Planter’s House

From reading the reviews of one of the other cocktail places I enjoy, I found out that the previous bartender at that locale now owns this magnificent restaurant.
I may be a little biased as I enjoy my cocktails, but Planter’s House is one of the best. You want a drink made with your specific ingredients and taste? Just ask and you’ll get either the exact drink or something very close. The guys and gals behind the bar at Planter’s know their stuff. As for the food, it is decent. I don’t have much to say about that.
There is also the Bullock room that they have in the back (at least I like to call it the back) that is Prohibition or the Roaring 20s style. Goodness that is great style.
But again, this place is for you cocktail lovers. Try this place out and get at least 2 drinks. If I had a list of cocktail bars to go to while in St Louis, this would be on it.

Planter’s House consistently makes a solid effort with food, though mostly too rich/​heavy for me to visit with any regularity for the food alone. But I didn’t give up! I kept coming for the cocktails, great cocktails, classy cocktails, and happy hour cocktails served in vintage inspired stemware.
Very good for a date, but not good for large groups or those that don’t love a loud and dark environment. Disregard all that in the summer, because during those months, sit outside under folksy lighting with as big group and plenty of mosquitos.

I love everything about this place. Street parking out front. Wood paneling inside. A massive bar. Intimate booths. If you want a cocktail experience, you go here.
The staff is extremely knowledgeable, and if you’re not sure what you want, they’ll guide you in the right direction. For food, the harissa chickpeas, pickled veggies, and fries are your best bets, and definitely get extra ketchup, as it’s addictively fresh and tomatoey (as opposed to a Heinz-​like sugar fest, although as a ketchup devotee, I will eat it all).
The drinks are really personal taste. If you like bitter drinks, Into the Woods will make you appreciate Suze in a whole new way: the combination with Rye and Kina really highlights its herbiness. On the sweeter side, the Saffron Sour is gently floral and way too easily consumed.
I could see this being your local bar, or a killer first date spot. For the cocktail nut, it’s a can’t miss.

What can be said about their cocktails that hasn’t already been said. They are amazing, delicious, magical, and always appropriate for the season.
We recently ate dinner there and the food was wonderful. However the standout and the thing that keeps bringing us back are their cocktails.
My husband swears by the ghost ship cocktail.

Ted Kilgore is our cocktail czar here, so every drink you’ll have at Planter’s House will be fantastic and probably unlike anything you’ve had before. The staff always helps me figure out what to order based on my mood. Their food is not an afterthought, it’s delicious and funky. Plus, this is a renovation of an historic building which culminated in a cozy but classy bar and the gorgeous back room with fabulous deep red walls. Such a wonderful gem in Lafayette Square, just a couple blocks from 1111 and Vin de Set.

Ted Kilgore and his staff know how to pour a drink. Be careful though, the drinks are potent! With a wide array of classic (and well-​made) cocktails, and unique in-​house creations, Planter’s House is my favorite bar in St. Louis for a cocktail. The staff has been nothing but polite, and surprisingly knowledgeable about all of their offerings,
The bourbon selection is on-​point, and the beers that they have on draft are a collection of local and regional offerings that span a wide array of styles.
Food-​wise, the duck burger, before the menu change, was my favorite burger in Saint Louis. Since the loss of their head chef, I have not eaten from the full menu, so I will refrain from commenting on their food.

Small location but excellent cocktails. Did not have a full meal but the snacks were fantastic. Definitely recommend to anyone looking for craft cocktails… but make a reservation or suffer the wait times

Definite five star for a quaint mixology experience.
I can’t speak for the food. The menu for any food options was small and did not look intising, but we were there for an after dinner drink.
The bartender was engaging and took pride in his finished product which is always a plus.
They use lots of different, fresh ingredients in their drinks which is always appreciated.
Décor is dark but open allowing for a comfortable, relaxed, yet intimate and upscale feeling.
Great little find in the Lafayette Square, especially if you appreciate a great drink made with fresh ingredients by bartenders that know their art.
We’ll be back although probably not for a dinner.

Planter’s House was the highlight of our trip to STL. Lovely service and wonderful cocktail program. We were also impressed by their selection of bourbon and american whiskey. We had a few food items as well and found those to be satisfactory.

