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Photographs by Whitney Curtis and Dilip Vishwanat

It’s wet-your-whistle time. We’ve canvassed every form of bar across St. Louis—from plush clubs to corner pubs, from Soulard to St. Charles—and ordered, sipped, observed … and ordered again. The result? A comprehensive guide to our 42 favorites

Metro East

Bossanova Martini Lounge
For those unfamiliar with the area, downtown Alton has a healthy mix of bars and clubs, with a good number of clients coming from nearby colleges like Lewis & Clark and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. But for those wanting more than draft specials and a jukebox, Bossanova offers that needed little bit extra. Featuring live jazz and a hip interior, Bossanova serves fine mixed drinks along with reasonable selections of beer and wine. It’s a date-appropriate venue, true, but also a space to unwind with co-workers or friends. It’s pretty, pleasant and without pretense. 112 West Third, 618-462-1175, bossanovamartinilounge.com (TC)

Jacobsmeyer’s Tavern
There’s just something about an old-time bar. And Jacobsmeyer’s qualifies as one of those, having been a public house since the 1930s. The décor might not date back that far, but ... then again, it may. There’s still a definite look and feel to the place: the mismatched wall decorations, some newspaper clippings, beer signage everywhere and a tiny stage that’s the weekend home of rock, country and folk bands from all around southwestern Illinois. You definitely get the idea that this Granite City bar plays to the local crowd and just a few outsiders. But if you’re one of the latter, you’ll be treated just fine. Order a draft, count your savings and relax. 2401 Edwards, 618-876-8219 (TC)

Downtown

Broadway Oyster Bar
Oddly, this relaxed-to-boisterous downtown bar is often more popular with tourists than locals. This may partly be the case because many St. Louisans, when asked by visitors where they should catch some blues, immediately send them to this eclectic icon, which actually features a lot more than blues. Indeed, the upbeat sounds coming from the well-worn stages at the Oyster Bar (one inside, one out) might well be funk or zydeco. No matter the season, the bar is always a great place to unwind, people-watch and hear “Mustang Sally.” 736 Broadway, 314-621-8811, broadwayoysterbar.com (TC)

Rue 13
The link between the new and old Washington Avenue, Rue 13 is a curious mixture of off-duty industry types, burlesque fans, hip-hop heads, partying Greeks and too-young-to-remember new wavers. They all come to this centrally located spot for sushi, music that’s usually waaaaay too loud and ... sushi. On paper, the everything-for-everyone concept might not work, but this mismatched industrial-club-meets-high-end-lounge somehow does, drawing an audience that cranks it up on the weekends. In effect, it’s the ultimate pick for a group of friends who can’t decide where to drink downtown. 1311 Washington, 314-588-7070, rue13stl.com (TC)

St. Louis Brewery and Tap Room
Before neighboring bars were born, before nearby lofts were built, the St. Louis Brewery and Tap Room offered actual life to the west end of downtown. Visitors came for the draft beer—brewed on the premises—but they stayed for everything from poetry readings to World Cup soccer broadcasts to live rock ’n’ roll. Though the Bottleworks in Maplewood has taken over a lot of Schlafly’s brewing operation and even a pinch of the event programming, the Tap Room remains a vibrant location in its original guise, with regular festivals augmenting the day-to-day Gemütlichkeit of this old-style, but very modern, brewpub. 2100 Locust, 314-241-2337, schlafly.com (TC)

Lafayette Square

33 Wine Shop & Tasting Bar
We can tell you to go—but it’s your job to find it. Located in a nondescript building with no sign, 33 was surprisingly crowded on a recent Saturday night. Should we have been surprised? The incredible selection of wine and beer (sorry, no liquor), the delightfully simple space, attentive service and obsessive cleaning of the wine glasses are all great. But what makes 33 stand out is the drink menu. Between flowery descriptions of Syrahs and stouts, there’s a snippy letter to an arsonist, a threatening note to underage drinkers (“You must be with mommy or daddy”) and an antitheft device (“Hey get a life your mama was right don’t steal [that includes everything, including this menu]”). 1913 Park, 314-231-9463, 33wine.com (ST)

