The city of Houston has some of the best neighborhoods, parks, and bars to keep its residents happy, safe, and entertained. That's why Movoto has meticulously pieced together this current list of the best bars in Houston, featured in 2016. Home to over 2 million people, Houston is one of the most diverse, hip, and professional environments in North America, and one of the best places to live. The night life has it all until around 2 am when things start to wind down. Not only is it fun, but it is affordable and filled with great job opportunities, a city that is constantly growing.
1. Best Wine Bar: All kinds of Fine Wine and great dive food at Max's Wine Dive
Source: wikimedia.org
Max's Wine Dive is a chain restaurant/bar with locations all over Texas, but worthy of recognition none-the-less. You'll find a wine list to write home about, but also amazing food. Good combination. With mussels steamed in Lone Star Beer and genuine chili cheese fries and dogs, you can't beat this place for drinking wine.They are open until 2 am every night.
MAX's Wine Dive Houston
214 Fairview St #2
(713) 528-9200
Yelp: 4 stars, 242 reviews
2. Best Beer Bar: The Hay Merchant is an connoisseur's experience unlike any other.
Aside from being a very clean establishment, The Hay Merchant has by far the best selection of brews in all of Houston. They take beer VERY seriously, and they're good at it. Because they create many of the craft brews on site, they take pride in careful attention to serve the beer at the proper temperatures. All of their staff is insanely knowledgeable about brewing and all topics craft beer. Ask them anything! They have 80 taps on hand at all times and brag to have up to 200 at any point brewing in the cellar.
The Hay Merchant
1100 Westheimer
(713) 528-9805
Yelp: 4 stars, 641 reviews
3. The Best Sports Bar: For great access to large screens, great games, and good food, check out Griff's for happy Hour.
In the heart of Houston, Griff's is an acclaimed Sports Bar for anyone looking to catch a game while enjoying a beer in a great atmosphere. They have 22 large TVs and 5 really big screens that are guaranteed to be showing all of your favorite teams at any given time.
Griff's
3416 Roseland St
(713) 528-9912
Yelp: 3.5, 94 reviews
4. Best Whiskey Bar: For the most elaborate whiskey reserve, check out Reserve101
Reserve101 is one of the only bars who makes whiskey a priority with a whiskey list that has taken years to collect. Some of the most rare selections, make Reserve 101 live up to their name. The menu is easy to read with the rarest whiskeys marked red that are sometimes not available. The rest of the whiskey is separated by distillery, country, and region.
Reserve 101
1201 Caroline Street
(713) 655-7101
Yelp: 4 stars, 92 reviews
5. The Best After-Work Drink Spot depends on your style, but The Honeymoon Cafe and Bar is the best of the best in so many ways, why not stop by after work?
The Honeymoon Cafe and Bar has a really great selection of cocktails and beers, but also gourmet coffee and food too. Don't feel like a beer? Try ending the day with some well-deserved absinthe. The Copper Opulence, mixes Copper King Brandy with a touch of absinthe.
The Honeymoon Cafe and Bar
300 Main St
Houston,TX 77002
(281) 846-6995
Yelp: 4 stars, 287 reviews
6. By far the best dive bar in all of Houston is Poison girls
This artsy feminist bar with a 70s/80s esthetics is long and skinny. It has everything to offer in its red walls: Cocktails, beer, pinball games, a giant Koolaid man to take pictures with in the patio, as well as a large scary Cabbage Patch doll and velvet art posters of nudes.
Poison girl
1641 Westheimer Rd suite B
(713) 527-9929
Yelp: 4 stars, 330 reviews
7. Best Cocktails: Anvil proves itself worthy of this title
Open since 2009, Anvil dedicates itself to the title, “Best drinks in all of Houston,” and they arguably live up to that. Houston’s first bar devoted to classic cocktails, they have a rotating menu of delicious and interesting concoctions to choose from at all times, consisting of about 100 choices. They have a much smaller selection of beer on tap, but it's all the standard brews, making this bar perfect for beer and cocktail drinkers alike. The atmosphere is welcoming, the staff is friendly, and the bar is filled with locals and out of town folks.