I came here to catch up with a friend and because I love Taste so, so much. We didn’t try the food but each had two delicious cocktails. It didn’t disappoint and the service was great! I love just telling the bartenders the flavors I’m into and letting them pick a drink for me. Both times the choices were great. I’m not a fan of Bourbon but they convinced me to try a Bourbon drink and it was the first one I actually enjoyed.
I think I prefer Taste a little more but that’s also because it’s much closer to where I live and it’s more familiar to me, but this is such a great addition to this area. I would love to come sit on their patio next time!

The drinks here are excellent. We spent the evening on the patio. It is big and spacious and well lit. Others have complained about Mosquitos being on the patio and they were fierce last night. We saw an attempt to control them such as citronella candles. We asked for a candle near our table and bug spray and they provided both. It didn’t help much. What they need are fans, on the floor but that probably would look ridiculous and be impractical. The inside is gorgeous and cozy. Beautiful red leather banquettes and dim lighting. Go up and check out the Bullock Room. It has a full bar and is also beautifully decorated.
Back to the drinks… the server asked us what type of drinks we were looking for. The menu is extensive. She asked, I told her and she brought me the most delicious drink, The Gin Soaked Boy. Citrusy, boozy, tart and very bright favors. My dining companion had The Penicillin. Also a very interesting drink with a smoky finish. They have a nice variety of food. We had popcorn (there are different varieties), mussels, arugula salad and a Margherita pizza. This sounds like a lot of food but these are small plates. I will definitely be back but will sit inside in the summer.

What a perfect place to hang out on a balmy summer night! The outdoor patio is super cute, and they make the best cocktails! I love the traditional brick building they are in. It really adds some fun to the atmosphere. I have been here multiple times, and I’m never disappointed. My favorite menu item is the duck burger! I never knew duck could be so delicious and juicy! Their menu is always changing, but they use the freshest ingredients in their food and cocktails. They also have the best fries! I have no idea what they put on them, some kind of magical seasoning! Overall, great place to grab food and drink with friends.

I don’t get the love for this place at all. I have tried this place numerous times with friends and each time we all walk out scratching our heads. The service is minimal at best. Our most recent visit, we were the only ones sitting at the upstairs bar and we still had a hard time getting waited on. The young lady working that bar treated us as if we were an inconvenience and an interruption to her night. We drank half of our cocktails, which were made very amateurish and left.
There are too many other bars in Saint Louis where you can get a professional and masterfully made cocktail, so I suggest you take a pass on Planter’s House.

I came here with a few of my best STL friends I met on Elite Unilocal!Shoutout. Well I was back in the area and have to see my peeps so they suggested this place. So after the first two drinks the waiter suggested for my palate and the food I’m a Unilocal flunky. I don’t remember what I drank after that. So much good food, drinks, I was tired as hell, etc. Luckily I cabbed it wherever or had good friends on this last trip.
We had the chicken wings which were ok, the meatballs were great, a meat and cheese plate of some sort, and a flatbread which was good.
The service here is phenomenal. I just wish I wasn’t so jet lagged when I came so I could of embraced more and gave a better review. I can’t wait to come back. Great suggesting Mrs. Erin.

Love it. We came here after a couple of beers at the Urban Chestnut down the street. I figured it would be a big change of scenery, but this place has a pretty upbeat vibe, much more than I expected. I guess I was kind of anticipating a kind of cocktail library where people scratched their beards and pondered their next bitters. It’s significantly more lively than that. Lots of people appeared to be on hand for a drink or two, at least in the bar area. I didn’t see a lot of people eating. On the other hand, I was sitting at the bar with my back to everybody most of the time, conspicuously *not* people watching. For now, I was interested in trying to figure out what all those bottles were for. It really is closer to a science lab than a traditional bar in some ways.
The bartender, I mean bartendress, I mean mixologist was kind of scholarly, which I would have expected, but in the end she was eager to please. I had a Cosmo Kramer, which was really just a cosmo and made me feel wimpy. It was excellent, of course, but not adventurous, so in order to not be wimpy I had the mixiologist make me whatever she wanted. It involved about 10 ingredients. God knows what. It had some kind of coconut in it and gin, otherwise I have no idea. It was delicious, though, and a lot of fun. Kind of daring to serve up something with coconut flavor, eh? I know a LOT of people that would not be happy, including my wife. I loved it, though.
We also tried the flatbread, just to have a bite of something. I can’t remember all the ingredients, but it had red peppers and duck gravy. It was also really really good. I’d definitely get it again.
We will be back, for food and drink. Planters House is an adventure in the best way.

