Night Clubs, Houston

This 2 story midtown lounge has lasted quite a bit longer than most of it's trendy counterparts typically do. Located on Brazos St., about 5 minutes south of downtown, if you drove by the building during the day, you would never think that this place was more than a storage warehouse. But come nighttime, the line of people outside definately tells it's true story. Now really a big draw only on Saturday nights, there is also a decent crowd Friday, and even less people on Thursday. Crowds usually begin gathering around 10:30-11pm. Throughout the bar you will see your typical modern, trendy lounge decor. Downstairs the bar is located in the middle of the room, with several small standing tables scattered about, and a few plush couches and chairs as well. Upstairs there is a smaller bar in the tiny inside portion, but the huge outside patio, with it's many tables and chairs, has it's own bar to itself. There is a great view of downtown from the patio, which adds to the nice ambiance. They usually have a DJ downstairs spinning house or trance, but occasionally they mix up the tunes with some hip-hop or 80's tunes. The crowds that frequent here are usually 20's to early 30's, and drinks are usually on the expensive side, as these trendy places go, around $7-8 for a mixed drink, $5-6 for a beer. Nice place, good atmosphere.

Dress Code: Dress to Impress. Dress code has relaxed as of late, jeans are fine, but no tennis shoes

This midtown gathering place could be described as a trendy lounge with the word "Pub" in it's name. Really the only thing that remotely links this establishment to a "pub" in the general since, is that they have a small menu of sandwiches, buffalo wings, ribs and nachos, and they have a pool table in the back. Other than that, no other evidence of a "pub" is present. The main gathering area has a long bar to the side with bar stools, and several tables with chairs, and a few standing tables. There are also a few couches within this part. At the back of the lounge, there is another smaller bar with the aforementioned pool table, and tables and chairs. There is an outside patio area with many tables and chairs as well. Decor is very trendy, and there are flat screen t.v.s above on the walls throughout the bar, perhaps one more attempt to prove it is a "pub" :) Drinks usually run from $7-$9 for mixed, $5-$7 for beers. Crowds are generally 20's to early 30's, and begin gathering in the evening around 10pm. It is open 7 days a week, but generally it's busy nights are Thursday-Saturday. Be prepared to wait in line if you arrive after 11, but sometimes the line begins forming well before that. If you like a trendy, young crowds, this is a place for you!

Dress Code: Decent nightlife attire, jeans are acceptable, no tennis shoes

This is one of those streotypical Texas bars/nightclubs that people outside of Texas think is all Texas has to offer in regards to nightlife. It is actually run by the Goode family, which also has several restaurants here in town. Live country music bands play here frequently, and the decor is Texan through & through: lots of pictures of cowboys and western items such as cattle skulls and lassos. You'll find a mostly "Texan" crowd here, jeans, cowboy boots, and cowboy hats are quite frequent. But you will also see others dressed in a more trendy style. Beer is big here, as you would expect. A long list of domestic and imported beers are available, but if you are in the mood for a mixed drink, they have a huge bar that is fully stocked! They also have a menu of mostly Texas food specialties: Chicken Fried Steak, Chili, and sausage among others. The small patio outside has tables to sit down at and relax. All & all, a good country bar, and a good place to go if you are looking for that Texan feel. Typically there is a cover charge of $3 on the weekend nights.

Dress Code: No real dress code, although you will find most people in jeans and cowboy boots.

Okay, so you've read the rest of these reviews and everyone is saying "Go to the M Bar and the RED Door (fags)" " Go to the Mercury Room! " Yeah, go there only if you want some jackass to dump his martini on you while his beotch of a girlfriend tries to start a fight . Yeah, you can go to these bars if hangin' with posers is your scene. But there are real places to go in houston that don't suck. They are mostly in Midtown (Montrose&Westheimer) and are weird and funky. The Montrose is a collection of eclectic gay bars, coffee bars, art houses, and the in - between. Go to Numbers (#'s) to hang out with old time punk rockers while discussing politics with 6 foot drag queens drinking 50 cent draft beer. THE BEST 80's SCENE IN TOWN! Or you could go to Marfrelas if you want a quiet atmosphere with a great bar that has excellent make-out couches up top. Go to "Encounters" if you like to hang out with the "Swinger" lifestyle. Go to the West Alabama IceHouse if you want to take your dog with you to go do some drinkin'. Go anywhere but the Richmond Strip and/or Rice Village. These places blow.

