Entry No. 9 — the St. Louis file — filed under: speakeasy
The Golden Hoosier
A neighborhood bar that feels like the love child of a natural history museum and an old-world tavern, decorated with over 80 vintage Victorian taxidermy mounts.
The story
From the sidewalk on South Kingshighway Boulevard, the Art Deco building looks like a classic South City neighborhood hangout. Step through the doors, however, and you enter a dimly lit space that feels less like a corner tavern and more like a Victorian naturalist's private parlor after a few too many drinks.
The walls are lined with over 80 vintage Victorian taxidermy mounts, creating a cabinet-of-curiosities atmosphere where glass eyes track your movement from above the booths and wood paneling. Rather than sitting in somber museum silence, the specimens are integrated directly into the bar life, each paired with custom, tongue-in-cheek descriptions that invite you to wander the floor with a glass in hand.
The drink menu leans into the theme without losing its neighborhood roots. Order the El Dorado margarita—finished with a flurry of real gold dust—and do a lap around the room to match the mounts with their bios. It is an unpretentious South City gathering spot that just happens to be guarded by a silent menagerie.
What it's like
Expect a warm, unpretentious South City vibe wrapped in dark wood and taxidermy mounts. Grab a booth beneath one of the specimens, get your drinks at the bar, and take time to walk around and read the plaques beneath the taxidermy. Confirm current hours before heading out.
The move: Sip on an El Dorado margarita finished with real gold dust while taking a self-guided tour of the bar's massive taxidermy collection, matching the mounts to their custom, humorous descriptions.
- 📍 South City
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 3707 S Kingshighway Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63109
Hours: Added 2026-07-21 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- The Silver Ballroom — Trade Victorian taxidermy for punk rock and pinball at this legendary Bevo Mill dive bar less than a mile away.
- Miniature Museum of Greater St. Louis — Pivot from large taxidermy specimens to two floors of thousands of tiny, hyper-detailed dollhouses and room boxes.
- Arkadin Cinema & Bar — Keep the offbeat night going with a drink and a cult classic or B-movie screening at this nearby indie microcinema.
- Clements Bar — For another unusual drinking spot, head to this working locksmith shop that transforms into a neighborhood tavern on Thursday nights.
Good to know
How many taxidermy mounts are inside?
The collection features over 80 vintage Victorian taxidermy mounts displayed throughout the space.
What is the signature drink to order?
The El Dorado margarita is a standout choice, served with a dusting of real gold dust.
Where is The Golden Hoosier located?
You can find it at 3707 S Kingshighway Blvd in the South City neighborhood of St. Louis.
Is this a museum or a functioning bar?
It is a fully operational South City neighborhood bar and restaurant built around an extensive natural history motif.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site
last checked: 2026-07-21