Must-see nightlife in The Great Plains

  • Civil Life Brewing Co

    St Louis

    Embodying everything that makes a neighborhood bar wonderful, this brewpub offers comfy seating inside and out in unpretentious surrounds. The brew lineup…

  • Boulevard Brewery

    Kansas City

    Welcome to the home of the largest specialty brewer in the Midwest. There are 21 home brews on tap at the 2nd-floor beer hall, where a patio boasts great…

  • Tiger's Den

    Missouri

    Part used bookstore, part cocktail bar, Tiger's Den is the stuff of Hemingway dreams. Sit on one of the plush sofas and order a drink inspired by the…

  • Cave Vineyard

    Missouri

    Yes, this is a vineyard with a cave. Yes, you can drink in the cave. Sound like a gimmick? Rest assured the wines are some of the best in Missouri. The…

  • Iowa Taproom

    Iowa

    The best beers from over 30 Iowa breweries feature at this fiercely local pub in East Village. It's got the expected industrial vibe (the building was a…

  • Horizon Line Coffee

    Iowa

    Serious coffee lovers crack a big smile at this coffee shop that is passionate about all things related to the bean. Seasonal specials include a range of…

  • Blueberry Hill

    St Louis

    St Louis native Chuck Berry rocked the small basement bar here until the day he died in 2017. The venue hosts bands big and small and has good pub food …

  • Bridge Tap House & Wine Bar

    St Louis

    Slip onto a sofa or rest your elbows on a table at this romantic bar where you can savor fine wine or the best local beer (over 50 on tap) and nibble a…

  • Mister Toad's

    Nebraska

    Sit out front on benches under big trees or nab a corner table inside. It's woodsy, worn and flirting with dive-bar status. There's live jazz Sunday…

  • Urban Chestnut Grove Brewery & Bierhall

    St Louis

    Just a couple of blocks from Forest Park in The Grove, this brewery has a venue that feels like Germany. Among the many classic European-style beers…

  • Pump Bar

    Oklahoma

    This bar is, er, a real gas! A former filling station has been transformed into a whimsical bar. The large patio (which is where the gas pumps were once…

  • Other Room

    Nebraska

    Look for an unmarked black door with a lion door knocker next to it. If the light above the door is green, give the lion a knock. If it's red, you'll have…

  • Black Sheep

    Iowa

    Tequila and vampires: those are two of the main themes at East Village's edgiest bar. Let the red neon glow lure you down to this small basement space…

  • American Solera

    Oklahoma

    A prime destination in the SoBo nightlife district, this pub is the perfect venue for American Solera's award-winning brews. Try the Norton Fellowship, a…

  • Mercury Lounge

    Oklahoma

    A former gas station is now a classic dive bar with a pool table and two patios perfect for Tulsa's many balmy evenings. On some nights there's live rock…

  • Zoo Bar

    Nebraska

    Generations of Huskers have guzzled and gulped at this sweaty, divey bar that has live blues, jazz and rock most nights. It's an institution, no matter…

  • Brothers Lounge

    Nebraska

    The best jukebox in Omaha draws crowds into this Blackstone District bar. It's warmly divey with a punk soul and a great beer selection. There's live…

  • Tom's Town

    Kansas City

    Tom's Town, downtown KC's first legal distillery since Prohibition, pays homage to the city's Prohibition-flouting political boss Tom Pendergast. Try the…

  • Café Beaudelaire

    Iowa

    Never mind that the name doesn't quite sync up with the immortal Parisian poet (who also had no known connection to Brazil), this college bar is a cut…

  • Up-Down

    Kansas City

    A popular bar-cum-playground just south of downtown, Up-Down caters to the kid in everyone with an array of games from pinball to video. There are huge…

  • Mullets

    Iowa

    Right at the confluence of the Racoon and Des Moine Rivers, Mullets draws crowds before and after Cubs games (Principal Park is just over the bridge). The…

  • Welch Ave Station

    Iowa

    The dean of the Campustown (as the Welch Ave strip is known) bars, this boozer has been the scene of many a student's first drink. Dart boards, pool…

  • Boot Hill Distillery

    Kansas

    'Soil to sip' is the philosophy behind this distillery run by three local farmers who supply 100% of the grains. The tasting room – where you can try…

  • Hessen Haus

    Iowa

    Among the many large themed bars in the Court St nightlife district downtown, this German-accented beer hall scores with its large steins of excellent…

  • Exile Brewing Co

    Iowa

    In post-industrial Western Gateway Park, this brewery offers a range of convivial spaces to enjoy their excellent brews. Anytime it's warm, head out to…

  • Border Brewing Co

    Kansas City

    Border brews its beers with an edge of extra hops and other flavors like citrus and berries. The line-up changes with the seasons. Its tap room in the…

  • 4 Hands Brewing Co

    St Louis

    A fraction of the size of big brother Bud down the street, this craft brewery is everything its neighbor is not: homey, unassuming and out to surprise…

  • Schlafly Tap Room

    St Louis

    St Louis' most famous local craft brewery runs this excellent pub just west of Downtown. The menu has lots of pub classics (mains $8 to $20), while the…

  • Quay Coffee

    Kansas City

    Killer coffees brewed from direct-trade beans make this trendy spot in the River Market neighborhood understandably busy. With its exposed-brick walls and…

  • Earthbound Brewing

    St Louis

    This is one of St Louis' brewpubs that makes any real beer lover forget about Bud and revel in handcrafted brews. Don't miss the Doing it Extreme IPA,…

  • Hopping Gnome Brewing

    Kansas

    This small storefront taproom in the Douglas Design District has family-style tables, fresh popcorn and a good selection of board games. Oh, and gnomes…

  • Nite Owl

    Nebraska

    Old movies on the screens and great beers on tap are two prime attributes of this cheery Blackstone District bar. It has an eclectic menu of food served…

  • Elemental Coffee

    Oklahoma

    Close to the bombing memorial and Midtown, this hipster cafe has sensational coffee. It also does food (mains from $6), including the expected avocado…

  • Anchor

    Kansas

    On the edge of Old Town, this vintage pub has high ceilings, a tiled floor, a superb beer selection (best in the state) and tasty food. The good burgers…

  • Shortwave Coffee

    Missouri

    At the end of an alley, this hip coffee shop has the strongest single origin pours in town. Expect great tunes spinning on the record player, art…

  • Downing Street Pour House

    Missouri

    Just south of Branson in the center of old Hollister, this pub scores with excellent comfort food like barbecue and burgers. The beer and liquor list goes…

  • Flyover Brewing Company

    Nebraska

    Everyone drinking in this attractive brewery with eight house-made beers is enjoying a better brew than anyone flying far overhead. On balmy nights, sit…

  • Bottleneck

    Kansas

    The music scene in town is up to college-town standards, and this joint usually has the best of the newest. It's got a dive vibe and has plenty of drinks…

  • 7 Hills Brewing Company

    Iowa

    A Millwork District brewery with a range of beers served in industrial-chic surrounds. There's also a long menu of comfort food that runs from pizza to…

  • Henry's

    Kansas

    Downstairs is a moody low-lit coffeehouse with underground tunes and for-sale artwork on the walls. Upstairs is a boho bar popular with Lawrence's edgier…

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