USA Today's 10Best readers have crowned Three Kings Public House at St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL) the best airport bar in the United States for 2026. The gastropub, found in Terminal 2 near Gate E33, beat out a national field after a panel of editors nominated contenders and readers voted over four weeks. Judges singled out its cozy feel, local beer list, and menu that works for travellers with dietary restrictions.

The location makes sense once you know the city. St. Louis is the birthplace of Budweiser and home to more than 70 breweries, and Three Kings leans into that heritage. Roughly a dozen taps split between national names like Sierra Nevada's Hazy Little Thing and regional pours, including City Wide pale ale from 4 Hands Brewing — the best-selling craft beer in town, so it's a decent fallback if you missed the brewery's tasting room in Kirkwood. Cans, bottles, ciders, seltzers, and at least one non-alcoholic beer round out the list.

Food-wise, the signature order is the Three Kings Wings: over a pound of breaded chicken tossed in buffalo or spicy Thai sauce, a dish that draws travellers in on its own. If you want an actual meal, the Angus smash burgers come stacked on brioche with cheese and fries included. A buffalo chicken wrap and toasted ravioli with ranch — a St. Louis classic — fill out the short menu, made with locally sourced Missouri and Illinois ingredients.

A few practical notes before you commit. The bar sits in Terminal 2, home to Southwest, Lufthansa, and British Airways departures. STL's two terminals are more than a mile apart, so if you're flying from Terminal 1, trekking over probably isn't worth it. Hours run 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, with outlets under the bar for charging and wall-mounted TVs if your flight is delayed.

The pub is one of four Three Kings locations in the metro area, and the airport branch doesn't escape typical terminal pricing — mixed drinks in particular draw complaints. Draft beer, though, runs only a couple of dollars above what the Des Peres location charges, which is unusually reasonable for an airport. Service reviews are mixed at 3.9 stars on Google: some praise fast, friendly bartenders, others report long waits. If you're cutting it close to boarding or the place looks slammed, it may be safer to skip it.

For anyone connecting through the Midwest or starting a St. Louis trip, this is a genuine reason to arrive at the airport early rather than a consolation prize. It beats the generic airport-bar formula of warm lager and frozen burgers, and it gives you a taste of the city's beer scene even on a tight layover. Just build in buffer time if the wings are the mission.