The Best Music Venues 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!"

The Rustic

★★★★☆ 3.9 (1427) • $$

"I attended a private event at The Rustic over the weekend. This was my first time going to The Rustic (I tried to go a few years ago after a show at Toyota Center but they had already stopped serving food). The marquee at the entrance was funny and gave me El Arroyo vibes (IYKYK). The restaurant is much larger than I was expecting and they have a nice sized stage for live music on the patio area.The entire outdoor area was reserved for us. It was a little warm, but nice to sit under the trees while listening to the music. Since we had so many people in our group, they provided a brunch buffet for us. We also had a private bar which was nice. The buffet offered all of the options on the Jam and Toast Brunch menu. I had the Country Baked Eggs, Bacon, Green Salad, and Baby Fried Toast (i.e. French Toast). I really enjoyed the meal, especially the salad and bacon. I didn't try the Texas Hot Chicken, Jalapeño Cheddar Sausage, or the Cheese and Potato Hash, but my friends that did try these items enjoyed them.The staff was very friendly and accommodating. When the musicians took a break, they were respectful of our group as we shared memories of our friend who's life we were celebrating. The musicians waited for us to finish sharing stories of our friend before restarting the music which was extremely thoughtful. Parking downtown can be a pain, but they do offer valet for $10. You can also park in the Avenida Central Garage underneath Discovery Green and get your ticket validated as long as you do not exceed 3 hours. I parked on the street near Toyota Center and didn't have any trouble as it was early in the day before the Rockets game. The Rustic is a great place to go before/after a show at Toyota Center or for brunch with friends and family."

The Hideaway On Dunvale

★★★★☆ 3.7 (292) • $$

"Folks have had mixed feelings about this place, but I've always have had a great experience here and once U know the staff, it becomes even more chill. Joel, Richard, Connor, Vanessa, Chrissy etc. It has been a few months since my last visit and and update review was due. Steak nights Tuesday. $14 with a potato and small side salad. A 16oz ribeye, grilled and seasoned so well. I also ordered some grilled veggies which were delicious and Joel said he grilled it himself. Normally the band also plays on Tuesday and open mic night. Covid restrictions in place. Mask required upon entry. Workers all masked up. This would another great spot to watch a ball game. Kudos to all the workers for doing a fantastic job during this timeframe."

McGonigel's Mucky Duck

★★★★☆ 4 (216) • $$

"Hard to believe this was my first time here. We were invited by friends who had a table to see Hamilton Loomis (www.HamiltonLoomis.com). We were blown away with the quality of sound and music from such a small venue. On Saturdays, they have an early show (7:00pm) and a late show (9:30pm). I know you Yelp youngsters love staying out till all times of the night, or should I say morning but us older folk love getting our partyin done early so we can do what we're supposed to do after 10pm...sleep! I digress. Anyhoo, our friends have literally been following Hamilton Loomis for two or more decades so we knew we were in for a treat. The show did not disappoint. The smallness of the venue gave us an up close and personal concert. The food and waitstaff were also good. We were early because we wanted to eat prior to the show starting vs during the show. Either is acceptable if you go to the early show. The food is exactly what you would expect at an Irish pub. The menu includes a variety of sandwiches, fish & chips, and shepherd pies. I heard the shepherd pies were good but I didn't want anything that heavy. I went with the Mark Portugal sandwich. Ask your server about the ingredients and toppings. It's their best seller (the menu claims) so I gave it a try. It was exactly the type of sandwich I expected from a pub. Since they are an full-fledged pub, the drink menu is wide. Most of the wines are sold by the bottle with a price range from the mid $40's to $350 plus. The spirits are plentiful as is the beer (both bottled and on tap). Both street and private lot parking are available. Both are free. There isn't a valet. Don't leave valuables in your car. This is Houston, people. Have some common sense. Bottom line - Excellent venue for live music. Decent food and a large drink list. The music alone earns this pub a five-star rating. The food and drinks are just an add-on. I hope y'all enjoy the show. Bon appétit, y'all."

The Wildcatter Saloon

★★★★☆ 4 (87) • $$

Nico's Bar and Grill

★★★★☆ 3.7 (62) • $$

"If you've been here and loved this place please forgive this review it's just my observations as of right now at Nico's. The Smash Burger was raw in the middle which meant it was still a frozen patty when cooked, this was at a bar where light Italian food was a specialty. In my experience Nico's is a bar not so much a grill. Beautiful people there a staff anyone would want for a bar. High comfortable tables but it looks like there's just not enough volume because of all the road construction to sustain any real consistency as a righteous grill. Maybe when the road clears up things will get back to the happy place it looks like it's been for many years. In the meantime stop by grab a few brews leave some good tips. Ask the chef what he can nuke for some munchies and support a place that once was obviously a one of a kind local place to hangout."

