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Not sure why this old thread was revived, but why on Earth would you go to City Data for this? That’s like going to a porn thread and asking where the best churches are.
My ranking as far as metros for:
1. Houston
2. DFW
3. Austin
4. College Station
5. Corpus Christi (likely because I frequent there)
Not a fan of Austin’s night life. It’s too one dimensional. Houston and Dallas nightlife offer more of a variety
In what way is Dallas nightlife more diverse than Houston? And Austin is limited in scope how?
Houston just doesn’t really have nightlife areas with active street scenes like Dallas and Austin and their LGBT scene is very limited. Austin’s scope is limited because no matter what part of town you’re in, the bars and people look the same as the other side of town.
Houston just doesn’t really have nightlife areas with active street scenes like Dallas and Austin and their LGBT scene is very limited. Austin’s scope is limited because no matter what part of town you’re in, the bars and people look the same as the other side of town.
Downtown Houston street scene is pretty active these days (well not THESE days, but you know what I mean).
I would say Austin has the best street life and the best actual nightlife venues of the three, but the least diversity in the type of nightlife available.
Houston probably does have the worst street scene of the three, but is by far more diverse than Dallas and Austin and has better actual nightlife venues than Dallas.
Dallas is between the two - decent streetlife, definitely doesn't have as many good actual nightlife venues as Houston and Austin, but better overall diversity of nightlife than Austin has. Kind of a jack of all trades, master of none type of thing.
I can't speak too authoritatively on the LGBT scenes between the three but anecdotally, it seems like Houston's LGBT community is more spread out these days then it was 20 years ago. Back then Montrose was truly a gay neighborhood - these days not so much as its no longer a big deal for them to live/work/play wherever.
Houston just doesn’t really have nightlife areas with active street scenes like Dallas and Austin and their LGBT scene is very limited. Austin’s scope is limited because no matter what part of town you’re in, the bars and people look the same as the other side of town.
Downtown/Eado/ Midtown have active street scenes comparable to Dallas with the exception of Deep Ellum. Houston has no answer for Deep Ellum. Uptown use to be a hot spot but it’s died down a lot. It’s more walkable than any neighborhood in Houston but it’s not very vibrant anymore when it comes to street life. I generally prefer Houston’s nightlife enclaves because generally the scene is much more integrated and less clickish. The last time I went to Deep Ellum was fun but I still ran into a few subtle exclusion attitudes at certain bars/clubs. Seems to be less of a thing in Houston. And I think that explains Montrose(Houston LGBT). Montrose street scene is pretty active but it’s also very inclusive. Where as Oaklawn is extremely LGBT, Montrose is more inclusive. That’s just apparent of Houston’s nightlife scenes in general though.
As far as Austin, I believe Austin is miles ahead of both cities as far as active street scenes in more diverse than Dallas nightlife imo. 6th street doesn’t feel like East Austin. Domain is nothing like South Congress. You must mean that these scenes are predominantly White? That’s my only takeaway. And even if that’s true, Dallas nightlife scenes to me are pretty much the same all over. With the exception of Deep Ellum. Bishop Arts District has its own unique character but not the best nightlife scene. At least the last time I was in town.
Downtown/Eado/ Midtown have active street scenes comparable to Dallas with the exception of Deep Ellum. Houston has no answer for Deep Ellum. Uptown use to be a hot spot but it’s died down a lot. It’s more walkable than any neighborhood in Houston but it’s not very vibrant anymore when it comes to street life. I generally prefer Houston’s nightlife enclaves because generally the scene is much more integrated and less clickish. The last time I went to Deep Ellum was fun but I still ran into a few subtle exclusion attitudes at certain bars/clubs. Seems to be less of a thing in Houston. And I think that explains Montrose(Houston LGBT). Montrose street scene is pretty active but it’s also very inclusive. Where as Oaklawn is extremely LGBT, Montrose is more inclusive. That’s just apparent of Houston’s nightlife scenes in general though.
