We stopped by Social Beer Garden HTX for St. Patrick's Day and had a really good time. We went in…read morethe early afternoon, and the atmosphere was already lively without being overly crowded, which made it easy to relax and enjoy everything. The ambiance was great for the holiday they had themed drinks and specials going on, which added a fun touch and made it feel festive without being chaotic. Definitely a solid spot if you're looking for somewhere social but still comfortable. The drinks were good, and overall the vibe was on point. It felt like a place you could hang out for a while, whether you're there to celebrate something or just have a few drinks with friends. One thing to note is they don't serve food, I did hear they rotate food trucks at times, but none were there when we went which was a bit of a downside, but they did allow us to bring in outside food, which honestly made up for it and gave us more options. Parking wasn't too bad when we went, and since it wasn't super packed, everything felt smooth and easy. Overall, great vibes, good drinks, and a fun place. Definitely a spot I'd come back to for a casual hangout or social night out.

Social Beer Garden just doesn't do it for me. I've been once or twice years ago and recently…read moredecided to give it another try, hoping for a different experience, but unfortunately I still left unimpressed. To start out, the concept feels like a blend of accents from other popular bars in the area - the hammock chairs from Axelrad, the Adirondack chairs from Truck Yard, and the string light back patio from 8th Wonder. This blend makes it hard to give the bar a true identity. While they do have a large selection of beers on tap, their cocktail menu leaves me feeling lost. I appreciate the attempt to create unique flavor combinations but the options are just...confusing. For example, mezcal with citrus and prickly pear, or a highball with black currant, tequila and apricot. I'm holding on for dear life with all of these ingredients! Going along for the adventure, I tried their pickle cocktail that was on the menu and it was honestly, terrible. While they do have a happy hour that goes until 8pm, the service this last visit just wasn't the best. The server who helped me told me it was his second day and was clearly struggling to keep up with the cocktail combinations, referencing his phone many times while preparing the drink. I ended up not liking this drink and brought it back to the bar with just one sip gone and rather than offering to make me another drink, they kept it on my bill. Ok, whatever. That being said, just before this happened, the couple in front of me went to pay for their bill, prepared drinks in hand, at 8:02pm and the bartender refused to honor the happy hour prices, just two minutes past the official end time. With these two instances, it seems like the priority is maximizing every dollar of profit rather than investing in the customer experience. Given the number of other original concepts in the area, I would pass.

Axelrad is one of those spots that show up on every must visit in Houston list. After visiting a…read morefew times I can see why. Vibes are chill, beer selection is vast, they have some nice frozen drinks and cocktails as well. There's almost always some sort of event going on so it's a nice place to just stop by and check out if you have some time to chill. I've liked that there are random events and they can be hit or miss. Sometimes there's interesting musical guests, sometimes there are various vendors, sometimes there's a movie night. Regardless, I know I have a pretty good time and will be treated kindly by all the staff.

A great Houston gem in the Midtown area! I really enjoy the indoor and outdoor space that this area…read moreprovides. I've come here in some nice weather for a birthday party and I truly enjoy the ambiance this place brings! They have a great selection of drinks with fresh taps on the wall, definitely there's a drink that fits for every kind of taste bud. I didn't order food the time I came here, but I'm sure to order some the next time that I go! The seating and hammocks make this place unique as well. Parking can be tricky to find but it's quite rewarding once you find one!

A fun and cozy spot for hangout with friends or date night! I had never heard of this bar before…read morecoming here. There are booths next to the window and a pool table in the corner on the other side. They have a booth to order tacos from too. If you go out the door behind the bar, you can access the outdoor patio, which has a few tables and a large area with comfy looking red couches. Going up the stairs by the front entrance, you gain access to a second bar, a big circular area with seating around it, a few more tables, and an outdoor balcony. Now that I think about it, this place has it all. I tried one of their daiquiris which was poured with a heavy hand. Bartenders and staff were friendly. Parking is the only challenge here. There is street parking all along the street, but you may have to go further down on a busy night.

A very peculiar bar tucked away betwix a neighborhood and a school. It was clearly previously a…read morehouse that has now been transformed into a bar. When you walk in there is a smaller bar on the 1st floor and seating available. When you go upstairs there is a dance floor a large booth to your left and a Dj playing a mix of song that give EDM. I was here for an afterwork function and the bar seemed chill. But don't know that I'd cone back Also parking can be tough street psrking only.

