Hot Happy Hours

Where to drink right now: Houston's 9 hottest happy hour deals for December

We think it's high time to shake up your week — by adding a new deal to your happy hour rotation. From downtown to The Woodlands, we've rounded up nine new after-work specials that'll help end your day on a high note.

Moxie’s Grill and Bar
Chill out with frosty sip, the G.T. made with gin, muddled fresh lime, tonic, and frozen citrus, at bustling new hot spot, Moxie’s, located near the Galleria. Alongside several more handcrafted cocktails, plus house wines by the glass, local drafts, frosé — it’s all yours for $5.50 apiece during happy hour. Also on the menu: Delicious bites from smashed guacamole ($6) to an order of eight chicken wings ($9). (Weekdays from 3 to 6 pm.)

5000 Westheimer Rd.; 346- 571-6164

Bardot at Hotel Alessandra
Bardot, the sophisticated second-floor bar at downtown’s Hotel Alessandra, gets it right with its social hour menu, loaded with deals on drinks like $7 house wines by the glass and $6 well drinks. What’s more, eats, from hummus and ceviche, are $5 each, making it a deal we can’t refuse. (Weekdays from 3 to 7 pm; weekends from 3 to 6 pm.)

1070 Dallas St.; 844-204-5851

FM Kitchen and Bar
Those in-the-know routinely head to FM Kitchen and Bar near Washington Avenue for the killer FM burger, comfort dishes, decadent milkshakes, and game day viewing via several flat screen TVs. As though that’s not enough to grab your attention, the revamped happy hour menu should do the trick.

Well drinks, wines by the glass, and a duo of tap-tails: a house margarita and watermelon mule, are just $5 each. You’ll also score $1 off all beers and cocktails, including the FM Old Fashioned, mixed with apple-infused whiskey and walnut-vanilla bitters. (Monday to Saturday, from 11 am to 6 pm; Sunday from 6 pm to midnight.)

But that’s not all. On Mondays, enjoy Monday Night Football with $0.50 wings (4 pm to midnight). Tuesdays, take advantage of $1 Topo Chicos, $5 house margaritas, and $3.50 tacos (4 pm to midnight). Wednesdays, wines by the glass are $5 and live music begins at 7:30 pm. Dig into a $16 steak and potato special on Thursdays (4 pm to midnight). And on Fridays, the chef’s choice lunch plate can be yours for $15 — go big and add a beer pairing for an extra $4. (11 am to 4 pm.)

1112 Shepherd Dr.; 832-804-6006

The Hay Merchant
Happy hour gets a spirited boost thanks to a new liquor license at casual Montrose joint The Hay Merchant. While you can still choose from a rotating list of brews for $3 each (daily from 3 to 6:30 pm, and again Saturday to Sunday from 11 am to 12 pm), you can now get a boozy combo of a Firestone Walker 805 and a shot of whiskey for $5 (daily from 3 to 6:30 pm, and again from 11 pm to 2 am).

Looking for a late-night deal? The Hay Merchant’s got you covered here, too. The cook’s special ($15), comes complete with a Firestone Walker 805, a shot of whiskey, and an uber-delicious Cease and Desist Burger with fries. (Daily; 11 pm to 1 am.)

1100 Westheimer Rd.; 713-528-9805

Fielding’s Rooster
Reimagined comfort classics with a modern spin are the focus at Fielding’s Rooster in The Woodlands. During happy hour, dig into any — or all of six — featured dishes from a karaage chicken taco to chicken corn dogs. (Weekdays; 3 to 7 pm.)

House wines by the glass, select beers, and seven creative cocktails are also yours for the taking. We recommend the pumpkin-cinnamon mule (weekdays from 3 to 7 pm, and during NFL games).

4223 Research Forest Dr., The Woodlands; 281-364-6699

Damian's Cucina Italiana
Midtown staple Damian's rounds out its Italian menu with its first-ever happy hour special, featuring an alluring list of signature and classic cocktails, not the least of which is the The Nutella ($7). Hazelnut liqueur is joined by espresso vodka and chocolate liqueur for an addictive drink that has us coming back for more.

