This is one of the coolest and funkiest bars I've ever been to! Â I've only been there twice, used to live over in Alton, IL which was about a half hour away. Â This place is close to the AB Brewery. Â The decor and the vibe are totally unique, never seen anything like it, you feel like you're in a different world here. Â I've never eaten there, and haven't listened to live music there, so can't say anything about those aspects, but loved the people I met there, total strangers you could just strike up conversations with. Â That's what I like when I want that. Â I long to get back to this place one of these days, fond memories of my days near St. Louis.
Review Source:Venice Café, you are a diamond in the rough.  My favorite place to watch live music is Venice Café.  The stage is small and if you sit downstairs you may get spit on you from the lead singer but that is why I love this place. As an audience, you almost become a member of the band it is that intimate. If you have stage freight, there is limited upstairs seating where you can watch the band from above. Bartenders are fabulous and attentive. The outdoor are is also expansive. It is not pretentious and the other bar patrons are nice and open for friendly conversations. During the band breaks, you cannot get bored as the décor inside the place will keep you occupied.  There is some crazy s**t on those walls, just look around.  Between the Homer Simpson quotes and the 1960s swimware mannequin, you will be entertained. Tip- If Bottom Up Blues Gang is playing there, go see them! They are amazing!!! It is cash only but an ATM is downstairs next to the fish pond, yes... there is a fish pond in the basement.
Review Source:Please note: This bar is awesome, 99.9% of the time. Please, please note: This bar deserves 5 stars. The one-star rating is for this: To implore Venice never to bring "Typewriter Tim" to the mic ever again.
This is easily one of our favorite spots in the city, and usually the best bands in St. Louis call it home. Again, this bar deserves 5 stars, and we wholeheartedly give it that score on any other day. We went there tonight (Sat, 7.6.13) thinking we were going to get to see Teddy Presberg and the Rhythm Section Road Show. Instead, we were dealt the nausea of being subjected to some tool-bag named Typewriter Tim. He droned on, stream-of-conscious style, for what seemed like two lifetimes, wearing welding goggles and a KU jersey. I don't recall seeing a more pretentious tool ("Tool" in place of "artist" here.) in recent memory. We came for music, not to hear this douche try to one-up the band we came to see and worse, Uncle Bill, all at once. For whatever reason no one pulled the mic from his hands, which is a rare misstep by a bar that gets everything else right.
Moral of the story: Management of Venice, punt the douche. That's $5 I'll sadly never get back. I hope I never see his name on the calendar of events ever, ever again.
Otherwise, do everything else you've been doing. This bar is magic.
Can't say much more then what has already been said. This eclectic decorated bar has so many things to see that you will never be able to see it all. The bartender Lisa is awesome and if you go you have to get the drink that comes in the bucket! You won't go wrong, but you will leave walking a bit crooked!
Review Source:Let your eyes wander.
Venice Cafe may be the most unique bar in town. Â Upon entry, the senses are overstimulated with the surroundings that call upon perhaps Pee Wee's Playhouse. Â Find a wall and explore. Â It's just that simple. Â The last time we went there I took a picture of a random spot and said, "I'll look at this later."
Personality is the key to Venice Cafe, and it is heavy with it. Â Sometimes I wonder if we're actually there to drink or just experience the place. Â Perhaps both. Â However, drinking is greatly overshadowed by the design. Â
I don't like the whole cash bar thing. Â Living in the city, I tend not to carry loads of cash because I never know when trouble will be around the corner. Â If you want to drink at VC, then bring your bills. Â Canned beer is $2.50, which makes me carry around quarters all night. Â Also, the ATM downstairs has a charge of a few dollars.
My favorite night is Monday for Open Mic Night, but if you want to experience the whole building, you need to come by on the weekend. Â The upstairs is usually closed during the week. Â We actually saw the upstairs for the first time Saturday. Â
I'm pretty sure Tim Burton is their decorator.