Square One Brewery
Take it from us—it’s bad karma to walk into this bar and order a Captain and Coke or some flavored vodka on the rocks. At Square One, it’s about the beer. Specifically, their beer. We suggest the cloistered patio as the prime place to consume it, though the inside bar’s cozy booths and large windows are a close second. On tap this winter: some trippels, stouts, darker lagers and a winter ale. So drink up! And you can buy the souvenir glass, if you’re so inclined—no stealing allowed. 1727 Park, 314-231-2537, www.squareonebrewery.com (ST)

Soulard

John D. McGurk’s
Those comfortable, contoured wooden chairs matched with solid wooden tables and bar tops are the perfect invitation to sit with your hands on the table and nurse a rich, creamy Guinness. It doesn’t have to be a Guinness, though, since McGurk’s has at least a dozen other excellent beers on tap at each of its three full-size bars. Bringing a bit of the old Ireland homeland into St. Louis, the décor is full of Emerald Isle flavor to match the thick stew and other comfort foods on the menu. World-class Irish folk musicians are on hand seven days a week to play inspiring jigs and reels in between maudlin beer-drinking songs. No wonder Esquire chose McGurk’s as its Missouri representative for Best Bars in America. 1200 Russell, 314-776-8309, mcgurks.com (SP)

The Cat’s Meow
Anheuser-Busch doesn’t have far to go to deliver the bottles of Bud Light that fill buckets in every corner of this tiny perennial working-class bar. It’s beer and shots (one advertised as “The Panty Remover”) that keep the bartenders busy night after night. Yes, you can watch the games here—beers get cheaper whenever the Cardinals hit a home run in the summertime—but this is a room designed primarily for conversation. The jukebox isn’t too loud, and 90 percent of the patrons have been here before (most likely on the same night, and the same stool, last week). The walls are decorated with collages of customer photos, and if you come here often enough, you’re likely to be in the next one. 2600 S. 11th, 314-776-8617 (SP)

The Venice Café
Somebody must still be mad at his mom for throwing away all his toys when he moved out of the house. Every nook and cranny, every square inch of wall, counter and pole space is covered with toy cars, action figures, dolls, cigarette lighters, spools of thread, license plates and anything else that has some color to it. In warmer months, the garden is an oasis of bright and varied hues, with a delirious little water feature and lots of Caribbean plants, along with the aforementioned random items of visual pleasure. Live music happens upstairs, and yummy food is available, but it’s the quirkiness of the décor and the customers that has kept this such a popular site for downing bottles of beer for almost
20 years. 1903 Pestalozzi, 314-772-5994, www.thevenicecafe.com (SP)

South City

Famous Bar
Over the years, the Gray brothers have expanded and modified their classic-looking bar, adding some VIP nooks and modern amenities to a barroom that features arguably one of the longest and most beautiful backbars in the entire region. It’s a top-notch conversation piece that greets you at the door, making you want to sit right down to observe the fast and courteous bartenders mix some of the city’s best martinis and bloody marys. A great beer list complements the spirits. There’s always the diversion of billiards, plus some live music on the weekends, but the drinks, service and look of the place are the key ingredients. 5213 Chippewa, 314-832-2211 (TC)

Tanner B’s
Dan Brown has created the ulti­mate corner bar for a handful of neighborhoods that seem to connect at the intersection of Shenandoah and Nebraska. A mix of regulars and first-timers walk through the doors of this handsome little spot, known for nightly specials and the fun pricing; items can cost, say, $6.12 or $4.38, a quirky touch. A bar for numerous decades, this place is highlighted by a nice, if small, patio, huge windows and space enough to still hide, if that’s your bag. Some fine happy-hour specials suggest this is a good place to start your night, rather than a bar to shut it all down. 2855 Shenandoah, 314-762-9800, tannerbs.com (TC)

Midtown

Atomic Cowboy
It’s tough catering to both the discerning hipster and the party-hearty, but the Atomic Cowboy’s been making a tricky formula work. Partially, that’s because the space is just so cool—with its beautiful patio, smoke-free interior rooms and fun (if smoky) converted Quonset hut—that a variety of folks gravitate to this Grove venue. Some service issues aside, this locale offers a bit of everything, from afternoon hours to monthly burlesque shows to nightly DJs. Occasionally, there’s even an outdoor fest to spill the Atomic’s good vibes into the neighboring streets. For the adventurous, try the house tequilas, which age gracefully on the bar top. 4140 Manchester, 314-775-0775, atomiccowboystl.com (TC)

