The Most Delectable Beer Bar in Houston

Axelrad

★★★★★ 4.5 (1238) • $$

"Axelrad is probably one of favorite beer gardens in the city. It has been around for a minute, but is still a local favorite for many. Usually places open and is the it place to be, and then inevitably it loses it's cool at some point. Not Axelrad. Located in Midtown, it is easy to find. They have a small, free dedicated lot for the establishment, with free street parking nearby as well. On a busy night, parking can be a little bit challenging. They do offer a discount to all those who use every mode of getting here other than your own personal car. I've been here quite a few times and have never had a bad experience with the staff. They are always friendly and gave the best drink suggestions. Do not come here thinking there is alot of inside space because that is not the case here. Axelrad is all about their outside space. In all honestly, the inside has minimal seating and can feel super cramped at peak times. Most of the space takes up the line of people trying to get drinks. The bathroom situation is not ideal but I did see on a recent visit that there were bathrooms outside as well. As far as the outside space, it is one of my favorite patios. The focal point is this beautiful tree smack dab in the middle with cool neon lights on it. Then they have benches, and lots of picnic tables and hammocks all around. On a busy night, you will be hard pressed finding a spot to chill. They also have a upstairs patio with seating as well. There is also a stage that they host live bands at all the time. I love that they change up the genres of music all the time. They also have broadcast games and such as well. They have a really good draft beer selection as well. I can always find something new to try along with some of my faves. They also have a nice variety of bottled and canned items. Don't sleep on their cocktails though. They are quite delicious. As far as food goes, Luigi's Pizza is on the same plot of land. They will allow you to walk in and get pizza to bring into the beer garden. It's really a match made in heaven. More restaurants and bars should team up for ultimate combos like this. They also always have a food truck on site that rotates. I don't know why it took me this long to review somewhere I have been many times, but it seems like the people of Houston agree. This is a great spot. I will definitely be back!"

Nobi Public House

★★★★☆ 4.2 (1018) • $$

"I think that this is my definition of Nirvana. Love the food, the beer selection generally is off the charts, and great service. Every time I am in town... at least one visit for spring rolls, bahn mi, wings, vermicelli,... I could go on but you just need to go check it out for yourself."

The Gypsy Poet

★★★★★ 4.7 (651) • $$

"Intro: I'm going to start things off by firing some shots. I've always said that Houston doesn't have a great pizza scene. That doesn't mean that there aren't solid spots in town, just not at the level I would expect from one of the largest cities in the US. Despite my sentiments, I love pizza and am always on the lookout for an A+ spot. I had heard good things about The Gypsy Poet so I stopped by on a Friday evening for dinner at 8:00 p.m. I found street parking on a side street close by. Service (2/5): Things didn't get off to a good start. You order at the counter and there was a line outside of the door that took roughly 30 minutes to get through. I hate waiting in line. Why are the prospects there for a long line at The Gypsy Poet? The fact that it's a popular pizza joint and that it was a Friday were certainly factors. However, there are some logistical issues too. They don't have menus for you to look at until you're at the counter. As a result, unless people in line look up the menu online before they get to the cashier, they're going to spend a couple of minutes perusing the menu when it's their turn to order. That slows things down substantially. Instead of relying on people to be proactive, if I were The Gypsy Poet, I'd hand out menus to people waiting in line, and then voila, the "traffic jam" lessens. I know having a line outside of your restaurant adds hype, but I hate artificial hype. The staff I interacted with while I was there was pleasant so the service delivers in this area.Ambiance (3.5/5): After you place your order, the experience progressively gets better and better. You select your own seat and they will bring your food to you. There's a variety of seating available including tables, couches, bar stools, and some seating on the patio. It's not a large restaurant so we ended up sitting at the one open table we could find inside. Outside of the seating arrangement, I did notice their playlist. They were playing a lot of EDM as background noise and I dug it. Food (5/5): Gypsy Poet is arguably the best pizza in Houston that I've experienced. Right up there with Luna Pizzeria. We ordered both the Margherita pizza and the Pepperoni Madness pizza. The Margherita is your classic traditional pizza with San Marzano tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella, and basil. The Pepperoni Madness has both pepperoni and hot honey. Both of the pizzas were perfection. Everything: the crust, the cheese, the sauce, and the toppings worked in perfect harmony with each other. Out of the two, I would say I liked the Pepperoni Madness the best. It's one of their top sellers so go for it! We also had some tiramisu for dessert (my favorite dessert). A+ for the dessert as well. Drinks (4.5/5): A nice wine list. You can pick a bottle out while you're waiting in line which is exactly what I did. I went with a Pinot Noir, one of my favorite types of wine. They don't give you wine glasses, you're given regular glasses but it's all good. They also have a good beer selection and soft drinks if you're not feeling wine. Overall: The food is five stars hands down. With some logistical tweaks to ameliorate the dining experience, they would easily be a five-star restaurant in my book. They also have another location in The Heights. If you're looking for elite pizza in Houston, The Gypsy Poet has to be at the top of your list."