This is my 400th review, and I'm pleased to donate it to Venice! Â Venice is famous for its patio, which defies description in an awesome way. Â You can look at pictures, read reviews, or hear tales of the patio, but it really has to be experienced. Â No matter how often you go, you'll be constantly discovering new details, tchotchkes, or other memorabilia that adorn the walls, floors, and pillars. Â By the way, the "bar" on the patio is actually a boat. Â Yes, you sit at the boat to order your drinks. Â If you get seasick, there are other tables and chairs scattered around. Â I've never had a problem finding a seat.
Ok, so I've hopefully convinced you that the patio looks cool, but what about the rest of it? Â The food, the drinks, the music, the bathrooms? Â Yes, even the bathrooms are decorated in outrageous fashion. Â And compared to every other bar in the state, the Venice interior probably wins the award for most and strangest stuff on the walls (and hanging from the ceiling). Â The Cajun food is solid, the drinks are strong, and the music is a huge draw for Venice (and rightly so). Â My only qualms: it's hard to keep track of when the kitchen and the patio open for the season. Â And although you get your money's worth, be ready for a cover charge. Â But none of those minor qualms should prevent you from visiting Venice and visiting often.
Very Cool, inside and out on the patio chillin', huge glass and tile and chotskie  mosaics and cool paintings everywhere, and every wall, every ceiling, every fence post, every flower pot, every seat, every table, and every light fixture!!!  BUT NO FOOD...it's just a BAR these days. A living, breathing, fun and funky folk art project....and a must see!!! Â
Just don't go there hungry.
Cool place... cash only but they have an ATM. Â This is just a cool place, everything from the patio to the bathrooms were decorated with a purpose. Â It is a small place and the music is loud but great vibe. Oh yeah, they did have a cover charge, I guess they have to pay the entertainment.
I will be back for sure.
TONS of things to look at on the walls every which way you look! The bathroom's downstairs and even as you come down the stairs, you encounter some sort of jungle display (can anyone tell me if there's an animal in there or not?) The center of the restaurant is where they play live music; outside is an amazing patio area (half of it was closed when we were there though...maybe winter? and the fountain was kind of under 'construction') and there's also an upstairs. The patio area reminded me so much of Gaudi and Barcelona, love it!
Beers are decently priced, though the selection isn't much. (I think they were all bottled?). But the place has a fun vibe! Oh, note that we were all college students and yes, we were definitely the youngest ones there. But don't let that stop anyone from checking out this place though! The decorations are definitely worth a look!
Note: Cash only; there's an ATM downstairs, but save those extra bucks and bring cash!
"Take a picture of me next to all this crazy sh*t over here."
You'll be doing a buttload of crazy sh*t viewing should you decide to take a dip in at Venice Cafe.
There was a $5 on the Friday night we tested the Venice waters. At first I was all like: 'Really? This place is empty and you're gonna charge cover to see this band?' Then I heard the band and they were kinda.sorta.defo f*cking awesome and the place gradually started to fill up. V. Cafe ended up earning my $5 cover and respect. I loved all the stupid crap everywhere- very reminiscent of my lifestyle... especially all the Simpsons hidden gems but only wished they had a better beer selection. Maybe some draft something, maybe just a menu, I dunno. Defo missing just a little sumpin sumpin... and I don't just mean the beer.
Also, Can haz cheezburger? NO! I guess they used to have a damn fine kitchen, but no longer serve food so damn the man and get your solid sustenance elsewhere beforehand.
Need more info? These hashtags should be able to better point you in the right direction.
#CanHazAwesomez
#WorthTheCover
#Shitters
#Freaky
#F*ckYes!
#AcidTrip
#Eclectic
#Colorful
#Unique
#GarageSaleChic
#Don'tBeAP*ssy
#DoItToIt
#DownTheRabbitHole
How many faux taxidermy animals and mosaic tiles can one place have? It's like the City Museum and a tiki bar crashed into one another in Benton Park to create the über awesome Venice Cafe.
First off let me start off by saying this place seemed extremely random to me. I'm not quite sure where the name stemmed from nor how someone came up with the idea to create this monstrosity. It's looks somewhat of a small venue on the outside, but as soon as you go in you realize they have a massive patio, and 3 stories of space on top of having the outdoor patio.
