Restaurants reopening May 1

Master list of Houston restaurants reopening for dine-in service beginning May 1

UPDATE: CultureMap has published lists of additional restaurants that reopened for dine-in service on May 6 and May 13. Please see them for restaurants not listed below.

---

Dozens of Houston restaurants will reopen for dine-in service on Friday, May 1.

This list includes almost exclusively locally owned establishments from across a variety of price points and parts of Houston. That's not necessarily the case in other parts of Texas; our sister site in Austin declined to publish a similar list of restaurants because “our story would largely consist of mega-chains or restaurant groups based in other cities.”

Those who choose to dine out this weekend will find restaurants to be different places than they were in February. Per regulations from Texas Governor Greg Abbott, diners will not be able to use valet parking. They will be expected to wash their hands upon entering a restaurant. Once seated — at parties no larger than six and at least six feet away from other tables — they’ll find that shared condiment dispensers such as ketchup bottles and salt shakers have been replaced by single-use, disposable items.

Picos has installed plexiglass partitions at the bar and in between some tables to separate both staff from diners and diners from each other. Many restaurants are limiting restroom occupancy to one person at a time, with a staff member monitoring the area to enforce social distancing. Contactless payment via Venmo or another app may be strongly encouraged.

Similarly, most restaurants have not only explicitly endorsed the Texas Restaurant Association’s Texas Restaurant Promise that recommends daily health screening of employees and frequent sanitizing of common areas but have also told CultureMap that their employees will be wearing masks and gloves when they interact with customers. Patrons should also strongly consider face coverings when they’re not eating to help prevent spreading the virus.

While the decision to reopen or patronize a restaurant’s dining room is controversial — one Instagram follower got blocked for a message that simply read “restaurants = death” — many people are ready to dine out. Representatives tell CultureMap that both Tony’s and Steak 48 are mostly booked for both Friday and Saturday, and Federal Grill had no trouble filling its available tables when it reopened last weekend.

The good news for people who don’t feel ready to eat outside their homes is that all of the restaurants listed below still offer to-go service. That will obviously be part of the mix for the foreseeable future; neither the current 25-percent limit on capacity or Governor Abbott’s upcoming “phase 2” (scheduled for May 18) of 50-percent capacity will be a path to profitability for any restaurant.

Like diners, not all restaurateurs are ready to proceed. Chris Shepherd’s Underbelly Hospitality, Hugo Ortega and Tracy Vaught’s H-Town Restaurant Group, and dozens of other establishments large and small are waiting to see what phase 2 brings. They will also continue to offer meals to-go.

This list is lengthy but it is not comprehensive. CultureMap will update it through Friday, May 1 as more restaurants announce their plans.

Montrose/Midtown/Third Ward

Artisans: Limited menu and hours. Reservations required.

Avondale Food & Wine: Regular menu and hours.

Cafe Brasil: Limited menu. Open daily 8 am - 8 pm.

Café Poêtes: High tea and dinner only. Reservations required.

Candente: Limited menu includes fajitas, Tex-Mex classics, nachos, and queso. Reservations required, 4 - 10 pm Wednesday - Sunday.

Christian’s Tailgate: Limited menu. Open daily at 11 am for lunch and dinner.

Common Bond: Regular menu and hours.

Cuchara Mexico City Bistro: Regular menu and hours.

Da Marco: Regular menu and hours. Reservations required.

Dolce Vita: Regular menu and hours. Reservations required.

Empire Cafe: Regular menu and hours.

Eugene’s: Regular menu and hours Monday - Saturday. Reservations recommended but only available by calling the restaurant (online not available for now).

Harry’s Restaurant: Regular menu and hours. Cafeteria service replaced with a new, sit-down lunch menu.

Kau Ba: Regular menu and hours.

La Mexicana: Regular menu and hours.

Lucio’s BYOB: Regular menu and hours.

Lucille's: Patio seating only with a limited meun. Reservations required. Hours: 5 - 9 pm Friday, 10 am - 3 pm and 5 - 9 pm Saturday, 10 am - 3 pm Sunday.

Nino's: Regular menu and hours beginning May 4.

Paulie’s: Regular menu and hours.

The Pit Room: Line service with social distancing resumes May 1 with limited interior and patio seating, 11 am - 9 pm daily.

Pronto Cucina: Regular menu and hours.

Postino: Regular menu and hours beginning May 6.

