6. Belvedere: Yes, Belvedere's Latin night on Thursdays is still going...and going strong. You'd only need to show up at 11:36 p.m. to find out. This narrow corridor of a bar where perfume and people equally complete for space still has most of the appeal it once had last decade. Ladies give off very flirtatious eyes -- or maybe we were having a good night -- and men stand shoulder to shoulder scoping out their targets.
Getting a drink is a major challenge at this bar. It hasn't solved that problem and it won't. There isn't much of a regard for crowd capacity here, so order a double. Hell, order a triple. And find a corner to enjoy the great variety of reggaeton, salsa and Spanish rock, while taking in accompanying videos on the big projector screens plastered on the walls.
The period during and after happy hour and before it becomes sardine city is probably the best. Beware of the Affliction-drenched guy who has "Redemption" on his back. Who knows if he's there to party or slay a dragon.
1131 Uptown Park Blvd., 77056 713-552-9271, Web site
5. Foundation Room at House of Blues ("Beso"): House of Blues' Foundation Room is the epitome of elegance and luxuriousness. Hosting Latin night on Saturday in this hotbed of sexiness can't be a bad idea.
The Foundation Room's breathtaking lounge area serves as a precursor to the spacey-enough, neighboring dance floor fielding initial guests with stimulating electronica bouncing off the hand-embroidered Gujarat wall coverings. On this Saturday night, anticipation builds for doors to open to the dance area of the venue for a night of hard-thumping Spanish rock, pop, salsa and merengue.
But the lounge area never dies. Instead it rivals its next-door party space offering two distinct nightlife experiences -- one bumping lounge and the other traditional club. Whichever floats your boat. Despite the cosmopolitan feel of the venue, the crowd is far from snotty. You won't find a telenovela crowd here or a gathering of People En Español's 50 Mas Bellos (most beautiful). Egos are mostly absent, leaving room for a good time.
1204 Caroline, 888-402-5837. Web site