AMP
It’s unusual for a club to move directly across the street from its former, successful location, but that’s exactly what AMP did in sliding from one corner of Manchester and Boyle to another. Located in an area still sorting itself out as a nightclub hub, AMP’s moved from being one of the youngest bars in the Grove to one of the old standbys. What’s remained is the staff and the music, a mix of new and old rock that’s both edgy and nostalgically soothing. Some old die-hards may long for the darker, older spot across the street, but newcomers will enjoy the passing streetscape, dartboards, awesome sound system and pocket patio without all those needless, pesky references back to “the good old days.” They’re plenty good now. 4199 Manchester, 314-652-5267 (TC)

The Royale
There was once a quaint little bar near the intersection of Kingshighway and Arsenal frequented by cement-plant workers. If you don’t remember it—well, it was low-key. But we are guessing you know the establishment that replaced it, because The Royale is hard to miss: that green and purple neon signage, the KDHX sign (some people think this is the station’s headquarters) not to mention those shiny Italian motorcycles parked out front. On October 14, the façade grew all the more eye-popping when an enormous neon crown was placed on top of the existing sign (they had a formal coronation dance to celebrate its arrival). The genius here is the vibrant but welcoming environment combined with an attention to detail you rarely see outside spendy, formal establishments. The drink menu is as fat as a Big Chief writing tablet, with themed cocktails for every ward in the city; the entertainment includes an ever-rotating cast of DJs and acoustic musicians, and the food menu is simple but lovingly put together, with everything from fish tacos to the “Boozy-Q”: a devil’s-food cakewich drenched in Irish Cream and Chambord whipped cream. 3132 South Kingshighway, 314-772-3600, theroyale.com (SR)

The Hill, Dogtown

Milo’s
At this enduring watering hole—a tavern since 1902, called Milo’s since 1976—you play bocce ball. Don’t play? Well, then you watch. Owned by cigar-smoking 10th Ward Alderman Joe Vollmer, this “sports center of the Hill” is the hangout not only for old beer-drinking bocce players, but also for area locals and Italian restaurant employees. Whether you’re here to take a whack at the Sopranos pinball machine or badger your alderperson (several congregate here) about why your alley hasn’t yet been paved, make sure to watch some backyard bocce. It’s what you do here. 5201 Wilson, 314-776-0468 (ST)

Pat’s Bar & Grill
You know the place—it’s the bar across from Turtle Park. While considered home to many a sports fan, it’s also where you’ll find a lot of families, politicos and Irish. The establishment has been around since 1942, and the décor (complete with a beautifully preserved bar and coat hooks on the booths) shows its age. They’ve got good beers on tap (Harp, Pilsner Urquell), a raucous crowd during NFL games and the kind of waitresses who call you “hon” no matter how tipsy you are. A heads-up, from experience: Post-drink turtle rides are highly discouraged. 6400 Oakland, 314-647-6553, patsbarandgrill.com (ST)

Maplewood, Brentwood, Richmond Heights

Double D Lounge
A rack on the wall holds dozens of bags of potato chips. That’s what we’re talking about, the old-fashioned barroom that offers food with enough salt to match your thirst. Fifty years ago, this kind of bar was in every neighborhood, a place where you could stop in for a pick-me-up after work or come back again after dinner for a nightcap. This is the modern world, of course, and state-of-the-art plasma screens provide multiple views of whatever game happens to be going on. You could also adjourn to the second room, where pool is available, and sometimes karaoke. But at heart, this is the Platonic ideal of a neighborhood bar. 2219 South Brentwood, 314-961-5646 (SP)

Foley’s
Look out the front window at Foley’s, and you might see boxcars rattling their way through the heart of Maplewood on the train tracks directly across the street. That clicketyclack is a romantic sound to hear while hoisting a pint of Bass Ale, though you can only hear it in the hours before disc jockeys take over entertainment for the late-night crowd. The neighborhood around it is gentrifying, but Foley’s remains solidly old-school and working-class, dominated by a beautiful and ancient long oak bar. Shoot some pool, play some shuffleboard, scarf down some cheap bar food and enjoy the beverage of your choice at a reasonable price. 3522 Greenwood, 314-645-6424 (SP)