My husband and I came here for Valentine's Day. Since the restaurant is inside Hotel ZaZa in the…read moreMuseum District, we had to valet, which wasn't a big deal but something to know ahead of time. When we walked in, a couple of really nice girls greeted us and walked us to our table. We were seated all the way in the back in a pretty dark corner. At first I thought it might be a little too dark, but once we sat for a minute it actually felt kind of cozy and worked for the vibe. They had a Valentine's Day special menu, but we decided to order off the regular menu instead. My husband ordered the lamb chops and I got a steak. Both were good... but not good good, if you know what I mean. For the price, we were expecting to be a little more impressed. The service was also pretty slow. Our server didn't seem to have a lot of tables, but it still took quite a while for them to come back around each time. We ended up only having one drink each mainly because it took so long that ordering another one didn't really feel worth it. Overall it wasn't a bad experience, but for the price and the location we were expecting a little more. The atmosphere is nice, but the food and service just didn't quite live up to it.

How come I didn't know about this place?! Monarch…read moreRestaurant located inside Zaza Hotel, is a hidden gem by the Museum District, perfect location for such a beautiful restaurant. They have valet and friendly hotel hosts that welcome you at your arrival. Monarch staff is attentive and knowledgeable. This restaurant is famous for their Lamb Lollipops, and this is one of my favorites dishes, I have had Lamb Lollipops in many other restaurants, but these blew my mind away! With crushed pistachios and feta cheese, this one of the items they will forever keep, absolutely delicious! We also had pizza, very good as well. The restaurant is beautifully decorated, there is so much art in every corner, definitely a charming place for a date, happy hour or business diner. You will not regret dining here!

Food was good( seasoned well & service with a smile)…read more Parking will be validated if you park in nearby garage.

Top notch service when we came in for the first time for lunch today…read more We had smoked wings and the burger with fries. The fries are really good and I'm not a fry person. We thought the burger and fries were good as well. They cooked my burger well done as asked and the jalapeño bacon jam was delicious and not spicy. This is a nice spot with a big covered deck if you prefer to eat outside. Parking is tight but I'm they have a sign saying they validate for a parking garage. We took a Lyft and that made it easier. Overall, we like this place and appreciate the good service and fresh, good food.

Brewery #397 Under…read morethe Radar is a very small neighborhood style brewery. Lots of people just cycling and walking up to get a pint. I got my usual flight and for a small brewery, they had a solid sized selection of 14 different styles. I got a Hazy IPA, a Kolsch, a stout and a rice lager. The Hazy Town was my favorite, but I really liked the Koln Kolsch too. They also had a refrigerator for soft drinks and a few different nonalcoholic which was great for my buddy who no longer drinks. Most of the seating is outside but most of the seats are in the shade. The beertender (is that a word...it should be) was very friendly and knowledgeable. I would definitely be a regular if I lived nearby.

Stop # 3 on the #Fifty-FiveTXBreweriesBy55Tour…read more Excellent! Every beer delicious. Lots of outdoor seating. Don't tel St A, but the Raspberry Love raspberry hefe here is so good! The Luck It Irish Red has more weight than some Irish Reds, but in the best way. The Basti Bear Milk Stout is perfection. 2112 Black IPA, just 6.7 ABV, it's a powerful drink. The Jubilee Kolsch was enjoyable. The perfect go-to.

Their food truck ran out of food the evening we were there and that was a bummer because we had to…read morefind another place to eat. They have a parking in the back which is convenient. The open seating in the front is nice specially when a nice breeze is blowing after some rain. The beer was good. I wish they had a flight option but they do serve 4 oz portions which sort of made up for it.

The best brewery in H-Town. We feel this place as home. The service is the best and so is the food…read more(which changes every day).

