Entry No. 14 — the St. Louis file — filed under: speakeasy
Thaxton Speakeasy
Tucked into the swanky lower level of a historic 1920s Art Deco building, this underground lounge requires a weekly password (posted on their Instagram) to enter. The space is a beautifully preserved time capsule of Prohibition-era glamour, complete with vintage decor, classic cocktails, and occasional jazz or cabaret performances.
The story
You won't find the entrance to the Thaxton Speakeasy on the main streetfront. While the upstairs of 1009 Olive Street functions as a restored 1920s Art Deco venue, the basement belongs to a darker, lower-key operation. To get inside, you skip the front doors entirely and head into the alleyway out back, where a doorkeeper guards the subterranean lounge below.
The space feels less like a modern pop-up themed bar and more like a preserved subterranean pocket of Prohibition-era St. Louis. Downstairs, under dim lighting, velvet furniture sits among original architectural details. The bar doesn't mess with slushy gimmicks either—they lean into heavy classic builds, pouring Sazeracs alongside niche pour-overs like St. George Absinthe Verte and Bruto Americano.
The catch is that access remains intentionally controlled. They run on a weekly password system: if you show up without it, you're paying a cover charge at the alley door. If you whisper the secret password correctly, you walk right in.
What it's like
Before you head down Olive Street, check their Instagram page to lock down the current week's password. Slip into the alley behind the historic Art Deco building and find the back door. Whisper the password to the doorkeeper to bypass the cover charge, then step down into the dim, velvet-lined basement lounge. Expect a mix of classic cocktails, vintage atmosphere, and the occasional jazz or cabaret act on Thursday through Saturday nights—just keep in mind that private event buyouts can alter public hours.
The move: Check their Instagram for the weekly password, head down the alleyway entrance, and whisper it to the doorkeeper to bypass the cover charge. Sip classic Sazeracs while lounging on velvet furniture under the dim, historic lights.
- 📍 Downtown
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 1009 Olive St, St. Louis, MO 63101
Hours: Added 2026-07-21 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- The Crack Fox & Odditeas Cafe — Just a tenth of a mile away, you can trade the sleek 1920s Art Deco cocktail lounge for a late-night alternative sanctuary that caters to St. Louis's goth and punk scenes.
- City Museum — Pair an afternoon spent climbing through a ten-story industrial playground half a mile away with a quiet nightcap in a dark alleyway basement.
- None of the Above — Turn your night into an underground hidden-bar tour by jumping from Thaxton's alleyway door to the gray steel door hidden beneath City Foundry.
Good to know
How do I get the password to avoid the cover charge?
Check the Thaxton Speakeasy Instagram page before you go. The password changes weekly; whispering it to the doorkeeper at the alley entrance gets you in without paying cover.
Where is the actual entrance?
Don't try the main building door at 1009 Olive Street. Walk around to the alley entrance behind the building to reach the basement doorkeeper.
What are the hours?
The speakeasy is generally open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday starting at 8:00 PM, provided the space hasn't been booked for a private event.
Is there a drink menu focus?
Yes, the bar emphasizes classic vintage cocktails like Sazeracs alongside specialty spirits like Suze and St. George absinthes.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · explorestlouis.com · Reddit
last checked: 2026-07-21