Bar Guide

Houston
BOCADOS
This homey Mexican restaurant serves comfort food in a colorful setting, but on Wednesday nights, Houston’s women turn out for dancing and socializing until 1 am. Popular with gay and straight alike. The Sunday brunch starts at 11am and doesn’t end till 3 in the afternoon.
1312 W. Alabama
713/523-5230

BRAZOS RIVER BOTTOM
Best known as the BRB, Houston’s premiere country-western bar brings you denim, boots, and cowboy hats. Located just outside the Montrose, this bar calls Midtown home. The BRB has two huge bars to serve you. Whether dancing, playing pool, or just cruising around, you’re sure to see some true Texas kicker dancing.
2400 Brazos
713/528-9192

BRICKS II
This neighborhood bar on Fairview boasts a jukebox loaded with C/W music. Cement floors, cold draft, and the occasional cowboy hat, you can belly up and drink your fill in a low-key atmosphere where regulars rule.
617 Fairview
713/528-8102

CHANCES/NEW BARN/G-SPOT
Keeping up the Houston tradition of HUGE lesbian bars, this three-in-one spot gives you a place to two-step, rock, and sit down and talk—all under one very large roof.
1100 Westheimer
713/523-7217

CHULO’S ICE HOUSE
Chulo’s does a great job of creating a friendly, quirky atmosphere. Built from the remnants off a gas station, Chulo’s is a step sideways from the usual icehouse. The purple-felt pool table, leopard-print columns and table tops, funky lamps, and cool Johnny Cash poster on the fridge welcome you.
512 Elgin
713/520-5218

CLUB BIG YO
Their mission statement is, “our ladies on top where they belong. This is an all girls production; our male friends are welcome.” Thursday: talent night. Friday & Saturday nights: black male Chippendale & female dancers. Sun.: no cover all night, special shows/events emceed by Flawless Oz.
6305 Skyline
713/953-0268
hotline 281/322-0394
www.clubbigyo.com

CLUB RAINBOW
A mixed male and female crowd, this bar is just off the curve in Montrose located conveniently on Westheimer. DJ, dancing, in a relaxed atmosphere.
1417-B Westheimer
713/522-5166

COUSIN’S
Best little drag bar in the heart of Montrose. Drag aficionados pack the place on weekends for its campy shows.
817 Fairview
713/528-9204

DECADES

Celebrating its fourth year in business, you are invited to the bar with lots of local color. If you want to go out for some local fun, don’t pass up Decades, just a few blocks west of Montrose.
1205 Richmond
713/521-2224

DIAMOND JIMM’S NIGHT CLUB
Diamond Jimm’s is “Houston’s Alternative Lifestyle Nightclub” . . . a gay club that is straight-friendly. Jim Hale, aka Diamond Jimm, brings back the Copa, with plans of different themes each night. A DJ creates a great dance place “with the best music covering the rainbow.” Open 7 days, 6 pm–2 am, 18 and up. 13331 Kuykendahl (near Ella Blvd., just minutes from the Montrose,
off I-45 at Kuykendahl
281/875-3330.

E/J’s
Located on the western end of Montrose, E/J’s attracts a crowd from all over while keeping the charm of a local colorful hangout. You never have to wait for a cocktail, so drink up and enjoy the nightly entertainment on and off the stage.
2517 Ralph
713/527-9071

GUAVA LAMP
This funky little spot is the perfect place to grab a cocktail, listen to your favorite tunes, and maybe shoot a round of pool. Like its name, it’s groovy, hip, and a tad bit kitschy.
2159 Portsmouth
713/524-3359

INCOGNITO THE CLUB
Giving Houston’s black gay community “a place to party comfortably” since 1995. The host of the annual mega-blast Houston-Splash (“the South’s largest African-American GLBT Weekend”), Incognito is located in a huge three-level space. Fri. night is girls’ night, Sat. is for the boys, and Sun. is a male & female strip show.
3704 Fannin
713/237-9431

J.R.’S/SANTA FE

Where do you meet the boys? Right here! JR’s boasts everything from pool tables to karaoke to table dancers, depending on the day of the week. 808/804 Pacific
713/521-2519

KEYS WEST

It’s Cheers in Neartown. Must-see décor featuring a piano bar and guest entertainment, Tue.–Sat. Check out the clientele, and if you think they look familiar, you’ve probably seen them over at the Briar Patch. Say hello to owners Joe and Jerry and their seasoned bar staff.
817 W. Dallas
713/571-7870

MARY’S
The venerable local neighborhood bar in Montrose. Largest private garden patio anywhere in Houston and an inside and outside bar to serve you. Enjoy a game of pool or darts, or just join the men relaxing at the bar.
1022 Westheimer
713/527-9669

MELA’S

Houston’s favorite little Tejano and country-western bar, this joint is mostly women, pool tables, and music.
302 Tuam
713/523-0747

METEOR

A step up from the rest, Meteor offers a relaxing but chic atmosphere with its overstuffed couches and fancy glassware. Handsome men and darling women gather here any night of the week for drinks and conversation. The friendly bar staff makes this video lounge a great place to catch your favorite TV or music videos.
2306 Genesee
713/521-0123.

