As our sister blog Eating...Our Words does, from time to time Rocks Off will be giving your our picks for the top taverns in various Houston-area neighborhoods. Of course, the lines can be porous, but here anything with a TABC license that cannot reasonably be considered either a restaurant, coffeehouse or live-music venue is fair game.
10. OTC PATIO BAR/ROAK At OTC, loud, danceable music blares over the speakers inside, and young successfuls refill their poison before making their way outside for a game of corn hole and an opportunity to actually hear each other speak.
Lively and rambunctious, this crowd comes to party. Parking is limited, so bring cash for the valets on the weekend. But this is all only pregaming for Roak, which may be the most popular club to open in this area in the last half-decade.
OTC: 3212 Kirby, 713-489-0860, facebook.com/otcpatiobar Roak: 3320 Kirby, facebook.com/roakonkirby
9. MEZZANINE LOUNGE The Mezzanine Lounge is a pretty difficult place to describe, since the bar has three separate areas, all of which have a different feel to them. The downstairs patio is usually full of smokers, sitting back and chatting amongst themselves while they watch TV via a projector on the giant back wall. Just inside, the downstairs bar has a relaxed feel to it, too.
Upstairs, though, is where the party happens. Trivia nights, karaoke and frequent drink specials keep the regulars coming back night after night. Come on the right night, and the servers will randomly be wearing only their underwear.
2200 Southwest Fwy., Ste 150, 713-528-6399, mezzaninelounge.com
8. THE STAG'S HEAD PUB Just across the street from Cactus Music and McElroy's, the Stag's Head is a traditional pub, with cozy corners you can sink into, a large, shady patio and a relaxed atmosphere inside. Except during soccer matches, that is; it can get pretty rowdy when the game is on. The pub's food is a selling point, to be sure, as are all the local beers they've got on tap.
2128 Portsmouth, 713-533-1199, stagsheadpub.com
