For six months a year, Houston is tailor-made for outdoor activities. The other six months...well, not so much. Unfortunately, the better half of the calendar is winding down, and scorching temperatures are on the way. Act fast, Houston — you’ve got about one month left of quality outdoor good-timing.
With that in mind, here are the ten best Houston bars that provide a top-notch outdoor experience.
10. 8TH WONDER BREWERY/KARBACH BREWING CO. (TIE)
This brewery battle is too close to call. Both offer an array of outstanding beers and ample outdoor space. Both are dog- and kid-friendly and offer quality food options. And both get jam-packed on weekends when the weather is nice – so be prepared to wait in line a bit to get your beer tokens and/or beer. Live music and sports on TV will help pass the time. (8th Wonder: 2202 Dallas, 8thwonderbrew.com; Karbach: 2032 Karbach, karbachbrewing.com)
9. LA GRANGE
One of the best patios in Houston. Not only does La Grange feature a standard outdoor bar patio – serving up a unique array of cocktails – but its elevated terrace offers a view of all that Montrose has to offer. As a bonus, the coastal Mexican food is legit. (2517 Ralph, lagrangehouston.com)
8. BROOKLYN ATHLETIC CLUB
A classy patio in every sense of the word, Brooklyn Athletic Club doesn’t feature the most conventional game for outdoor types, but anyone looking for a nice game of badminton, bocce ball or croquet is in luck. BAC, with its beautiful lighting setup and laid-back vibe, is an especially nice place to hang outdoors once the sun goes down. (601 Richmond, thebrooklynathleticclub.com)
7. IRISH COWBOY
When Celtic Gardens closed in February, Houston said good-bye to one of its best outdoor patios. Then Irish Cowboy, which took over the space, came along and did it one better. Checking in at approximately 11,000 square feet (Celtic was closer to 6,000), Irish Cowboy is home to one of the best outdoor scenes in Houston. It’s also all things Texas, as local-themed murals adorn the patio walls and barbecue is roasted outside. (2300 Louisiana, irishcowboy.com)
6. COTTONWOOD
While Cottonwood does offer an indoor space, it’s pretty much all patio. Not only that, but a portion of the patio is covered, in the event of rain or immense heat. Couple that with foosball and cornhole, as well as live music throughout the month, and you have one of the best outdoor bars in Houston. Extra points for being dog- and kid-friendly, as well as serving up one of the best burgers in Houston. (3422 North Shepherd, cottonwoodhouston.com)
5. KIRBY ICE HOUSE
It’s been open only a month or so, but Kirby Ice House is already a player on the local patio scene, and for good reason. The bar touts its own “one-acre backyard,” which is dog-friendly and offers a ton of seating (the lighting adds a little ambience on a nice spring or summer night). Couple that with events such as crawfish boils, steak nights and charity events, and you have a Houston bar on the come-up. (3333 Eastside, facebook.com/KirbyIceHouse)