Massive Star Bar is situated within the Heights.
With the inflow of new locations opening each week in Houston, it might appear as if well-worn dive bars are a rarity, however there are nonetheless loads of watering holes that emulate that eclectic but easy neighborhood vibe many people crave. Learn on for a few of our favorites.
Massive Star Bar
HEIGHTS
Owens, who has labored on the Heights staple for 17 years, says the thought for the decor is to herald quirky objects that is probably not of use to another person and provides them a brand new life. And he’s all the time including issues.
If an merchandise works for the area, that’s cool. “If it doesn’t work,” he says, “nonetheless sort of cool.”
Owens jokes that it’s a good suggestion to maintain your expectations low should you’re new to the bar, so that you received’t be disenchanted. However in our opinion, Massive Star Bar is ideal for anybody searching for a match of nostalgia, fairly priced beer and cocktails, and a fantastic sense of group.
Get your musical groove on at Dan Electro’s.
Dan Electro’s
heights
Whereas some homeowners shrink back from it, Shaun Brennan of Dan Electro’s embraces the “dive bar” label—although he jokes that his place’s loos are in all probability too clear for the time period. “We’re a neighborhood watering gap dive bar slash music venue,” he says.
Dan Electro’s has taken reside music very significantly since opening its doorways in 1988. Names like Stevie Ray Vaughan, Richard Gere, and the Allman Brothers Band have performed on its stage. The venue retains this dedication alive every single day of the week by inviting bands of all genres to carry out. On Saturday and Sunday, it’s double the enjoyable with two bands enjoying matinee and night concert events. The expansive out of doors patio can also be nice for escaping the tunes to talk with your mates or play a sport of cornhole.
Take a look at your pinball abilities with Little Dipper Bar.
Little Dipper Bar
Downtown
Put your arcade abilities to the check at Houston’s personal pinball haven. Little Dipper has 13 pinball machines with totally different themes, together with Star Trek, Foo Fighters, Batman, and Jurassic Park.
The bar additionally options tons of mirrors for the useless drinkers, globes for the vacationers, and books for the intellects. Enjoyable reality: The employees brings books of all genres from their very own libraries, so that you would possibly simply be studying your bartender’s favourite guide. You’ll be able to even take it dwelling and are available again with your individual (although an change will not be required).
When baseball season is in full swing, it’s the last word laid-back spot to wind down after an amped-up sport at Daikin Park (we all know, it doesn’t have that very same ring as Minute Maid). And if the liquor is speaking an excessive amount of, seize your greatest buddies and strike a pose in Little Dipper’s picture sales space to recollect the second.
Lil’ Danny Speedo’s Go Fly a Kite Lounge is an East Finish gem.
Lil’ Danny Speedo’s Go Fly a Kite Lounge*
east finish
This purple constructing has defied the chances of gentrification in Houston’s East Finish neighborhood. A pool desk greets you as you stroll in, adopted by a wall of colourful lights, neon signage, and a bar stuffed with bizarre decorations—skeletons are a year-round factor right here. With its previous arcade video games and sparkly cubicles that appear to be a diner is asking their identify, this rad joint will make you are feeling such as you’ve entered one other period.
One common, Alfonso “Fonz” Peña, says his favourite factor in regards to the bar is that it attracts in folks from all totally different walks of life. You’ll be able to strike up a dialog with somebody who lives within the surrounding blocks or an industrial employee seeking to loosen up after an extended day of exhausting labor.
“I simply love this place,” he says, including that patrons “don’t get glammed up, since you really feel proper at dwelling right here.”
*Yeah, it’s a mouthful. Simply name it Lil’ Danny Speedo’s.
You by no means know what sort of quirky merchandise you may discover throughout a go to to Notsuoh.
Notsuoh
Downtown
Notsuoh is probably not a lot of a neighborhood bar with its Predominant Avenue location, however its eccentric decor has earned it recognition as an artwork bar. The dimly lit multistory area is dwelling to tons of oddities, together with taxidermy (even an ostrich and a giraffe head), creepy mannequins, bizarre work, bookshelves with dusty books and previous footwear, and different relics. Carve out a while for a take a look at the wood sales space on the primary ground, whose desk shows a New York Instances entrance web page from the Nineteen Thirties.