The Fox & Hounds Tavern
It’s 1965, and the hoi polloi are gathered around the fireplace, seated on comfortable chairs or cuddling on couches, singing along with “Let Me Call You Sweetheart” played on the battered old piano in the corner. The walls are covered with rustic decorations, including a stuffed fox. Now, in 2007, the only differences are that some of the stuffing in the couches has disappeared and the patrons are less likely to be stopping by after a night at the theater. The Fox & Hounds, a cozy little room around the corner from the reservation desk at the Cheshire Inn, is a time capsule filled with the ghosts of a million conversations held over cocktails of every description. 6300 Clayton, 314-647-7300, cheshirelodge.net/F&HTaverns.htm (SP)

Central West End

Maryland House at Brennan’s
In a town like St. Louis, you walk a fine line between cool and conceited when you refuse to put the name of your bar on the outside of the building. Word of mouth and the mystique of catering to the “in” crowd may be enough to sustain you—unless that word of mouth is something along the lines of “Who do these guys think they are?” Fortunately for this bar behind an unmarked door and up a flight of stairs at the corner of Maryland and Euclid, the buzz has been excellent from the word go. The swank but homey feel of this converted apartment above Brennan’s Wine, Food and Tobacco adds to the cozy atmosphere—maintaining the original floor plan was a nice touch—and a wide selection of beer, cocktails and wine keeps the conversation humming. 4659 Maryland, 314-361-9444 (MH)

Mandarin Lounge
Legality issues aside, there’s a school of thought (founded and subscribed to exclusively by us) that says that it would be kind of cool to swagger into the Mandarin Lounge wearing a samurai sword on your hip, in large part because it would help you fit in among the army of Buddha statues and geisha girls in this swanky-chic Asian-themed rooftop club. (And who knows, you may even get the über-hip, trend-conscious clientele to follow your lead.) But then again, there is the other school of thought, which is a lot less fun, that says that having a 2½-foot blade at hand after downing a couple of this place’s super-powerful-but-so-tasty-they’ll-sneak-up-on-you cocktails might not be a good idea come bar time. 44 Maryland, 314-367-4447, mandarinlounge.net (MH)

U. City

Halo Bar
Designed to give patrons a chance to grab a drink before the Pageant opens or to unwind after a concert, the Halo Bar has turned into a destination all its own. As one of only two bars with 3 a.m. closing licenses in the Loop, the Halo is most alive when all the other bars have shut down. But the party starts much earlier, and never lets up, as people come and go all night long. DJs often spin eclectic mixes of rock, jazz, funk and more, which can lead to spontaneous outbursts of dancing. There’s something about the vibe in this room, with the huge picture windows facing Delmar, that makes everybody a lot friendlier than they were before they walked in. 6161 Delmar, 314-726-1414, thepageant.com (SP)

Blueberry Hill
Are you kidding? Is there a person in the St. Louis metropolitan area of legal drinking age who has never set foot in this essential landmark of food, drink, live music and pop-culture keepsakes? Opened in 1972, and expanding every ten or so years since, Blueberry Hill does everything right. Whether dishing out a tasty burger or giving Chuck Berry a monthly chance to remind us of his legend, Blueberry Hill maintains the commitment to quality that helped it build the Loop into an essential social center of St. Louis. And heck yeah, you can hang out there with your friends and just have beer or spirits. 6504 Delmar, 314-727-0880, blueberryhill.com (SP)

Riddles Penultimate Café & Wine Bar
The food is so good at Riddles, it’s easy to forget you can just stop in for a drink or three and have a great time. But given that their excellent wine list includes a couple of dozen gems by the glass and that Riddles never fails to book top-notch live entertainment in the blues and jazz fields, this is a place where pleasure is guaranteed. When the weather is good, a dozen or so tables out on the sidewalk offer a chance for high-quality people-watching. 6307 Delmar, 314-725-6985, riddlescafe.com (SP)

