International Tap House (itap)

St. Louis, Missouri

Supremely laid-back bar of great breadth and minimal pretension

WHAT IT IS:

International Tap House has a deceptively simple formula: wide variety, smart servers, reasonable prices, lots of specials, and no frills. There are three other itap locations, so far—in upmarket Central West End, in suburban Chesterfield, and two hours down I-44 in college town Columbia, Missouri. We prefer this one in the historic Soulard, just south of downtown St. Louis, for the colorful neighborhood. From itap, it’s a walkable mile to Busch Stadium, or you can call a radio-dispatched golf cart driver who works for whatever you want to tip.

WHY IT’S GREAT:

Soulard is studded with characterful dives that have long served fresh Budweiser brewed a few blocks away. This itap is right there with them—but instead of Bud, it has one of the state’s widest selections of craft beers, poured by friendly servers who know a thing or two about them. Simplicity extends to lack of food, but there is happy symbiosis with Epic Pizza & Subs next door. Specials run nightly, such as all drafts half-price on Mondays, or $1 off all Missouri-made draft beers on Tuesdays. We can’t say it’s 100 percent unpretentious—come on, it’s craft beer—but this is as close as you can get without the Bud signs.—joe Stange

Details Hours: 3 p.m.–1 a.m. Monday–thursday, 1 p.m.–1 a.m. Friday, 11 a.m.–1 a.m. Saturday, 1 p.m.–12 a.m. Sunday Address: 1711 S. 9th St., St. Loius, MO Web: internationaltaphouse.com