Houston comes alive at night, with dives, cocktail bars, and nightclubs dotting the city. In our Houston Nightlife: Best Bars, we’ll cover the best night owl watering holes in each neighborhood.
Though River Oaks is truly a 1,100-acre residential community, most locals consider its boundaries to expand beyond the homes.
The classy neighborhood is home to a wealth of restaurants and shopping destinations (including the standalone River Oaks District), beautiful gardens and a classic theater.
So it’s no surprise the bustling ‘hood is a great place to be for bars and nightlife, as well.
Note: For this list, River Oaks is bound by Memorial to the north, Westheimer to the south, Dunlavy to the east, and 610 to the west.
The Best Bars in River Oaks
Camerata at Paulie’s
Also part of the Montrose neighborhood, popular wine bar Camerata at Paulie’s boasts a knowledgeable, friendly staff to help you make your way through its cherry-picked wine selections, offered by the glass and bottle and organized by weight and structure, plus a selection of cider, beer, and miscellaneous fun (like sherry).
Sip away and tack on snack plates from charcuterie and cheese to mezze and chocolates.
Flight Club Houston
Over in Regent Square, social darts bar Flight Club Houston offers a high-tech gaming experience, plus a library of tasty cocktails to keep you properly quenched while you play.
Sip playful drinks like the The Lynx with Empress Gin, Lavender, and Lemon Tonic; or the Capuchin kissed with Mezcal, Ancho Chile Liqueur, Pineapple, Lime, and Tajin.
Reservations are recommended for gaming.
Kenneally’s Irish Pub
Irish whiskeys, perfectly poured pints, and thin-crust bar pies are the name of the game at the convivial Kenneally’s Irish Pub.
Join the locals for a quiet drink, hit the outside patio on nice days, and look out for fun events from happy hour to St. Patty’s Day celebrations.
Marfreless
Sultry River Oaks bar and lounge Marfreless has been a Houston nightlife staple since 1972.
After briefly closing, the popular “make-out bar” reopened and renovated under new ownership, with its iconic blue door hidden in plain sight at 2006 Peden.
Pop bottles and cool off with drinks ’til 2am, seven days a week.
Phoenix on Westheimer
Neighborhood sports pub Phoenix on Westheimer is as laidback as it gets, offering a jovial atmosphere for game days alongside a stacked list of bottled and draught beers, wines and cocktails.
Unwind with a game of darts or billiards, catch a game, fill up on burgers, wraps, and fish and chips, and look out for events and specials like Thursday Steak Night and more.
The Railyard
Head over to San Felipe to find The Railyard, a relaxed watering hole complete with skeeball, a vintage photo booth, and screens for watching the games.
Stop by to hit the rotating tap and check out weekly specials including Whiskey Wednesdays and Fireball Fridays.
Red Lion British Pub
Rocking an indoor fireplace and big red booths, you’ll want to cozy up with a pint or three at the oh-so-friendly Red Lion British Pub.
On nicer nights, you’ll also want to hit the patio, where you’ll find patio tables with private ice chests.
Whatever you do, come hungry for its stellar lineup of night owl pub fare, from lamb keema and shepherd’s pie to burgers and tandoori quesadillas.
More Great Bar Options in River Oaks
Get drinks with a view at Blu at Brenner’s on the Bayou; look out for live music at Loch Bar and iPic’s The Tuck Room in the River Oaks District; and hit up The Creek Group’s Piggy’s Kitchen & Bar for weeknight specials like Bingo Wednesdays and Funky Fridays.
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