North City

The Imperial Palace
Like another St. Louis Palace that’s no longer with us (i.e., the Crystal), the Imperial is decorated with antique chandeliers that sparkle throughout its enormous interior. The lounge area, which seats about 800, features a long, sleek bar, many comfortable tables and a dance floor. Five years ago, this was the Club 54 Cocktail Lounge, which ended up on more than one annual list as the “best place to see live blues.” The current owners, who reopened about six months ago, don’t want to mess with a good thing, and so will use the adjoining space—which seats about 1,000—to continue that tradition. (Bobby Bland’s already booked for December.) But the interior’s entirely remodeled, having shed 54’s “retro” look in favor of swanky, minimalist chrome and neon. Note that this bar is 30-and-older and requires formal attire on Fridays and Saturdays, and the mixed drinks feature a rather heavy pour, which can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on your metabolism. 2543 N. Grand, 314-531-1951 (SR)

North County

Mimi’s Subway Bar
That odd little shack in back of Rinderer’s Drugs in Old Ferguson, the one with the corrugated tin roof, is actually a shelter for a set of big marble steps that lead down, down, down to Mimi’s. Though the swell antique phone booth and all but two of the pool tables are gone, Mimi’s still has an old-school vibe and a wonderfully motley jumble of patrons—old and young, black and white, hip and stodgy. There’s a big-screen TV for the sports dudes, Kentile floors and serious vintage A-B paraphernalia for the aesthetes, keno for the gamblers, pool tables and beer specials for the college kids and darts for ... well, darts aficionados. (The jukebox reflects the clientele’s diversity, switching from Aerosmith to Chingy to U2.) The walk-up food window is a nice touch—you can grab a miniature pecan pie in a wrapper for 95 cents if you’re unbearably peckish—as is the silver spindle of paper towels at each booth, for mopping up your hands after devouring a plate of the bar’s saucy wings. 46 N. Florissant, 314-524-6009 (SR)

Clayton

The Ritz-Carlton
At the end of a long day, a place with all the charms and sensibilities of an 18th-century men’s club holds considerable appeal. The wood is dark, the furniture comfy; the music subdued; the help plentiful—albeit occasionally slow; the atmosphere posh. In this town, that place is the Lobby Lounge at the Ritz-Carlton. It’s a perfect fit for meeting a friend, sipping a stiff drink, supping on fresh sushi—or trysting with an amour. With the spaciousness of the layout, your neighbors may wish to hear your conversation—but they can’t. 100 Carondolet, 314-863-6300, ritzcarlton.com (CM)

Roxane
For its touch of a bistro and décor of a million mosaics, Roxane should be your neighborhood haunt. The bar is hidden in the back—on the other side of the restaurant. The décor feels Kandinsky-like. The female bartender was both beautiful—and bored. But once the manager—an ebullient soul—swung by, the atmosphere and experience improved considerably. The bar menu—small dishes, delectable desserts—is a definite draw. But be prepared to bring an ear trumpet and scream your order. The place is very loud, and before the evening is out, your voice will probably have left you. 12 N. Meramec, 314-721-6472 (CM)

Ladue

Busch’s Grove
This was Ladue’s legendary local bar. Before its recent multimillion-dollar glam job, there were regulars who could have practically listed it as their legal residence. No more. The dark and dingy bar is now a sun-filled spot with snazzy décor, a huge bar, plenty of side tables and even a stage. The drinks are strong and big, the help generally pleasant and the bar food is THE BEST. (Order the lobster sushi and the beef tenderloin sandwiches.) Still, the place never seems to get too packed—which means there’s more room to schmooze. 9160 Clayton, 314-993-0011, buschsgrove.com (CM)

Sportsman’s Park
This is the kind of bar where you go on Monday nights to watch football, on any night to see baseball and, during the NCAA tournament, to hip-bump and shove your way in. Bets are made, beers are consumed and everyone knows each other by name—or reputation. The bar is kinda grungy, but the bartenders are attentive without being pesky. This is an old-fashioned sports bar where the TVs aren’t flat-screen and aren’t everywhere. But the beer is fresh and cold and flows freely. 9901 Clayton, 314-991-3381 (CM)

