Houston's Best After-Work Bar

Posh little Rice Village joint cuts a space-age, bachelor-pad groove.

Reviews:

• “Best White Pizza in Houston!”
• “Good drinks”
• “quaint chill lounge in rice village”
• “It’s okay…”
• “Unreasonable Staff”

Tips: The lounge is often open even when the restaurant downstairs is closed. If the front door is locked, climb the staircase in the back of the parking lot to access the patio and the lounge.

Lounge at Benjy’s

Two-level club provides the perfect compromise for Houston’s martini set and hard-core sports fans alike.

Reviews:

• “Suitable for Sports Fans only”
• “Great Food, Best Bartenders, Great for Sports Fans”
• “Great for the Gay Golden Tee player and Jalepeno things”
• “Best Sports Bar!”
• “Best NTN/Buzztime location in Houston”

Tips: Order pizzas, burgers and other tasty bites from the kitchen until 2am.

The Mezzanine Lounge
email The Mezzanine Lounge

This British pub lays claim to authentic English tradition.

Reviews:

• “I actually can’t fault The Red Lion”
• “Why go anywhere else?”
• “Great Customer Service and Fantastic Food”
• “Great Pub, Great Local”
• “Excellent Pub”

Tips: Red Lion is open for lunch. Bring your laptop and get some work done with the free Wi-Fi access.

Red Lion Pub
email Red Lion Pub

Combination sports bar-Italian eatery with food as good as mamma used to make.

Reviews:

• “Great Pizza-Smoking "
• “Bigger Bar Tabs Rule the Roost!”
• “Awesome pizza”
• “Great Food and Service”
• “Rude Dirty never going there again!”

Tips: If you don’t have a Nick’s card, get one. It’s just like a Kroger or Randalls card, but it entitles you to free beer and food.

Nick’s Place Italian Sports Bar & Pizzeria
email Nick’s Place Italian Sports Bar & Pizzeria

Thai touches accent traditional Mexican dishes at this popular River Oaks restaurant.

Reviews:

• “Do not plan a special celebration here”
• “A big YES to Tealas!”
• “Best margaritas in Houston”
• “Almost as good as expected”
• “Now that is Mexican Food!”

Tips: Hit up happy hour from 3pm to 6pm, Monday-Friday for a $1 discount on specialty margaritas.

Teala’s Mexican Restaurant & Bar
email Teala’s Mexican Restaurant & Bar

Margaritas pack in after-work partiers, while the Tex-Mex menu provides some local flavor.

Reviews:

• “Velveeta and Grease”
• “love those margaritas”
• “CAFE ABODE IS UNSANITARY!! IT HAS RODENTS!!!!”
• “What Are People Saying? It’s very Good and Amazing! I give it 12345678910 review.”
• “Never again”

Tips: Even with the large lot, parking is at a premium during happy hour, so look for a spot on the street if possible.

Cafe Adobe

An Irish heart beats proudly within this Rice Village pub.

Reviews:

• “WORST BAR IN THE VILLAGE!”
• “Chair pulling!!!”
• “Do not go here, there are other great bars in the village”
• “Good place for happy hour; slow service”
• “if you want to be hassled at the door, this is the place to go”

Tips: Two bucks for Long Island Iced Teas until close on Tuesday.

Brian O’Neill’s
email Brian O’Neill’s

Contemporary Uptown Park wine bar attracts oenophiles looking to relax and enjoy a glass of wine with lunch or dinner.

Reviews:

• “For Cougars and Old Single Guys”
• “Worst wine bar experience ever”
• “If you love mobs, this place rocks!”
• “Different, but in a good way”
• “good food good wine”

Tips: Expect a 10-percent discount on all cases. The Frequent Shoppers card offers a 15-percent discount. Consider a mixed case of champagne: The back wall is devoted to global selections.

The Tasting Room
email The Tasting Room

Upscale professionals flock to this snazzy, high-as-a-cloud club for rarefied air and too-hip-to-be-square music.

Reviews:

• “Overpriced and falling apart!!”
• “Best Bar in Town!”
• “I liked it!”
• “Time for a facelift”
• “GREAT VIEWS!!!”

Tips: Find happy-hour drink specials on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Ladies have no cover charge on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Scott Gertner’s SkyBar

This homey club is Houston’s premier destination for those with a yen for folk, Irish and Celtic music.

Reviews:

• “A Houston treasure”
• “Decent folk venue, snarky management”
• “Great for what it is”
• “Intimate setting to hear good music”
• “Not recommended”

Tips: Stuff your face for free during happy hour, 5pm-7pm, weekdays.

McGonigel’s Mucky Duck