MO MONG
Every Wednesday night the guys and gals come out in droves to enjoy the multiple martini specials. Located just behind the old Tower Theatre (now Hollywood Video), this Vietnamese restaurant’s downstairs lobby and outside patio do double duty.
1201 Westheimer #B
713/524-5664

MONTROSE MINING CO
Hang out with the leather/denim crowd in this popular bar with an awesome stereo system and gorgeous male dancers every night of the week. If the dancers get you overheated, head outside to the two-level back patio bar to chill out.
805 Pacific
713/529-7488

NSOMNIA

Houston’s premiere after-hours club. Enjoy your favorite cocktail here until 6am, Wed. through Sun., but only if you bring your own. This BYOB after-hours offers a game room, large outside patio, and great music, where you can dance till dawn.
202 Tuam
713/522-6100

OUTPOST
Minutes from the heart of Montrose, this country-style bar always has something going on. Play pool, watch a show, or just hang out with the regulars at this local hangout.
1419 Richmond
713/520-8446

PACIFIC STREET
This two-story industrial-style nightclub will get you sweaty. With the best drink prices in town, you can dance all night or hang out on the balcony for a better view of the strip—or sneak out to the secluded back patio for a secret rendezvous.
710 Pacific Street
713-523-0213

RAINBOW ROOM
Out of the Montrose and outside the Loop, this is a welcome spot on the Northside.
527 Barren Springs off Ella
281/872-0215

RICH’S
The meeting place for the hip and gay (or just hip) for over 20 years, the iconic two-story danceteria Rich’s still packs ’em in. Outstanding light and laser shows add to the varied pumped-up music.
2401 San Jacinto
713-759-9606

RIPCORD
This “man’s bar” in Montrose was voted “Best Place to Show off Your Leather.” With three bars (two inside; one outside), you’ll never go thirsty. Whether inside or on the back patio, this place is where cruising takes on a whole new meaning.
715 Fairview
713/521-2792

611
You can wake up and go straight (uh, gaily) to this bar that opens at 7 am. Play pool, throw darts, relax in their garden-style patio or just hang around their large bar and you will be sure to meet someone. Check out their buffets on Fridays and Sundays.
611 Hyde Park
713/526-7070

SOUTH BEACH
South Beach is the place for high-energy dancing. Its cutting-edge design and techno-chic sound system keeps the mixed crowd of chicly dressed & shirtless boys pumped up late into the night.
810 Pacific
713/529-7623
Conroe

RANCH HILL SALOON
Just 30 miles north of Houston in Conroe, this spot features daily drink specials, live entertainment, & Wednesday karaoke night.
2111 Airport Rd
936/441-6426

Galveston
BLVD SALOON
A perfect place for a relaxing cocktail or fun-filled evening of socializing & entertainment. Big walk-around bar & dance floor, on the Seawall, with a great view of the ocean, especially from the new 2nd-floor deck. Entertainment on weekends. See some of the hottest male dancers around. 3102 Seawall
409/750-8571

GARZA’S KON TIKI
The gay bar for the Island. Conveniently close to all Galveston’s celebration spots, the Kon Tiki is close to the Strand district and the Pier. It’s the place to go dancing, with male & female entertainers on weekends—and, of course, the “show girls.”
315 Tremont (23rd)
409/765-5805
thekontiki.com

JIMMY’S ON THE BEACH
The tropical décor & full wall of windows overlooking the Gulf give you plenty to please the eyes. Located on the East end makes it convenient to stop in on your way to & from East Beach. Male dancers & “showgirls” on weekends. Open noon–2 am, seven days a week, with happy-hour prices on every drink every day until 8 pm.
Corner of 9th and Seawall (904 Ave M)
409/765-6911

MYRA’S CANTINA
Well-known island entertainer Myra Sanchez & her business partner Charles Pena (“Sisters”) opened this distinctly Latin neighborhood cantina. They offer beer, wine & setups, real cheap (you provide liquor for the setups). There’s a pool table, game machines, jukebox & TV (Latin station)
813 21st Street, between Ball & Sealy.

ROBERT’S LAFITTE
A real neighborhood bar, the clientele is as colorful as the chandeliers that adorn this Island institution. Great place to be yourself or who you would like to be or who you think you are! Sit out on the private lush tropical patio and grab some of that nice Gulf breeze. Two blocks from the Seawall.
2501 Ave Q, corner of 25th
409/765-9092

Beaumont
THE COPA
This two-story hot dance club has pool tables, a spacious stage, & a staircase that would make Norma Desmond green with envy. You’ll be entertained by some of the prettiest “show girls” from the Golden Triangle. The bar of Beaumont, and the hangout for the hip crowd from Lamar University.
304 Orleans
409/832-4206

CROCKETT ST. STATION
A sweet, cozy neighborhood bar. Cute, friendly bartenders serve up your favorite cocktail while you play pool and socialize. It’s right around the corner from the Copa, so visit both on your next trip to Beaumont.
304 Orleans
409/832-4306\