This is one of Rice Village's only real bar scenes, and it's slightly off the beaten path…read more The exterior looks appealing with a nice patio. The interior is dimly lit with a variety of interesting pieces of decor. One thing that I love is this used to be an old bank, and the location has gone through a handful of owners and bars, but the old bank vault still remains, and is even an area where you can play games and sit and enjoy your beverages They have board games, a lane for darts. There's also a popcorn cart in the middle of the bar with complimentary popcorn The staff is fairly pleasant and efficient. The drinks were fine. The ambiance just wasn't my thing. It was fairly dark and the bar, darts area, and a couple other spots just felt crowded and congested. This is also a Rice Owls bar, and many of the clientele are rice students or alumni, and when we went it was very "bro-y" for lack of a better term Come tips: If you can, get reservations for the speakeasy that is located directly above the Owl Bar. Much better vibes, drinks, and service Cheers!!

Rice Village isn't exactly known for having a bunch of cool bars so it was nice to find this spot…read more Had some friends in town for a conference that were staying in the Galleria area. They looked up bars and suggested this spot. I had never heard of it but rolling up, I recognized it as where Kelvin Arms used to be. It was a cool spot back in the day and still a cool spot now. It shares a lot with other businesses and parking wasn't an issue when we went during the day. Inside is dark with an old bar feel to it. I believe this used to be an old bank and the original vault is still there. You can go in there and chill in a lounge like atmosphere. We ordered drinks and sat out on the spacious patio. I started off with an Old Fashioned. It was strong but tasty. What I didn't like was the used of regular ice as opposed to a proper, large ice cube. We then switched to espresso martinis which was done very well here. Overall, this is a solid spot in the Rice Village area. I'd come back if in the area.

We stopped into Jethro's Cocktail Lounge while we were out at the Vintage Community Market hosted…read moreby Faculty Club Never, and it ended up being one of those places you're so glad you randomly walked into. First, the vibe. It is warm, stylish, and very Montrose in the best way. It feels elevated but still relaxed enough to just sit, talk, and enjoy your time without feeling rushed. We came during happy hour and it was such a great deal. I ordered the Sweet Like Peach Tree, which was light, refreshing, and perfectly balanced with the peach and ginger. My husband got the Frozen Paloma and it was just as good, super smooth with the right citrus bite. We also shared the churros and they were honestly a must order. Warm, crispy, and paired with Nutella and caramel. What really made the experience stand out though was our bartender, Manny. He was incredibly welcoming from the moment we sat down, had such a great personality, and made the whole experience feel personal. You can tell he genuinely enjoys what he does, and that kind of service is hard to find. He also told us about their upcoming two year anniversary party on May 3rd with rotating live DJs, which sounds like it will be such a fun time. We will definitely be back. Between the drinks, the atmosphere, and the service, this place really gets it right.

On my weekly walks through midtown, I got to watch Jethro's be built and come to life. First visit…read morewas a big HIT for me and I love finding time to come back. The vibes are immaculate! It's a little small inside and a small parking lot, but if you're lucky and can walk there, do! The quality of the drinks are really excellent and the burgers have been voted some of the best in town! I can't speak for them, but the drinks and the spot, are phenomenal. They have bingo nights, dj nights, and other themed events that keep the place packed out. Maybe once I try the burgers, it'll be 5 stars, but the smallll parking lot and lack of safe street parking keep me at 4.

Not what I remembered but exactly what I expected. I haven't been in over 30 years but we were back…read morein town and wanted to trip down memory lane. The patio is now more like an enclosed porch which was great since it was chilly. Otherwise it's what it's been since the 1920's: a place meet up with friends and get some tooth cracking cold beer (or wine or cider now). If you're looking for someplace elegant look elsewhere. If you want cold beer and a historic setting - 10/10. I just wish I could peek back in time and see Houston as it was when the Icehouse opened.

West Alabama Ice House has been one of my go to Houston spots for years. It is simple, classic, and…read moreexactly what a Texas dive should feel like. Nothing fancy, just cold beer, picnic tables, dogs everywhere, and an easy atmosphere that makes it impossible not to relax. I brought a friend in town tonight who had never been to a real Texas dive and this was the perfect place to show him the vibe. We grabbed a couple of beers, sat under the lights, and ended up talking for hours while people drifted in and out with their dogs and bikes. It reminded me why I keep coming back. Service is quick, the crowd is always friendly, and the whole place feels like old Houston in the best way. If you want a spot that is comfortable, welcoming, and timeless, West Alabama Ice House never disappoints.