Tapwerks Ale House & Cafe, Oklahoma City

The buttery leather couch beneath the bookshelf has been taken over by a pair of readers enthralled in the world of their novels, oblivious to the raucous games of foosball and darts unfolding next to them. The setting of this laid-back scene isn't a domestic rec room but the upstairs smoking lounge and bar of Tapwerks. Dedicated to making patrons feel at home, Tapwerks' English pub–inspired decor, friendly staff, and weekly lineup of high-energy events foster a welcoming environment.

Amid the nonsmoking, flag-laden dining room on the first floor, eaters of all ages snuggle into wooden booths or around tables as they chow down on dishes of hearty bar staples such as fish 'n' chips, pizza, and burgers. Behind the careworn wooden bar, seasoned bartenders can fill up glasses with the sudsy contents of 212 taps or slide one of 100 bottled beers down the bar to a waiting hand. As days melt into evenings, Tapwerks’ cozy surroundings reverberate with the strums of live guitars during regularly scheduled Acoustic Nights or the ticking sound of brains working during trivia nights.