Holman Draft Hall

★★★★☆ 4.1 (403) • $$

"A good place to just hang out and vibe. There was so much seating. There were seats and tables all surrounding the building as well as inside. There were also multiple TV screens if you wanted to just watch some sports in the mean time. Good place that was priced well!Typical bar food with nachos and tacos, etc. Service was fast."

Tapped DraftHouse & Kitchen - Spring

★★★★☆ 4.4 (299) • $$

"Another great find from Yelp. One of our party had to catch a flight, so we we're looking for something close. This place is large, clean and they serve over 50 tap beers, most of which are local.The service was great and the pizza was so good, we ordered a second. Definitely a great stop if you're looking for a pizza and beer."

Capone's Oven & Bar

★★★★☆ 4 (332) • $$

"Great service by our waitress Mariana. I ordered a vegetable pizza. It was quite good and had black olives and feta cheese among other things. They had a live band. Check out the bathroom. It's easy to miss. The door is a book shelf. The pizza is not inexpensive as it's $17.95 but I took into account that there's no cover charge for the live music. Parking is shared with other restaurants but not hard to find a space."

King's BierHaus

★★★★☆ 4.2 (229) • $$

"King's BierHaus started many years ago in Pearland. Since then, they have expanded to The Heights and League City. I finally got to check out this location for my friend's baby shower. They rented out the back patio and we had some food catered out there including pretzel bites, schnitzel deviled eggs, and sausage. That's one of the nice things about King's: they have some solid German food. And while they do have craft cocktails, you should focus on the extensive German beer list. I don't like this location as much as the original in Pearland and the one in The Heights, but it's still a cool spot. The patio is just a bit smaller and less impressive than the one in The Heights."

Front Porch Pub

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (350) • $$

"Never knew this place existed in Midtown until someone mentioned it to me. After our hookah session at Cafe Layal, we sauntered over here to continue the night and enjoy some drinks outside late into the evening.I appreciate some of the signage inside; the message about going to hell while I go to TX had me chuckling. TVs are around for sports/event watching and there's plenty of seating inside and outside. Also they serve food here although we didn't get any grub; just drinks. Went with the irish mule which was tasty and served in the proper mug. A bit pricy at $13 for a cocktail such as a mule; they must've been victims of inflation sadly.I'll have to try the food next time I roll here. Glad it's near Layal and provides another drinking option."

Thistle Draftshop

★★★★★ 4.5 (181)

"Overall, a pretty decent spot for the area to get lunch. Definitely on the pricier side for what the food really is. The truffle fries app is $14 and the pork belly taco (2) are around the same. Friendly service, plenty of seating - at bar or at a table. Pork belly tacos had a lot of unique flavor throughout and maybe could've been a bit less crunchy but still a good choice. The aioli of course makes the fries, as per usual. But the truffle and parm amount was a solid ratio to fries. A lot of interchanging draft beers as well."

Mercantile Montrose

★★★★☆ 4.1 (212) • $$

"This is where you'll find me most mornings during the week before going to work. It's my go to spot if I am getting a latte. Like most coffee shops they have a variety of options for milk substitutes. If you're lucky enough to arrive early you can get tacos that they get from taco deli. In addition to other coffees, they have a large selection of teas. Several pastries are available at the counter. But once they run out, they run out. Perfect neighborhood coffeeshop that hosts live music nights and other things throughout the month."