Revelry on Richmond: Limited menu and hours. Crawfish specials on Saturday and Sunday.

Taste Bar & Kitchen: Regular menu and hours. Reservations recommended.

Turkey Leg Hut: Regular menu and hours. Reservations required.

Vincent's: Regular menu and hours beginning May 4.

Vinoteca Poscol: Regular menu and hours. Reservations required.

Weights + Measures: Regular menu. Reservations required for dinner; walk-ins accepted for breakfast and lunch, 8 am - 9 pm.

The Heights and Surrounding Neighborhoods

1751 Sea and Bar: Limited menu includes raw bar, conservas, and simply grilled items. Reservations required, 4 - 10 pm Tuesday - Saturday.

Antone’s Famous Po’ Boys: Full menu but limited hours, 11 am - 4 pm Monday - Saturday.

Be More Pacific: Full menu with limited hours: 3 - 10 pm Wednesday - Sunday.

Becks Prime: Regular menu and hours.

Bellagreen: Regular menu and hours.

Bungalow Heights: Regular menu and hours.

Chick'nCone: Regular menu and hours.

Christian’s Tailgate: Limited menu. Open daily at 11 am for lunch and dinner.

CoCo Crepes: Regular menu and hours.

Coltivare: Regular menu available beginning May 6 for patio seating only. Reservations required (the first time the restaurant will be accepting them). Seatings at 5 and 7 pm Sunday - Thursday with a 9 pm seating Friday and Saturday.

Common Bond: Regular menu and hours.

Crisp: Limited menu and hours. Reservations recommended, 12 - 9 pm.

Dish Society: Regular menu and hours. Patio seating only.

EggHaus Gourmet: Limited menu and regular hours.

Federal American Grill: Regular menu and hours.

Field & Tides: Regular menu but limited hours. Reservations recommended, 12 - 4 pm and 6 - 10:30 pm with dinner seatings at 6 and 8 pm.

Flying Fish: Regular menu and limited hours, 11 am - 9 pm Sunday - Thursday and 11 am - 10 pm Friday and Saturday.

Harold's: Open for dinner and weekend brunch only in the upstairs dining room and patio. Ordering and payment will be online via smartphone or tablet. Reservations recommended.

Jax Grill: Limited menu and regular hours.

King’s BierHaus: Limited menu with crawfish specials on Saturday and Sunday, 4 - 9 pm daily.

Local Foods: Patio seating and counter service only, 10 am - 8 pm daily

Mary’z Mediterranean Cuisine: Regular menu and hours.

Pluckers: Regular menu open daily 11 am - 11 pm.

Porta’Vino: Regular menu but limited hours, 5 - 9 pm daily.

Postino: Regular menu and hours.

Revival Market: Regular hours and menu.

Shell Shack: Regular hours and menu.

Snooze: An AM Eatery: Regular menu and hours beginning May 6.

Star Pizza. Regular menu and hours. Reservations required.

Studewood Cantine: Regular menu and hours.

The Toasted Yolk: Regular menu and hours.

The Union Kitchen: Limited menu and regular hours. Reservations recommended.

Verdine: Dine-in only available for dinner, 5 - 8 pm Tuesday - Saturday. Reservations required. To-go available 11 am - 8 pm Tuesday - Saturday and 11 am - 3 pm Sunday.

Downtown, EaDo, East End, and the Second Ward

Bravery Chef Hall: Patio seating only. Diners will be required to order and pay online using a smartphone. Customers who wish to use the restroom must wear a mask and allow their temperature to be taken.

The Flying Saucer: Regular menu but limited hours: closing at 9 pm on weekdays and 11 pm on Friday.

Grotto: Regular menu and hours.

Jackson St. BBQ: Regular menu but limited hours, 11 am - 2 pm daily.

La Calle Tacos & Cantina: Regular menu and hours with $0.99 tacos from 2-7 pm Friday - Sunday to celebrate reopening (dine-in or in person to-go only).

Miss Carousel: New menu and hours beginning May 6.

The Original Ninfa’s on Navigation: Regular menu and hours beginning with dinner at 5 pm on May 1. Reservations recommended.

Osso & Kristalla: Regular menu and hours.

Potente: Regular menu and hours. Reservations recommended.

Rodeo Goat: Limited menu and hours, 11 am - 9 pm Sunday - Thursday and 11 am - 10 pm Friday and Saturday.

