In years past, a dive bar was a term reserved for places that were a threat to civil society: disreputable, dangerous, oftentimes criminal places where fights would break out after angry words were spoken, resulting in spilled liquor and blood on floors.
In modern times, our society has redefined dive bars in more desirable terms. Today they are no-frills, simple, yet welcoming neighborhood bars that are not corporate-owned, offering cheap, strong drinks and authentic atmospheres. In modern dive bars you find people from all backgrounds who just want to hang out in a public place where all pretenses have been thrown out the window, where people can be real for just a little while. We feel the bars on this list meet these requirements and then some.
10. C&F DRIVE INN For many, one of the forgotten about or never-known dive bars in Houston, C&F nevertheless has a steady clientele of regulars who call the place home; Former UT Heisman winner and Houston Oilers legend Earl Campbell even stopped in for a beer once, according to one of the bartenders we spoke to about this football-loving place.
Open since 1987, although the building might be older than that, the C&F stands for Cortez and Family, and this Heights neighborhood ice house has indeed been run by the Cortez family since its beginning. A neighborhood dive with cheap drinks and a laid-back, friendly atmosphere, at C&F a game of pool costs only 50 cents, but if you knock the ball off the table you are required to put a dollar into the Internet jukebox; classic rock, Selena and Tom Jones are among the favorites usually played.
6714 N. Main, facebook.com/C-F-Drive-Inn
9. THE NEXT DOOR BAR Located in the same building as Rudyard's, this Montrose bar is on the small side and is populated by tattooed punks and metalheads who enjoy their stiff drinks while lounging on the beat-up yet comfortable couches inside. On the walls hang works from local artists that are for sale and ever-changing; other attractions include Next Door's excellent jukebox, a pool table, video games, and a TV on which the bar staff often shows old B-movies. A nice place to drop in before or after a show at Rudyard's, the patio out front is popular with the chain smoking regulars as well.
2020 Waugh, facebook.com/The-Next-Door
This seminal Heights-area ice house is a nice spot to visit before going to see a live show at Fitzgerald's across and down the street; it is also a nice destination spot on its own where you are likely to have a pretty good time. Jimmy's is a laid-back icehouse where you can knock back ridiculously cheap Lone Stars or Natural Lights while chatting up friendly regulars and checking out the scene going on out front on White Oak Drive.
An Internet jukebox is available for your entertainment, and luckily the regulars have good taste; the tiny men's room can be an adventure, especially if you are claustrophobic. This legendary dive bar was formerly known as Jimmie's Ice House and/or Jimmie's Place.
2803 White Oak, facebook.com/Jimmys-Ice-House
7. THE COZY CORNER Looking more like an old house built back in the '70s or early '80s from the outside than a bar, this Westbury Square neighborhood dive has become famous (or is that infamous?) for its weekend karaoke nights, where regulars insist on performing whether they can sing or not; it is all in good fun and usually a blast.
Westbury Square has been called "Little Montrose," and Cozy Corner is indeed LGBT-friendly; you are more than likely to see a few drag queens performing on karaoke night as well. Other main attractions are the cheap drinks, shuffleboard, pool table and the camaraderie and friendliness among the regulars; newcomers are warmly welcomed as well.
11530 Burdine, facebook.com/Cozy-Corner-Houston-Texas
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