
Polite Occasions
Bespoke private events, from intimate gatherings, to cocktail parties and formal events.
From the team behind:
Polite Society
and
The Bellwether.
We would be honored to help host your next special occasion!

Nestled in the heart of St. Louis’ historic Lafayette Square, Be Polite Occasions offers a collection of stylish, inviting spaces perfect for life’s most memorable gatherings. Being a venture of Polite Society and The Bellwether, we bring culinary excellence and heartfelt hospitality to your private events.
Our mission is simple: to provide our neighbors, friends, and families with a warm environment of thoughtful service, exceptional food, drink, and company.
From intimate dinners to grand celebrations, our venues blend timeless charm with modern elegance. Whether you’re planning a cocktail party, corporate event, rehearsal dinner, or small wedding, our exceptional culinary team and thoughtful service ensure every occasion feels both refined and welcoming!
The Reference Room
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The Reference Room is an elegant, book-lined venue located on the second floor of The Bellwether. It features a cozy indoor dining area and access to a rooftop patio with views of the St. Louis skyline. With private restrooms and elevator access, it’s an ideal setting for intimate dinners, cocktail parties, and small celebrations.
Both the indoor space and rooftop patio can host:
Up to 40 guests for seated dinners
Up to 50 guests for cocktail-style events
Please Note: The rooftop is uncovered and subject to weather. The indoor dining area will serve as your backup space in case of inclement weather.
Availability
Private Events: Sunday through Thursday evenings
Rental Fees & Minimums
$150 rental fee for 14 guests or fewer
$350 rental fee for 15–40 guests
$1,000 food & beverage minimum (pre-tax and gratuity)
$350 refundable deposit to secure your date
Optional A/V rental: $50
Rental includes 3.5 hours of event time
Additional time is billed at $50 per half hour
Setup and breakdown occur outside of the 3.5-hour window
Sunday & Monday Evening Rate
$600 rental fee
$2,500 food & beverage minimum (pre-tax and gratuity)
Rooftop Patio Add-On The rooftop patio is available as an optional addition:
$100 for groups of 14 guests or fewer
$250 for groups of 15 guests or more
The rooftop may be used for:
Seated dinners
Cocktail receptions
A combination of both
Please Note: Smoking and vaping are not permitted on the rooftop.
FAQs
How do menu selections work for group dining?
18 guests or fewer: Full dinner menu available
19 guests or more: Choose from:
Limited Menu (a curated selection of our regular offerings)
Family Style or Buffet (based on current menus, per-person pricing)
Cocktail Parties: Stationed and/or passed appetizers
What are the beverage service options?
20 guests or fewer: Full beverage menu including specialty cocktails
21+ guests: Banquet bar featuring wines, beers, and highballs (simple mixed drinks)
Specialty or classic cocktails available for an additional $200
What are the planning deadlines?
Menu selections are due 1 week prior to the event
Final guest count is due 3 days prior
$40 per guest no-show fee applies (credited toward your minimum)
Are there gratuity minimums for cocktail parties? Yes—based on the final guest count:
Up to 25 guests: $200
26–45 guests: $300
46–60 guests: $400 (Gratuity minimums do not count toward the food & beverage minimum)
Can we decorate the space? Yes! We provide votive candles for each table. You're welcome to bring your own décor. Please avoid confetti, glitter, flower petals, or anything that might damage walls. Tables are set and ready one hour before your event.
Is the space private? Yes. The Reference Room is fully private, with private restrooms and elevator access. The rooftop patio is also private when reserved.
What A/V equipment is available?
Projector and screen
HDMI cable provided for connectivity
The sound system is shared with the rest of the restaurant, but we’ll help you choose a fitting soundtrack.
Where do guests park? We offer a private parking lot with ample space. No permits or fees are required.
Can we bring our own dessert? Absolutely.