The Rustic: Regular menu but limited hours, 12 - 10 pm Sunday - Thursday and 12 pm - 12 am Friday and Saturday.

Underground Food Hall: All five vendors and both bars will reopen beginning at 11 am on Friday. Face masks are "strongly encouraged" for patrons. Capacity limited to 65 people (under 20-percent).

Vic & Anthony's: Regular menu and hours.

Vinny's: Regular menu and hours beginning May 6.

West U, River Village, Upper Kirby, and River Oaks

a’Bouzy: Full menu but limited hours (closing at 8 pm Monday - Thursday). Reservations recommended.

Armandos: Regular menu and hours.

Becks Prime: Regular menu and hours.

Bellagreen: Regular menu and hours.

Buffalo Grille: Regular menu and hours.

Carrabba's: Regular menu and hours. Reservations required.

Christian’s Tailgate: Limited menu. Open daily at 11 am for lunch and dinner.

Coppa Osteria: Regular menu and hours. Reservations required and only accepted by phone.

D'Amico's Italian Market Cafe: Regular menu and hours.

Doris Metropolitan: Dinner service begins at 5 pm on May 1-2 and 7-9. Reservations required.

Eighteen36: Regular menu and hours.

Grace's: Regular menu and hours. Reservations required.

Hungry’s: Regular menu and hours.

Kiran's: Regular menu with new hours. Reservations recommended: 3 - 10 pm Monday - Thursday, 3 - 11 pm Friday and Saturday, 3 - 9 pm Sunday.

Local Foods: Patio seating and counter service only, 10 am - 8 pm daily.

Mia's Table: Regular menu and hours.

Mina Ristorante: Regular menu and hours.

Ouisie's Table: Limited menu and new hours, 11 am - 2:30 pm and 5 - 9 pm.

Perry's Steakhouse: Limited menu and hours. Reservations recommended, 4 - 9 pm Saturday - Thursday and 11 am - 9 pm Friday.

Picos: Regular menu and hours.

Pondicheri: Regular menu and hours.

Pronto Cucina: Regular menu and hours.

The Raven Grill: Limited menu and hours, 4:30 - 9 pm Monday - Saturday.

Roma Ristorante: The restaurant will follow all of the guidelines noted above as well as seating no more than 10 diners every 500-square-feet. Regular hours.

Star Pizza. Regular menu and hours. Reservations required.

Sweet Paris Crêperie & Café: Regular menu and hours.

Terrace 54: Regular menu and hours.

Tony’s: Dinner only until Monday, May 11. Regular menu and hours after that.

Verandah Progressive Indian Restaurant: Dinner only with a limited menu and a tasting menu, 5 - 11 pm daily.

The Galleria and Surrounding Neighborhoods

Amalfi: Regular menu and hours.

Antone’s Famous Po’ Boys: Full menu but limited hours, 11 am - 4 pm Monday - Saturday.

Becks Prime: Regular menu and hours.

Bisou: Dinner beginning at 4 pm and brunch beginning at 10 am Saturday and Sunday. Reservations recommended.

Cabo Bob's; Regular menu and hours.

Dish Society: Regular menu and hours. Patio seating only.

Etoile Cuisine et Bar: Two seatings nightly at 6 and 8 pm. Reservations required for the dining room, but walk-ins will be sat on the patio if seating is available.

Fig & Olive: Regular menu and hours beginning May 2.

HS Green: Regular menu and hours.

Landry's, Inc: Restaurants including Mastro's, Willie G's, Del Frisco's, the Palm, Grotto, Morton's, the Oceanaire Seafood Room, and inside The Post Oak hotel are all operating with their regular menus and hours.

Le Colonial: Lunch and dinner. Reservations recommended, 12 - 9 pm daily.

Local Foods: Patio seating and counter service only, 10 am - 8 pm daily.

Mary’z Mediterranean Cuisine: Regular menu and hours.

Merus Grill: Regular menu and hours.

Palazzo’s Café: Regular menu but limited hours. Reservations recommended.

The Roastery at H-E-B: Regular menu and hours.

Songkran Thai Kitchen: Regular menu and hours.

Steak 48: Dinner only. Reservations required, 4 - 9 pm daily.

The Toasted Yolk: Regular menu and hours.

Turner's: Regular menu and hours beginning May 7. Reservations recommended.

