A Pride flag waves downtown at the 2015 Houston Pride parade Saturday, June 27, 2015, in Houston. ( Jon Shapley / Houston Chronicle )
Jon Shapley/Houston Chronicle
For a lot of LGBTQ+ people, the gay bar is a sacred space. They’re the first places we ever went in our small towns that felt like they were for us, where people who looked like us went and partied and drank their cares away. Mine, the now-closed Halo in Bryan, Texas, was the first place I was able to wear makeup and dress how I wanted as a closeted trans woman.
And when I moved to Houston, I was surprised how vibrant the city’s queer scene is. There’s a spot for everybody, and while many historic Houston gay spots have closed, the scene is still lively. Here are the bars you should check out this Pride Month.
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The gayborhood square
How Montrose became one of the centers of gay life in Houston is fascinating in itself, thanks in part to cheap real estate and oil money. But here, you’ll find most of the gay bars in town, centered around a rough “square” (though it’s more of a trapezoid) created by Grant Street, Fairview Street, Stanford Street, and Pacific Street in Montrose. Each has a distinct vibe.
JR’s Bar and Grill in Houston
COURTESY PHOTO
JR’s Bar & Grill: One of the biggest gay bars in Houston, sporting a massive patio outside and a karaoke bar inside. There’s also a spot to play pool and relax if karaoke isn’t your thing. Drinks are cheap, which leads to some really entertaining drunk gay guys botching Katy Perry.
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South Beach: Next door to JR’s, South Beach is a more upscale club. There’s usually a cover and the entertainment usually ranges from out-of-town DJs to drag shows. A great spot to end the night dancing.
Blur: Much grimier than South Beach, Blur is one of the only real 18+ gay bars in the area. It sports a semi-eerie backrooms vibe in some places, but the cheap, gay bar pours cannot be denied.
Varsity: Varsity Bar has gone by a number of names in its day, most recently as Eagle before it closed and was bought up by Houston entrepreneur Jeff Hoffman, who has renovated it into a sports and music video bar with live DJs and drag shows. Hoffman also owns another nearby gay bar, the Montrose Country Club, which has a pool.
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The exterior of Varsity Bar at 611 Hyde Park Blvd. in Houston, Texas on Sept. 23.
Gwen Howerton/Chron.com
George: A divey sports bar, George is home to an older crowd but is a great place to drink and catch an Astros game on a warm summer afternoon.
Crocker: Described as “hip-hop focused” on its Instagram, Crocker is another great spot for dancing and hosts a varying roster of local and out-of-town DJs.
Club 2.0: Club 2.0 stands out for being one of the few Latin-focused clubs in Montrose. Every Thursday is Latin Night, and consequently, it is usually popping, in my experience.
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Ripcord: One of the oldest leather bars in Texas, Ripcord is a laid-back bar with a big patio. If leather and more gay male adult-entertainment stuff isn’t your thing, Ripcord might not be for you. But if you enjoy walking on the wilder side, Ripcord is a great time and boasts a fascinating gallery of Texas leather history and various leather awards. Attached is Sir Rat, a long-running shop that sells leather accessories.
Barcode: A newer spot, Barcode is a great “first location” for your night out. It’s got a patio, and it’s a bit more casual and lowkey than most of the other bars in Montrose. I usually sit on the patio and wait for friends to show up before going out. Last time I was here, I diagnosed someone with gender dysphoria.
Play Nightlife: Play replaced the old Kiki last year and features lively DJ sets, drag, and an outdoor patio.
Outside the “square.”
There are a few other gay spots in Houston that are worth a visit outside of Montrose.
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Tony’s Corner Pocket: A real gay guy’s gay bar, Tony’s in Midtown is a great spot to go before and after Houston Pride. There’s an “amateur male stripper contest” and drag shows.
Pearl Bar: My favorite gay bar in Houston, Pearl is one of just a handful of lesbian bars in the United States and one of just two in Texas. Long situated at 4216 Washington Ave. in the Heights, Pearl announced last month that they are moving to a new, bigger space at 2811 Washington, a little closer to Montrose and Midtown. They’re touting the expansion as “The World’s Biggest Lesbian Bar.” Who could quibble with that? Pearl has also become a place to watch women’s sports.
HOUSTON, TEXAS – SEPTEMBER 15: Julie Mabry, owner of Pearl Bar, poses for a photograph in the patio of the bar Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020, in Houston. The Human Rights Campaign awarded Pearl Bar, Houstons only lesbian bar, funding to help preserve it during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Godofredo A. Vásquez/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)
Houston Chronicle/Hearst Newspap/Houston Chronicle via Getty Imag
Michael’s Outpost: This really is an outpost, located in a strip mall on Richmond Avenue. But this doesn’t mean it’s bad. A gay piano bar, Michael’s is a fabulous time. Most days of the week, you’ll find old queens and twinks belting out showtunes till the wee hours of the night. There’s also drag, and the popcorn is really good, too.
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Los Robles: Another Latin club located off 290 near Spring Branch, Los Robles is a bit of a hike. But if you venture out that way, you’re in for a good time. There’s line-dancing, and the club regularly hosts cumbia and nortena nights. It’s a really cool bar that’s worth a trek.
Neon Boots: Not far from Los Robles, Neon Boots is one of the biggest LGBTQ-focused honky-tonks anywhere in Texas. Built in 1955 as the Esquire Ballroom, Willie Nelson and Patsy Cline once jammed here. Today, it’s a huge gay bar but pays homage to its country roots with free western dancing lessons on Thursdays and Saturdays.