Alright, so Par Bar (let's be honest, it should be called Par Bar and not Par Lounge) is a weird little place. But I think having the proper expectations of this place helps. I really like it for what it is, which is the following:
- A smoking bar. Reminds me a little of being in the old Saleem's on Delmar (now Ranoush). Yeah, it's a little gross to have people smoking indoors now that we are used to the smoking ban, but it's also a little nostalgic.
- A half-assed sports bar. There are TVs, but no sound. And they aren't huge. Think of them as a conversation starter.
- Open late in an odd location. You'll get weird people in here. It's kind of awesome.
- There's a juke box. The crowd is mostly early thirties, seems like a lot of singles, and that's the kind of music you're going to get - pop, R&B, and rock from the mid-90s through mid-00s. I love it.
- Small. This is not a huge place. Which makes it strangely intimate. With all those early thirties single people. It's an adventure.
It's very low key, almost creeper-ish. A friend suggested this place and I completely made him walk me from my car to the door. I was not in the mood to get mugged. We were the only ones here. Apparently, everyone else got the memo. They do have a few beers I haven't heard of. Mixed drinks to a minimum.
Review Source:Par Bar sucks (it ain't no lounge)
After discussing the recent closing of Delmar Lounge, and leftover 3 a.m. spots, this place came to mind - always full of trashy out-of-date music (juke box), slightly off men, and just a generally creeper vibe.
Ok, fine - you can come here if it's late, and you are really desperate....
I'm giving Par 4 out of 5 because of the great service I've received there over the past few years. They have recently made some changes that prevented me from giving them a 5 star rating and unfortunately will keep me from returning very often in the future.
First the good stuff:
The atmosphere is great, the staff are super friendly and have been very outgoing towards me every time I visit. The drink selection is quite impressive if you like liquor and above average if you like beer. The crowd can get a bit thick on Friday and Saturday nights, but that can be a good thing if you're in the mood for it. I have met many of my STL friends at Par, it is a great place to hang out and have a few drinks.
Recently, however, they have been making some changes. Some of them, like increased prices for some drinks, are understandable. These things change over time. They still offer specials but some of my favorite ones ($2 Schlaflys on Thursdays was a huge draw for me) are gone. On top of that they recently instituted a $10 minimum on credit cards. While this probably makes good business sense, it was a huge slap in the face for some of their regular customers who came in and had a drink or two after work. How am I supposed to take advantage of the $1 specials if I have to by 10 of them? I'm sorry, I just can't afford to get that wasted on a Wednesday. On top of that it isn't even posted anywhere, so you get sucker punched right when you're about to leave.
The issue certainly won't affect everyone, but it has driven away some of the regulars and made Par less of a neighborhood bar in my opinion. That certainly is their choice, but after being a loyal customer for the better part of two years it is sad to think that they don't want people like me as customers anymore.
C'est la vie. Thanks for the memories, Par.
This place started off the night on a seriously sour note....we rolled in around 10, place wasn't packed and crowd was chill...cool! Yeah it allowed smoking but I (non-smoker) could take it once a while. No biggie.
Over the course of next hour, I had some jello shots and the boys tried to get a couple of drinks. Service was slow as hell even though the place wasn't busy. It took us a while to even be acknowledged at the bar when bartenders kept on walking back and forth in front of us without asking what we wanted. Finally when we did get some service, the boy tried to order an Old Fashioned with rye whiskey. Bartender looked at us like we just said something in French, so the boy asks what whiskeys they have and requested to have a certain one made in an Old Fashioned. Bartender informed us that it would "ruin the whiskey". At that point, for the sake of not arguing about a stupid drink, he ordered another whiskey in an Old Fashioned. All of us tried this "Old Fashioned" and it was by far the worst Old Fashioned I have ever had.
For anyone who is not familiar with the drink. It's one of the oldest drink recipes ever invented, involving a small amount of sugar or simple syrup, water, bitters, ice, lemon-peel and whiskey. Modern interpretations of the drink may involve a small amount of soda water as well. So the version we had here was topped off with a soda water, but there were WAY too much of it. Heck, it tasted like a carbonated lemon juice!
You can say maybe she is just blunt at suggesting what she thinks is good or bad in a drink, and maybe this is just one drink that she hasn't really mastered. Either way, every visit to the bar is accompanied with simple objects: to get decently made drinks in a laid back atmosphere and to get decent service while at it. Unfortunately, the only thing this place had going was "laid back atmosphere".