Chinatown and Southwest Houston

Avenida Brazil Churrascaria Steakhouse: Regular menu but limited hours. Reservations recommended, 5 - 10 pm Friday, 4 - 10 pm Saturday, 11 am - 3 pm and 5 - 9 pm Sunday.

Bernie's Burger Bus: Bellaire location only, patio seating only, 12 - 8 pm daily.

Bombshells: Regular menu and hours.

Himalaya: Regular menu and hours.

Jasmine Asian Cuisine: Regular menu and hours.

Jax Grill: Limited menu and regular hours.

Molina's Cantina: Regular menu and hours.

Ocean Palace: Regular menu and hours.

Pluckers: Regular menu open daily 11 am - 11 pm.

Saigon Pagolac: Regular menu and hours.

Saltillo Mexican Kitchen: Limited menu and hours, 4 - 9 pm Monday - Saturday.

Tamales Don Pepe: Regular menu and hours.

Memorial and Spring Branch

Bellagreen: Regular menu and hours.

Bori: Regular menu and hours. Reservations recommended.

Buffalo Grille: Regular menu and hours.

Carrabba's: Regular menu and hours. Reservations required.

Dish Society: Regular menu and hours. Patio seating only.

Federal American Grill: Regular menu with lunch service beginning May 4. Reservations required.

Hungry’s: Regular menu and hours.

Jonathan’s the Rub the Original BYOB: Regular menu and hours. Reservations recommended.

Jonathan’s the Rub Memorial Green: Regular menu and hours. Reservations recommended.

Perry's Steakhouse: Limited menu and hours. Reservations recommended, 4 - 9 pm Saturday - Thursday and 11 am - 9 pm Friday.

Pluckers: Regular menu open daily 11 am - 11 pm.

Roegels Barbecue: Regular menu and hours. Follow social media for dinner specials.

State Fare: “Texas-sized” limited menu and regular hours.

Sylvia’s Enchilada Kitchen: Regular menu and hours. Reservations recommended.

The Union Kitchen: Limited menu and regular hours. Reservations recommended.

West Houston, the Energy Corridor, and Katy

Alicia's Mexican Grille: Regular menu and hours.

B.B. Italia: Dinner only beginning May 8; lunch follows on May 18. Reservations recommended.

Becks Prime: Regular menu and hours.

Bistro Provence: Regular menu and hours hours. Reservations recommended.

Cafe Adel: Regular menu and hours.

Cafe East: Regular menu and hours. Staff members will serve customers from the buffet.

Christian’s Tailgate: Limited menu. Open daily at 11 am for lunch and dinner.

Chuckwagon BBQ & Burgers: Regular menu and hours.

Local Table: Regular menu and hours.

Mia's Table: Regular menu and hours.

Moderno Tacos & Tex Mex: Regular Menu but limited Hours. Reservations recommended.

Molina's Cantina: Regular menu and hours.

Orleans Seafood Kitchen: Regular menu with new hours beginning May 4, 11 am - 9 pm daily.

Palazzo’s Westchase: Regular menu but limited hours. Reservations recommended.

Pappy's Cafe: Opening May 4 with regular menu and hours. Happy hour available 3 - 7 pm Monday - Friday.

Perry's Steakhouse: Limited menu and hours. Reservations recommended, 4 - 9 pm Saturday - Thursday and 11 am - 9 pm Friday.

Phat Eatery: Regular menu and hours.

Sweet Paris Crêperie & Café: Regular menu and hours.

Sylvia’s Enchilada Kitchen: Regular menu and hours. Reservations recommended.

Texadelphia: Regular menu and hours.

Clear Lake, Friendswood, Pearland, and Points South

Avenida Brazil Churrascaria Steakhouse: Regular menu but limited hours. Reservations recommended, 5 - 10 pm Friday, 4 - 10 pm Saturday, 11 am - 3 pm and 5 - 9 pm Sunday.

Eculent: No seatings larger than six people. Very limited availability in May and June. Reservations required.

King’s BierHaus: Limited menu with crawfish specials on Saturday and Sunday, 4 - 9 pm daily.

Mia's Table: Regular menu and hours.

Perry's Steakhouse: Limited menu and hours. Reservations recommended, 4 - 9 pm Saturday - Thursday and 11 am - 9 pm Friday.

Pluckers: Regular menu open daily 11 am - 11 pm.

