delmar Boulevard; 314-727-5555)

This longtime Loop hotspot is a 21-and-up bar at night but during the day it operates like any other bowling alley. Your kids will love the style of the place and the small, exclusive bowling area, and you will love that the employees there know how to make a proper drink. Everybody bowls better when they're a little drunk, anyway.

Photo credit: 16 of 26

Saratoga Lanes
(2725 Sutton Blvd A; 314-645-5308)

Bowling alleys have always been a place where your kids can kick it while you have a drink, so keep it classic at Saratoga Lanes. The bowling is cheap. The beers are cheap. And while fancy boozy martinis are good and all, sometimes a bowling beer is just perfect.

Photo credit: ryanrarcher / Instagram

Russell’s on Macklind
(5400 Murdoch Ave., 314-553-9994)

Russell’s on Macklind serves breakfast, lunch and dinner with a cozy atmosphere inside and a large deck and outdoor patio. It’s casual enough that you won’t get stares with your kid(s) inside, but if the weather allows, we highly recommend the outdoor seating where your kid can properly dig into the breakfast grilled cheese or the macaroni and cheese. High chairs are provided so stop in for brunch and a mimosa, mom.

Text by Lauren Milford. Photo credit: Kaitlin Steinberg

Sauce on the Side
(903 Pine Street; 314-241-5667)

Kids just love this fast-casual calzone place. While the food is adult-caliber, there's something about a pizza being wrapped up into a pocket that thrills children. Give them some marinara for dipping and they're in heaven. They think it's super cool. And you'll think the drinks are cool, too, and you can dip into those, too, while everyone else orders seconds.

Photo credit: Jennifer Silverberg