There’s only one place that makes the blue fiery glow of a Scorpian Bowl — as it is freshly set on fire with a small blowtorch — look its absolute sultriest and that’s the Lei Low Bar. Dark as the inside of an old ship and kitschy as all get out, this Heights favorite has the tropical and divey tiki vibes on lock. From mermaids and hula girls to velvet paintings of buxom pin-up models, the art here doesn’t disappoint, nor does the rattan furniture or various carved tikis, all of which look plundered from the set of the Golden Girls or some midcentury modern estate sale in Southern California from the days of Jan and Dean. If it’s a quiet night here, this is a perfectly romantic escape with a beach bar feel and mood lighting for days. But if it packs out, patrons can simply escape out back to the patio with its signature plumeria, the tropical flowering tree that’s popular in Hawaii for its beautiful lei flowers.
This article appears in 2017 Best of Houston.