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    Houston's Best Patios

    Houston's Best Patio Restaurants and Bars: 10 (plus) new outdoor dining spots that could be contenders

    Eric Sandler
    Mar 31, 2015 | 2:18 pm

    After a cold, dreary, rainy winter, spring has finally sprung in Houston. Last weekend's mild temperatures saw Houstonians flooding to outdoor activities like Sunday Streets, Kite Day at Hermann Park and the Bayou City Arts Festival.

    They also flocked to bars and restaurants with expansive patios. A fly-by past perennial favorites like Brooklyn Athletic Club, Batanga and Boheme revealed large crowds of people sporting sunglasses and sipping frosty beverages. After all, Houstonians are the opposite of the denizens of Westeros.

    Summer is coming, and, when it does, being outside will be kind of miserable. Best to soak up some rays while the getting is good.

    CultureMap's Best Houston Patios update last fall featured intriguing options like Bistro Menil, Pax Americana and Bernie's Burger Bus. This new spring update features patios in suddenly booming Midtown, on the comeback trail along Washington Ave and even a spot in The Woodlands that's adjacent to water.

    Maybe they'll replace an old favorite or validate the awesomeness of your favorite place — or maybe one of them will become the next patio institution.

    Big Eyed Fish
    Given that it's a converted house, no one should be surprised that Big Eyed Fish's patio is a porch. The menu of Southern favorites features winning dishes like crab beignets and turtle soup.

    Linger over a craft beer or selection from the well-chosen wine list.

    Doc's Bar & Grill
    Montrose residents have already embraced this Austin-import that opened in November. Its sprawling, 100-seat patio gets swarmed on sunny days by diners seeking cold beer and high-quality bar food.

    Recently, Doc's introduced its Two-Wheel Tuesday and Wheelin' Wednesday promotions to draw in bicyclists and motorcycle riders, respectively.

    The El Cantina
    Thanks to a takeover by the F.E.E.D TX restaurant group (Liberty Kitchen, BRC), this restaurant in the Heights has become a destination for Tex-Mex with a twist and solid barbecue. The expansive patio provides a view onto the bustling corner of Studewood and White Oak, while the top-notch frozen margaritas help the time pass by.

    Local Pour - The Woodlands
    The Woodlands version of the River Oaks bar takes a more grown-up tack thanks to a menu designed by consulting chef of the moment Randy Evans that's served for both lunch and dinner. What better place to enjoy a burger made with 44 Farms beef or a salad made with Atkinson Farm strawberries than a patio that looks out over Lake Woodlands?

    As the Hughes Landing restaurant row picks up steam, expect Local Pour's patio to be one of its most coveted tables.

    As the Hughes Landing restaurant row picks up steam, expect Local Pour's patio to be one of its most coveted tables.

    North Italia
    The new Italian spot from Fox Restaurants Concepts offers a shaded patio set far enough back from the Post Oak traffic to feel like it's located in a more sedate part of the city. Take advantage of the happy hour which offers a pizza of the day and bottle of wine for only $20 Mondays through Fridays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

    Oporto Fooding & Wine
    The bigger, better version of the Greenway Plaza tapas bar features a patio that, like the restaurant's interior, offers a serene alternative to the typical Midtown party scene. With the addition of lunch and brunch, Oporto has an all-day utility that makes it a pleasant place to spend an afternoon blowing off work.

    Happy hour from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. doesn't hurt either.

    The Republic Smokehouse & Saloon
    Midtown's newest arrival may not be a traditional barbecue joint, but it does indulge the neighborhood's love for outdoor drinking. The Republic's patio is covered, features its own dedicated bar and offers four TVs to keep track of the games.

    Midtown's newest arrival may not be a traditional barbecue joint, but it does indulge the neighborhood's love for outdoor drinking.

    If the Houston Astros really make good on their stated goal of playing .500 ball this year, it will be a fun place to eat some ribs and watch the local nine win.

    Table 57 Dining & Drinks
    Located inside the massive new H-E-B on San Felipe, this restaurant's shaded, 80-seat patio features a small children's play area and live music on the weekends. With a food menu created by chef Randy Evans and a solid craft beer and wine selection, the restaurant serves neighborhood shoppers and diners well.

    A strict no-tipping policy only adds to the value.

