Some folks work weekends and do it purely out of convenience. Many know it’s the best time to find a good deal. Others do it simply because drinking alone in public feels less alcoholic-y than drinking alone at home. Whatever your reason, weeknight drinking is a regular pastime in Houston. Here are the ten best weeknight bars the city has to offer.
10. COTTONWOOD
If you spend all day in an office, as many in Houston do, then why not spend an evening after work enjoying one of Houston’s finest patios? There’s a decent bet you’ll take in some live music on Cottonwood’s outdoor stage, and it’s a certainty you’ll be able to choose from any number of beers on Cottonwood’s rotating tap. Throw in one of the finest burgers in Houston and you have one hell of a weekday night. (3422 N. Shepherd, cottonwoodhouston.com)
9. BEER MARKET CO.
With 24 beers on tap daily, and many more in cans and bottles, Beer Market Co. certainly lives up to its moniker. On weekdays, it’s a perfect spot to take in happy hour or dinner. Taco Tuesday is a favorite among regulars, featuring $2 tacos and $3 Texas draft beers. Take in a game indoors or on Beer Market’s patio, which is dog-friendly. (920 Studemont #900, beermarketco.com)
8. 8TH WONDER BREWERY
Any day is a good day to be at 8th Wonder, but Wednesday brings a little something extra to the festivities. In addition to the usual food truck on site and an array of beers on tap, 8th Wonder on Wednesday nights partners with Yoga & Hops for an hour of yoga, followed by cold 8th Wonder beer ($20 for the yoga and three beer tokens). (2202 Dallas, 8thwonderbrew.com)
7. HEARSAY GASTRO LOUNGE
It’s hard to call Hearsay underrated, when it routinely serves up quality food and drink to a packed house downtown, but it just feels like this gastro lounge doesn’t quite get its due when folks mention the best bars in Houston. Weeknights tend to feature a more laid-back crowd, so it’s a perfect time to come check out what Hearsay has to offer – namely, an extensive cocktail menu and some of the best upscale bar food in the city. Spring for an entrée or split some small plates among a group; you can’t really go wrong either way. (218 Travis, hearsayhouston.com)
6. EIGHT ROW FLINT
Whiskey. Beer. Tacos. That is the slogan of this new Heights joint (open since December of last year), which certainly knows its clientele. Eight Row Flint features a collection of craft cocktails and beer, as well as one of the deepest whiskey selections in the city. Couple that with an on-site food truck that serves up scrumptious tacos and homemade chips, and you have a perfect spot for a laid-back evening on the patio. And for those looking to perhaps take the evening to the next level, you can enjoy a Cheap Thrill, which features select whiskey shots and a Miller High Life back for $4. (1039 Yale, eightrowflint.com)
5. LITTLE J'S BAR
Little J’s has really stepped up its game since moving nearly two years ago. The tacos are solid and reasonably priced (particularly for a Washington-area establishment), the Rise & Shine Breakfast Burger is worth the potential coronary and the beer selection is on-point. The bar hosts weekly events like Bingo and steak on Tuesdays and Geeks Who Drink Trivia on Wednesdays. Perhaps most notably – in a nod to those who have served our country – Little J’s hosts occasional cigar nights for veterans, offering them the chance to bond and “regain the camaraderie of active duty”; the next event is scheduled for Thursday, July 7. (5306 Washington, littlejsbar.com)
4. THE CORKSCREW
Come for the wine; stay for the people. Voted Best Wine Bar in 2013 by Houston Press readers, Corkscrew is an ideal spot to unwind after a day at the office. The vibe is fun and lively, but laid-back enough to fit a more subdued weekday evening feel, and the beer and wine selection is more than sufficient (though the best drink Corkscrew has to offer is the Old Fashioned Marshall). Plus, Corkscrew features live music most weekday nights, and the bartenders and regulars are great, making it an ideal place to relax as you pray for the weekend to arrive. (1308 W. 20th, houstoncorkscrew.com)
3. HUGHIE'S TAVERN AND VIETNAMESE GRILL
A number of inside-the-loop establishments offer top-notch food and plenty of booze, but Hughie’s does it just a little bit differently. While stereotypical bar food like burgers and chicken tenders are on the menu, Hughie’s shines with its Vietnamese offerings, including various salads, bowls and sandwiches. Coupled with an array of craft beer, along with daily specials, Hughie’s is tailor-made for those looking for a laid-back, sit-down meal on a weekday night. (1802 W. 18th, hughiesgrille.com)
2. LITTLE WOODROW'S MIDTOWN
For many, Thursday night marks the unofficial start to the weekend, a night to act like it’s Friday, knowing full-well that Friday morning wakeup call is still coming the following morning. Many of these people flock to Woodrow’s Midtown, particularly during the famed Turtle Racing season. Every Thursday at 8 p.m., beginning in the spring and lasting into the fall, Woodrow’s packs in the crowds to watch the turtles do their thing. Laid-back, it is not; it is, however, a damn fine way to cut loose and enjoy one of the more non-Midtown bars in Midtown. (2306 Brazos, midtown.littlewoodrows.com)
1. D&T DRIVE INN
A Houston institution for nearly 60 years (though it has undergone ownership changes during that time), D&T is the place to sidle up to a picnic table, down a few cold beers and enjoy bar food as it was meant to be – tasty and unhealthy (weeknight specials include Frito Pie on Monday, steak night on Tuesday, and $10 dog-and-a-beer night on Wednesday). The crowd is eclectic, as are the tunes on the jukebox, making D&T an ideal spot to chill with friends. Or head up to D&T alone; the bartenders are more than hospitable. (1307 Enid, treadsack.com/dtdriveinn/)