Watershed

★★★★☆ 4.4 (184) • $$

"Came here on a Saturday afternoon. It wasn't too busy but it was also 1:30pm so the lunch crowd may have already left. The menu suggests that this is a German pub with some other traditional pub fares mixed in like fish & chips.Being a vegetarian, I was somewhat limited in choices. I chose the kasespatzle which is basically German mac & cheese. It was a good portion for one person as an appetizer. I liked it as it wasn't too heavy and the fried onions on top gave it a good contrast to the cheese.They have a good selection of beer on tap. Mostly German style of the local microbrew variety though. I saw Paulaner Weisse on tap and grabbed that. Refreshing on a summer day. I haven't found any microbrews that can emulate a true German hefeweizen."

Tapped DraftHouse & Kitchen - Conroe, TX

★★★★☆ 4.4 (164) • $$

"Before returning with great excitement and anticipation after four years, I read my last, glowing review.After leaving, I wondered if I was in the same bar. Food and beer were good, but the fun and camaraderie had vanished. Even after specifically explaining to manager and bartender that the MAIN ATTRACTION of a bar is conversation, neither could deliver.So the search continues for a day bartender that is interested in their job and their customers."

El Pueblito Patio

★★★☆☆ 2.9 (343) • $$

"It doesn't matter what Pueblito you're from, if you're not visiting El Pueblito de Frida, you're playing yourself. Whether it's the Birria or the Piña Rita, they bring the heat bruh! Stepping in, I was transported to the Caribbean Coast of Mexico. I almost started to Salsa down the floor on my way to chips and salsa. It wasn't Easter but I was feeling like a Bad Bunny sitting outside on the breezy patio underneath a cabana. Our server Carlos was on point with the service! Drinks and food came out in rapid succession. Chips and salsa? Check! Agua Fresca de Melon/Limonada mixed? Check! Mexican Candy ( alcohol drink)? Check! Piña Rita? Check! Extra Vodka and Tequila? Check! Chicos y Chicas, I was feeling myself by the time the food came out. Birria tacos de res (beef)? On point! Birria Verdes de borrego (lamb)? On point! Birriaquiles Molcajete with beef? On point! Only thing I could even kind of criticize is the consome but not really. The beef consome was a tad light for me but the lamb consome hit hard with the chickpeas in it. All this food and I didn't leave anything on my plato.The vibe here is a fiesta, so if you're in the mood for a party with good food and good drinks, roll thru and find out!P.S. Pro tip: The staff is very diverse but everyone I spoke to spoke Spanish, so if you speak español, flex your skills."

Hop Scholar Ale House

★★★★☆ 4.3 (150) • $$

"So happy we stumbled upon this joint. Don't be fooled by its strip mall location. This place offers a super cozy atmosphere with friendly service and an amazing menu of craft beers, cocktails, and seriously tummy bites.Today was our 2nd visit and happily brought friends to share the experience.Will be back for sure!1st visit: Hop Burger was very juicy and flavorful. And HUGE. Side of tater tots and honey siracha Brussel sprouts. Pineapple & Mango Mimosa Austin East Ciders 2nd: spicy garlic parmesean @ honey Sriracha boneless wings, cheese curds, and pretzel bites with queso. Nitro Burboun Old Fashioned & Yellow Rose Lone Pint"

Brick and Brews

★★★★☆ 4.2 (141) • $$

"Why 4 stars? Because the pizza is delicious, it's just hard to get. --- --- ---I bookmarked Brick and Brews long ago and have always wanted to try it. The thing is, when I attempted to do this months ago, no one would ever answer the phone for a pick-up order. I tried multiple times on multiple different days and had no luck. Fast forward a couple months and I was talking to someone who said they loved this place and I mentioned my issue. They said that they never have a problem with that, so I assumed maybe I just had some bad luck.Unfortunately when we attempted to do so many months later, the phone still rings until it just hangs up. My wife had to run to HEB anyway, which is right across the street, so she went in here to order in-person, did her grocery shopping, and then came back. Unfortunately the original quoted time was nowhere near what it ended up taking.So, with what I've written so far, it's hard to understand my rating is 4-stars. I do want to say this in their defense: according to my wife who saw the business first-hand, it's a very small operation. According to her view point, it may literally be a mom, dad and their two kids working here *end of list.* I'd imagine, if that's the case, they don't have the ability to take phone orders. But if that is true, it would be helpful to have a recording that says, "we don't accept pick-up orders." Because it's pretty annoying to call several times and never speak to someone.But now, let's talk about the best part of this experience: the pizza itself. It's amazing. Truly. Which is why it's such a shame that it's so inconvenient to order. We went with the Pig and the Fig, and the BBQ Beef Brisket. Both of these were divine. Truthfully, I was barely hungry when my wife arrived home with the pizza. And then I ate like 10 slices because I couldn't stop. This is definitely one of the best eateries in the area. But this is my plea: please answer your phone!"

