Large Star Bar is positioned 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.
Large Star Bar
HEIGHTS
Owens, who has labored on the Heights staple for 17 years, says the concept for the decor is to usher in quirky gadgets that might not be of use to another person and provides them a brand new life. And he’s at all times including issues.
If an merchandise works for the house, that’s cool. “If it doesn’t work,” he says, “nonetheless form of cool.”
Owens jokes that it’s a good suggestion to maintain your expectations low in case you’re new to the bar, so that you received’t be disenchanted. However in our opinion, Large Star Bar is ideal for anybody searching for a match of nostalgia, moderately priced beer and cocktails, and an awesome 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 most likely too clear for the time period. “We’re a neighborhood watering gap dive bar slash music venue,” he says.
Dan Electro’s has taken stay 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 day by 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 live shows. The expansive outside patio can also be nice for escaping the tunes to speak with your folks 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 take a look at 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 truth: The employees brings books of all genres from their very own libraries, so that you would possibly simply be studying your bartender’s favourite ebook. You’ll be able to even take it dwelling and are available again with your individual (although an trade shouldn’t 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 associates 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 outdated arcade video games and sparkly cubicles that seem like a diner is asking their identify, this rad joint will make you’re feeling such as you’ve entered one other period.
One common, Alfonso “Fonz” Peña, says his favourite factor concerning the bar is that it attracts in individuals 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 trying to chill out after a protracted day of onerous 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 kind of quirky merchandise you may discover throughout a go to to Notsuoh.
Notsuoh
Downtown
Notsuoh might not be a lot of a neighborhood bar with its Principal Road location, however its eccentric decor has earned it recognition as an artwork bar. The dimly lit multistory house 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 outdated footwear, and different relics. Carve out a while for a take a look at the wood sales space on the primary flooring, 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 occasions greater than its curio assortment or creaky floorboards counsel, so that you received’t discover a plain outdated beer menu right here. Sip on a cocktail when you discover all of the random gadgets. Some highlights embody 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 flooring, 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 areas in operation right this moment—subsequent yr will mark its twenty fifth birthday. Bob Wilson, CEO of Little Woodrow’s, says his objective is to at all times 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 house.
“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 conceal beneath 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-Help 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 carried out with it he requested the staff in the event that they’d prefer to have it. In fact, they stated sure. Thompson says they rented a cherry picker to move the Kool-Help Man. However as a result of there wasn’t a manner for it to suit by the gates, they positioned it on the roof subsequent door. One evening, a large 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 traditional neighborhood bar after a protracted, anxious 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 outside house 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, onerous 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 proven fact that this icehouse has at all times 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 affordable costs, the vibe is 10 occasions higher for anybody searching for a low-key evening.
Sunny’s
Downtown
With its iconic $1 Jell-O pictures and low cost drinks, this bar on Capitol Road is helpful in case you’re balling on a price range—and on this financial system, these offers can’t be beat.
La Carafe
Downtown
This bar is in Houston’s oldest industrial constructing, and rumors declare it’s haunted. Whether or not or not that’s true, we nonetheless prefer to sip some wine and take within the moody atmosphere.
The Den
Third Ward
Positioned on the College of Houston’s campus, the Den at all times has drink specials, is nice for sport days (go Coogs!), and gives a basket o’ fries that’s a should for drunk munchies.
D&W Lounge
Second Ward
This East Finish spot is the epitome of a neighborhood dive bar with its unassuming entrance, weird decor, and historical past that stretches to the Forties.
