Entry No. 16 — the St. Louis file — filed under: art bar

Venice Cafe

A mind-bending, cash-only local landmark where every square inch of the interior and outdoor patio is covered in mosaic tile, toy assemblages, taxidermy, and bizarre folk art. It is a living, breathing art installation created by owner Jeff Lockheed that serves cheap drinks alongside live local music.

The move: Bring plenty of cash and spend an hour exploring the multi-level patio, pointing out the strangest sculptures and mosaics you can find. Grab a drink and head to the famously bizarre 'Blue Hole' restrooms to see how deep the artistic chaos goes.

📍 Benton Park
💸 $$
⚡ Up for anything
🌗 Indoors

Where: 1903 Pestalozzi St, St. Louis, MO 63118

Hours: Added 2026-07-21 — confirm current hours before you go.

#art bar #mosaic #cash only #weird #live music #outsider art

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Further reading: Official site · Atlas Obscura · saucemagazine.com

last checked: 2026-07-21