There are two different experiences you'll have here depending on who/what you are. This bar is situated in the Houston Gayborhood. If you're queer, a local, or a not-normie type, you'll be fine. I'm here all of the time. The bartenders are nice to me and recognize me. I know their names and make sure to tip. This bar blew up on TikTok a while ago and drew in a more normie and/or corporate yuppie crowd. Loud, annoying bros and people who used to go out on Washington. These people usually get the rude side of the staff. Not saying that they deserve it but there is a clear personality mismatch here and I witness a lot of people who aren't the target audience for dive-y bars like this clash with staff personalities they aren't used to. If you are type two just be cool. Dive bar employees usually don't follow the hospitality training of pretending they have to like you. Don't yell at them for service or try to make casual conversation with them if the bar is busy. read more

Love it !!!! Amazing vibes !! Good selection on the menu!! The staff is so kind and attentive Facility is clean and spacious Check em out read more

very bad experience with one of the bartenders (the african american woman with short/curly hair). she was rude to me and also I heard her being rude to another customer next to me who was aboit to close out their tab. she handed them the portable ipad to close out their tab and then she said to them "if you tip well then you will get good service. thats how it works" Im shocked management just lets her be rude to new cistomers and get away with it. ive heard other people complain about her as well. she needs to learn customer service skills, its honestly not that hard. The other bartenders are great read more

Poison Girl - Dive Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

Ambiance: Dive bar off Westheimer with eclectic vibes, pinball machines galore, and crazy artwork. This is a fun spot perfect for hanging out with friends on a late evening. Bar seating, lounge seating, and a patio area make for great conversation. Make sure to bring quarters for the games! Highly recommend the Frozen Dr. Pepper Old Fashioned. They have specials each day and happy hour during the week until 7pm. Street parking available - does get crowded on busy nights/weekends. read more

Poison Girl - Frozen Dr. Pepper Old Fashioned - Dive Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

I really want to love this bar. Like truly. It's absolutely my vibe -- divey, weird, cool patio, and the kind of place that feels like it should be one of my regular spots. But both times I went, the interaction with the staff was kinda... meh. Not terrible, just not the warm "welcome to the chaos" energy I was hoping for. When a bar has a vibe this good, you want the people behind it to match the energy. That said -- the patio is awesome, the atmosphere is exactly the kind of gritty cool I like, and the Kool-Aid Man makes an appearance, which honestly might be the most unexpected bar mascot in Houston. I like it a lot... I just want to love it. The vibe is there -- just need the interaction to catch up. read more

Very rude blonde woman bartender. Rude not only to myself, but others too. The man bartender was nice. The bouncer could not be more off putting-- no hello, slowly checked out IDs, and didn't say a word the whole time. Just gave us a weird and dirt look. Very awkward. Cool ambiance -- very tiny. Wannabe hippies and indie musicians. Decent bar, but the overpriced drinks and rude service make me hesitate to return... at least for a few weeks. read more

The interior of poison girl is reminiscent of your cool older sister's room. Any place that takes the time to curate a space is a winner for me automatically. In addition to that they have a very generous selection for my bourbon lovers and a rotating frozen cocktail (my favorite). I love you poison girl! read more

I've been going to Poison Girl for over a decade and have raved about it to anyone that would listen. I took some out of town friends there last night and the bartender (tallish bearded guy) said as so incredibly rude, verbally offensive and a terrible bartender. We told the guy at the door and he didn't even acknowledge us. We left after one drink because he wouldn't even serve us. We weren't rude or inappropriate, he was just awful. I'll go back, I love that place, but I truly hope that guy loses his job. read more

Fun hangout spot that is worth grabbing a few drinks and chill with friends in their courtyard. This lowlit bar has become pretty well known and is often a go-to spot for many singers and performers to go to after their concert or whilst in town. Poison Girl is the type of place where they're so freaking chill that they don't need the hype or justification. Inside is a treasure trove of classic arcade pinball games and worth your time. I have to say the kool-aid man in the back patio was probably the highlight for me lol. read more

stumbled in here late 1 night while in town, and loved it. first off, the decor. its a freaky fun house with a rockabilly flair. they have cheap drinks. good craft beer selection. unique shots. plenty of areas to lounge and sit at, besides the hightop bar. theres also a back patio. bathrooms were clean. and an awesome photobooth to print out some black & white photos! read more

Extremely chill dive bar vibe with indoor and outdoor seating options. My draft IPA was $7 and I'd definitely swing around for the happy hour on the weekend (3-7pm daily). They have some pinball machines inside. read more

Poison Girl - Pinball Options - Dive Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

It's an old school watering hole. You can pull in looking unhip but if you have antisocial thoughts written across your eyes, they let you in and hook you up with beers until you can barely walk, then take your car keys and send you home. The garden is my favorite place to drink on Earth or at least one of them. The staff seem standoffish but if you approach them in a way that makes it clear you are not the average drunken douchebag they are very kind. read more

lovely patio & funky, edgey vibe inside. so many resources in the bathroom, definitely a spot for the girls & i am here for it! read more

