Upscale clubs/music for tourists (Houston, Richmond: 2014, hotels, professionals)

[Bentley2013]

There are plenty of douchebags places in Houston.

[txdemo]

Originally Posted by TexasTony

Thanks everyone. I have a new thread which I didnt post...

Do these places require reservation or we can just walk in. Also what kind of attire is required (just for myself) since I am sure the other folks know what to wear?

Uchi has limited reservations each night then open seating. Underbelly suggests reservations. Hay Merchant and Anvil are walk in.

Attire? This is Texas so as long as you're not the type to wear "dress shorts" you will be fine.

[txdemo]

You gotta take them to Gatlin's for BBQ.

[TexasTony]

Originally Posted by LocalPlanner

Um, country,hip hop and Tejano are the favorite types of music here. They're expecting to come to Houston and not be exposed to this? I understand everyone has musical and cultural preferences but I don't see why other music types qualify as "hip" and "trendy" and the aforementioned types don't.

Would you go to New Orleans and expect to hear Euro-style EDM? {shuddering at the awfulness of such noise}

I didn't mean it in a negative way. I was going to take them to local hangout spot anyways. But just wanted to give them options like any big city would offer. Wanted to show them that Houston has lot more to offer like any other metropolitan city in the US. It sure does for food and I hoping to find the same for night life.

[Kiovo]

Originally Posted by TexasTony

Thanks everyone. I have a new thread which I didnt post...

Do these places require reservation or we can just walk in. Also what kind of attire is required (just for myself) since I am sure the other folks know what to wear?

nice jeans, a button up, nice shoes and you'll fit right in. Mongoose vs Cobra is a lounge/bar and serves food so no reservations needed. Anvil is a bar, Hay Merchant is a bar/restaurant; no reservations. Uchi reservations if you can get it, wait is usually 1 hour +.

[crono_clone]

Originally Posted by TexasTony

I have some guests from SF and NYC visiting us. They are not into country, mexican or hiphop music. I am not sure where to take them since I don't know any hip or trendy lounges or bars where I can take them. They want places to hang out similar to the scene up there. Last time a friend recommended a sushi place in woodlands. When I went there even they were playing country music at that sushi bar. I have nothing against that but I told my guests that Houston is not the backward country place they all think off. There are so many foreigners here. Where does everyone hang out? Now I am somewhat embarrassed because I don't know where to take them Any recommendations would be great.

Everywhere I go in Houston, all I see is cowboy themed places playing country and mexican music. There are so many people from East and West coast moving here, where do they all hang out at? There has to be a place where the hip and trendy hang out or there aren't any? Common Houston.

I was thinking about posting a separate thread but I think I might find my answer here?

Here’s a few I would recommend you take your visitors to:

McGonigel’s Mucky Duck (Upper Kirby) – this one’s a supper club where you and your friends sit down and get entertained by musicians. Definitely worth a look.

House of Blues (Downtown) – Musical acts come here all the time. Check out their schedule and see if there are any acts that your friends would love to see.

Continental Club (Midtown) – like House of Blues, check out their schedule and see if any acts capture your fancy.

Pete’s Dueling Piano Bar (Downtown) or Howl at the Moon (Midtown) – piano bars, duh. Pete’s is next to House of Blues, while Howl at the Moon is part of the Midtown party scene. Just depends on which scene you prefer, Downtown (older, more young professionals) or Midtown (younger, party crowd).

Alley Kat Bar & Lounge (Midtown) – this one’s a bit of a hidden gem as it’s away from the Midtown party scene. They have live bands and house music.

The Nightingale Room (Downtown) – they don’t have live music yet as they just opened, but they do play vinyl records on the 2nd floor which is curated by their bartenders

1919 Wine and Mixology (Upper Kirby) – this one is a hip wine lounge with a club-vibe on the second floor

[crono_clone]

If you’re looking to give them a taste of SF or NYC here in Houston though, the closest we come to is in Downtown.

Try taking them to a burlesque show at Prohibition (I believe the shows have already started, check the show times on their website). And they’re also a supper club/lounge/bar. It’s a huge place.

Afterwards head over to the all the speakeasies on the 300 block of Main where Nightingale Room is located. Check out Dean’s, Bad News Bar, Moving Sidewalk, OKRA Charity, and La Carafe just to name several.

[radiolibre99]

They have speak easys in Houston? That's amazing. How are they?

[crono_clone]

Originally Posted by radiolibre99

They have speak easys in Houston? That's amazing. How are they?

I love em! They're the hot new thing in Downtown, especially in the historic nightlife district around Market Square. Bad News Bar is in what used to be a brothel, which is why it's located upstairs behind a semi-secret door (which isn't much of a secret since there's always a crowd waiting to get in now). Many of the buildings in that area have a similar history, which is why Prohibition Houston (the burlesque bar) moved next door into a historic 1930's former theater to be near the action. Pretty exciting times for the Downtown nightlife scene.

[radiolibre99]

I never thought that Houston would have speak easys. That's something I thought was only in NYC.

So should I go early? What kind of crowd are at these speak easys? Cover? What's the skinny on getting in?