Schneithorst’s
A half-century old, this Ladue landmark gets props for its Biergarten—cool atmosphere, cool spelling—but we prefer the inside bar. Any watering hole where you can’t see the outside world gets high marks (you’re drinking inside for a reason), but Schneithorst’s gets even higher marks for its uniquely comforting interior, complete with an arched stone ceiling, substantial wooden tables and shelves full of German steins. What goes in those steins is up to you, but it’d be only fitting to go with Schneity Brau, Warsteiner, Franziskaner or Spaten Optimator, all of which are available on draft. That last one might have a perky name, but it packs a punch of 7 percent alcohol. Along for the ride with each percent: baskets of popcorn, which sit atop every table and along the bar. 1600 S. Lindbergh, 314-993-4100 (SS)

Kirkwood

PJ’s Tavern
PJ’s Tavern? That sounds like a textbook hole in the wall, a bona fide dive, doesn’t it? Scarcely! In reality, PJ’s may well rank as Kirkwood’s sweetest surprise. Now starting its second decade of operation, it features a clean, classy interior—a long, lovely bar forms its focus—and barkeeps who pay close attention to patrons, delivering drinks and appetizers with alacrity. After a trying day at the office, the Boulevard here tastes blissful, as do the potato skins (generously topped with Monterey Jack and cheddar, bacon bits and scallions). The impressiveness of the tavern prompts curiosity about PJ’s restaurant and separate martini bar. More “research” may be needed ... 123 W. Jefferson, 314-966-2001, pjstaverninkirkwood.com (BAH)

Ice & Fuel
At Ice & Fuel’s bar, hazed in cigarette smoke and engrossed in the day’s sports reports, sit a number of men who look as if they’ve grown remarkably adept, over time, at sitting at one bar or another. Yet occupying a table across the lounge is a duo of grannies. Delightful! The I&F boasts a small but quite inviting outside deck at its rear as well as a far sharper wait staff than at least one ritzier competitor nearby—patrons here, astonishingly, can order and receive drinks without waiting 15 minutes. 215 N. Kirkwood, 314-822-0494 (BAH)

Webster Groves

Weber’s Front Row
This isn’t where you go to sip frou-frou liqueurs, appreciate a boutique brew or show off your fashion sense. You’re here for the company: the extraordinarily convivial, talkative crowd of T-shirt–and–jeans–clad regulars, whose small-town camaraderie can’t be bought for the price of a half-dozen candy-colored “martinis.” No hipsters, millionaires or scenesters here: just local sports on a dozen TVs, delicious food and a bespectacled young bartender who knows everyone’s names. That and the fish tank—surprising in this smoky atmosphere, a school of variously striped cichlids tussles and cavorts with abandon in the 50-gallon tank behind the bar. 8169 Big Bend, 314-961-4500, webersfrontrow.com (MB)

Cyrano’s Café and Wine Bar
Located just around the bend on Lockwood, Cyrano’s is Weber’s diametrical opposite. Where Weber’s displays an all-American appetite for sports, beer and everything grilled, Cyrano’s (much like its Clayton sister establishment Roxane) evinces a delicate, European sensibility. Bright, ’70s-motif chairs pair with stone-topped tables and counters, where tea lights glimmer in tiny red glass cups. A dozen quiet conversations ripple across the room. You’re not here to meet someone new—you’re here with someone you’d like to know better. Were it summer, you’d suggest splitting a chilled bottle of wine—but it’s getting colder, so cozy up bar-side with your date and order a Cherries Jubilee flambé and coffee drinks: a Millionaire’s Coffee, spiked with Grand Marnier, and a Bailey’s Mint Kiss. 603 E. Lockwood, 314-963-3232 (MB)

South County

Ten Mile House
Clichéd as it may seem, some bars spark love at first sight—and Ten Mile House likely does just that with regularity. As AC/DC blasts from the jukebox and regulars josh one another and the bartender, a cold draft Busch and a hearty BLT form a fine lunch here, in a row of older commercial properties due north of Mackenzie Road. The metal stools have the pleasant heft of the past—none of this tinfoil furniture of the present—and the bar top has “character.” (Countless coats of varnish fail to conceal decades of use.) Co-owner Tony Smith, a graying bear of a man, ambles past and amiably rumbles, “What’s up, brother?” Thanks to Ten Mile House, our spirits, Mr. Smith—our spirits. 9420 Gravois, 314-638-9082, 10milehouse.com (BAH)