    Urban Eats
    The combined restaurant and market features a second story patio with a nice view of the downtown skyline. It's the perfect place to park a cocktail with one of the restaurant's creative sliders.

    Weights + Measures
    Admittedly, the 14-seat postage stamp-sized space that is the W+M patio is more smoker's refuge than serene, outdoor respite, but it is both shaded from above and the afternoon heat. When the weather is nice, the patio becomes a pleasant place to linger over brunch with a cocktail or two at the white-hot bar, bakery and restaurant in Midtown.

    Tell the smokers to beat it to the sidewalk on Caroline.

    Honorable Mention: Peska Seafood Culture
    Eventually, Peska will secure the necessary permits to complete construction on its San Felipe-facing patio with a louvered roof that will open and close throughout the day in a way that shields diners from the worst of the sun's heat. Hopefully, it's completed soon after the restaurant's scheduled opening on April 6, because, when it is, people will flock to it for cocktails, wine and light bites from chef Omar Pereney's menu.

    Honorable Mention:Wooster's Garden
    This list primarily focuses on restaurants, but, the patio at Wooster's Garden merits attention even though it's a bar. In addition to outdoor seating, a floor-to-almost-ceiling sliding glass door merges indoors and outdoors on particularly pleasant days.

    Go there for a craft beer or craft cocktail and light bite from the tidy menu.

    The sliding glass doors at Wooster's Garden merge the outside and inside.

    2 Wooster's Garden in Midtown December 2014 patio
      
    Photo by Eric Sandler
    The sliding glass doors at Wooster's Garden merge the outside and inside.
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    Drop it like it's hot

    Houston farmers market adds new indoor pickleball court with food and cocktails

    Brianna Griff
    Jun 18, 2025 | 1:00 pm
    Drop Shots HTX indoor pickleball courts
    Photo by Abante Photography
    Drop Shots HTX celebrates its grand opening this Saturday, June 21.

    Pickleball isn’t going anywhere — the racquet sport continues to score with Houstonians. The newest player on the city’s crowded court, Drop Shots HTX, stands out for one big reason: it’s entirely indoors.

    Drop Shots HTX indoor pickleball courts
      

    Photo by Abante Photography

    Drop Shots HTX celebrates its grand opening this Saturday, June 21.

    Opening June 21, Drop Shots HTX is the brainchild of hospitality veterans Roveen Abante (Conservatory Galleria, Duchess), Chase Lovullo (Conservatory Galleria), and Shawn Outlaw.

    “We didn’t just want to open a bar,” co-founder Roveen Abante said in a statement. “We built a space where people connect, whether they’re playing or not. There’s something for everyone here.”

    Drop Shots HTX is marking its grand opening on June 21 from 12-11 pm, offering all-day open play for $5 along with $5 food and drink specials. Live DJs and giveaways will add to the experience.

    Patrons can soak up the A/C while slapping balls across one of the six professional-grade indoor courts. Off the court, guests can engage in friendly competitions of skee-ball, ping pong, arcade basketball, and cornhole in the second-floor lounge. Nine screens make up one wall in the mezzanine, ideal for catching the latest game, or can be expanded into one 195-inch television.

    Clutch City Kitchen will keep the players' appetite at bay with pizzas, sandwiches, and acai bowls. For hydration, an indoor/outdoor full bar will have 10 signature pickleball-themed cocktails, mocktails, and fresh juices crafted from local fruits and veggies.

    “Some venues lean into serious competition, we lean into fun,” added co-founder Shawn Outlaw. “We’re the only indoor pickleball facility inside the Loop with a full bar, kitchen, lounge, and patio. But more than that, we’re the only one that feels like your new favorite neighborhood hangout, even if you never touch a paddle.”

    Events like Glow-in-the-Dark Fridays, Tacos and Tequila Saturdays, and Pancakes and Pickball mornings add a twist to the typical pickleball match. Bring the kids—the venue is family-friendly until 10pm.

    “We created Drop Shots HTX because we fell in love with a game that brings generations together,” Outlaw said. “From our 10-year-olds to our 65-year-old parents, pickleball is for everyone. And so is this space.”

    Drop Shots HTX is located at 2520 Airline Drive, Building A, Suite 100. It’s open Monday through Thursday from 12-11pm, Friday from 12 pm-12 am, and Saturday and Sunday from 11 am-11 pm.

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