The venue, working in varied codecs since 1996, has stored up with the instances greater than its curio assortment or creaky floorboards recommend, so that you received’t discover a plain previous beer menu right here. Sip on a cocktail whilst you discover all of the random objects. Some highlights embrace the hibiscus mule, a jalapeño paloma, and the Bees Knees. And with three flooring to discover, Notsuoh is the present that retains on giving. Don’t skip a go to contained in the trippy dome on the third ground, the place sound and artwork mix (and actually bend) collectively.
Distressed wooden, bar video games, and neon lights lends a dive-bar air to Little Woodrow’s Rice Village location.
Little Woodrow’s
rice village
The ten Little Woodrow’s bars throughout the metro space are tried and true for us, however nothing compares to the vibe of the Rice Village outpost. It’s additionally one of many oldest places in operation at this time—subsequent yr will mark its twenty fifth birthday. Bob Wilson, CEO of Little Woodrow’s, says his aim is to all the time make bar goers really feel comfy. The inside is timeless, with distressed wooden, bar video games, and neon lights. Wilson says not a lot has modified since opening, aside from the introduction of liquor to the menu and an expanded patio area.
“I feel we’re a part of the material, we’re a part of the neighborhood,” Wilson says.
Sports activities followers would possibly catch a glimpse of a Houston Texans participant—some don’t even cover underneath a disguise. Formers Astros supervisor Dusty Baker used to frequent this Rice Village spot, too.
Poison Lady is a enjoyable hole-in-the-wall in Montrose.
Poison Lady
montrose
This hole-in-the-wall on Westheimer has been serving Houstonians since 2004, and has gathered some superior eye sweet by the years. Our favourite is the Kool-Assist Man on the again patio.
In line with head bartender Jonas Thompson, it was created by a daily who used to frequent Poison Lady within the bar’s early years. He’d constructed it as an set up, and when he was performed with it he requested the staff in the event that they’d wish to have it. In fact, they stated sure. Thompson says they rented a cherry picker to move the Kool-Assist Man. However as a result of there wasn’t a means for it to suit by the gates, they positioned it on the roof subsequent door. One evening, an enormous windstorm got here by, and the set up flew off the roof (doing completely no harm) and landed upright in its present place in Poison Lady’s yard. The universe knew it was meant to discover a dwelling there.
West Alabama Ice Home is an OG spot.
West Alabama Ice Home
montrose
There’s nothing like visiting a basic neighborhood bar after an extended, traumatic day at work, particularly this one on West Alabama. It first opened in 1928 as an precise icehouse. The Markantonis household took over within the Nineteen Eighties and breathed new life into it…however not an excessive amount of. The white-and-red shack has a country, old-timey vibe, and its expansive out of doors area with picnic tables and TVs that stream sports activities video games have made it a go-to gathering place.
You’ll by no means discover any frills right here. However West Alabama has made some menu additions in recent times. Now, you may order ciders, exhausting seltzers, nonalcoholic choices that transcend Topo Chico, and, after all, craft beer, together with area of interest kinds like sours. However truthful warning: There’s no liquor. Proprietor Petros Markantonis says he respects the indisputable fact that this icehouse has all the time been a beer joint.
5 Notable Mentions
Ladybird’s Bar
Washington Hall
This neighborhood bar off TC Jester is in strolling distance of Washington Avenue, however with its pool desk, cozy patio, TVs, and cheap costs, the vibe is 10 instances higher for anybody searching for a low-key evening.
Sunny’s
Downtown
With its iconic $1 Jell-O photographs and low-cost drinks, this bar on Capitol Avenue is helpful should you’re balling on a price range—and on this economic system, these offers can’t be beat.
La Carafe
Downtown
This bar is in Houston’s oldest business constructing, and rumors declare it’s haunted. Whether or not or not that’s true, we nonetheless wish to sip some wine and take within the moody atmosphere.
The Den
Third Ward
Positioned on the College of Houston’s campus, the Den all the time has drink specials, is nice for sport days (go Coogs!), and affords a basket o’ fries that’s a should for drunk munchies.
D&W Lounge
Second Ward
This East Finish spot is the epitome of an area dive bar with its unassuming entrance, weird decor, and historical past that stretches to the Forties.