I have only been here once and it was for a birthday party in the back room. I knew going into it that this place was known for their cocktails (thanks to Unilocal). The cocktails I tried were all tasty and strong. Most cocktails run about $ 10, if you don’t visit during their happy hour.
The service was really good. Drinks were replenished in a timely manner. What I really liked was the back room. The felt/​satin wallpaper is a real eye catcher.
Parking appeared to be street parking only which wasn’t hard to find. On my walk in I saw a nice outdoor area that didn’t look to be open yet. I’d like to sit out there next time I visit.

I was fortunate enough to take a cocktail class at Planter’s House. We had the whole side room to ourselves. There was room for all of us to sit around the bar, while we sampled a few different cocktails and learned more about them. We smelled different alcohols and had to guess what they were, and describe the scents we were picking up.
Then, we all got to put together a cocktail while keeping our seats at the bar. We learned proper stirring techniques and more. Then, we each got to pick a cocktail and make it ourselves behind the bar. Everyone was able to learn the perfect way to make their favorite craft cocktail, and we also got to take home a folder with more instructions and recipes.
I think the thing I loved about it the most was that it was absolutely lacking in pretentiousness. A craft cocktail class is something that could have easily veered into «Portlandia» territory, but this never did. It was never over the top or precious, just good information for those who really enjoy learning more about creating the perfect cocktail at home. I would highly recommend this as a fun girls night activity, work team building activity, or a fun thing to do when friends or family visit town.

I have been a huge fan of Ted Kilgore’s from back when ‘Taste by Niche’ was a tiny space on Sidney Street!!!
With almost nothing to work with but hot plates for preparation of cuisine, he created small plates that were beyond delicious! He was also the King of Cocktails, setting a pace that maintained his stature as he moved from the small space to Taste by Niche in the Central West End and then meticulously created his own restaurant with his wonderful wife Jaimie @ Planter’s House!
The wood ceilings create a fabulous warmth and there are two rooms to enjoy: the bar area in the front with tables or the back room with the velvet wallpaper and another bar.
Both rooms are fabulous and the cocktails are impeccably prepared!!!
The food is also meticulously crafted and every dish is delicious!
There are wonderful entrées, small plates, and treats to include unique popcorns that are house-​made and addictive.
The duck burger is a large portion and scrumptious, and the chicken is succulent with unique flavors-it’s fabulous.
Planter’s House is just a wonderful place for happy hour, late night cocktails, snacks or dinner and the patio is large and inviting with wrought iron tables.
Whichever room you choose, it will be a great setting for your meal!
Ted and Jaimie are the very gracious hosts and hostess and all of the staff provide excellent service.
Once you step foot inside, you will be so comfortable and enjoy your visit so much, you may never want to leave!!!

I came here for a late night cocktail the other night… I was impressed with the craft cocktail menu and of course, the end product! They have a ton of different drinks you can choose from, I was able to try the Jail Bait and Party in Boston from the cocktail list and then I also had a hotty toddy which was quite tasty as well!
They have a full menu and it looked like there was an upstairs. I only sat at the bar, and it was a very cold Tuesday night so there weren’t that many stragglers in there, but I can imagine this place gets pretty busy on the weekends! I look forward to coming back to try some of their food!
Oh and an added bonus, their bathrooms (at least the women’s) are so cute, a nice little vanity and decorative brush and comb set. The whole restaurant makes you feel like you’re living quite a few decades ago!

This place is a no-​brainer. Just get off your phone/​computer and go here. Head to the upstairs room to admire and stroke the awesome velvet wallpaper while enjoying badass eats and drinks. Raise a toast to your blessed lives.
HUGE props to the amazing female server who hauled ass to bring me my wallet that I had left behind as I got in my car. I’m talking full-​on sprint here. I was not exactly parked nearby either. If you’re reading this, it was really generous act, and I hope to repay you for your efforts in the near future.
That’s good service.