When my friends and I arrived, there was a $5 cover for entry since there was a band playing that night. I am not sure if it is every Friday night, but I think it is. The bar is cash only with an ATM in the basement of the place along with some bathrooms and an aquarium.
The main level had the band  playing some rockabilly music with a decent crowd listening to them. We immediately ventured outside to the patio where there were tables and what looked liked a couple of bars too. Some of the patio was taped off so people could not get to a certain section. Assuming some sort of construction was underway, but it didn't look as if any work had been done. Some people were cutting behind the tape to go check out the rest of the patio. Needless to say we kind of did the same thing. The part of the bar that was taped off had a boat shaped bar and tons of license plates up on the wall with additional seating..
We eventually ended up on the top floor where we found a room off to the side the bar. We lucked out and had it to ourselves just right as a group was leaving. In this particular room there were shelves of the most random items. Tiki-like items, old photographs of people, taxidermy animals, and snakes in jars. As I said random.
As we sat in this room, people kept walking in and out of the bathroom which seemed to be a big hit with people. It probably was the highlight of the place with the totem poles and mirrors everywhere including one right in front of toilet. Oh joy! You can watch yourself go to the bathroom!
I know I could go on and on about the decor of this place, but I can't help to feel like someone had to be on some serious drugs when they put this place together.
The cash bar is a full service bar with decently priced drinks. They make one hell of a Sex on the Beach. Strong and it hits the spot.....no pun intended.
We had loads of fun, there is no doubt about it. The eccentrics of the place definitely give it some unique character that I have yet to see in many other bars in St. Louis. Yep, I'm a fan!
I was able to go back to Venice Cafe last night for the first time in 4 years, and it was every inch as amazing as I remembered.
I swear, going from the street into Venice Cafe is like stepping through a portal into another dimension. We walked in and paid the $5 cover to a man sitting by the door that must have been at least 150 years old, and looked like Santa Claus' older brother. By the time we got our first drinks at the bar, Methuselah had made his way to the microphone in the corner by the band, called himself "The World's Most Dangerous Poet," and started a musical musing about how he would love to be young and stupid again. This was all in the first five minutes.
A lot is made about the decor in these reviews, and rightly so. Walking from room to room reminds me of a lucid dream where the things that are happening around you seem to jump around randomly, but still somehow remain connected to one another. Just know that as far as presence or ambiance or whatever you want to call it goes, this is by FAR the most interesting and unique bar in St Louis, and probably in the entire state.
We visited the main bar area that had the band crammed in it, the bar upstairs (which I'm going to call The Africa Room), and the outdoor patio. The patio is seriously amazing. Everywhere you turn there's something or someone to look at...like the fortune teller/palm reader/gypsy woman that's usually there on saturdays, for instance. Seriously enjoyed myself despite the fact it was about 90 degrees at 11:30 at night. We stayed until close, a guy out front dropped my phone on the street after offering to take a picture of us, I rode a big stone frog like a bucking bronco, and off we went.
The only negatives I can think of about this place are the cover and the temporary axing of the food menu.
Absolutely loving the fact that this place is only a mile or so from my apartment right now. They definitely haven't seen the last of me.
THEY DO NOT SERVE FOOD HERE ANYMORE
REPEAT
NO FOOD
NO JERK CHICKEN
NO DELICIOUSNESS
I'm really in my emotions over the food thing, please forgive me. It was the only major draw for me (because I've ogled the decor so much that it's no longer a driving force in my patronage of the place).
On Venice Cafe's Yelp page, the ambience is listed as being hipster. I would say the ambience is more a combination of three things:
*pressed 40 somethings with bottled up energy desperate to have that one good time this year
*yuppies from soulard bringing in their brotastic friends from south county to show them the uniqueness of ~city living~
*first timers & tourists. every time you turn around someone else is proclaiming OH MY GOSH THIS IS SO MAGICAL WOW SO COOL NEAT GUYS STUFF ON THE WALLS. I'm convinced 90% of Venice's business is from first timers.
