Compiled below are the top 5 spots to drink a beer in all of St. Louis. Some important notes: This list does not include microbreweries or macrobreweries (that's a whole 'nother list). Instead, these are the best places to relax at the end of a long day and have a cold one. Based solely on the author's opinion (which also happens to be right). In no particular order...
Ok, so technically, TECHNICALLY, this isn't a bar at all. It's a storefront. But you'd never know it from meeting the owners. Home to some of the greatest beer enthusiasts in the city, the owners and managers have no problem with you cracking open your purchase in the store and partaking. They also have a few taps with ever- changing options, just to keep things interesting. Support Cherokee Street!
This cozy, boozy hideaway - located in the lobby of the historic Cheshire Inn - is the perfect place to keep warm in the harsh winter months of St. Louis. Featuring comfy seating, a crackling fire, and enough taxidermy to keep things interesting, Fox and Hounds makes having a beer feel like an escape from the outside world. Highly recommended for a frigid night in February.
This mainstay of the Central West End (hereafter the CWE - I will not spell it out again) is about as charming as it gets. Warm lighting, great service, and walls covered in STL history and culture (and not just old white men!) are the trademarks of this truly authentic pub. Perfect for a nightcap or for a stop on a full-fledged CWE crawl, Dressel's is always a great place for a drink (or seven). McGurk's, take notes: This is what a pub actually looks like.
High up on my list of "Weirdest Places I've Ever Drank," Venice Cafe is about as eclectic as it gets. Funky decor, an incredible patio covered in mosaic tile, a terrarium, and a beached boat that serves as a bar - this is the tip of the iceberg that is Venice. Come for the cheap beers, stay to marvel at the sheer amount of junk affixed to EVERY SINGLE SURFACE. Just remember to bring cash - the credit card reader (perhaps buried in troll dolls?) is a no-go.
I won't say this is the winner, but both locations of ITap have just about everything you could want: One has great cozy furniture tucked away in nooks, the other, an amazing patio. Both have one thing in common, though - the largest beer selection in the city. No joke, this place is literally bursting at the seams with beer. Add to the mix knowledgeable bartenders who can find the perfect beer for you with even the vaguest of descriptions, and you've got more than a bar; you've got an experience. Keep an eye out for the rare and elusive Hitachino ales - normally going for ¥1000 a bottle in Japan, I recommend snatching them up when you can.
