Houston Nightlife: The Best Bars in the East End

Houston comes alive at night, with dives, cocktail bars, and nightclubs dotting the city. In our Houston Nightlife: Best Bars, we cover the best night owl watering holes in each neighborhood.

The East End has long been rich in history and culture, as it plays home to two of Houston’s oldest Hispanic neighborhoods, Magnolia Park and Second Ward. With a mix of the old and the new, this vibrant neighborhood offers plenty to do, including some thirst-quenching bars and nightlife options.

Bars are listed alphabetically and not ranked. For this list, the East End is roughly defined by this map.

The Best Bars in the East End

D&W Lounge

You’ll get the full dive experience at this longtime neighborhood haunt. D&W Lounge is adorned with old posters and frames, old lamps and bright neon signs, and even taxidermy, and there’s an old school billiards table, darts, and the occasional live music to keep you entertained. As will the cheap beers and wine. In the mood for spirits? Bring your own bottle and ask for setups.

East River 9 & Riverhouse Houston

Mashing golf and pickleball with skyline views and tasty cocktails, East River 9 is a good time. Book a court or tee time, then stick around as the sun sets to enjoy live music, stacked nachos and burgers, and your drink of choice at the open-air onsite bar and restaurant, Riverhouse. Directions.

Eight Row Flint East End

The East End outpost of cult favorite icehouse Eight Row Flint is a good time, rocking the same creative signature cocktails, tacos, and extensive selection of whiskey and agave spirits in a bigger location. That bigger location also brings a full kitchen and an expansive rooftop patio with views of the city skyline. Sip on the good stuff and look out for fun stuff like free billiards on Tuesdays and DJs on Saturday nights.

Lil’ Danny Speedo’s Go Fly a Kite Lounge

If its name didn’t give you a hint, Lil’ Danny Speedo’s ice house and dive is as unpretentious as it gets. Sip frozen shandies and cold beers while you play a game of pinball or pool, throw some music on the jukebox, and let the good times roll.

Moon Tower Inn

Gourmet wild game weenies and craft suds are the name of the game at this cookshack and sudworks. In addition to a fantastic, 66-tap lineup of brews and outrageous creations like duck dogs with apple brandy and a fiery cheeseburger packed with 13 chiles, the all outdoor Moon Tower Inn also hosts movie nights, crawfish boils, and all other kinds of fun shenanigans in its sprawling yard. Look out for fun specials like Mug Mondays, and Tuesday Movies at Dark with $5 hot dogs, Buy-One-Get-One (BOGO) burgers on Wednesdays.

The New Potato

Rocking a cozy indoor bar and spacious outdoor garden, The New Potato is home to 29 craft beer taps, classic cocktails and great whiskey, handcrafted bar pies and food trucks, and fun events like music bingo.

Voodoo Queen

Sister establishment to Moon Tower, Voodoo Queen has a pirate ship’ bounty of rum and food to share. Hit the daiquiri dive to sip strong boat drinks like the citrus and herb-spiced Skeleton Krewe; An Afternoon Harpooning, a vibey rum and cinnamon creation; Flaming Scorpion Bowls for four. Specials include live tunes, happy hour all-day Mondays, and more.

More Great Bar Options in the East End

Hit the taproom at Equal Parts Brewing and True Anomaly Brewing Company; kick back with beer, wine and coffee at Bohemeo’s; savor wine and craft cocktails while grooving to jazz and vinyl nights at Neighbors at The Plant; and get boozy sno-balls at East End Hardware or killer cocktails at Austin import Nickle City (once named one of Esquire’s “Best Bars in America”), both in EaDo, sitting just outside the East End’s official border.

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