The decor at Venice is probably the most unique decor any bar within a 200 mile radius of St. Louis has. You have to go once, just for the sole purpose of staring at everything. Old McDonalds toys and Matchbox cars glued to the walls, mannequin heads, fish tanks, license plates. It's like decoupage on crack.
They have live music just about every night. If you like the bands, fantastic. If you don't, you need to make sure you're out on the patio because the inside gets LOUD.
Stag is 2.50, Absolut & club soda is 5.00.
You should try a bucket. They have giant buckets of booze. They throw in your choice of vodka or gin, a ton of limes, seltzer, LIMEADE (so good), and other citrusy things. 14 bucks. The bartender told me that he puts the equivalent of like 5 or 6 drinks worth so we're talking major cost savings. Then you can save the bucket and put a tiny plant in it. Glorious.
Staff is hit or miss. My absolute favorite bartender in all of St. Louis works there, as well as the bartender I dislike the most in all of St. Louis. Talk about extremes.
It's STILL a cash only bar. Venice, this shit was cute the first three times I went, but now it's a nuisance. I realize credit card companies inflict fees upon the businesses, but if the shops on Cherokee, who get like NO business can take credit cards, your jam packed, always poppin, money makin venue can't? Blatant douchebaggery and I will not stand for it. Â Who carries cash? TWELVE YEAR OLDS, SERVERS, PROSTITUTES. Your venue may contain some of these, but let's face it, you are not catering to your clientele by forcing us to use your craptastic ATM just so we can pay for a drink and subsequently tip you? What in the actual hell?
Now, despite my rantyness in this review, I do think Venice is a cool place and I'm so happy and grateful they exist, but Venice, if you can read this, your callous disregard for me and my friends' hunger pains has stopped us from frequenting your establishment. Stop being jerks and bring back the jerk!
Great place... at night it reminds me of the scene in Batman two (the one with Robin), where Robin steals the batmobile and gets attacked by all those pseudo-rastas in neon body paint. Â That, crossed with an 80's version of Dia de los Muertos...
Pretty badass if you ask me. Â
Now... this is a non-issue for me, since I moved to St. Louis recently and never had the food, but rumor has it that the kitchen is not going to open this summer... yeah... not happening. Â Not sure why.
Everybody I've spoken to seemed to like the food, so I can only assume they've shut down the kitchen for religious reasons.
Cash bar and nothin' fancy. Â If you want a nice '98 Argentinian Malbec, check elsewhere. Â If you're more accustomed to PBR coursing through your veins, this place might be for you.
This place gets 5 stars on atmosphere alone. Â Everything else is a bonus.
This is one of my favorite locations in Benton Park! This is by far the most decorate bar for the area, the walls are covered with everything from cellphones from the 90's, childhood action figures (Ninja Turtles, HeMan, Ghostbusters) - even mosaics made from mirrors, records, you name it they did it!
I personally love their Africa themed room on the top floor - but I think Ace Venture would say it is a "lovely room of death!" ;)
Drinks are priced right, but make sure to bring your CASH since that is all they will take. The ATM is on the bottom floor - but the fee to get money out is a bit steep. The food is not the main reason I come to this location, but I do order it when I am there. Some Cajun food is always good during the weekend!
But if I had to say one thing about this place it would be "PATIO"! Their patio is just fabulous, and they currently finished remodeling it. So make sure to hit it up with this gorgeous fall weather!
Everything about this place can be described with the word eclectic. The crowd is a mix of suits, post-game Cards fans, hipsters and first date-goers. It's a chill bar that just happens to serve outstanding Caribbean food out back. And the decor is just indescribable.
We went on a Friday night and awkwardly paid $5 cover (boo) around 8pm, but felt better about it after our dinner and drinks. Jerk chicken = amazing. Sesame pasta = great. Tall boys of Red Stripe = phenomenal.
Ate on the patio (rain be damned, there was a canopy) and then sat inside for a bit to listen to the band. The band was terrific, and I particularly admired the talented singer/trumpeteer front woman who looked like she had dropped in from a Save Ferris reunion tour.
Only thumbs down is for cash-only. I'm not a huge fan of carrying around enough cash for cover, meals (entrees are $8-$12) and drinks.