Meh...I will not return, even though it's conveniently located behind the Hi-Point, one of my favorite theaters in St. Louis.
P. S. Whoever plays "Black and Yellow" on the juke box in 2011 at a chill bar is a douche.
Here is one smoking bar I can't help but love! Yes, my hair stinks and requires at least two washes to rid of the smokey scent but this place has too much charm to resist! Exposed brick, friendly bartenders, comfy couches and reasonably priced drinks keep me coming back for more.
Also a very convenient stop before or after a movie at Hi-Pointe theater. I think it's charming that the bartenders get to munch on leftover movie theater popcorn.
If you check in with yelp I believe you get a free jello shot. Not a fan of 'em so I always ignore the "deal" but just throwin' it out there!
How awesome is this place!?!
I came here after a run with a group of friends, and it was pretty fantastic.
The place is right next to the Hi Pointe theater, and is surprisingly nice inside (although they do allow smoking...blech!)
They offer a few items on the menu; pizza was popular with my group, but I went with the chips and queso, which in my tipsy (okay, drunk) state tasted like manna from heaven. So good!
Service was friendly and fast, and prices were reasonable.
I would definitely come back. The fact that  I'm only 5 minutes away means that this might become a new haunt for me.
When we lived in Hi-Pointe, Par Lounge was less than a block away. Â My husband and I liked having a bar within walking distance.
Upside: Â It has a friendly atmosphere, and Gina (one of the owners) is very sweet. Â The drinks are relatively inexpensive. Â Great sofa area and large screen TV. Â The Jello shot syringes are fun.
Downside: Â Too much cigarette smoke. Â The spinach dip is greasy and tastes like it has that abominable Provel stuff in it.
Par Lounge is just about a perfect neighborhood joint. Despite the awkward intersection it's lodged in, it offers just what this corner needs: $2.00 PBR and Stag, Friday night specials for the ladies, a smattering of outdoor seating for warm summer nights, and a jello shot that must be experienced at least once.
Service here is friendly, and although the inside definitely smells a little bar-tastic, you won't mind much as you settle in among the comfortable chairs and couches and engage in some low-key hanging with the buds.
Apparently there are some killer happy hour specials and other offers here worth taking advantage of (including a free aforementioned jello shot for checking in on Yelp or Foursquare!) Pricing, though, seems to be a little inconsistent, with advertised pizza prices not quite corresponding to the final bill. When the joint is so cheap and the atmosphere is so pleasant, though, who really cares?
Par is one of the last bars in St. Louis that doesn't completely suck where the persecuted smoker can enjoy their nicotine without stares from the healthy conscious.
I don't usually smoke, but when I'm enjoying a tasty vodka martini with olives, I enjoy a nice cigarette. I'm told that is the European way, not to chain smoke, but just to really savor one square at a time.
I almost don't want to review this place because I feel like it's my little secret bar, hidden away from the rest of the douchebags who hang around my neighborhood. The decor is super streamlined, clean and simple. The toilet paper is made of clouds- no joke.
Juke box + some leather couches + cute guys = :)
The bartenders are super cute ladies and always have a good story to tell. Drinks are always perfection, the liquor selection is really impressive, $2 PBR!!! and let's not forget, jello shots in a massive plastic syringe.
There is a great mix of people here, but the party doesn't get started until late, late night. It seems like everytime I am here I meet some cool people and someone ends up springing for shots.
If Par Lounge gets rid of the smoking I would totally bump this review up to 4 or maybe even 5 stars. It's a moderately sized hallway style bar with a chill vibe, it's open til 3am, and it's closer to home. Awesome!
They have many TVs, and few "homey" areas furnished with couches, arm chairs, pillows, and coffee tables. They have a digital juke box and a few bar video games. The drink prices are average with a full bar and bottled beers only. I liked everything here except for the smoke!
I ended up at Par Lounge last night with a group of friends. Â It was the first time I have been and at first was impressed. Â The bar was clean, open and, in a pleasant way, basic. Â When we arrived around 9:30, there were only a few other patrons in the place. Â The bartender, Anna, was very friendly and always made sure our drinks and waters were always full. Â As the night progressed, the place got packed and the crowd was a good mix of college-age up to mid-40's. Â The only issue I really have with the bar is the teeny, tiny postage-stamp parking lot... I had a very difficult time getting out of it! Â Here's a hint: don't park in the middle of the lot... try to park as close to the street as you can.
