The Ultimate Guide to Houston Nightlife

Exploring Houston’s nightlife scene is a damn good time, and there is way more to it than the obvious (the obvious being watching your bank account dwindle at one of our many excellent bars). Perhaps you’re looking to shake up your after-dark agenda with something a bit more unexpected. Night owls can skip the drinks and go stargazing in the park, keep the drinks and catch a sultry, jazzy burlesque show, or literally drink an entire bowl of late-night pho. When the rest of the city sleeps, here’s how to make the most out of the post-sunset hours in Houston.

Downtown
Known for: hidden listening lounge.
Right on Main Street in the heart of downtown, fresh-faced speakeasy Off the Record sets the vibe with a vintage record shop at its front and secret entrance to its hidden listening lounge and bar (find it behind the “Employees Only” and “On Air” signs). The hip spot is known to host pop-ups, local DJs, and theme nights from Motown Mondays to Saturday Retro Sessions.

Montrose
Known for: Cannabis-infused cocktails
With hours ‘til midnight, the Montrose location of this craft cocktail bar and dispensary rocks CBD and THC-infused eats in addition to its full menu of drinkies, from alcoholic drinks like the jalapeno and Thai basil kissed “What the Pho?” to hemp elixirs like the refreshing Maiu Mango or sweet Honey Bun latte. Cozy up in the speakeasy-style outdoor lounge and enjoy your drinks with French Onion Dip & Caviar, Shrimp Fried Rice, and Milk Bun Burgers.

Downtown
Known for: Skyline views with a pint
Houston’s poppin’ craft beer scene has skyrocketed into one of the city’s best assets, with several of our ace spots keeping their taprooms and beer gardens open well into the night. If you have time for one only, make it Houston’s oldest and most reliable, Saint Arnold, where you can hit the beer garden to catch skyline views, sports action on a big screen under the stars, and sip year-round and seasonal brews like the sessionable Lawnmower and fan-favorite Art Car IPA.

Galleria
Known for: movie classics outdoors
Settle in for an outdoor movie experience at the Rooftop Cinema Club, which rocks skyline views and a curated selection of cult films, classics, and new releases. Snag some tickets in advance, show up early to play some corn hole or giant Connect Four, then hit the bar and dig into endless popcorn while you enjoy the fresh air and big screen.

Midtown
Known for: its hammock seating options.
Axelrad Beer Garden is the quintessential Houston patio bar, inviting folks to enjoy a solid lineup of craft brews and fancy cocktails (and mocktails) in the comfort of a swinging hammock. Lit up in neon lights by night, the super cool hangout known to host movie nights, pop-up markets, DJ fueled parties, comedy shows, food trucks, live music, and more; and as a huge added bonus, it shares a yard with pie and slice shop Luigi’s so you can add some pizza to the mix.

Fourth Ward
Known for: Laugh out loud comedy
While the Houston Improv—known for booking national acts—is a good choice here, there are some other, more underground comedic options to explore in this city, like The Secret Group, a half bar, half entertainment venue with stand-up comedy shows and open-mic nights.

Brazos Bend State Park
Known for: oh, just nature’s wonders
Escape the city lights and go stargazing with George Observatory’s telescopes in Brazos Bend State Park. Depending on the season and time of the month, you can experience incredible phenomena from bright meteors and eclipses to Saturn’s rings and Jupiter’s cloud belts. While the George Observatory main campus is closed until further notice for renovations, it will still be setting up shop at the Nature Center every Saturday from sunset to 10pm (weather permitting).

Downtown
Known for: nostalgic games
If you spent your childhood wasting your allowance on arcade games, 25 cents at a time, we’ve got an exciting opportunity for you. You can now access unlimited gaming for a mere $12 admission, and then you can spend the rest of your paycheck on hard cider. Do it over at the East End’s retro freeplay arcade, Cidercade, which sports 275+ games from Skee-Ball to Mortal Kombat, housemade hard ciders and seltzers by the glass and flight, and fresh-from-the-oven pizzas.

Heights (& Spring Branch)
Known for: Japanese highballs inside a shogun-style speakeasy.
Only 10 seats are up for grabs at Kanpai Club, the 400-square-foot cocktail hideaway, found behind a red door in buzzy hand roll joint, Hando. Sip sneakily stiff drinks like the Sweet Gin Music, served in a kitschy blowfish glass and hit with habanero and shishito pepper; or go tropical with The Matcha Painkiller. If you want a bigger, more loungey feel but the same good times, hit up its Spring Branch location.

Midtown
Known for:
Emo Night, ‘80s and ‘90s Dance Parties, and Tribute Nights for artists from Chappell Roan to Childish Gambino are just some of the TK you can encounter at this high-energy dance hall and nightclub. If you’ve been practicing your viral TikTok dances, this is your moment.

The Heights
Known for: big-name lineups
Houston is ripe with sweet live music venues. Check out the lineup at indoor/outdoor hotspot White Oak Music Hall, located in the Heights and with super cool patio bar The Raven Tower right next door.

Northwest
Betting on horses isn’t the only thing you can do at this race track, you can also sip 50-cent beers during the live thoroughbred racing events every Friday from 6-9pm. Of course, you’ll want to look out for things like the live Yorkie, Corgi, and Pug racing (quite possibly the cutest way to spend an evening ever), too. The race track is also open for Simulcast Wagering ‘til 2am, 363 days a year.

