Warren's Inn

The bartenders at this classic bar in Market Square pour the stiffest drinks in town. We should know because we spend a lot of time drinking in local bars (and have collectively put the children of several taxi drivers through college because none of us wants to be the designated driver). The atmosphere hasn’t changed for decades (and neither have the bow-tied bartenders who look like they’ve all had their AARP cards for years) with flocked wallpaper, dark wood paneling, dim lighting and a jukebox with a giant inventory of everything from Willie Nelson to 10,000 Maniacs. Warren’s Inn attracts all types – the hipsters come for the kitsch-factor, older patrons are drawn to the nostalgia and actors from the nearby Alley Theater stop by to unwind with a potent after-performance cocktail. The martinis are among Houston’s best and there’s a lite menu -- the chicken salad is a standout.

For the fastest service, sit at the bar because those aforementioned bartenders don’t wait on tables…the mountain must come to the bow-tied Mohammad.