Dive in! Best Houston Dive Bars
In a city known for its world-class food and beverage scene, Houstonians are spoiled with options aplenty for elevated nights out. Hidden throughout the city are a number of bars that cater to those seeking a more casual, laid-back experience in a space with history and charm. Check out our list of some of the dive bars that are worth visiting for a cold one and good company!
Tucked away in the Heights neighborhood, Dan Electro’s positions itself as a “live music incubator” that prides itself in supporting local talent. With a calendar jam-packed with live music and events throughout the year, this hidden gem is the perfect spot to enjoy quality tunes, dive bar vibes, and cold drinks that are perfect for cooling down during the hot Houston months. Once things cool down in Bayou City, the expansive backyard space is perfect for gathering with groups of friends over ice-cold beer. Plan ahead and catch a Blue Heron Yacht Club event for Bingo, trivia, and more!
Right smack dab in the gayborhood is a local favorite, George Country Sports Bar. Surrounded by cocktail bars and dance clubs, George is an oasis for queer folk looking to gather for drinks, Jell-o shots, and a solid game of pool or darts. The tiny bar with a lot of heart has all the makings of a dive bar, from its interior wood paneling to the front and back porch seating areas. This bar is the perfect respite from a stereotypical gay bar, so pull up a barstool.
Back in the Heights is D and T Drive Inn, a craft beer bar with 50 taps to choose from. Sidle up to the bar, snag a spot at one of the few indoor tables, or park it at a picnic table in the covered backyard space and enjoy an ice-cold brewski. It’s the perfect spot to catch an Astros game, celebrate a birthday, or just hang out with friends. Aside from occasional food pop-ups, you pretty much know what you’re going to get any time you visit D & T. It’s a neighborhood bar that invites you in just as you are—cheers!
The diviest of dive bars is located right in the mix of the Heights bar scene on 19th Street. Big Star Bar, no-fuss neighborhood bar that welcomes customers in for good, cheap beer, dancing, and outdoor hangs with friends. The unassuming bar has everything you need for a chill night out, so look for the cat mural next to the blue building, pull up a chair, and stay a while.
Sure, Two Headed Dog may be tiny, but it’s such a vibe that it will make being shoulder-to-shoulder on a Saturday night worth it! The fully stocked bar on Fannin Street offers cozy vibes in a bustling area of town, with its outdoor seating area matching the indoor vibe creating a truly cohesive experience for all who visit. Expertly made cocktails, unique decor, and a call to action to “Raise Hell, Kid” adorning the wall make Two Headed Dog a dive bar worth turning into a regular spot for a nightcap.
Across town on the East End, a dark, tiki-themed cave lit only by neon lights and exotic aquariums is vibrating with the sound of several blenders full of frozen booze going full speed. Modeled after all the best parts of our Gulf Coast sister city, New Orleans, Voodoo Queen serves up unpretentious frozen treats with Cajun comfort foods that hit the spot. We love a bar that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
Down the street is another bar that doesn’t take itself too seriously and one that might have the most creative name in town. Lil’ Danny Speedo’s Go Fly a Kite Lounge features old school booth seating, warm wood paneling, rotating frozen specials and Houston’s best food trucks. Lil’ Danny Speedo’s can get packed to the gills, but it never feels claustrophobic, especially with its dog-friendly patio and an interior spacious enough to boot-scootin' boogie to punk classics while you wait for your food.
The same team behind Lil’ Danny’s brought us Grand Prize Bar, a staple in Montrose’s sacred dive trifecta. Good for a whiskey smash or a classic beer, Grand Prize has patios, pinball, and a jukebox to see you through the night, but a hop down the street will give you the complete Montrose experience.
The next stop is Catbird’s, a humble dive on Westheimer with cheap house specials and real saloon doors leading to their patio where anything goes. The last and most crucial stop has to be Poison Girl, Houston’s long-reigning dive crown jewel. A massive Kool-Aid man statue on the back patio painted purple with a grill like our Patron Saint, DJ Screw; this place is divey, timeless, and perfect.
Once you’ve got your dive bar fix, check out our GAY BAR GUIDE for your next night out!
Photos: Courtesy of bars mentioned on this page.
