South Grand just picked up a new after-hours hideout. Tucked beneath Monstera Mezcaleria, Mother May I is a 25-seat cocktail dive that quietly opened on March 15 and leans hard into low light, playful energy and late-night snacking. You will find martinis, daiquiris and a roller menu of snacks instead of full dinners, all under the house slogan, "Be Kind, Drink Dirty," which signals a friendlier, less polished alternative to high-gloss cocktail temples.
Basement speakeasy vibes, dive bar attitude
The bar opened on March 15 and is reached through a door disguised as a bookcase inside Monstera Mezcaleria, according to St. Louis Magazine. Once you are in, the "Mother Knows Best" section of the menu starts with about half a dozen $12 cocktails, including a multi-day "Drink Dirty" martini and the spicy, barrel-forward "Because I Said So." The outlet notes theatrical touches like liquid-nitrogen-chilled glassware and daiquiri-focused recipes that lean on rum and whiskey behind the bar.
Tricked-out drinks, wallet-friendly checks
Owner Michael Fricker told St. Louis Magazine he wanted to hang on to the technical prep while making cocktails "fun and super approachable." In practice that means cocktails are capped at about $12 and are paired with $3 hot dogs, taquitos and other roller-menu snacks. The bar leans into shot-and-beer combos and group-friendly experiences, with a walk-in-only service model and a compact space set up for quick, social nights instead of drawn-out dinners.
Hours, logistics and how to drop in
Mother May I's official site lists hours as 5 p.m.–midnight Wednesday and Thursday, 5 p.m.–1 a.m. Friday and Saturday, and 5 p.m.–midnight on Sunday. The site also includes a contact email and the South Grand address shared by Mother May I and Monstera. For now, the basement functions as a companion to Monstera upstairs rather than a reservation-based speakeasy, according to Mother May I.
South Grand's new go-to late-night backup plan
The basement project replaces New Society and hooks directly into Monstera's agave-heavy operation upstairs, giving South Grand another late-night, community-oriented option. Local reporting has tied the idea to Fricker's shift from his Grand Spirits bottle shop to Monstera and to earlier coverage of the Mother May I concept, as detailed by Sauce Magazine. With intimate seating, inexpensive drinks and a playful food lineup, the bar is positioned as a neighborhood fallback for going out without taking a hit to the wallet.
Headed to South Grand and curious about the new spot? Keep an eye out for the disguised entrance inside Monstera, then expect a drinks-first menu that prizes approachability over pretension. Check the bar's website or local listings for the latest hours and any special events before you head downstairs.
