Cocktail barDive bar and music venue$$$tower-grove-southMon-Sat 17:00-01:00, closed Sun
A South City dive and live-music room, The Heavy Anchor pairs cheap drinks with a back-room stage for local and touring bands. A no-frills music bar.
Signature drink: Cheap beer and shots
Food: Bar snacks
Tip: The back room hosts shows most nights; the front bar is for cheap drinks and pinball. Check the gig calendar.
Cocktail barIrish pub$$$the-hillMon-Fri 11:00-03:00, Sat-Sun 17:00-03:00
A long-running pub near the Hill and the Grove, Nick's pours draft beer and whiskey to a regulars' crowd in a no-frills room, a classic St. Louis tavern.
Signature drink: Draft beer and whiskey
Food: Pub plates
Tip: It is a regulars' pub; come for cheap pints and a low-key night. Live music and trivia fill some evenings.
Cocktail barCocktail lounge$$$benton-parkMon-Sat 17:00-22:00
The lounge side of Frazer's in Benton Park pours some of the best classic cocktails on the south side, a 25-year-old bar attached to the restaurant.
Signature drink: Classic cocktails
Food: Full restaurant menu
Tip: Sit at the bar for the cocktail program even if you are not dining. Ask what the bartender is shaking that night.
Cocktail barWine and cocktail bar$$$claytonMon-Sat 11:00-01:30, Sun 11:00-00:00
Sasha's DeMun bar pairs a wide by-the-glass wine list with cocktails and noshing plates in a homey Clayton room, a relaxed spot with a popular patio.
Signature drink: By-the-glass wine and cocktails
Food: Cheese, charcuterie and small plates
Tip: Order a cheese board and let staff pair glasses across it. The patio fills first on warm evenings.
Cocktail barBrewery beer hall$$$the-groveMon-Wed 15:00-22:00, Thu 11:00-22:00, Fri-Sat 11:00-00:00, Sun 11:00-21:00
Urban Chestnut's 400-seat Grove Bierhall is as much a bar as a brewery, pouring German-style lagers in a vast hall with Fordo's pizza, a go-to for groups.
Signature drink: German-style lagers
Food: Pizza and pub fare
Tip: It is huge and family-friendly; the Zwickel lager is the pour to start. Pizza comes from Fordo's in the same hall.
Cocktail barNeighborhood bar$$$tower-grove-eastMon-Thu 16:00-00:00, Fri-Sat 16:00-01:30, Sun 16:00-00:00
A Tower Grove East corner bar, Tick Tock pours cheap drinks and cocktails to a mixed crowd, with karaoke and theme nights filling the calendar.
Signature drink: Cheap drinks and cocktails
Food: Bar snacks
Tip: It leans dive but with cocktail chops; come for karaoke or a low-key drink. Cash and card both work.