Top 5 Music Venues in St. Louis

As one of the early hotbeds for blues and jazz, and being the birthplace of a large number of legendary recording artists, St. Louis, Missouri, has a long musical history that continues to this day. Thus, it should come as no surprise that it’s among the best (though overlooked) cities to catch live music. There’s such a variety of environments, atmospheres, and genre representations that you’re certain to find a spot that suits you, no matter your tastes. With that in mind, consider our choices for the top five music venues in St. Louis.

1860 Saloon, Game Room, and Hardshell Cafe

The 1860 Saloon in the historic Soulard neighborhood is the go-to destination for live blues. Stepping into the saloon just about transports you to its eponymous era, with its well-trod hardwood floors and antique bar. Here, the music doesn’t let up, either. You’re getting deep, soulful blues music seven days and nights a week, usually with only a small cover charge for nighttime performances.

What’s more, 1860 is a three-for-one deal. Aside from the great live music, you’re also getting a game room and a place to eat. The game room features tavern staples like foosball and darts as well as shuffleboard and arcade games. Should you want, you can even rent the game room for private events on weekdays, weeknights, and weekend afternoons. If you get peckish, slide over to the Hardshell Cafe for some tasty bar grub.

Location: 1860 S. 9th St., St. Louis, MO 63104.

Hours of Operation: The 1860 Saloon, Game Room, and Hardshell Cafe operates seven days a week. Monday–Saturday hours are 11 a.m.–1:30 a.m., while Sunday hours are 11 a.m.–midnight.

Contact: To get in touch with the establishment, call 314-231-1860 or drop a message through one of its social media pages (links available on the official website).

Keep Em Up by Edward Cisneros is licensed with Unsplash License

Broadway Oyster Bar

Broadway Oyster Bar — often called by just its initials, BOB — has been a St. Louis institution for around 35 years now. The venue, housed in a building from the 1840s, has an appropriately rugged, old-timey feel.

On most days, the live music runs twice a day. Fridays feature a single evening act, and it’s typically a good one. The musical variety is hard to beat. Along with blues, you can expect acts representing a broad range of genres, including but not limited to bluegrass, funk, reggae, rock, and R&B. Most of the performances are free, though there’s likely to be a cover charge for well-known acts.

The food, by the way, is a hit too. True to its name, BOB serves fresh oysters, offering no fewer than 10 items involving the briny mollusk. There are also crab cakes, a host of shrimp dishes, gator tacos, fried alligator, gumbo, jambalaya, po’boys, and so much more.

Location: 736 S. Broadway St., St. Louis, MO 63102.

Hours of Operation: Broadway Oyster Bar operates seven days a week, 11 a.m.–3 a.m. every day. In the remaining months of 2022, the establishment closes for only three days: Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.

Contact: You can contact Broadway Oyster Bar by phone at 314-621-8811, by email at [email protected], or through its online contact page. The establishment also maintains a social media presence, the links for which are available on its website.

The Heavy Anchor

If you want live music with a harder edge, The Heavy Anchor is your spot. The scene here is punk, hardcore, and indie rock. The venue books only original artists, so no tribute or cover bands here. The focus is having a romping good time to loud, thrashing music, so the food options are limited to the handheld type — pizza and snacks. The bar, however, has a generous selection of beer, wine, cocktails, and soft drinks. There’s some excellent merch too, including shirts, totes, patches, and stickers.

For most shows, purchase tickets at the door. Online tickets are available on some occasions. And keep in mind that the venue is strictly 21-and-over.

Location: 5226 Gravois Ave., St. Louis, MO 63116.

Hours of Operation: The Heavy Anchor is open Monday through Saturday, 5 p.m.–1 a.m.

Contact: Call the Heavy Anchor at 314-352-5226 or send an email to [email protected].

McGurk’s

At McGurk’s, you get as authentic an Irish pub experience as is possible in the Midwest. On top of the Guinness, Jameson, and hearty pub fare, McGurk’s offers live music seven days a week. As you might expect, the musical focus here is Irish. Deep, dark wood composes much of the interior, and acts perform on a small stage backed by a handsome wall adorned with framed photos. Jam sessions aren’t uncommon, so consider bringing along your fiddle or pipes if you play.

Location: 1200 Russell Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63104.

Hours of Operation: McGurk’s is open six days a week, Tuesday through Sunday, with varying hours. Tuesday–Thursday hours are 4:30 p.m.–1:30 a.m., Friday–Saturday hours are 11:30 a.m.–1:30 a.m., and Sunday hours are 11:30 a.m.–midnight.

Contact: McGurk’s is reachable by phone at 314-776-8309 as well as by email at [email protected]. Access the Social section of its website for links to its social media pages.

Stifel Theatre

St. Louis frequently welcomes national acts as well, and such big-name acts often perform at Stifel Theatre. This historic venue has hosted such legends as Bob Dylan, Ray Charles, and Frank Sinatra, and it continues to draw popular industry names today. To give you a sense of the scene, in the second half of 2022, you can look forward to shows by Interpol, Spoon, and Alice Cooper. Tickets are available online.

Location: 1400 Market St., St. Louis, MO 63103.

Contact: Get in touch with Stifel Theatre by calling 314-499-7600 or submitting a form through its contact page.

Hours of Operation: The specific hours of operation vary from show to show.

That’s what we think are some of the best music venues in the city. If you think we’ve missed something, we’d love for you to let us know. Give us a call at 618-621-2068 or drop us a message through our contact page.

Then consider coming down to our dealership at 1225 McNutt St. in Herculaneum, Missouri, to check out our inventory of used vehicles. We understand that automotive preferences can be just as varied as musical tastes, so we stock a variety of makes and models to appeal to just about everyone. We also offer financing options to accommodate a range of financial needs. So come discover what we can do for you. Find a vehicle you love and roll up to the venue in style.