Looking for that perfect place to take little Johnny after his little league pitching debut? Â Then don't come here. Â But if you're looking to have a fun time in one of St. Louis' most unique bars, then the Venice Cafe is a must.
My first Venice Cafe experience was nearly 3 years ago, and I have been intrigued ever since. Â I only recently stopped by for a second visit and this is, hands down, the most quirky bar in St. Louis. Â I think the comparisons to City Museum are accurate. Â It seems like the place was just kinda thrown together from the estate sale of an eccentric liberal arts professor in 1972.
I didn't get the chance to try any of their food but it looks like they have a good selection of carribean items. Â The clientele is exactly what you would expect in a place like this. Â Dreadlocks, tattoos, piercings, and the like. Â No worries though, the bartenders are all great and nobody will look at you weird if you come dressed liek Alex P. Keaton (and I would know).
My only real complaint is that there is usually a cover and it gets loud inside if a band is playing. Â It's worth it though. Â There aren't enough places like this that really stick out. Â I applaud Venice Cafe for being so thoroughly different and unique.
A very great atmosphere to enjoy a familiar, cheap drink. A lot of the people that hang out here are those who love indie music and KDHX, which is the best kinds of interesting people! I love how even though the Budwieser brewery is nearby (you can smell the hops getting off of 44), you will rarely see a Bud Light can or bottle... I even get in the mood sometimes and order a PBR or Stag. lol. Be careful, this is a cash-only bar. And sometimes they have a cover. But if you go on a day with a band it's usually worth it. I have been there twice to see the Bottoms Up Blues Gang and they are very entertaining.
The decor is another subject. Think about the City Museum and condense it in a smaller area and explode it by 12. Yeah, that's Venice. The patio has only been open once when I was there, and the decor continues out there. Much to look at and talk about. They even have jerk chicken on some nights. I have yet to try it though...
I wavered on how many stars to give. Here are my dilemmas:
- I'm not a bar person. I don't go, like, ever. Am I qualified to review a bar, considering that I don't frequent them?
- I didn't eat there. I did drink there, and my beer was frosty goodness.
- I loved the decor - endless stuff to look at! But smoking is allowed - which I hate.
- The patio was super cool. I enjoyed sitting there.
- It took us at least 5 minutes to get the bartender to look at us - she wasn't even there when we were waiting at the bar - and only came out into the room when a friend of hers came in. Promptly greeting and hugging him - even though he was ordering nothing, and we were there with money out.
- Everything was cheap!
I'm conflicted between 3 and 4, but I'm going to go with a safe 3 now, and definitely would like to come back and try the falafal. Then I will have some more material to solve my dilemma!
Venice Cafe and I probably aren't the right mix. Â I'm normally a laid back guy, but when the staff is equally laid back, it sort of ticks me off.
That out of the way, no food until May, $5.00 for a Jack and Coke, and a nice, esoteric patio (though way limited seating until it keeps warmer apparently).
The beautiful wife and I shall return, but I'm getting that feeling I'm as likely to write a 2-star update as I am a 4-star...
When I walked in this place for the first time I was reminded of the advice I gave my nephews on dating. Â Pick a place that has something for you to talk about like sporting events, zoos or art museums (depending on the girl). Â This is like visiting a museum or Laumeier Sculpture Park, but I get to drink and PAY A COVER (I hate that).
While not a true bar I can appreciate the theme. Â I consider "art house cafe" and is actually interesting to visit depending on who I bring along. Â The entire place has funky absract art for conversation starters. Â "What does this make you think about?" and "What is this suppose to be?" are heard quite often.
This is one NEAT place. Â I've only been here once, and I think the place is a little too cool for a dweeb like me, but I really loved swinging by one night before a Cards game to enjoy their jerk chicken and a beer.
The patio, as other reviewers have pointed out, is absolutely incredible. Â The guy that did some of the mosaic work, I'm told, is the same guy that did the mosaics in the City Museum-- top notch work. Â Neither words nor pictures can describe how crazy the atmosphere is out there; you've definitely got to check it out for yourself.
