One of the greatest upsides of living in Houston is that pool season stretches well into fall (and possibly even winter). Enter this poolside bar and lounge concept, which sits over at the reimagined Heights House Hotel and comes from industry pros Greg Perez (Monkey’s Tail) and chef-partner Lyle Bento (Underbelly, Southern Goods). Former Monkey's Tail bartenders Samantha Ruiz and Karen Cervantes oversee the bar operations, stirring up super fun and quirky tropical drinks.

We may have said goodbye to the beloved OKRA Charity Saloon, but it really just reincarnated into Angel Share. New owner Mary Ellen Angel was a longtime general manager of the saloon, and the bar will continue on with one of OKRA’s most important features: donating a portion of its proceeds (this time, from a special menu) to a different local nonprofit each month. You can even help choose which organization gets selected by earning a vote with each food and bev purchase.

This second concept from Night Moves Hospitality (the minds behind Space Cowboy, also on this list) just opened up in Lindale Park. Owner Greg Perez and chef Lyle Bento teamed up with former Edison & Patton’s Chris Manriquez to revamp the place into a grungy cocktailery, the kind of spot that makes you channel your inner raccoon for the night (the bar’s official slogan is displayed in bright neon letters on the wall: “Death is Coming, Eat Trash, Be Free”).

This hidden gem puts a fresh-faced spin on the classic wine bar concept with its innovative “try before you buy” approach. Claim a spot on the super sleek patio then head inside to check in, grab a card, and hit the self-serve wine-dispensing machines offering one, three, and five-ounce pours of 50+ wines. There’s also a top-notch bottle list you can enjoy onsite or at home.

Japanese whiskey highballs, spiced milk punch, and fizzy gin drinks are just some of the enticing concoctions awaiting guests inside this shotgun-style cocktailery. Wagyu gyoza, fiery edamame, and curry fries are a few more. The tiny 10-seat concept comes from the team behind neighboring hand roll joint, Hando, which it shares a door with, serving as an overflow destination for diners while holding its own with a great happy hour, small plates, and late night goodies.

Sipping an umbrella-adorned tiki drink under the starlit palapa at this tropical oasis is something every Houstonian should experience. A refreshing venture from the crew behind Nobie’s, TTC serves mad vacation vibes with help from a rushing waterfall, adult sandbox, and punny, boozy cocktails like the Lychee Self Go (mezcal, lychee, housemade purple sizzurp) from bar director Sarah Troxell.

Sister concept to avant-garde tasting menu restaurant, Degust, Diversión focuses on pure flavors, scratchmade ingredients, and top shelf booze. Chef-partner Steven Salazar goes above and beyond to make sure your drinks are fresh, personally foraging and preserving Meyer lemons for year-round citrus as well as fashioning his own tinctures, ferments, and vinegars.

Channeling the spirit of Ozomatli (that’s the monkey companion spirit to the Aztec god of music and dance, obviously) this Mexican-American cocktail dive is one of Houston’s vibe-iest neighborhood hangouts. The indoor-outdoor setup is perfect for our ever-changing weather, with a dog-friendly patio on nicer days and a funky indoor space with billiards to keep you entertained during the inevitable rainstorm. There’s also an extensive draft system with 20 taps.

Outside of Bravery Chef Hall at Aris Market Square lies this not-so-secret garden, where you’ll find barkeep Jonathan Gallardo (Hughes Hangar, Prohibition) showing off his mad maestro skills inside a striking glass greenhouse engulfed in lush plants and flowers. It’s easily the best place to grab a stiff date night tipple, especially these days, since you can saunter out onto the 2,000-square-foot patio to enjoy it.

Bobby Heugel’s first bar put Houston’s cocktail scene on the map with a focus on form and a robust collection of housemade bitters, sodas, and infusions. The team at Anvil deserves to be taken seriously, too, as the staff goes through an intense training process culminating in a 50-count blind taste test, and a number of skilled alums have gone on to open some of the most exciting bars in town.

Winos should make a beeline for this European-style enoteca. Stashed in a swanky '20s-era building with a charming patio that makes for the perfect romantic date night, this stalwart prides itself on storing its extensive 450+ library of global selections at ideal temperatures. Get in on offerings by the bottle, glass, half-glass, and taster alongside damn fine charcuterie and bar snacks, wine-centric dinners, pop-up tastings, and art installations.

Housed in an industrial 1880s uniform factory and making Houstonians swoon since 2014, this Southern charmer just got a little more exciting, crafting its first original menu since the pandemic began. In addition to masterful odes to the bar’s namesake drink, bourbon boss Alba Huerta ups the game with a flourish of back porch inspirations that read like a history book of the South—bold Sazeracs, hot and sour Creole rums, and new cocktails focused on migrant ingredients.