Rotolo's Craft & Crust

★★★★☆ 3.9 (115) • $$

"Still 5 stars, maybe 5.5 now. We have been eating the Chicago classic thin this entire time and we love it- but decided to try Detroit style this time- the traditional. We don't like thick crust usually. And this is definitely thick but airy and crispy and delicious- never had anything like it. The edges of the crust were super yummy crunchy Asiago type goodness. Huge thanks to Alex the bartender for convincing us to try something new. This pizza was absolutely incredible. Everything else still as awesome as ever."

The Growler Spot

★★★★★ 4.6 (78) • $$

"Been coming here for over 5 years now. Great little spot. Sometimes it's really busy for Geeks Who Drink, sometimes it's quite. Sometimes there's an Astros or Rockets game on and it's packed. Great tap list for Texas beers as well as some of the better beers from out of state. Simple bar menu with some great little sandwiches"

Spectators Bar & Grill

★★★★☆ 4.3 (69) • $$

"This is not your typical sports bar, rather an upscale bar overlooking a lake with items on the menu such as ribeye steak and raw oysters. I saw a drink on their cocktail menu that was $25, if that gives you any idea....although most drinks are around $11. They even have a kids menu. I sat at the bar on a weekday around lunch and it was fairly quiet. As other reviews indicate, they seem to cater to an older clientele...and this was true during my visit as well. The primary reason for my visit though was to try their famous Prime cheeseburger. It was a Monday, so I took advantage of their Monday special and tried the house margarita on the rocks as well.Burger - it is cooked to order with your choice of cheese, I chose cheddar. This burger has got to be one of the best sports bar burgers out there. Based on appearance, it's a 10. It looks like something served at an upscale restaurant or fine French dining. The patty is square and maybe around 1/2 lb. Its made with chuck, brisket and short rib, one of the best combinations you can get for a burger. The shoestring fries complete the meal and are served in a stainless steel container with freshly grated parmesean.Margarita - decent margarita served in a Collins glass. There is a slight artificial flavor taste, so you know it's from a mix. It is shaken, so its not completely pre-made.Overall, not a bad spot to try if you're in the area and have some time to kill, or want to watch a game, as there are 6 TVs that bartop patrons can watch, and a few others around the rest of the room for others."

Fat Boy's Pizza - Richmond

★★★★☆ 3.7 (93) • $$

"We'd been anxious to try this place, drawn in by the name, ever since we saw the coming soon sign and finally got the chance to check out it over the weekend. Walking in, we were quite unimpressed. It is a mediocre space consisting of three wooden seat booths, about 15 very small tables, and a huge bar that opens to the outdoor seating area. There is the option of ordering a cheese pizza with your choice of toppings or choosing from the carousels of already made pizza slices, which are huge. I chose a 16" pizza with hamburger, loaded waffle fries, a slice with a basket of waffle fries, garlic knots, and an order of the Fat Yays (to go). Short and sweet, we had to pull two of the tables in order to be able to get everything we ordered to fit, the pizza reminded me of school pizza, which might be good thing for after the club on Bourbon Street, but for sober on a Saturday, it was just wrong! The waffle fries were not very good, tasting like they were overcooked and soaked in oil - the cheese and bacon didn't really save them either. Lastly, I'll stick to getting my beignets from my favorite do-nut shop or a Cajun restaurant, because the Yays made me want to boo!The Garlic Knots with marinara sauce for dipping was the highlight for me!We came, we saw, we did. Nuff said."

