There’s nothing like a night on the town in Houston. Our guide to 10 exceptionally amazing dive bars to visit right now in Houston, TX, will give you some pointers on where to go this weekend! Whether you want to catch up with friends, celebrate a special occasion, or have a chilled date night, dive bars are a great place to be. You can expect a good time with atmospheric lighting, quirky interiors, and good music.
The Best Dive Bars in Houston, Texas
Going to a dive bar will help introduce you to the locals, which is ideal if you’re new to Houston or just visiting. The bars on this list are friendly, chilled, and welcoming. From quiet little spots to grab a beer to larger bars with events and live music, there should be something for you on this list.
We’ll give you all the essential details you need to know about each bar. We’ll also give you the lowdown on the features there, as well as what the pricing is like and what the general vibe is. In no particular order, here are our top dive bars in Houston!
1. Lola’s Depot
| Address | 2327 Grant St, Houston, TX 77006 |
| Website | N/A |
| Features | Jukebox, happy hour, outdoor seating, TV |
Lola’s Depot is a classic American dive bar. With a sticker wall, pool tables, a TV, and tons of seating, you’ll enjoy hanging out here with your friends. The best nights are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, so make sure you head down on one of those days to see Lola’s at its best.
You can get some super cheap drinks here, with some excellent happy hour specials, which is great if you want to go out in a group and make the most of it. An ideal place to go if your budget is tight.
Lola’s Bar isn’t the place to go if you want to go somewhere super clean and trendy. It’s kind of run-down, but that’s just part of the charm. Go check out the graffiti walls, make some new friends, and come away feeling happy.
2. Dirt Bar
| Address | 1209 Caroline, Houston, TX 77002 |
| Website | N/A |
| Features | Jukebox, happy hour, outdoor seating, TV |
Dirt Bar is a fun, lively, welcoming kind of bar located near the Toyota Center. It’s loud, particularly on game nights. The bartenders are friendly, and the service is fast, which is great. It has outdoor seating, a TV, and they have live music nights too, which are great to visit with friends or on a date night.
The pricing is pretty average for Houston. You won’t be able to get really cheap drinks here, but given the central location, it’s pretty reasonable.
It’s a fun place to be, with a large open space containing a bar in the middle. There’s a jukebox here if you don’t manage to catch a band playing. There’s no pool table here, but it’s a great place to chill and catch up with your friends.
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3. Poison Girl
| Address | 1641 Westheimer Rd suite B, Houston, TX 77006 |
| Website | www.poisongirlbar.com |
| Features | Outdoor seating, TV, pinball machines |
Poison Girl is a super-chilled, laid-back bar with a quirky vibe. With dark lighting and eclectic decor, you’ll enjoy a night out with friends here. It has a TV, pinball machines, and dog-friendly outdoor seating.
The pricing is pretty average for the city. You’ll find cheaper bars out there, but it’s definitely not the most expensive, either. They have various drinks, including different whiskeys and some interesting craft beers.
It’s a fun place, with some thoughtful touches. It feels like a safe place to go, particularly for women, as they have a system in place if you’re feeling unsafe. We’d love to see this happening in more bars, so Poison Girl gets bonus points for that. Visit here for the chilled vibes, particularly if you want to catch up with a group of friends.
4. Rose Garden
| Address | 2621 Link Rd, Houston, TX 77009 |
| Website | N/A |
| Features | Outdoor seating, pool table, TV |
Rose Garden is a cute retro bar. It’s small but lively and welcoming. If you’re a new visitor, the locals will be super friendly, which is great. There’s outdoor seating, a pool table, and a TV here too.
The pricing is pretty decent, but you can only get beer and wine here. If you drink spirits, you’ll have to go elsewhere. However, the friendly bartenders will give you some good recommendations if you’re unsure what to get.
It’s a cozy little spot. It used to be a house, so you can find out more of the history behind the business if you chat to the (very welcoming) owners. Smack bang in the middle of the Heights; it’s well worth trying out if you’re nearby.
5. Sunny’s Bar
| Address | 902 Capitol St, Houston, TX 77002 |
| Website | N/A |
| Features | Outdoor seating, pool table, TV, jukebox |
Sunny’s Bar is located in the downtown area. Opened in 2010, it’s enjoyed by locals looking for a busy, goofy little bar for an unforgettable night. It has a pool table, a TV, a jukebox, and the bartender is really friendly, which is great.
The prices here are excellent. You can get jello shots for $2, sucker shots for $5, and a bucket of 6 beers for $15. The bartender mixes great drinks, and he’ll give you recommendations if you’re not sure what to go for.