Self-serve: $3/person (includes plates & utensils)
Full service: $5/person (we cut, plate, and serve your desserts)
Ready to Plan Your Event? We’d love to host you. Submit an inquiry with your preferred date to get started!
The Drawing Room
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Tucked away on the second floor of Polite Society, the Drawing Room is a warm, intimate space that blends historic charm with the ease of modern hospitality. Once a Victorian-era apartment, the room retains its inviting character while offering private amenities including a dedicated bar and restroom.
Ideal for seated dinners of up to 36 guests or cocktail-style gatherings for up to 40, the Drawing Room is perfect for hosting everything from celebratory dinners to corporate receptions. Please note: Access is by stairs only—there is no elevator service to this floor.
Availability
Private Events: Sunday through Thursday evenings only
Rental Fees & Minimums
$150 rental fee (14 guests or fewer)
$350 rental fee (15–40 guests)
$1,000 food & beverage minimum (before tax & gratuity)
$50 audio/visual rental (optional)
$350 refundable deposit (required to secure date)
Fees include 3.5 hours of event time. Setup and breakdown occur outside of this window. Additional time is billed at $50 per half hour.
Non-Private Group Dining
For groups up to 16 guests (Sunday–Thursday evenings), we offer semi-private dining in our side dining room.
Credit card required to hold the reservation
One check per party
20% gratuity added
$15 per guest no-show fee applies
FAQs
How do menu selections work for group dining?
16 guests or fewer: Order from our full dinner menu
17 guests or more: We create a custom limited menu based on our regular offerings—highlighting guest favorites for ease and quality of service
What are the options for beverage service?
20 guests or fewer: Full beverage menu including specialty cocktails
21+ guests: Wine, craft beers, and classic cocktails (guest call bar). Specialty cocktails can be added for $200
What are the planning deadlines?
Menu selections due 1 week prior to the event
Final guest count due 3 days prior
$40 per guest no-show fee (applied to food & beverage minimum)
Where do guests park?
We’re located on the corner of Lafayette Park. There is ample, meter-free street parking available nearby.
Can we decorate the space?
Absolutely! We provide votive candles for each table. You’re welcome to bring your own decor—just no confetti, glitter, or items that may damage walls. Tables will be set and ready one hour prior to your event.
Can we bring our own dessert?
Yes! Choose the service level that works for you:
$3 per guest for self-serve dessert (we provide plates & utensils)
$5 per guest for desserts we cut, plate, and serve
Is the space fully private?
Yes. The Drawing Room is located on a separate floor from the main restaurant, offering full privacy for your event.
What are the audio-visual capabilities?
We provide:
A projector and screen
A large mobile TV
Both connect via standard HDMI, which we provide—ideal for slideshows, videos, or presentations.
Ready to start planning your event?
Submit an inquiry about your preferred date here.
We look forward to hosting you!
Bellwether Hall
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Located on the first floor of The Bellwether in Lafayette Square, Bellwether Hall is a spacious, industrial-chic venue with soaring windows, elegant hanging lights, and a warm, flexible layout. Ideal for everything from rehearsal dinners and corporate events to cocktail parties and intimate weddings, the Hall also features optional access to a ground-floor patio framed by evergreens—perfect for open-air mingling. Please note: the ground floor patio is not included with standard Bellwether Hall rentals and is available as an optional addition.
Guests may also choose to host their event on our stunning rooftop patio, located on the second floor. The rooftop offers beautiful views of the St. Louis skyline and an open-air setting ideal for celebratory occasions.
With multiple dining and service styles available, Bellwether Hall offers exceptional flexibility alongside the refined service and elevated cuisine Be Polite Occasions is known for.