Definitely give the jerk chicken platter (around $9 or so) a shot when you come! Â And there's a $2.00 PBR night, too, if you're looking for cheap drinks. Â I'm sure there are plenty of other specials, too, that I don't know about.
This place is great. There's tons to look at all over the walls and they have fun bands on weekends. Normally a $5 cover. I've yet to try the food, but the decriptions sound amazing. Kinda sucks that it's a cash only bar, and very basic bar alcohol- but the atmosphere completely makes up for it. It's a little grungy and dirty. But I love it that way.
The outdoor area is awesome and so worth a visit.
One of my favorite bars/restaurants in St. Louis!
If you enjoy eclectic decor and cheap drinks (who doesn't?) then Venice cafe is the place for you! If you've never been there before, you need to stop by and admire their massive mosaics and collection of random "stuff" (including a framed rodent carcass in the upstairs lounge). The bathrooms don't disappoint either. In the summertime the outdoor patio is a great spot for a late night drink,
If you like Cajun inspired food, try the kabobs or gumbo...spicy but not burn your mouth off. Bring cash as they don't accept credit cards and there's a cover at the door most nights.
This place is frequented by locals - not overrun by us tourists yet. Â The inside was not open due to remodel, only the patio was open. Â But it was a great night, not too hot, so it was fine. Â
Eclectically decorated, no inch was uncovered.
Process - order at the kitchen for food, then go to the bar setup outside to order drinks.
Vegetarian options: vegetable kabob, falafel, mango slaw, plantains, dumplings.
We ordered the sampler plate to share. Â The jerk chicken - best I've ever had. Â I wish I could go back just to get some more. Â Or steal their recipe. Â Also came with dumplings, plantains, vegetable kabob and mango slaw. Â All of this for $17 - for two to share unless you are a large eater.
I love this place. Â Mostly because the atmosphere is quirky, beautiful and covered with intricate, meticulously placed trinkets, and oddities from top to bottom.
The out door patio is the best on a warm summer night. Â The menu is limited to chicken and other casual and moderately priced jamaican fair. -- The jek chicken being the best. Â Get there at little early to snag a table and order your food at the counter. Â
Go to the top floor bar and see the crazy wood rooms, the dead snake in the aquarium or the taxadermied animals wearing george bush masks and the long room full of mirrors.
The outside has a wall of lighters, Â liscense plates , travel signs or doll heads, Â crazy legged fountains, and mexican man sculptures.
Everywhere you look you'll find something unexpected and unusual. Â Even the bathroom is awesome!!
Well, as Will said, it was confusing on my first visit. Â I should have read his review before I went. Â The place is really cool looking; the stuff was pretty eclectic and interesting.
The food was good. Â I had the falafel, which wasn't bad but I've had better (at Saleem's). Â Maybe I need to try something else.
This place is so neat! You have to see it to believe it. I went on a weekday night, so it wasn't crowded at all.
Go here for the atmosphere, because the food really isn't that great. Their jamaican jerk chicken was the only highlight for me. My meal also came with fried plantain (which I usually LOVE), but here it was just disgusting and overcooked.
There's so much fun crap to look at, you might have a seizure. Â I finally tried Venice with a friend last week, and both of us couldn't believe we hadn't been there yet. Â
On your first visit, you will likely be confused. Â We were very confused. Â We walked in, made our way to the patio, sat down, and picked up the menu. Â As soon as we had done that, a waitress/bartender (she was all over the place that night) set down a reserved sign on our table, said "sorry, guys," and walked away. Â Puzzled, we caught her again, and she informed us that no, the entire patio wasn't closed, she just needed our particular table open for when the fortune teller showed up. Â I think making way for a fortune teller is one of the better reasons you could be asked to yield your table.
So we picked a new table and somehow (it wasn't easy) pieced together that we were supposed to find "the Jerk Station" and place our order there. Â So we located the counter just outside the door to the patio and placed our orders. Â I knew beforehand that this was a cash-only establishment and prepared accordingly, but I still instinctively reached for my debit card when it was time to pay. Â That has nothing to do with Venice Cafe, only with my short-term memory.