As far as Austin, I believe Austin is miles ahead of both cities as far as active street scenes in more diverse than Dallas nightlife imo. 6th street doesn’t feel like East Austin. Domain is nothing like South Congress. You must mean that these scenes are predominantly White? That’s my only takeaway. And even if that’s true, Dallas nightlife scenes to me are pretty much the same all over. With the exception of Deep Ellum. Bishop Arts District has its own unique character but not the best nightlife scene. At least the last time I was in town.
EaDo will turn into that answer. With all the developments on the way, the only thing that’s slowed it down is COVID-19.
Downtown Houston street scene is pretty active these days (well not THESE days, but you know what I mean).
I would say Austin has the best street life and the best actual nightlife venues of the three, but the least diversity in the type of nightlife available.
Houston probably does have the worst street scene of the three, but is by far more diverse than Dallas and Austin and has better actual nightlife venues than Dallas.
Dallas is between the two - decent streetlife, definitely doesn't have as many good actual nightlife venues as Houston and Austin, but better overall diversity of nightlife than Austin has. Kind of a jack of all trades, master of none type of thing.
I can't speak too authoritatively on the LGBT scenes between the three but anecdotally, it seems like Houston's LGBT community is more spread out these days then it was 20 years ago. Back then Montrose was truly a gay neighborhood - these days not so much as its no longer a big deal for them to live/work/play wherever.
Dallas’ LGBT nightlife venues are some of the best in the country. There’s a good amount of great venues in Dallas. I’m seriously curious which Houston venues are better. I’d like to check them out next time I’m down there. Can you list some?
Dallas’ LGBT nightlife venues are some of the best in the country. There’s a good amount of great venues in Dallas. I’m seriously curious which Houston venues are better. I’d like to check them out next time I’m down there. Can you list some?
I'm not gay, so I can't comment on this. But all of the (white) gay people I know prefer Austin a thousand times over Houston and Dallas for nightlife. They're all under 25, so maybe its a new Trent. I really don't know.
I'm not gay, so I can't comment on this. But all of the (white) gay people I know prefer Austin a thousand times over Houston and Dallas for nightlife. They're all under 25, so maybe its a new Trent. I really don't know.
Same, though I never really hear much about Houston or Dallas from LGBT folks I know, but Austin does have an allure for whatever reason. My uncle (who is gay) currently lives in upstate New York but lived in Houston and Dallas in the 80s and Austin throughout most of the 90s, and is looking to retire back in Texas within the next year or so. He has always had a thing for Austin, but asked me for my advice, indicating he was open to Houston or Dallas. I actually tried to sell him more on Dallas than Houston, not because Houston is lacking in anything that I'd perceive he would like, but because as an older person, its honestly better for him to avoid any of Houston's random disasters. He came to Texas for like 6 weeks late last year and checked out all three cities and ended up choosing Austin. I will say that he didn't like Dallas in the 80s and was skeptical, but had been back a few times in recent years and noticed the changes, so he was willing to give it a chance. In general though, he's always been more comfortable in Houston and Austin as a gay (black) man.
Just anecdotal, but even when I lived in Austin I felt like it had a more dynamic lifestyle for LGBT folks than when I lived in Dallas.
Most Night clubs tend not to be very profitable, which is why they tend to come and go. I never quite understood why this is such a big topic of discussion considering the short lifespan of these venues. All three have a big bar scene like any other major city.
Most Night clubs tend not to be very profitable, which is why they tend to come and go. I never quite understood why this is such a big topic of discussion considering the short lifespan of these venues. All three have a big bar scene like any other major city.
Night clubs are ran with a near-mafia type business. The owner of the biggest nightclubs in cities attempt to take over the entire scene and have enough power backing them up to succeed.
Specifically in Houston, the Spire, CLE, Mercy and some others (now defunct) and many others are ran by the same group, or affiliates of the group. Mercy went down but not because of lack of profitability, they went down because the owner group opened something different. While there are other successful nightclubs that are ran without that group, they also have a lot of power (Stereo Live for example). And they run out all of the competition. Not physically with violence, but with underground marketing scheme involving DJs and a street team.
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