Corner Pub

★★★★☆ 3.8 (30)

"The Corner Pub is located on Simonton and N. Main St. (oddly enough on a corner... ha!) in the heart of downtown Conroe. It's a classic watering hole and the perfect place to cool off with a cold beer and maybe grab a sandwich or salad. It is not only a great place to eat and enjoy a Top Texas Craft Beer, but also a wonderful entertainment venue featuring up-and-coming Texas musicians, comedians and poets. There are also a number of flat screens so you can catch that sporting event you've been looking forward to.The historic building which is now the Corner Pub was built in 1911 after the Great Conroe Fire of that year destroyed most of the town. After the tragic event, only three buildings - all made of brick - were left standing: the courthouse, the bank and the Conroe hotel. When I first walked into the Corner Pub, I knew right away it was my type of place. The high, vaulted ceilings bring you back to the time when this area was rebuilding and trying to get back on its feet. Come to find out, when doing some renovations they discovered the original ceilings.We sat at the bar and enjoyed a local favorite - Bombshell Blonde Ale from Southern Star Brewing Company. The Corner Pub has a number of great craft beers to choose from as well as a full bar if you want something with a bit more kick. You can see how cool the place is by looking at the photography. The bar staff and the locals we met were all very friendly and we enjoyed our conversations.After our beers, we went to the deli which is in another room in the same building. I asked what the local favorites were and we decided to get just that. We ordered the Summer Salad, the Reuben and the Club Sandwich.The Summer Salad was the perfect choice for a light lunch: spinach, strawberries, almonds, feta cheese and raspberry vinaigrette. The strawberries were so sweet - the perfect complement to the feta cheese and vinaigrette dressing. Loved it!Next, we split the sandwiches. The Reuben was a hot sandwich composed of corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and Russian dressing stacked between two grilled slices of rye bread. The sauerkraut was great and the corned beef? Delish! The Club Sandwich consisted of sliced ham and turkey, bacon, lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaise on toasted bread. This classic sandwich was prepared well and tasted nice and fresh. It's tough to say which one I liked best as they were both good; you can't go wrong with either choice.We enjoyed our visit to the Corner Pub and the friendly chats with the locals we met. I look forward to my next trip to the Conroe area. Next time, I'll stop by at night to watch a live band perform. Good food, good people, good times, what more do you need? The Corner Pub is the perfect place to stop in and get a bite. They have everything you are looking for, and more!"

Bauhaus

★★★☆☆ 2.9 (44)

"I love coming to this bar/lounge and have been coming ever since they first opened a few years ago. Bauhaus is located downtown near the Toyota Center and down the street from Spire. They bring a lot of great DJs to play at their venue as well as other amazing local DJs to spin tunes and keep you dancing all night long.They have 3 different bar areas, an upstairs as well as downstairs bathroom, and also and outdoor patio area if you're looking for a chiller vibe. I also love that they carry my favorite tequila brands as Cle does not. I've said it before it's very easy to lose track of time here especially when you're having fun. Everyone is welcome although it may not be for everyone's taste and that's okay. I guarantee you will meet some fun new friends because the vibes are always right! They also have a kitchen you can order food from to eat in the lounge or on the patio. They were one of the first bars in the area to open up during Covid following all the safety guidelines. If you want a hip place to go with beautiful people you should come check them out!"

Scotty's Saloon at OTP

★★☆☆☆ 2.2 (70)

"I'm super city, so this isn't a place I'd normally go to, but it's down the street from my job and it was pretty cool. It's on a country road, sitting on a pretty large piece of property, and the bartenders are very friendly and attentive. Food and drinks aren't cheap, and they have entry fees on nights they have events or concerts. Wouldn't call it a neighborhood bar, but more like a bar/grill that can look like a club sometimes lol. Try it out, you'll see!"

Acadia Bar & Grill

★★★★☆ 4.3 (18)

"We were looking for a cool spot to hang out in Houston with darts, good beer & live music. This spot was it for us. We had a great time! They had local beers as well as all of the classics. There was a cover to get in, but it was worth it- the performance was great."

The Abbey Pub

★★★★☆ 3.5 (27) • $

"It's not located on Abbey Road, if it was, it'd be more expensive, and in London.So I love the girls working here, drinks are okay in terms of prices, and they have some cool local (loud) live music, which for me is the main selling point. Not everyone is friendly and the food is okay, but there's not a lot of great bars and pubs in Houston and so this is kind of a good spot, especially for the music and waitresses."

Union Tavern

★★★☆☆ 2.8 (36)

"Ok so it's a bar with no food. The staff is cool as f#ck and the prices for drinks are a bargain. You can always order from Dan's pizza or spring roll Express next door. They have live music some nights. It's a big place with pool tables and darts. Only thing is that the Juke box sucks balls. Very limited and edited"

Como Social Club

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (16)

"Cute bar inside the Westin on the second floor. It's adjacent to the pool and has a nice balcony area. It got quite crowded with several events (live music, a birthday, wedding group), but the service was amazing! Even if there being a line to order at the bar, the cocktail waitresses were still coming around pretty regularly.Has a nice view of the area, and we were lucky for a cool breeze."