The food arrived, it was fantastic. Â I had the kabobs (one jerk chicken, one shrimp, one veggie). Â SO MUCH FOOD. Â We also had an order of fried plantains and dumplings. Â Those dumplings were magnificent! Â
Drinks were strong and priced right for St. Louis, the food was tasty, but really you have to go just to see the place. Â It's a colorful blast of junk, recycled refuse, memorabilia, and random mosaics, somewhat reminiscent of the City Museum. Â Go.
It's as if a clinically-diagnosed hoarder decided to open a bar. There's a ton of old, rusty license plates, and parts of doll heads littering the walls in their own creepy ornamental nature.
It's PACKED on the weekends, so finding a table is the key to success, since I've found myself bumping in and around the crowd due to the cramped walkways. Other than that, Venice Cafe is beautiful. They often have a decent band playing on the main floor in the building, but if you want to simply grab a beer, I suggest going outside on busy nights.
I wanted to go here for such a long time, and I finally got to go a few weeks ago. I fell in love--definitely the coolest patio in St. Louis.
Nearly every inch of the outside patio is covered in something, whether it be cool-looking glass, lighters, old cell phones, bottle caps, beads, miniature toys...you name it, it's probably there. There is also random neon lighting that lights up the whole place. The outside bar is a hollowed-out old boat. There is a sweet little lake area, complete with a sculpture of a women's chest, and a bathroom filled with crazy mirrors. You can even have your fortune told by the resident palm reader.
The inside is just as sweet with a area in the bar for live music, an upstairs with little hidden rooms you'd never expect to fine. One area is entirely filed with this insane, colorful "broken" mirror. There is a loft area overlooking the band. There even are bathrooms sort of hidden in the basement, again covered with beautifully destroyed mirrors.
This is one of those places you always find something new when you go there.
The food was also great. Entirely Carribean-style, it was spicy, sweet and amazing. I had the shrimp and vegetable kabobs on red beans and rice. It was cheap and yummy. Also, you can drink for cheap--bottles of Pabst are only $2.50.
I could go on and on about this place, but you really have to go and see it for yourself.
If you think Alice in Wonderland is trippy, Â then The Venice Cafe would be Alice in Wonderland on Acid.
You could spend weeks inspecting the bars, bathrooms, and patios of Venice Cafe and still come out at the end of week three and question whether the half naked cupie doll hanging from the purple thread was there yesterday?
Every square inch of the walls, floors, and furniture in the place have been turned into a smorgasbord of aesthetics. From beautiful recycled glass mosaics to vintage flee market finds Venice Cafe has nothing if not a perspective all of its own.
The menu boasts of its "jerk-o-rama" inspired munchies such as Mango Slaw and Sweet Dumplings to keep you from going hungry. Â There are enough choices at the bar to ensure you don't leave sober and plenty of fabulous live performances to get you out of your seat.
Venice Cafe is one of those amazing destination retreats that you will never forget.
Where else can you find a giant mosiac collection, a corner with barbies nailed to a wall, and a boat bar. There is really nothing like the Venice Cafe anywhere else in St. Louis. Â Don't miss the bathrooms downstairs.
Not only is the ambiance fun, but the food is pretty great too. Â The jerk chicken is pretty amazing, and the burger is great. Â Get some plaintains or fried dough as well.
A couple warnings, they only take cash, so leave your credit cards at home. Â There is an ATM on premises. Â When they have live music, you can expect to pay a $5 cover charge. Â It doesn't matter whether you want to sit out on the patio or list to the band - expect to pay to get in.
Venice Cafe is three blocks from my house in Benton Park. It is my fiance and my's favorite spot in the city... so much so that we're getting married and having our reception there next spring!
This place truly shines during the warmer months when they open up the gorgeous and colorful patio and serve food like Jerk Chicken, and the plantains and dumplins in honey are not to be missed.
Venice is Cash only but they have an ATM in the basement.
They also almost always charge a $5 cover after 8pm every night of the week. But you get live music entertainment for that, so no complaints!
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