Review Source:Today I went to this place and realized I don't get out much as I used to. And when I do, I want to save money and have a calm night. So why not stay home? I can't Yelp anymore. lol. Anyways, I was searching for cheap drinks for a friend, and came across this place on Yelp. Reading reviews it said it was dead, but most of those were written closer to the opening, leading me to assume it had gotten better since then. Well, not really... It was dead when we got there too. I think the most people in the bar at one time were 10 people. Upon walking in though, we got excited about the calmness because my friend and I wanted to catch up, considering we were both under the drinking age since we last saw each other! Long time...
Anyways, I was very satisfied in every way possible. Our waitress was friendly and also shed light on the fact this place appears to me more of a "spillover" bar for the bar patrons of Clayton, as it gets busy around 1:30 on a weekday. And their decor is great. Kind of dark, but I appreciated the mood lighting for this kind of atmosphere. So if you're looking for a place that you can hear yourself in, go here, and come early on a weekday. And ask for their specials. They seem to have a lot going on drink special-wise!
Why is this bar so nice being the first 3 AM bar heading east right off 40/64 on the Clayton/McCausland/Skinker intersection? Â Leather coaches & chairs with exposed brick dimly lit by track lighting & neon signs is too nice.
I sat @ the shotgun bar drinking & watching well dressed regulars playing Golden Tee and after 1 AM the rush of people came in from the Clayton bars. Â Some people wore staff shirts from other bars during this Wednesday.
My shot drinking amigo decided we needed substance & the kitchen is open till 2:30 with this menu-
Spinach Artichoke Dip $5.95
Queso Dip $4.95
A "small" plate of baked stuff Artichoke Bottoms $5.95
Plus 4 different personal pizzas for $6.95
Spinach Artichoke Dip came with tasty pita chips, but the Queso dip was the perfect post-drinking companion. Â The best combo is Queso w/ the pita chips. Â (FYI- Del Taco is just a block away)
On a Tuesday I wanted to be cheap & sat drinking $2.50 Stella Artois & bought some women $1 Jell-O shots, but I have found this place to be more about impressing.
The ways for a drinking establishment to score points with me are twofold: offering low-cost drinks and providing me an easy voyage home after a night of drinking done right. Par Lounge more than satisfies both criteria.
Originally, my interest was piqued on a walk to the Hi Pointe Theater next door. Months later on a Thursday night, a decision to try a new watering hole led to an investigation of the Par Lounge. At first, I was put off by the absence of patrons (likely due to it being a Thursday night), but this made finding seating extremely easy.
Being as savvy as I am, my first question for the bartender was "What's cheap?" Fortunately, the answer was everything. This is the beauty of Par: Â their "happy hour" is basically always. With the exception of the standard drinking nights (Friday and Saturday), "happy hour" lasts from essentially open to close. I had quite the time, and plenty of drinks, for less than $15.
My complaints of Par Lounge are few. For one, the digital jukebox is somewhat of a crap shoot. You may be stuck waiting an hour just to hear the song your dollar says you love so much. In fact, despite offering an enjoyable variety of tunes, it is more costly to play a song in the bar than to purchase said song on iTunes. There's no beer on tap (only bottles), so the grocery store down the street is a viable competitor for beer purchases. Also, the absence of patrons severely handicapped any opportunities for mingling entertainment, or even people watching. However, this flaw is advantageous for those who want to interact within their own group. For those who must drive, parking may be difficult to find (with the exception of extreme cold, it's within walking distance for me).
The key question to ask, then, is "Will I go back?" For the Par Lounge, the answer is absolutely, thanks to their cheap booze and proximity to my home.
This is one of my new most favorite lounges to hang out at. Â The atmosphere is laid back and comfortable. Â You can either watch a game while sitting on one of the six comfy couches, pick some tunes on the digital jukebox, quench your thirst and make small talk with the bartender or much on some awesome little personal sized pizzas.
I had never been to the old Hi Point bar, so not much help when comparing the two.
A great place to go for a relaxed evening out or to top off your night.
A far cry from the old Hi Pointe, the new Par Lounge has a lofty feel with exposed brick, two extra large flat screen TVs, digital juke box, mahogany and leather. Â
They've got a full bar with some high end liquor, a decent selection of bottled beer and some decent happy hour specials. The crowd is mixed in age, and semi casual. Â
They have a small menu of pizzas and cheese, sausage, chips & dips, which they plan to build on. Â Everything on it is under 7 bucks. Â I did not have the opportunity to try the food.
I've only been there once and that was during happy hour (Wed - Fri 5-8). Â So, I don't have a feel for the true vibe, but I recommend giving this one a try!
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