The Republic House

★★★★☆ 3.6 (92)

"I was searching for a more upscale bar with better beers than the normal swill that some of the more divey places in La Porte have and found this place and it definitely has the better brews but the prices are sky high.Fantastic selection, you can see on Untappd how the selection changes but in the end, 3 beers, one of them a 10 oz came up to $22. No bueno. The atmosphere was very nice. Upscale, the staff were very friendly and knowledgeable, music was ever changing and looks like they have a killer set up as a small live music venue, but I don't think I can swing the prices. I just have to get used to drinking Karbach at a honky tonk down the road because I will be broke. Solid 4 stars on appearance and staff, 2.5 on prices."

Red River Ice House

★★★★☆ 4.1 (70)

"If you have a friend visiting from out-of-town and want to show them a taste of Texas, Red River Ice House is an authentic experience. Ice houses started out back in the day as your pretty much bares bones bar. There are quite a few ice houses spread throughout the city and I've now been to Red River about five times. I play tennis in the area so it's become a post-tennis happy hour and dinner spot. Located right off of Main street, Red River is super close to the highway (which takes away a bit from the experience as you hear the noise of cars zooming by). Red River is an open air concept with the "indoor" portion consisting of a long bar, some table top stool seating, pool, and darts. There are a good number of TVs too (Though they typically don't play what's live so you may have to ask them to switch the channel.). The outdoor patio isn't huge but you have some tables and seating out along with a few TVs. Plus a food truck!The food truck has po-boys, wings, burgers, nachos, and more. Plus, you can order a pizza. Standard pub fare. It's not great food but does the job if you get hungry while downing some brews. You order at the bar and the bartender will bring the food out to you. By the way, the female bartender is great! She's super friendly and a great conversationalist so it's been nice to get to know her a bit. Happy hour goes until 6 with discounts on draft beer and well drinks. An older crowd comes here (40s and up) so we're usually the youngest people here. The casual Texan vibes keep us coming back!"

Tailgate Grill

★★★★☆ 4.1 (58)

"Always good burgers. I don't have a pic of the cheese burger because I always devour it before I even think to pull out my phone. Nothing is frozen, everything is fresh. The buns are toasted beforehand making them crispy which is an oh-so-nice part of the food experience. Their chicken sandwich is also really good as it's never dry. They know what they're doing. Order their regular fries since those are the best. The ladies cooking are really sweet and never mind explaining anything on the menu. They only take cash or check so come prepared. It's outside dining but that doesn't matter. It's a nice casual spot to get a really great burger."

Star Sailor

★★★★★ 4.9 (36) • $$

"This is an excellent bar and I can't believe I'm just now discovering it! They opened in 2020 during the pandemic but now that we're exploring our new hood, I'm so glad it's in the neighborhood! We ended up having dinner here and ordered a couple of their Oktoberfest beers. We were greeted by the employees and they were super friendly and very helpful. We got the schnitzel plate and the double patty smash burger and both were really good, but we preferred their schnitzel! It was topped with a mushroom sauce which gave it a little extra something and served with a tasty German potato salad. It's only here for a limited time though on the Oktoberfest menu. Their normal potato salad that was served with the smash burger is the perfect blend of mustard and mayo and I would highly recommend! The burger itself was ok. We also ordered a pretzel to start. I wish it was bigger but the spicy mustard and cheese it was served with was delicious! Overall, it's a cute place with a small outdoor patio and a solid beer selection. Go check them out and support local!"

Peso's Mexican Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.5 (53) • $

"Friendly place where the entire wait staff is willing to assist any table and not just their own. We tried the chicken fajitas and fish Acapulco. Unfortunately we didn't get that sizzling plate when the fajitas were served. However they were tasty but a little dry. The fish was flavorful also. We like the hot fresh chips. However making borracho beans instead of refried an up charge was unusual. Also the chicken fajitas were $15.99 seemed unusually pricey. All in all this was a nice place. Just a little more than what you expect to pay for a nonalcoholic meal."

Hando - Spring Branch

★★★★★ 4.6 (27)

"I can eat five of the blue crab hand rolls. We came here for a late dinner and were seated right away. This is their second location and the space was bigger than the Heights location. Very modern and minimalistic interior.I opted for the 4 piece set but also wanted to add in the toro hand roll. The set comes with spicy tuna, salmon, blue crab, and fried oyster. The set option doesn't allow substitution so you can add in additional hand roll. I have always love the blue crab hand roll but the fried oyster was also really good. After 4 hand rolls, you will start getting full. I like that they give you a good amount of rice per hand roll so it doesn't overshadow the flavor. Service was friendly and quick. The seats are set up as bar style so may not be ideal for a group. They were nice to let us sit at the corner for our group of 6 so we could talk to each other. I'm glad Hando has opened in SB, it's a great addition."