Sweet Paris Crêperie & Café: Regular menu and hours.

Spring, The Woodlands, and Points North

Alicia's Mexican Grille: Regular menu and hours.

Ambriza Social Mexican Kitchen: Regular menu and hours.

Another Broken Egg Café: Regular menu and hours.

Avenida Brazil Churrascaria Steakhouse: Regular menu but limited hours. Reservations recommended, 5 - 10 pm Friday, 4 - 10 pm Saturday, 11 am - 3 pm and 5 - 9 pm Sunday.

Becks Prime: Regular menu and hours.

Bellagreen: Regular menu and hours.

Bibo's Bistro: Regular menu served 12 - 8 pm Monday - Saturday.

Mary’z Mediterranean Cuisine: Regular menu and hours.

Mia's Table: Regular menu and hours.

Perry's Steakhouse: Limited menu and hours. Reservations recommended, 4 - 9 pm Saturday - Thursday and 11 am - 9 pm Friday.

Sweet Paris Crêperie & Café: Regular menu and hours.

Texadelphia: Regular menu and hours.

The Toasted Yolk: Regular menu and hours.

Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux: Regular hours and menu beginning May 6.

Wholesome Pies: Regular menu served 11 am - 8 pm Tuesday - Saturday.

Coppa's dining room looks very difference with tables spread out.

Coppa Osteria dining room social distancing

Courtesy of Clark Cooper Concepts

Coppa's dining room looks very difference with tables spread out.

news-you-can-eat

Where to drink now

CultureMap's 11 favorite new bars that shook up Houston in 2025

Photo by Julie Soefer

Eclectic vintage finds populate the walk-up bar at Augustine Lounge in Hotel Saint Augustine.

This was a standout year for new bars in Houston, with elevated cocktail lounges opening alongside neighborhood hangouts. Whether you’re after a cold beer while watching the Texans on a Heights patio or a tiny martini inside an emerald-green, celestial-inspired hideaway near the Galleria, these 11 openings defined Houston’s bar scene in 2025.

Augustine Lounge
Hotel Saint Augustine has been racking up awards since it opened — receiving a Michelin Key and best new hotel honors from both Esquire and Travel + Leisure. Its bar, Augustine Lounge, matches that acclaim with a focused drinks program featuring highlights like the Coyote Call, a mix of mezcal, port, and Blackstrap rum accented with raspberry, lime, and nutmeg. The food menu leans elevated but unfussy, with offerings such as a charcuterie board with duck prosciutto and a wagyu hot dog tucked into a brioche bun. It also hosts vinyl nights featuring DJ sets from high profile Houstonians. Augustine Lounge is located at 4110 Loretto Drive and open daily from 11 am-12 am.

Bar Doko
Created by Duckstache Hospitality experts (Kokoro, Handies Douzo, Himari, and Aiko) as a companion to its sushi restaurant Doko, Bar Doko has an intimate, 16-seat atmosphere and an extensive selection of Japanese whisky. Small bites shine here, including a masu crudo topped with smoked trout roe and a Jidori egg salad toast. Beverage options range from highballs, martinis, sake, beer, and wine to inventive cocktails like the “Sora” Sky, made with sesame-infused tequila, Maven cold brew, toasted barley, coffee liqueur, and vanilla miso foam. Bar Doko is located at 3737 Cogdell Street, Suite 135, and is open daily from 4 pm-2 am.

Bar Madonna
One doesn’t need a room at the Marlene Inn — a grand neoclassical home turned nine-room hotel — to enjoy this elegant watering hole. Bar Madonna takes its name from a striking, 10-foot painting of the Virgin Mary, relocated from an 18th-century Italian church. Leading the beverage program is Tom Hardy, formerly of Hotel Saint Augustine, whose menu balances Old World influence with New Orleans flair.

This is a seated-only bar, offering 12 interior seats plus additional patio seating, and while reservations aren’t required, they’re often helpful. Signature libations include the Wild Ouest, a tequila-forward blend with poblano, lime, and mezcal inspired by “cowboy boots down the Champs-Élysées.” Bar Madonna is open Monday-Thursday from 3-10 pm, Friday from 3-11 pm, Saturday from 12-11 pm, and Sunday from 12-10 pm.

