In addition to venturing out to bars for drinks, food, music on the jukebox and good conversation, sometimes you and your friends need some competition to break up the monotony. Whether it is pool, darts, video games, washers, bocce ball, trivia or other diversions, these bars have got you covered.
We did not list any obvious places where people go especially to play games like pool halls or bowling alleys; rather, for the most part, this is a list of some bars you might hang out at that also happen to have some games for your amusement in times of need.
Note: This list is in alphabetical order.
BROOKLYN ATHLETIC CLUB Brooklyn Athletic Club is a restaurant with an interesting mix of gourmet and comfort food that is based upon an actual club in Brooklyn, N.Y.; the huge outside patio includes a beer bar and bocce ball courts, as well as areas for playing croquet, ping-pong, badminton, and pétanque (a French game similar to horseshoes). A good plan is to arrive early with friends for lunch and try some of the favorites like the Bac Baked Mac N' Cheese or the Clubhouse Burger, then make a day of it drinking beer or cocktails and playing games out back.
601 Richmond, thebrooklynathleticclub.com
DARWIN'S THEORY The first thing you notice when you walk into Darwin's Theory is the fantastic artwork painted on the walls, which looks like some of the best graffiti you have ever seen, including a giant chimp decked out like Che Guevara with the words "Viva La Evolucion" scrawled above it. Drink a craft beer or classic cocktail here while playing cards, board games, foosball, air hockey, pool or one of a number of video games in the bar, including a vintage Street Fighter 2 machine.
If you are broke, some dirt-cheap Natural Light in cans is also available, as well as uncommon drinks not normally found in Houston bars, like King Cobra 40s and stereotypical wino favorites Mad Dog 20/20 and Thunderbird.
33 Waugh, darwinstheoryhouston.com
EIGHTEEN TWENTY LOUNGE/JOYSTIX CLASSIC GAMES & PINBALLS On the first and last Friday each month, stop by Eighteen Twenty Lounge, grab a few drinks, then pay a $15 cover for Pacman Fever Fridays, which gains you admittance into Joystix Classic Games and Pinballs next door in the same building, where you can play over 200 video games all night for no additional fee.
Joystix is a retailer that specializes in classic and new arcade games, pinball machines, jukeboxes, air-hockey machines, dart machines and more; find a game that you love and you can even buy it and take it home with you, or rent a few games for your next party or event. Pacman Fever Fridays are always fun nights; relive your arcade experiences from the '80s or experience what those days were like for the first time.
1820 Franklin, 1820lounge.com
HANS' BIER HAUS Hans' Bier Haus is one of Houston's great beer bars, with a large and ever-changing selection of draft brews on tap. The inside of the bar has some dartboards for your amusement and you will also find the occasional beer pong game going on; the large covered beer garden/patio is both dog-friendly and contains one of the few Bocce Ball courts in Houston, and a bean bag toss/cornhole game. With the arrival of the warmer weather, it is a nice time to go hang out in Hans' outside garden, and the picnic tables are a nice place to play cards or a board game (Note: not included --ed.) as well.
2523 Quenby, hansbierhaus.com
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