Sunny’s is a super-chilled place to go with friends. The decor is quirky, the locals are friendly, and it’s definitely worth a visit if you want a fun night out.
6. Dan Electros Guitar Bar
| Address | 1031 E 24th St, Houston, TX 77009 |
| Website | www.danelectrosbar.com |
| Features | Dog-friendly, outdoor seating, pool table, live music |
If you love to see live music, Dan Electros Guitar Bar is the one for you. It’s a casual, noisy place to be, and there’s always something going on here. It’s a dog-friendly bar with a pool table and outdoor seating.
The pricing here is pretty good. A little more expensive than some of the others on this list, but still okay. You can get craft beer and cocktails here. They even have dog ‘beer’ on the menu too!
Dan Electros was founded in 1988 and has a long-standing reputation for hosting live rock, folk, blues, and country acts. The new owners have continued this tradition, with live music playing on the weekends. It has a great atmosphere, with friendly staff and locals. It’s worth checking the website to see what live acts are coming up soon.
7. Grand Prize Bar
| Address | 1010 Banks St, Houston, TX 77006 |
| Website | N/A |
| Features | Jukebox, TV, outdoor seating, pool table |
Grand Prize Bar is a pretty little bar, ideal for a date night. It’s located in a residential neighborhood, and it’s a good spot to go if you’re visiting friends. It has a pool table, a jukebox, and a patio area upstairs if you want to enjoy the view.
It has plenty of beer on tap, and some excellent cocktails, including some outstanding gin-based cocktails. The pricing is pretty average for drinks in Houston, with some of the cocktails coming in at the more expensive end of the scale.
It’s a beautiful bar, ideal if you want to take some pictures. It still feels like a dive bar, but the abundance of fairy lights makes it feel a little more special. We’d recommend trying to get a patio seat for a romantic date.
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8. Texas T Tavern
| Address | 1535 Brittmore Rd, Houston, TX 77043 |
| Website | www.texasttavern.com |
| Features | Live music, food, outdoor seating, pool table |
Texas T Tavern is a welcoming, friendly place to go. You can book it for private events, and you can grab a bite to eat here, too. They have a pool table and outdoor seating.
The pricing for drinks is pretty good. You can get domestic drafts for $3.25, and they occasionally offer discounts on liquors. The food here is decently priced. For example, you can get a hot dog for $5, and they have steak nights which are great if you want a reasonably priced steak!
It’s a safe place to go, with bouncers on the door, but it still has that dark, cozy vibe you associate with dive bars. There’s a dress code, though, which you’ll need to bear in mind: no saggy pants, no tattoos on the neck or above, no sunglasses inside, and so on. It’s a good idea to check the complete list before you go to avoid being turned away at the door.
9. Boondocks
| Address | 1417 Westheimer Rd unit b, Houston, TX 77006 |
| Website | www.boondocks.bar |
| Features | Live music, TV, outdoor seating |
Boondocks is the place to be if you want to hear an eclectic range of music. They have a TV and outdoor seating. It’s a noisy bar, especially at the weekends, and there’s always something exciting happening here.
The pricing is on the expensive side for a dive bar, but you’ll probably find it’s worth it if you want to enjoy the music and the atmosphere.
While the music varies in genre, you can catch a lot of indie synthpop, electro, and nu-disco here. You can check the website to see what’s coming up. It’s a dark, atmospheric kind of dive bar. It gets loud, so if you’re after a quiet catch-up with a friend, you might be better off going somewhere else!
10. Cozy Corner
| Address | 11530 Burdine St Unit A, Houston, TX 77035 |
| Website | N/A |
| Features | Food, outdoor seating, pool table, jukebox, TV |
Cozy Corner is a fun, vibrant bar with super-friendly locals. They serve food here, and they have outdoor seating, a pool table, a jukebox, and a TV. It gets busy on the weekends, but it’s a nice spot to visit mid-week if you want to be able to have a conversation over drinks.
The pricing is reasonable, and the service is really fast. You can also grab some decent food here at lunchtime, like a bowl of wonton soup for $3.50 or a chicken donburi for around $7. It’s not an extensive menu, but the food is tasty and comforting.
The locals are really friendly here. It’s a diverse crowd, and they’ll welcome you with open arms if you’re a visitor. A great place to go if you want to explore Houston and get to know the best local spots.
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Conclusion
We hope this has helped you to find the best dive bars in Houston! If you want to keep looking for the best-hidden gems in the city, keep reading our guides – they’ll be able to point you in the right direction.
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