With the last weekend of Mardi Gras coming up, we thought we would share our favorite bars on Galveston Island. Most of the action during Mardis Gras happens on the historic Strand and we are sharing a few bars located down there, as well as bars located elsewhere in Galveston, as the whole island should be jumping.
Not a fan of big Mardi Gras crowds? No problem, these places are great to visit year-round.
10. CROW'S SOUTHWEST CANTINA This colorful party bar on the Strand serves beer and wine but no liquor; bar food fare includes burgers, pizza, sandwiches, wings and nachos. It attracts a loyal regular crowd of locals, including bikers and musicians as well as tourists. Live music is played here seven days a week, ranging from karaoke and open-mike nights to acoustic and band jams. Check out the many curious knick-knacks throughout the bar when you visit, including a motorcycle made out of wicker and giant Mardi Gras beads. The place is lit up like a Christmas tree inside at night and you get the feeling Jimmy Buffett would feel welcome here; Hawaiian shirts would be a good fashion choice when visiting.
2408 Strand, facebook.com/crowssouthwestcantina
9. THE WIZZARD Galveston is a small town, and The Wizzard feels like the ultimate small-town/hometown bar. Friendly owner/bartender Glynda Oglesby makes you feel as though you are a guest in her home, rather than just a customer. She will be happy to share her wealth of knowledge about Galveston's past and present, including the history of the building the Wizzard occupies, which dates back to the late 1800s.
The Wizzard has a CD jukebox, which seems more common in Galveston than Houston these days; it's full of music from Texas country, blues and rock artists as well as a Fightin' Texas Aggie Band album. A big patio out back accommodates patrons who like to smoke.
2325 Church, facebook.com/The-Wizzard
8. TSUNAMI EXOTIC TEQUILA EMPORIUM As you might gather from the name, Tsunami Exotic Tequila Emporium serves a lot of tequila -- more than 45 different types, to be exact. Several specialty margaritas are available, including the Jalapeno Margarita, Margarita Mojito and the Margarita A Mi Manera (Margarita My Way), which customers create themselves by choosing which ingredients they would like.
A full bar is also available, and patrons can order appetizers from nearby Yaga's Cafe, which shares its owners with Tsunami, and they will bring it over to you. When you drop in, check out the cool, large painting of a tsunami on the wall, as well as the bar's collection of official Galveston Island Mardi Gras Posters. Don't resist the urge to play The Champs' "Tequila" on the Internet jukebox, either.
2314 Strand, yagaspresents.com/tsunami
7. MEDICINAL PURPOSES BAR & GRILL This East End bar serves up a generous selection of Texas craft beers and liquors made in the Lone Star State. Try signature cocktails like the Beach Bum, a Texas twist on the Brazilian caipirissima made with Treaty Oak rum; or the 1845 Margarita, which honors Texas independence and is made with Republic tequila.
Medicinal derives its name from Prohibition days, when medical doctors could legally prescribe alcohol as long as it was for "medicinal purposes only." The crowd here is pretty laid-back and friendly, often bringing along their dogs, which are welcome out on the patio. The food here, consisting of burgers, pasta, sandwiches, salads, spaghetti and more, is good and reasonably priced.
712 7th Street, medicinal-purposes-bar-and-grill.com
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