EaDo
Known for: its board game collection.
Some of Houston’s coolest coffee shops keep late-night hours for those chill night owl hangs. Sip beers and spend the night playing board games at EaDo’s Coral Sword.

Various locations
Known for: lots of drama (get it?)
For big-name productions, check out the current season in the Theater District, with venues including The Hobby Center (favorite plays and Broadway productions), Alley Theatre (Tony Award winner of Outstanding Regional Theatre), Wortham Theater Center and Jones Hall (homes to the Houston Ballet and Houston Symphony, respectively); or try out our roster of smaller production companies that are worth a visit, too. Over in EaDo, the funky Rec Room tells innovative stories through theatre, music, dance, and comedy; Midtown’s MATCH Houston takes any pretension out of the theatre experience, with affordable options in music, theatre, dance, visual art, and film; and 4th Wall Theatre Company offers cutting-edge live theatre over in Arts District Houston.

Galleria
Known for: summer camp vibes.
Kamp Houston is adult summer camp with a drink menu that is massive with Henny-Coladas, Pineapple Ritas, and more; and there is a late-night menu with eats like Chicken & Waffles and Smoked BBQ Oxtail Pizza. The campground has an indoor area for those trying to avoid the Houston heat or you can grab a section near the outdoor fire pit. Just be sure to book with one of the Kamp counselors early. This spot is known to be packed all weekend.

Midtown
Bellying up for some pho before you go belly down for the night is a quintessential Houston experience. Check it off the bucket list by hitting an after-hours Vietnamese noodle shop, including local favorites like Mai’s, one of Houston’s longest-serving restaurants. The Vietnamese restaurant-slash-institution has slung bowls of steamy soup since 1978. If you need to come back to life after hitting the city’s nightlife scene, this is where you do it.

Midtown
Known for: being hard to find.
Trying to find FAO is a mission in itself. Located in a regular old office building from the 1960s, you need a passcode to ride this ride. After taking the elevator to the top floor, snap a pic in front of one of the best views of Houston and go to town on arcade games. Keep the energy going by fueling up with a Beach Bum cocktail and some pizza. Then don’t forget to try your luck at one of the NSFW claw machines on the way out.

Downtown
Known for: dinner and a capital ‘s’ Show.
Houston’s Red Velvet Burlesque Show will certainly spice up date night. The sultry 90-minute act titillates the crowd Thursdays through Saturdays at Henke & Pillot. After the show, swing by one of Houston’s oldest bars, Market Square institution La Carafe, for a candle-lit, possibly haunted wine session.

Spring Branch
Known for: soju bombs while you bomb a song.
Nothing makes for a wild night out like belting Whitney Houston with your friends. But adding Soju bombs and delicious Korean dishes like Sticky Wings and Corn Cheese to the mix? Now that’s a party. Hit up soju bar and late-night karaoke zone One Shot Pocha to partake in the crazy, and DM them on Instagram or call in to reserve a private room.

Various locations
You’re in Texas, meaning dive bars and icehouses can be found in every nook and cranny of the city. Some of our all-time favorites include Poison Girl. You’ve got whiskey. You’ve got pinball. You got the combination of whiskey and pinball, which may or may not improve your hand-eye coordination (results may vary).

Washington Avenue
Known for: bakery in the front, party in the back.
If you’ve got a late-night sweet tooth, say hello to The Sugar Room, where you can grab macaroons, cookies, pastries, and desserts galore in the front-end bakery before heading back for its full indoor bar and patio. And if you’re looking to book a section for a special event, this is the place. It has plenty of glam, sparklers, and bottles to make anyone feel like a superstar.

Downtown
You don’t need to be the most highly skilled athlete to have a good time at a high-tech sporting experience—but with a little whiskey involved, it certainly doesn’t hurt. Enter Topgolf’s swing suites at swanky whiskey bar Bayou & Bottle located inside the Four Seasons. If golfing on the green is a little too rugged for you, then this luxury version should be just your speed.

River Oaks
Known for: bowling with a side of brunch.
Buh-bye smelly shoes and over-processed pizza. Bowling is making a big nightlife comeback thanks to the score of “fancy” bowling alleys, which in Houston, includes Pinstripes over in River Oaks, which offers bocce, too.

Downtown
Known for:
Fans of the show Drunk History will want to book tickets to this live-action Shakespearean production, in which a professional troupe of actors perform one of the legend’s hits with one pretty chaotic caveat: each show, one of the actors is chosen to down a bunch of whiskey shots before starting the play. It’s interactive improv comedy mixed with sexy innuendo, Shakespeare, and booze—an all-around good time.

Northwest Houston
Known for: a cave of topaz.
If late-night relaxation is more your thing, consider a vsit to Gangnam Spa, a “healing paradise” rooted in Korean culture that rocks over 30,000 square feet of specialty baths, saunas, treatment rooms, and lounging areas. That includes things like the Topaz Cave, a private relaxing space made of Topaz stones to improve memory and mental concentration and relieve stress; a Himalayan Salt Room made of 350 million-year-old natural salt base rocks for healing; and an Igloo Ice Room to close the pores, smooth skin, and enhance skin elasticity.