Oklahoma Sooners Football: The Houston Nightlife Guide

Since the oil boom of the early 2000’s, Houston has experienced a major growth spurt. As a result, Houston’s nightlife scene has exploded. From high-end nightclubs to low-key wine bars, Houston offers something for every taste. I would also be remiss in neglecting to mention the food scene of Houston, which was ranked as the fifth-best food city in the country by the Washington Post in December of 2015. Only in Houston can you eat a 5-star meal, line dance at a Texas honkytonk, and end the night with a smooth glass of wine, all within walking distance of each other. If you are in Houston for the OU vs. UH game, please treat yourself to a Texas sized serving of Houston nightlife, it is sure to please and surprise you.

The Houston nightlife scene can be broken down into six distinct districts - Market Square, Midtown, Montrose, Rice Village, Washington Avenue, and Uptown.

Market Square is located on the north side of Downtown and has the newest and hottest crop of bars, gastro pubs, and restaurants to pop up in Houston. Here you will find the millennial crowd enjoying hip bars serving high-end cocktails. Be sure to visit OKRA – Charity Bar (924 Congress Ave.), which is a collaboration of local bar and restaurant owners that donate a portion of all sales to select charities in Houston.

Midtown is the heart of the Houston nightlife scene, located just south of Downtown. Midtown offers a host of bars all within walking distance of each other, making for a great night of bar hopping. Midtown caters to the recent college graduates and early twenties crowd, so be ready for a raucous and wild night. Be sure to visit The Dogwood (2403 Bagby St.) for a modern sports bar with a southern twist with a scenic rooftop bar.

Located just west of Midtown, Montrose is the vibrant heart of culture in Houston, home to restaurant row, where several of the top restaurants in Houston all neighbor each other. Montrose is also the hub of the LGBT community of Houston. Be sure to visit Anvil Bar & Refuge (1424 Westheimer Rd.) to experience the best and most unique handcrafted cocktails in Houston.

Located just south of Montrose, Rice Village is the hangout of Rice University students (think Campus Corner). Here you will find Rice students kicking back after a long week of classes. Be sure to swing by Under The Volcano (2349 Bissonnet) for a unique island twist and their famous frozen screwdrivers.

Washington Avenue is just west of Downtown and is the home of several Houston hangouts, most notably sports bars. If you are looking for a more low-key hang out, Washington Ave is the place for you. Be sure to swing by Kung Fu Saloon (5317 Washington Ave.) for a unique experience where old school arcade games line the walls for all to enjoy.

Uptown is the home to Houston’s famous Galleria shopping mall, full of high end shops such as Gucci, Versace, and Kate Spade. However, once the sun goes down, the nightlife begins. Here you will find and older and more affluent crowd. If you are looking for an upscale wine bar, look no further than The Tasting Room (1101 Uptown Park Blvd.). Uptown is the perfect place for baby boomers to hit the town after the game.

The OU Club of Houston will be hosting a watch party and pub crawl for the OU vs. UH game in the Washington Ave. corridor. The watch party will kick off at 11 AM at Fuego’s Saloon. As soon as the game is over, a pub crawl will take you to Lincoln Bar, Taps, Little J’s, and finish at Concrete Cowboy.