Poison Girl - Patio - Dive Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

This is a cool dive bar in Montrose with interesting decor and super affordable drinks comparatively speaking (including a tasty mule). They have several pinball machines in the back and a large patio as well. It's a narrow bar that can become quite crowded. But everyone seemed friendly and had a good vibe on a Saturday night. And even though it's an intimate space indoors, it never felt unsafe or uncomfortable. I definitely want to return so I can enjoy their patio more and also check out their happy hour. read more

Poison Girl - Main counter looking toward the front entrance - Dive Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

Doorman didn't want us too much. Bartender silently brought us a beer. No hi no nothing. She didn't feel like bring us another one so we left. Hipster attitude pretending to be a dive. Nah. read more

What makes this dive bar unique is its feminist/provocative decoration, extensive whisky and bourbon selection, and the pinball machines in the back. The beer selection was okay. I got to sample one of their dark beers on draft, the B-52, which had a balanced coffee/toasty flavor. Ended up ordering different canned beer to try out but regret no having ordered the B-52 one. It looks like they're dog-friendly, which is always a plus. :) read more

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POISON GIRL BAR EQUALS POISONOUS CUSTOMER SERVICE! Boy o' boy. I visited Poison Girl Bar on Wednesday, July 9, 2025 around 6 PM. Long story short, apparently the woman tending the bar didn't like the cut of my jib. From the moment I walked in, she provided me with cold shoulders and unprovoked microaggressions. It's baffling to be treated this way by someone who works for tips, but I can only guess that being able to continue living out her exclusionary mean girl tendencies as a grown-a@@ woman is a perk of the job worth more to her than money. I politely called her out for treating me this way -- smiling, no insults, no cursing, no raised voice. So she demanded I leave. On my way out I told her that she's "like the best bartender ever" and she literally started screaming at the other patrons about me being 86ed! Check out the one star reviews -- I'm far from the only customer who's been welcomed with such hostility. Visit this bar at your peril! read more

I had an amazing time at this place, and I want to share my honest review. Some of the other reviews were negative, but I don't agree with them at all. This is what I experienced: the bartender Jen was awesome. She was quick, friendly and fun to talk to. She made me feel welcome and comfortable. I would come back just to see her. The place had a great vibe with dim lights, pinball machines and a photobooth. It was perfect for a date night or a relaxing drink after work. I sat at the bar and met one of the owners Scott B. He was so cool and down to earth. He knew a lot about whiskey, pinballs and business. He was very interesting and easy to chat with. I hope to see him again. They have a huge collection of whiskey that is impressive. The choices are great and the servings are generous. I wish I lived closer to this place because I would go there often. I highly recommend you check it out for yourself. Parking: Street parking. read more

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Kick butt dive bar with the best randomalia on the walls, including vintage motel art naked lady pics & decapitated Barbie's. Lots of unique whiskies & a super knowledgeable bartender. The service here was actually a standout, since the bartender not only knew his whiskies, but was also fun to talk to. Chill vibe & great music! read more

Poison Girl - Dive Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Horrible service! The guy with the mustache this past Sunday night checking ID's most really love his job! Not only does he give an attitude to people coming in and is rude, he gets free shots from the bartender. Must be nice to come to work and enjoy some free drinks! Where do I apply? read more

Never felt so unwelcomed before coming here! Bartender hate their job :) we left bc of her attitude.

Bartenders are slow as fuck.. Very rude don't know how to make all drinks.. The drinks were not even that good. 0/10

One of my favorite dive bars in Houston! Their drinks are cheap. For two well drinks my total was less than $10. You can't beat that! It's just a super cool, quirky place to hang out with your friends. They have a photo booth and a few arcade games. The patio they have outback is also pretty nice. The service is good too. You never have to wait very long and the bartenders are attentive. read more

I really enjoyed this dive. While it's totally true that I haven't been to a dive bar since before the pandemic... I still really loved this place. +Great choices of booze. Lots of different whiskey. Great beer options (including craft beers) at super reasonable prices. +Cool décor. Kitsch art of beautiful women on the walls. Pinball machines. +A patio! +Free tampons and condoms in the bathrooms! Thanks! +A system to protect women in place here where a code is provided in the bathroom stalls. If you're being harassed or in a bad situation, you just give the code at the bar. Not sure how they help you but that's a good system to have. +Friendly bartenders. -Street parking in this area can be a huge pain. I had another Yelper reach out to tell me there's a parking lot in the back. If that's the case, the bar can do a better job advertising that option. A sign, maybe. It's not on their current website either. read more

I hate that I didn't get his name, but the bartender with the long grey ponytail served my friend and I the absolute best margaritas we'd ever had! read more

Haven't tried food here but the drinks are cheap and it's cute inside. Pinball machines and lots of places to seat. They have an outdoor patio area that you can hang out in too. Service is quick. It's a little hole in the wall but a good one plus it has a fun name! read more

Cool laid back spot, cheap drinks, good service - went on a Sunday night and there wasn't a lot of people.

