Downtown Houston Bars Pair Poetry Mics With Skyline Views

4.7 (325)

Mon, 09:00 – 19:00; Tue – Thu, 09:00 – 21:00; Fri, 09:00 – 22:00

910 Louisiana St #4900

Forty-nine floors above downtown in One Shell Plaza, this upscale private club mixes lounge and dinner energy with panoramic skyline views. Doors close by 10:00 PM at the latest, and it is shut Saturday.

4.6 (1,138)

Wed, 15:00 – 22:00; Thu – Fri, 15:00 – 00:00 (+1); Sat, 11:00 – 00:00 (+1); Sun, 11:00 – 22:00

1519 Fulton St

Pool tables, foosball, ping pong, air hockey and basketball hoops surround the taps at this space-themed brewery, pouring house beers, cider and hooch cocktails with smashburgers from food trucks outside.

4.5 (382)

Thu, 18:00 – 00:00 (+1); Fri – Sat, 18:00 – 01:00 (+1)

1204 Caroline Street

Inside the House of Blues, this intimate lounge serves craft cocktails and fine dining before or after a show, with local artists performing. It opens Thursday to Saturday from 6:00 PM, and service reviews are mixed.

4.4 (1,164)

Mon – Sun, 17:00 – 02:00 (+1)

2101 Polk St

Stand-up sets and themed nights like Emo Night keep this dark, quirky room busy until 2:00 AM, with clear sound, fast bar service and a rooftop patio that gets crowded on busy nights.

4.2 (189)

Mon, 19:00 – 23:00; Tue, 21:00 – 01:00 (+1); Wed, Fri, 22:00 – 02:00 (+1); Thu, 21:00 – 23:00; Sat, 21:00 – 02:00 (+1); Sun, 12:00 – 22:00

809 Congress Street

Sunday poetry nights open the mic to first-timers at this Congress Street bar, with lemon pepper or buffalo wings and Parmesan fries. Table seating costs extra, otherwise it is the bar or your lap.

4.2 (43)

Mon – Fri, 16:00 – 02:00 (+1); Sat – Sun, 11:00 – 02:00 (+1)

1515 Pease St

A cover charge applies at this lounge near Toyota Center, open past midnight every night with cocktails, hookah and jerk lamb chop pasta. Arrive before 10:00 PM for a calmer room.