Pink Galleon
The sheer spectacle of certain bars demands admiration. Consider, for instance, the Pink Galleon. In company with such mysteriously named concerns as Chinese Food—but not Eats, sad to say—it lies the proverbial stone’s throw east of Lemay Ferry and occupies a strip shopping center whose façade matches the color of calamine lotion. Inside, the bar’s warehouse construction amplifies the sound system’s bass almost uncomfortably and holds roughly two dozen coral-topped pool tables, old-fashioned pinball machines, video games including (ah, nostalgia!) Ms. Pac-Man and other amusements. Order a draft—served in a frosted mug weighty enough to brain Siamese twins—and cheerily ponder why the operation and the three other members of its local fleet bill themselves as adult Chuck E. Cheese’s. 4010 Butler Hill, 314-845-2386, pinkgalleon.com (BAH)

West County

Annie Gunn’s
Some bars keep their lights low because they’ve got something to hide; others, nothing to prove. Annie Gunn’s falls into the latter category—their food’s already stellar, so why even bother serving the bar crowd? Because they’re great at it. On a recent Saturday, the early evening scene was lively and increasingly packed, and the bartenders—acknowledging familiar faces entering the comfy quarters—handled it with pleasant ease. The sippers sipped Scotch, beer and wine from a world-class list. A few with a football fix kept an eye on the raftered TV, muted and ignorable. As the evening progressed, the only other seats that caught our eye were in those private booths that the staff call “snogs.” We were curious, but not enough to be pulled away from our enviable perches at the bar, and our conversations with a bartender—on staff 20 years—about the ways of the world. 16806 Chesterfield Airport, 636-532-7684, smokehousemarket.com (SS)

Ozzie’s Restaurant & Sports Bar
Call it a coincidence, but on a recent trip to this near-two-decades-old sports bar we were cheered upon entry. (Granted, there was a touchdown involved, and we hadn’t scored it.) Yes, Ozzie’s is the sports fan’s heaven, and as proven, it hardly matters the sport. Baseball is king—memorabilia sets the mood, from gold gloves to signed black-and-whites—but fans of anything hit, passed, dunked or otherwise sent flying will love settling in for a long Saturday afternoon of cheers and beers (or, less happily, boos and booze). TVs? Fifty-plus. Staff? Alert and quick-footed. Beer selection? The usuals, plus a few treats like Boulevard and Sam Adams. A bonus for families: A step-down corner provides a game-room setting for the youngsters. Play ball. 645 Westport Plaza, 314-434-1000, ozziesrestaurantandsportsbar.com (SS)

Sky Music Lounge
Although it’s the newest kid on our bar block, Sky Music Lounge has so much going for it we can’t help but point you in its direction. For starters, there’s the unique site at the Barn at Lucerne—exposed brick and incredibly high, wood-paneled ceilings. And then there are the little charms you’ll find as you walk about: local, for-sale art on the walls; a circular, reservable VIP spot, which is certainly the swankiest former grain silo in all of Missouri; and the sound-proof Guitar Hero Room, in which patrons can enter a PlayStation fantasy world where all their rock-god dreams come true. Sky offers live music most nights, but for those who just want a drink with a date, there’s a side room with its own bar and a raised level with comfy sofas. Martinis are a frequent call here, and new ones are sometimes created just to honor a group that’s shown up (we hear a group of Rockwood educators thoroughly enjoyed their Hot for Teachers). 930 Kehrs Mill, 636-527-6909, skymusiclounge.com (SS)

St. Charles

R.T. Weiler’s
Strolling Main Street in St. Charles can be exhausting: blocks and blocks of knickknacks and antiques, each more charming than the next. Throw us a bone, we said on a recent trip: Throw us a bone! And there it was—a bar whose OPEN sign is bone-shaped, whose logo’s a paw print and whose walls are lined with pics of the patrons’ pooches. Six-year-old R.T. Weiler’s is named in honor of an early owner’s late dog Precious (yep, a Rottweiler), and if that sounds too over-the-top, it isn’t. The 75-brew beer list, though, very much is: PBR and Sapporo? Killian’s Irish Red and Labatt Blue? Moosehead and something called Delirium Nocturnum? Indeed. The bar is long, and the mood is spirited and—puppies be damned—surprisingly uncute. 201 N. Main, 636-947-1593, rtweilers.com (SS).