The State Bar & Lounge

State Bar doesn't seem to belong in the 21st century at all. The official-looking seals outside may lead you to believe you're walking past some government agency, and upstairs you could be forgiven for expecting to run into Sam Rayburn or even Sam Houston at any moment. The sizable wooden bartop and vintage chairs, tables and leather sofas give the impression of a swanky old hotel lounge - like The Shining's Overlook minus the dance floor. State's spacious but sectioned-off interior offers a host of secluded spots for quiet conversation, and the view from the second-story patio is one of the best downtown panoramas going.