Dress Code: If Numbers has a dress code, I haven't found it yet. "What? You have band - aids on your nipples and duct tape covering your hoo-haa? Come on in!" Most of these places have zero dress code!

This venue is hard to find, has no sign and a bit eclectic in decoration. But those two make it both a little funky and fun. Its quiet on the weekdays and depending on the weather and the DJ, can be quite lively on the weekends.

The bar is on the 2nd floor of the building, which from the outside looks like nothing more than a nondescript building next to a car parking lot. The patio gives a good view of the southwest side of downtown.

The patio does have lounge chairs and a bar. In the cold weather, people come for a bit of fresh air and then go back inside. Otherwise its nice to relax with the city behind you.

The indoor bar serves fairly stiff drinks from a long bar with a DJ stage at the end. The bar brings some pretty big names of house, trance and electric music.

Wed-Sat 9pm-2am
Sun 2pm-10pm
Door is on the back (west) side of the building.
Tickets/cover are usually paid at the door, advanced booking generally gives 50% discount.
Advance booking is not with the bar, but for the artist, so must visit their websites.

Dress Code: Dress code is extremely flexible. Chances are you will find people dressed both more provocatively than you as well as others who are more formal.

Fabulous! What a shock to see a place in Houston that looks like something in New York or London or Amsterdam! Beautiful design. The second I walked in OPUS, I knew that this has to be the best club downtown, maybe the best in Houston! The music was awesome and the place was full of beautiful people. This is the only place I go to now.

Dress Code: Yep, their dress code is pretty strict. While I was in line I saw them turn away anyone with jerseys, caps or even tennis shoes!

If there was a place in Houston that is known for it's upscale nightlife, and undoubtedly knows it, it's this place. Mercury Room, which originally opened on it's own in 1999, was immediately voted by several local magazines as the best nightclub in Houston, as well as Playboy magazine voting one of the best in the U.S. And the owners will not let you forget it, as every advertisement I have seen for this place has these "honors" mentioned in bold print. A few years later, Boaka Bar, which is connected to Mercury Room, opened up to similar fanfare. But these distinguished remarks are not unfounded, as there obviously has been some serious money invested here. Mercury Room, which is the more "loungy" of the two, has a small upstairs bar with a few tables and barstools, and a huge area downstairs with another large bar, and plenty of plush chairs and sofas, along with a small dance floor. The decor is ultra modern and trendy, with mirrors lining the walls, and dim lighting enhancing the lounge feel. They usually have a DJ spinning dance and house music, with the occasional hip-hop thrown in.
Now although it has the word "bar" in its title, Boaka Bar is actually the dance club of the two. It has a sort of European castle theme going on here, with a large dance floor in the middle, and two spawling staircases leading up to the VIP rooms on the second floor. The music here is loud, in most cases dance or house music spun by DJs. So do not expect to have a quiet converstion here, just get your booty shaking on! :)
Cover charge is usually between $10-15, and the drinks are very pricey. But if you are looking for a place to see and be seen with many of the local beautiful people, this is definitely one of your options!

Dress Code: Definately dress to impress, you wouldn't be here if you weren't trying to impress! :)

Houston has a very large salsa scene. There are usually several places to dance salsa on any given night and a lot of great dancers to dance with. Houston also has a great salsa congress every year called the "Texas Salsa Congress" with great dancers from everywhere.

There are many night life activities. Which one you should go to depends on you. Club/Bar 'Spy' is one of the ritzyest places in town.
Two levels of oversized Alice-in-Wonderland furniture, bright walls, strange lamps, and chandeliers give this trendy downtown disco a certain je ne sais weird, as does the 'midget' (management's word, not mine) walking around in a Yoda costume on select nights.

Dress Code: You can dress to impress or you can dress semi-casual. Keep in mind though, most will be dressed to the 'T'.

Cecil's is just a great bar. It's a tiny place that has quarter pool tables and a huge patio. The drinks are great and reasonably priced. They have several beers on tap to choose from. It's very smoky and you always go home stinky. So if you're one of those militant anti-smoking types, please don't go to Cecil's.
The jukebox is great. Some selections include Quicksand, The Reverend, and Social Distortion.

Dress Code: Casual of course.