Koozies Sports Bar and Grill

★★★★★ 4.5 (25)

"I have been waiting to try this spot for some time! I was super excited to finally make it. We were greeted by our friendly waitress, where she served our drinks in a matter of minutes. Surrounded by helmets and jerseys, this sports themed bar is definitely a great place to kick back and enjoy a good game. While this bar is small, the experience was memorable! We ordered the queso, 6 wings (cajun rub and gajuchang), and chili dog with fries. What a great cheat meal! The fries were fresh along with their wings. Super crispy and seasoned to perfection. Their Chili Dog was MASSIVE. I'm so glad this place is right down the street! Until next time, Koozies."

242 Pub & Grill

★★★☆☆ 2.6 (74)

"Read the Elite Reviews: they're the ones to trust. All elites like this location, and I agree: great sports bar atmosphere, (music, TV's), excellent service from Micheala, fantastic food (best fried pickles since I recall).I had double fried wings with 242 buff sauce. I like my wings well done, and that's exactly what I got. Could not have made them better myself, and the tangy buff sauce was great! Mrs had the biggest fish tacos I've ever seen, super stuffed with tuna and double wrapped in delicious corn tortillas with a spicy sauce."

Cosmic Cowboy Lounge

★★★★☆ 4.4 (25)

"Before I came to this little gem, I read the reviews here. I observed two reviews from some local "Karens" who complained the staff at the locations did not wear masks and did not require anyone else to wear masks (mandates that are not required in the county). One of the "Karens" even said the place was "like going into a pre-covid time warp", which sounded perrrrfect to me. All of the other reviews were all 5 stars. So, due to the 5 star reviews, and because of the local "Karens" informing everyone the place doesn't require masks, I decided to take a family trip to the location. The place was great. We walked in with no ridiculous mask hassle and we're seated right away. We ordered drinks and some food. Of course, the kids got soft drinks, but the wife got a pineapple mimosa. It tasted like a dry Champaign was used which was perfect with the sweet pineapple juice. I had an IPA, which was great, if you're into that type of beer.We ordered "Brunch Pizza". The pizza was delicious. Essentially, it was pizza topped with bunch items that included over easy egg. Awesome. One of my chillins got a hamburger that tasted like a ribeye steak grilled over charcoal. Super awesome. The other chillin got a sandwich with fries. The sandwich was excellent, but my God, the fries were very, very good. Thin sliced and crispy. Like a cross between a French fry and a potato chip. Loved those. I got smoked salmon on baguette with cream cheese and capers. Incredible. The salmon tasted like it was smoked Texas BBQ style. Unusual but delicious. Food was excellent. Service was excellent. No covid garbage was excellent. If you are looking for a small business to support, where you can take your family without hearing a word about current politically driven, business killing, freedom limiting, life ruining junk about how YOU need to obey thine ruler, this is the place for you. If you are seeking a place where everyone is turned away unless they submit to wearing a muzzle across the threshold of the door and aalllllll the way to their table, 13 feet away, and where everything is done for "safety", and for the "greater good", and "save the children", this ain't for you."

Mandito's Tex-Mex

★★★★☆ 4.1 (10)

"Tried this place this weekend and was so happy! The classic margaritas, cheese enchiladas, beef nachos and just the chips in general, were sooo tasty! Can't wait to go back!"

Cinco Michelada Beer Bar

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (12)

"Been there three times.1st- a week after they opened, they were getting their groove on and you could tell they were learning systems etc. food was limited to 3 items, however, the burger was good that my son ordered (double meat). The birria tacos were bomb good too (3 tacos of birria). I ordered the shrimp, nice batter, nicely cooked.2nd time with the hubby for miches and their pickle one is gooood 3rd- with coworkers, no joke Jesus learned all our names and was on point with all of our needs. Planning on having my bday there since on Fridays they have a DJ. Also, they have the nice sign in the ladies restroom (selfie time)"