Hammocks and beer—could a lazy afternoon get any better? Actually yes, because Axelrad also offers board games, picnic tables, food trucks, occasional live music, and a next-door pizza joint that will bring garlic knots straight to your table. Hanging out in this chill beer garden is the day-drinking equivalent of going to a spa (especially during prime patio season).

This throwback ice house was around before household refrigerators became an “it” appliance. First opening back in 1928, locals frequented the spot to get ice blocks and a couple of cold ones before heading home for the day. Today, they’re doing the same damn thing, minus the ice and adding in tacos al pastor from the nearby Tacos Tierra Caliente truck. West Alabama Ice House’s sprawling patio and tiny indoor space is so unapologetically no-frills, it earns instant respect.

Whiskey, beer, and tacos—you really only need to excel at one component of this holy trinity to survive in Houston, but somehow this Agricole Hospitality number manages all three. The modern icehouse carries over a hundred selections of whiskey, including proprietary barrels of bourbon hand-selected by beverage director Morgan Weber and showcased in a rickhouse-like structure behind the bar.

With a slew of solid years under its belt, this friendly neighborhood joint continues to hit the mark. That’s probably because all 10 of its expertly balanced classics remain just $8 a pop while the seasonal menu and well-versed selection of spirits keep regulars on their toes. Grab a seat on the patio and go from the spot-on Gimlet with housemade lime cordial to a Boiler Maker, which takes a Lone Star and house Old Fashioned pairing and turns it on its side.

Rum is the spirit of choice inside this unassuming Heights haunt, where the tiki spirit is just as strong as the tastefully quirky drinks. Fancified island-style cocktails come with top shelf spirits and the requisite splashes of bitters, Herbsaint, ginger beer, and lemongrass, plus some showy drinking vessels strewn with hula girls, naked mermaids, and bursts of real flames. You’re not a local until you’ve said “Okole maluna!” to at least one of Lei Low’s many Mai Tais.

A whole bunch of notable industry folk (including Anvil’s Bobby Heugel, Theodore Rex’s Justin Yu, and many more) came together Avengers-style to open this neon-lit neighborhood hangout a few years back. Today, the crew continues to fly beyond the rigid structure of serious cocktail bars and tasting menus, showing off a sense of humor with everyday food, a short and smart list of original cocktails (try the Japanese highball), and a chilled out, all-are-welcome attitude.

This twin-faced powerhouse offers a 94-tap beer and wine garden on one side and a craft cocktail and whiskey den on the other. In between, you’ll find a spacious courtyard with plenty of shaded benches, swing seating, fire pits, and a packed crowd getting down on saisons, IPAs, and smoky mezcal- and bourbon-spiked numbers (as well as pork shank platters with 'nduja).

This 400-seat, 9,000-square-foot indoor-outdoor watering hole is pretty much an adult Disneyland—if Disneyland were in beer-crazed Germany. You’ll find ample seating throughout, plus fun stuff like live bands, a trickling stream, giant beer pretzels, boot-shaped steins and shot-skis, and a world-class selection of beers (a blend of German, local, and general import), whiskies, specialty cocktails, and German and Austrian wines.

Any old time is the perfect time to hit up Cottonwood’s fantastically large patio. Repping a full bar and kitchen plus a roster of entertainment that runs the gamut from live music to late night fireside hangs with your pup, the indoor-outdoor bar screams easy living. Go for the enviable selection of beverages, including Texas and Kentucky whiskies as well as 42 beers on tap, and if you get hungry, follow it up with a poblano pepper-stuffed burger.

This monster truck-sized beer garden is a carnival for kids of all ages, rocking live music, flat screens, food trucks, and a legit Ferris wheel that, one sweet day, you’ll get to use again. Post up in an open-air truck bed or get cozy at an umbrella-shaded picnic table and laze the day away with signature Trash Can punches, strawberry spritzes, mojitos, mules, and margs. And when the weather doesn’t cooperate, the covered patio seating has your back alongside an indoor bar.

We’re guessing you could use a vacation right about now—or at least a little fun that somewhat resembles a vacation. That’s where this kitschy watering hole comes in, rocking palms and flamingos, neon signage and wall gardens, plenty of outdoor space, and vibes that will transport you straight to Palm Springs. Festive drinks (including refreshingly boozy spins on LaCroix served in the can) sit alongside rotating frozen concoctions, beers, and wines.