Anvil
1424 Westheimer Rd
Montrose
(713) 523-1622
Yelp: 4 stars, 685 reviews
8. The best live music bar in all of Houston has to be Howl at the Moon
The name “Howl at the Moon” says it all. They have a great venue space for hosting loud live music. Locations across the country make Howl at the Moon's line up fairly connected, interesting, and current. The sound technicians make your experience more enjoyable also. Be prepared to dance until 2 am.
Howl at the Moon
612 Hadley St
Fourth Ward, Midtown
(713) 658-9700
Yelp: 3.5 stars, 180 reviews
9. For the bar with the best outdoor space, Bar Boheme wins hands down.
The bar is in a beautiful, old, dark wood, brick, and steel refurbished historic building surrounded by Zimbabwe themed sculptures in a remarkable garden space. Patrons are set loose in the lush garden to explore and mingle, drinks in hand. The entire bar, inside and out, has a very European vibe.
Bar Boheme
307 Fairview St.
(713) 529-1099
Yelp: 3.5 stars, 565 reviews
10. For the most expensive, but totally worth it category, the new Beckrew Wine House wins.
This wine house/bar/restaurant just opened this past April and is now receiving international attention and praise. It was named one of the top 50 best places to drink wine in the whole United States. This title was not given, but earned. The wine list is extensive, and the establishment is clean, hip, and accommodating.
Beckrew Wine House
2409 W. Alabama St.
(713) 526-2242
Yelp: 3.5 stars, 36 reviews
11. Best Local Joint: Three Sheets Bar & Grill, where everybody knows your name.
One of the best neighborhood bars in all of Houston on the west side. There is a large patio, a great food menu, any cocktail drink you could want, and great beer. This west side bar is everything you could ask for in a local dive.
Three Sheets Bar & Grill
1900 S Kirkwood Rd # G
(281) 589-1625
Yelp: 4.5 stars, 101 reviews
12. The Best Day Drinking Spot: Batanga.
This bar refurbished an 1880's saloon to call Batanga home. Batanga specializes in Latin American cuisine, an extensive wine list, and some of the best cocktails and tap in town. Their outdoor area is wonderful for warm days, but inside is accommodating to a day crowd when the weather turns not so nice. Enjoy 1/2 off bottles of wine all Sunday. On Saturdays expect great live Latin music.
Batanga
908 Congress @ Travis
713-224-9500
Yelp: 3 stars, 518 reviews
13. After careful research, the Best First Date Bar in Houston is without a doubt, Cottonwood
Source: staticflickr.com
Cottonwood is probably the best first date bar because of its novel vibe and great outdoor area where many people choose to drink with their pets in tow. There is a stage for live music, great food, and drinks. There are over 40 brews on tap and Cottonwood is home to Houston's “sloppiest burger.”
Cottonwood
3422 N Shepherd Dr
(713) 802-0410
Yelp: 3.5 stars, 298 reviews
14. And what better way to counteract all this drinking with the Best Juice Bar in All of Houston?
Sustain Juicery was created in 2011 and is located in the heart of Downtown. This Juicery has quickly become the go to for most city dwellers who love health food or just a healthy drink during the day. Sustain created their juice bar with comfort and intimacy in mind, making it the perfect sanctuary for a mid day drink.
Sustain Juicery
4061 Bellaire Blvd
West University, Braeswood Place
(713) 662-3693
Yelp: 4.5 stars, 80 reviews
15. The Best LGBT Bar is undoubtedly JR's Bar & Grill
They are a lovely, straight-friendly gay bar. Their drag shows are out of this world and their drink menu is to die for. This bar has been around forever, making it one of the most popular and well-established LGBT meeting spots. A huge patio area accommodates happy hour folks & live entertainment such as drag shows and music. They also have hot male go-go dancers!
JR's Bar & Grill
808 Pacific St, Houston, TX 77006
Phone:(713) 521-2519
Yelp: 3.5 stars, 52 reviews
16. Best New Bar goes to Beaver's new Decatur street location!
Beaver's has a new location for 2016 that is supposed to be great. The original on Washington Ave is famous for its awesome cocktails, beer, and comfort food, and many locals are happy about this development.
Beaver's
2310 Decatur St
(713)-864-BEAV
Yelp: 3.5 stars, 592 reviews
