There are a lot of great dive bars in Houston, but when we're longing for a true bastion of cheap beer, with a good jukebox in an atmosphere as unassuming as a scene can be, we head to the Rose Garden in the Heights. The wood-paneled walls are decorated with pictures of John Wayne and Elvis Presley without a hint of hipster irony. The bartenders keep the suds coming, and the bar is red and white, the same colors as the Polish flag. This spot was a refuge for Polish Texans who moved to Houston from the sticks around the time of World War II, and that welcoming vibe has lasted through the years.
READERS' CHOICE: Lowbrow Bar & Grill