Also on special are well drinks ($6), beers ($3.50), Italian wines by the glass ($5 to $9), and fare including complimentary house-made chips; Calamari Tartufato ($8); Gamberetti di Pistachio with Gulf shrimp, pistachio crust, and lemon garlic vinaigrette ($9); and Flatbread di Polpette made with meatballs, marinara, mozzarella, Parmesan, ricotta, and homemade flatbread ($7). (Weekdays from 4 to 6:30 pm.)

3011 Smith St.; 713-522-0439

Alice Blue
At Alice Blue in the Heights, the $6 cocktail menu includes the Airmail, a riff on a traditional daiquiri stirred with rum, housemade honey syrup, fresh lime juice, and cava. A 25 percent discount on all wine; $3 brews from Live Oak to Lone Star; and food including a cheeseburger ($11), squash fritters ($7), and a wedge salad ($7) are also a draw. (Daily, 3 to 6 pm.)

250 W 19th St.; 713-864-2050

Toulouse Cafe and Bar
If you find yourself at Toulouse in River Oaks District during happy hour, get your hands on select wines by the glass ($7) and the salmon gravlax with cured salmon, wasabi, and Dijon mustard. Other dishes include scallop carpaccio with pesto, aged balsamic, and red pepper flakes, and croque monsieur. (Weekdays, 4 to 7 pm.)

4444 Westheimer Rd.; 713-871-0768

Third Coast
A fried oyster tostada ($12), Charcuterie and cheese plate ($14 to $18), and pizza of the day ($12), alongside $8 thirst quenchers like the Winter is Here cider hot toddy, make happy hour at Third Coast near the Medical Center a no-brainer. (Weekdays, 3 to 7 pm.)

6550 Bertner Ave.; 713-749-0400

Moxie's roster of $5.50 sips includes the must-try G.T.

Houston, Moxies G.T. cocktail, November 2017

Courtesy photo

Moxie's roster of $5.50 sips includes the must-try G.T.

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ps, we're closed

Houston's most pretty-in-pink restaurant quietly closes in Upper Kirby

Photo by Jenn Duncan

You'll see a lot of pink at PostScript.

PostScript, Upper Kirby’ posh pink restaurant, has quietly closed, CultureMap has learned.

Although the restaurant is still accepting reservations on OpenTable — and is, as of this article’s publication, listed as open on both Yelp and Google — reports circulated on social media this weekend that it had abruptly canceled diners’ Mother’s Day reservations. In addition, its dining room in the Shops at Arrive mixed-use development has been emptied of furniture.

[Update: After the publication of this article, PostScript's management provided CultureMap with the following statement:

We are saddened to announce the closure of PostScript HTX.

We sincerely thank our patrons for their loyalty and support. It has been an honor to serve you and be part of your special moments. The people and culture in Houston are first class. We wish you all the best and hope our paths cross again in the future.]

PostScript opened with considerable fanfare in February 2024. Owners Veeral Rathod and Obi Ibeto, brought their experiences as partners in the Dallas-based GAP Hospitality to the project, which operates establishments such as XOXO Dining Room, Lyla, and Drai’s Dallas. Particularly inspired by XOXO Dining Room, they created an ode to pink that included pink exterior and interior walls, a pink quartz bar, and a pink grand piano. “Push for Champagne” buttons added to the lively spirit.

Chef Bryan Caswell created the menu. Best known for his pioneering Gulf Coast seafood restaurant Reef that closed in 2019, Caswell’s menu included fried chicken with hummus, oysters three ways (raw, roasted, and fried), a sushi roll, and the double smoked pork chop that was a Reef staple. A doughnut topped with caviar became a customer favorite.

Since Caswell was only consulting on the project, he left a couple of months after opening. Latuli, Caswell’s new Gulf Coast-inspired restaurant in the Memorial area, is expected to open soon.

CultureMap has reached out to PostScript via email, phone, and Instagram message for comment on the decision to close the restaurant. We will update this article if they reply.

PostScript’s closure follows that of Cru, which ended a 13-year run in December 2024. On the other hand, Kira, a sushi hand roll concept from Houston’s Comma Hospitality that’s also located in the development, is thriving, having earned the No. 4 spot on Texas Monthly’s list of the state’s best new restaurants. The development is also home to beloved Indian restaurant Pondicheri, an outpost of the steakhouse chain Eddie V’s, and top tier Houston shopping destination Tootsie’s.

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