The Houston Dive Bars We Love the Most

With the influx of new places opening every week in Houston, it may seem as if well-worn dive bars are a rarity, but there are still plenty of watering holes that emulate that eclectic yet simple neighborhood vibe many of us crave. Read on for some of our favorites.

Big Star Bar

HEIGHTS

Dimmed red lights. A couple of ZZ Top posters. Lived-in couches. Box televisions. A year-round Christmas tree. Pinball machines. A pool table. And a hung-up collection of old skateboards. It isn’t hoarding, it’s collecting—or at least that’s what Arian Owens, manager and partner at Big Star Bar, tells himself.

Owens, who has worked at the Heights staple for 17 years, says the idea for the decor is to bring in quirky items that may not be of use to someone else and give them a new life. And he’s always adding things.

If an item works for the space, that’s cool. “If it doesn’t work,” he says, “still kind of cool.”

Owens jokes that it’s a good idea to keep your expectations low if you’re new to the bar, so you won’t be disappointed. But in our opinion, Big Star Bar is perfect for anyone looking for a fit of nostalgia, reasonably priced beer and cocktails, and a great sense of community.

Dan Electro’s

heights

While some owners shy away from it, Shaun Brennan of Dan Electro’s embraces the “dive bar” label—though he jokes that his place’s bathrooms are probably too clean for the term. “We’re a neighborhood watering hole dive bar slash music venue,” he says.

Dan Electro’s has taken live music very seriously since opening its doors in 1988. Names like Stevie Ray Vaughan, Richard Gere, and the Allman Brothers Band have played on its stage. The venue keeps this dedication alive every day of the week by inviting bands of all genres to perform. On Saturday and Sunday, it’s double the fun with two bands playing matinee and evening concerts. The expansive outdoor patio is also great for escaping the tunes to chat with your friends or play a game of cornhole.

Little Dipper Bar

Downtown

Put your arcade skills to the test at Houston’s own pinball haven. Little Dipper has 13 pinball machines with different themes, including Star Trek, Foo Fighters, Batman, and Jurassic Park.

The bar also features tons of mirrors for the vain drinkers, globes for the travelers, and books for the intellects. Fun fact: The staff brings books of all genres from their own libraries, so you might just be reading your bartender’s favorite book. You can even take it home and come back with your own (though an exchange is not required).

When baseball season is in full swing, it’s the ultimate laid-back spot to wind down after an amped-up game at Daikin Park (we know, it doesn’t have that same ring as Minute Maid). And if the liquor is talking too much, grab your best friends and strike a pose in Little Dipper’s photo booth to remember the moment.

Lil’ Danny Speedo’s Go Fly a Kite Lounge*

east end

This purple building has defied the odds of gentrification in Houston’s East End neighborhood. A pool table greets you as you walk in, followed by a wall of colorful lights, neon signage, and a bar full of weird decorations—skeletons are a year-round thing here. With its old arcade games and sparkly booths that look like a diner is calling their name, this rad joint will make you feel like you’ve entered another era.

One regular, Alfonso “Fonz” Peña, says his favorite thing about the bar is that it draws in people from all different walks of life. You can strike up a conversation with someone who lives in the surrounding blocks or an industrial worker looking to relax after a long day of hard labor.

“I just love this place,” he says, adding that patrons “don’t get glammed up, because you feel right at home here.”

*Yeah, it’s a mouthful. Just call it Lil’ Danny Speedo’s.

Notsuoh

Downtown

Notsuoh may not be much of a neighborhood bar with its Main Street location, but its eccentric decor has earned it recognition as an art bar. The dimly lit multistory space is home to tons of oddities, including taxidermy (even an ostrich and a giraffe head), creepy mannequins, weird paintings, bookshelves with dusty books and old shoes, and other relics. Carve out some time for a look at the wooden booth on the first floor, whose table displays a New York Times front page from the 1930s.

The venue, operating in various formats since 1996, has kept up with the times more than its curio collection or creaky floorboards suggest, so you won’t find a plain old beer menu here. Sip on a cocktail while you explore all the random items. Some highlights include the hibiscus mule, a jalapeño paloma, and the Bees Knees. And with three floors to explore, Notsuoh is the gift that keeps on giving. Don’t skip a visit inside the trippy dome on the third floor, where sound and art blend (and literally bend) together.

Little Woodrow’s

rice village

The 10 Little Woodrow’s bars across the metro area are tried and true for us, but nothing compares to the vibe of the Rice Village outpost. It’s also one of the oldest locations in operation today—next year will mark its 25th birthday. Bob Wilson, CEO of Little Woodrow’s, says his goal is to always make bar goers feel comfortable. The interior is timeless, with distressed wood, bar games, and neon lights. Wilson says not much has changed since opening, other than the introduction of liquor to the menu and an expanded patio space.

“I think we’re part of the fabric, we’re part of the neighborhood,” Wilson says.

Sports fans might catch a glimpse of a Houston Texans player—some don’t even hide under a disguise. Formers Astros manager Dusty Baker used to frequent this Rice Village spot, too.

Poison Girl

montrose

This hole-in-the-wall on Westheimer has been serving Houstonians since 2004, and has gathered some awesome eye candy through the years. Our favorite is the Kool-Aid Man on the back patio.

According to head bartender Jonas Thompson, it was created by a regular who used to frequent Poison Girl in the bar’s early years. He’d built it as an installation, and when he was done with it he asked the team if they’d like to have it. Of course, they said yes. Thompson says they rented a cherry picker to transport the Kool-Aid Man. But because there wasn’t a way for it to fit through the gates, they placed it on the roof next door. One night, a giant windstorm came through, and the installation flew off the roof (doing absolutely no damage) and landed upright in its current position in Poison Girl’s backyard. The universe knew it was meant to find a home there.

West Alabama Ice House

montrose

There’s nothing like visiting a classic neighborhood bar after a long, stressful day at work, especially this one on West Alabama. It first opened in 1928 as an actual icehouse. The Markantonis family took over in the 1980s and breathed new life into it…but not too much. The white-and-red shack has a rustic, old-timey vibe, and its expansive outdoor space with picnic tables and TVs that stream sports games have made it a go-to gathering place.

You’ll never find any frills here. But West Alabama has made some menu additions in recent years. Now, you can order ciders, hard seltzers, nonalcoholic options that go beyond Topo Chico, and, of course, craft beer, including niche styles like sours. But fair warning: There’s no liquor. Owner Petros Markantonis says he respects the fact that this icehouse has always been a beer joint.

Five Notable Mentions

Ladybird’s Bar 

Washington Corridor 

This neighborhood bar off TC Jester is in walking distance of Washington Avenue, but with its pool table, cozy patio, TVs, and reasonable prices, the vibe is 10 times better for anyone looking for a low-key night.

Sunny’s

Downtown

With its iconic $1 Jell-O shots and cheap drinks, this bar on Capitol Street is handy if you’re balling on a budget—and in this economy, those deals can’t be beat.

La Carafe

Downtown

This bar is in Houston’s oldest commercial building, and rumors claim it’s haunted. Whether or not that’s true, we still like to sip some wine and take in the moody ambience.

The Den

Third Ward

Located on the University of Houston’s campus, the Den always has drink specials, is great for game days (go Coogs!), and offers a basket o’ fries that’s a must for drunk munchies.

D&W Lounge

Second Ward

This East End spot is the epitome of a local dive bar with its unassuming entrance, bizarre decor, and history that stretches to the 1940s.