Capacity
Seated Dinner: Up to 72 guests
Cocktail-Style Reception: Up to 120 guests
Availability
Private Events: Available seven nights a week (Monday–Sunday evenings)
Rental Fees & Minimums
Bellwether Hall Rental Fees
Guest Count
Room Fee
1–25 Guests
$200
26–40 Guests
$350
41–60 Guests
$500
61+ Guests
$750
Food & Beverage Minimum: $1,500 (pre-tax and gratuity)
Deposit: $350 (refundable with 2+ weeks’ notice)
Event Duration: 3.5 hours (additional time billed at $100 per 30 minutes)
Rental fees are based on the higher of the guest count given three days prior to the event or actual attendance.
Rooftop Patio Access
Guests are welcome to host their event on our rooftop patio.
Sunday–Thursday Evenings: Adds $250 to the standard Bellwether Hall rental fee.
Friday & Saturday Evenings: Adds $1,000 to the Bellwether Hall rental fee. The food and beverage minimum on these evenings increases to $3,500.
When you reserve the rooftop patio, Bellwether Hall is held as your inclement weather backup. If weather prevents you from using the rooftop, you will not be charged the additional rooftop fees.
Please note: Smoking and vaping are not permitted on the rooftop patio.
Service Styles
Seated Dinners
Choose from three service formats:
RSVP Style
Guests will preselect their courses from a limited menu. The host will relay these selections to the event coordinator, who will create place cards noting each guest’s name and chosen dishes—unless the host prefers to provide them. These cards will be placed on the table to help guide service.
Buffet Style
A traditional buffet setup where entrees, sides, and other selections are presented on a station for guests to serve themselves. This format allows guests to move at their own pace and enjoy a variety of offerings.
Family Style
Selected dishes are served on large platters and placed at each table for guests to pass and share, creating a communal, celebratory feel.
Cocktail Parties
A standing reception with a curated mix of passed and/or stationed appetizers. Customizable based on your guest list and style.
Additional Services & Fees
A/V Rental: $100
Includes projector, wireless microphone, and speaker system. We provide an HDMI cable for easy connectivity.
Cash Bar Option: $200
Guests may pay for their own drinks at the bar. Note: Table-side service is not available with a cash bar.
Ground Floor Patio Rental: $200
Includes passed red, white, and sparkling wine. Waived in case of rain.
Outdoor Banquet Bar Add-On: $200
Available with ground floor patio rental.
No-Show & Gratuity Policy
RSVP Seated Dinners: $40 per guest no-show fee (counts toward food & beverage minimum)
Cocktail Parties Minimum Gratuity:
Up to 60 guests: $300
61+ guests: $450
These are based on final headcount 3 days prior and do not apply to actual attendance.
FAQs
Can I play my own music?
In Bellwether Hall, guests have control over the music played during their event. However, to ensure a comfortable atmosphere for all, the restaurant reserves the right to adjust the volume only if it becomes excessively loud—we’ll only step in if absolutely necessary.
On the rooftop patio, the sound system is tied into the rest of the restaurant, so guests do not have full control over the music. That said, we’re happy to work with you to select a soundtrack that fits your event and complements the overall vibe of the restaurant.
What are the planning deadlines?
Menu selection is due 1 week prior to your event.
Final guest count is due:
1 week in advance for RSVP dinners
3 days in advance for all other styles
Can we decorate the space?
We provide white linen tablecloths, napkins, and tea light candles as part of our standard decor. Other linen colors may be sourced upon request for an additional fee. You're welcome to bring your own decor, and tables will be set and ready one hour before your event start time. We kindly ask that you avoid the following:
Glitter, confetti, or small, hard-to-clean items
Helium balloons (they are difficult to retrieve from the ceiling)
Can we bring our own dessert?
Yes!Self-serve: $3 per guest (we provide plates and utensils)
Full service: $5 per guest (we plate and serve)
Is the space private?
Yes—Bellwether Hall is fully private and located on its own level. The space also features private restrooms for your guests’ convenience.
Where do guests park?
We have our own dedicated parking lot with ample space for guests—no meters, fees, or permits required.
Ready to start planning your event?
We’d love to host you. Submit an inquiry about your preferred date