Great vibe! And good drinks here! Me and my friends enjoyed the service and music! Bartender is very friendly and welcoming read more

Poison Girl - Dive Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Thank you Poison Girl for an amazing first date vibe! Poison Pen was such an experience in community and culture and Jenn made us feel welcome and appreciated. Best first date ever! read more

Unprofessional and hostile front door staff. The woman working the entrance displayed an unnecessarily aggressive and dismissive attitude toward customers. There was no clear reason for the hostility, and it created an unwelcoming and uncomfortable environment from the start. Businesses that value their reputation invest in staff who treat guests with basic courtesy and respect. Unfortunately, this establishment fell far short, and I will not be returning. read more

Yes, I'd consider it a dive bar and such a cool one!! Love the artwork, arcade games, seating areas and the drink selection is extensive. On tap now, Tiger Blood Sour, delicious! read more

I can't give higher than one star because I was completely violated by a bouncer outside the door yesterday around 7:30. Aside from that my drink with top shelf vodka was undrinkable and so I ordered a Topo Chico. I was convinced I was served well vodka and not Kettle One (they did not have Chopin).. and the restroom smelled like sewer. After leaving our drinks at the bar full (and paid for), I walked out with my Topo Chico in hand, which was completely full. The bouncer straight away aggressively yelled at me that I'm not allowed to take that out. I was startled and retorted that I can it's just water. The bouncer then took his fist and put it around the top of my bottle yanking it out of my hand in such an aggressive manner. I was completely triggered at that point , understandably. I smashed the bottle down in anger and walked away shaking. I didn't want to drink it anyway at that point as his hand was on the top where you drink. It was traumatic because the aggression was so unwarranted and surprising read more

I tip every bartender. There was a lady here who did not make eye contact or verbally respond back when spoke to. I chose not to tip her specifically because of this. She's is an african american woman usually wearing cutoff sleeves. I'm a regular here. I was then sitting at the bar waiting to get tended to, but was ignored for about 35 minutes until someone went up to me and said we are denying you service because you chose not to tip. Not only is this rude but it's a reflection of poor service, instead of inquiring as to why I didn't tip they just simply denied me service, now they have lost a customer for life and I will be telling everybody in Houston to not go to this place. read more

You know... I really wanted to like this place. I've been wanting to go for a while, and I just never made it till last weekend. We went on an impromptu Pub Crawl and decided that Poison Girl would be one of our stops. Upon arriving, it was a place where you could tell who the regulars were. That's not a bad thing... just an observation. They were sitting at the counter and seemed very nice. I found a spot at the bar and placed my order. I wanted a shot of tequila, but I wasn't sure what kind I wanted. The thing is, I'm new to drinking tequila and am open to trying different ones. So, I asked the bartender to recommend one that was pretty smooth. Maybe it was my mistake to think that a bartender would know. He seemed kind of miffed and brought me a shot of whatever he picked out. He didn't tell me the brand. he just sat an unchilled shot of tequila down in front of me with no lime or salt. Again, excuse me, but I'm not this seasoned tequila drinker that wants a room temp shot of tequila without salt or lime. So, I asked for salt and lime, and you'd think I asked him to build me a boat. He reluctantly got me a new glass with salt and lime. I also asked for water. TWICE! Finally got my water, but after a little bit, I wanted to try a different shot of tequila because that last one wasn't anywhere near smooth. A different bartender came up and asked me what I wanted. I told him the same thing, that I'd like a shot of tequila, something that was smooth and not the same one that the other bartender had served me. He said, "I don't know what he gave you." I told him that I didn't know either because he didn't tell me. The bar wasn't really busy, and they were the only two behind the bar. I figured he could have just asked the other bartender, but he didn't. So, he poured me a shot of some kind of tequila. Again, this bartender served it room temp without salt and lime. I asked him if he could chill it, and he said it's 68 degrees in here. It is chilled. I was like... ok? Took my shot of tequila and was grateful that my group was leaving. Was pretty sad that Poison Girl pretty much sucked, but at least I can check it off my list. read more

Poison Girl - Dive Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

Fun whiskey bar in eclectic neighborhood! Video games, full bar as well as indoor/outdoor seating! Was packed on a Saturday night! read more

Poison Girl - Dive Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

I liked the ambiance. Very " divey" My beer that the chic recommended was very good and customer service very good. They don't have food, which I would add some appetizers, but the rest very good! read more

Hands down, no argument, the best dive bar in Houston. The vibes are immaculate, it had outdoor space, it's in a great location, and the bartenders are just rude enough that it adds to the charm. It won't disappoint read more

Bar tending staff was rude and epically slow. We waited more than 40 min for draft drinks. Do not recommend.

Every time I'm in Houston my friends and I end up at Poison Girl drinking. Its super chill. They have a good beer selection and cheap whiskey. The staff are always cool and friendly. I love the patio its cozy and there's plenty or comfy seats. I always end up meeting friendly new people here. If you're considering stopping in do so! read more

Stopped by Poison Girl with some friends after dinner, after hearing good things from others. Initially I had high hopes based on the chill vibe of the place, but at the end of the day, the drinks just were not good (even at dive bar prices). We tried several cocktails, but the balance was off for each one. If you can, I would recommend just sticking to the beers. read more