Berwick’s Bird of Paradise
A tropical escape awaits at Berwick’s Bird of Paradise, created by veteran bartender Robin Berwick of Midtown's beloved Double Trouble. The space was fully renovated to invoke a resort bar attached to an imaginary hotel, complete with playful design touches and a mythical “owner” depicted on the wall. Tropical drinks anchor the menu — think spicy, frozen tequila riffs and a coconut-infused Crocodile Tears Martini — alongside a selection of bar bites like smash burgers, chicken wings, and a Bikini sandwich. Known colloquially as "Be Bop," the bar has quickly attracted locals, industry regulars, and neighbors. Open Tuesday-Thursday from 4 pm-12 am, Friday-Saturday from 3 pm-1 am, and Sunday from 2 pm-10 pm, Berwick’s Bird of Paradise is at 2020 Studewood Street.

Donna’s
The newest cocktail destination on this list, Donna’s quickly built a following after opening Thanksgiving weekend in the former Ready Room space. Named after the grandmother of co-founder Jacki Schromm, the bar is a collaboration between the veteran bartender and Anvil owner Bobby Heugel. Together, the duo aims to create a house-party atmosphere, with energetic weekends balanced by more laid-back weeknights. A vintage stereo system — complete with a reel-to-reel and a turntable — sets the soundtrack, loud enough to entertain but low enough for conversations. The Jacki’s Martini, a 50-50 mix of gin with Cocchi Americano and Dolin Blanc vermouth, nods to both the “Bobby’s Martini” at Refuge and Squable’s “Terry’s Martini.” Donna's is open daily from 2 pm-2 am at 2626 White Oak Drive.

Endless Bummer
Walk the line between Houston and hell at Endless Bummer, the tiki bar next to Beteleguese Beteleguese’s Montrose location. Skeletons, imps, and tiki idols fill the 50-seat space, turning Endless Bummer into an immersive experience displaying works by local artists. The cocktail menu reimagines tropical standards like daiquiris, mai tais, and punches, while originals include the Banana Hammock — a banana-coffee vodka drink — and the Bitter Bird, made with Jamaican rum, Campari, pineapple, yuzu, and strawberry. Located at 4500 Montrose Boulevard, Endless Bummer is open Wednesday-Sunday, from 5 pm-12 am.

Good God, Nadine’s
Designed to feel like the home of “everyone’s favorite eccentric aunt,” Good God, Nadine’s delivers a warm, casual atmosphere paired with playful, comfort-forward drinks. The Washington Corridor bar offers 17 beers and wines on tap, along with cocktails like the Mango Sticky Rice, made with vodka, coconut milk, mango, and pandan. Food options range from po' boys to cast-iron cornbread and oysters on the half shell. Patrons can choose between three distinct areas: an indoor bar, an air-conditioned patio, and a garden patio. Good God, Nadine’s sits at 33 Waugh Drive, and is open Tuesday-Saturday from 4 pm-12 am, and Sunday from 12 pm-8 pm.

The Kid
With a comfortable bartop, moody-but-visible lighting, and ample seating — The Kid nails the feel of a classic neighborhood hang. Inside, charming baby goat figurines — aka “kids” — peek out from behind chicken wire room dividers, while an astroturfed patio outside offers a prime spot to catch a game. From the team behind Flying Fish, Flying Saucer, and Rodeo Goat, the bar continues the group’s tradition of approachable comfort food, including burgers and loaded tater tots. Drink options include the La Fresita, a refreshing creation of tequila, strawberry, peach, lemon, and prosecco. Happy hour is weekdays from 4 pm-7 pm, with $8 cocktails and wines, plus an all-day happy hour on Tuesdays. Located at 1815 N. Durham Drive, The Kid is open Monday-Thursday, 4 pm-12 am, and Friday and Saturday, 4 pm-2 am.

Photo by Julie Soefer

Eclectic vintage finds populate the walk-up bar at Augustine Lounge in Hotel Saint Augustine.

Moon
Perched above Tavola, Moon is an elegant cocktail lounge inspired by the cosmos. A joint concept from the Bastion Collection — the hospitality group behind Michelin-starred Le Jardinier at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston — and Cafe Natalie, Moon’s food options range from a black truffle croque monsieur to the Dark Side of the Moon, a chocolate moelleux with hazelnut crunch. House cocktails like the Nightfall, featuring spiced WhistlePig rye, dark rum, Oloroso sherry, and cherry, sit alongside classics such as French 75s, wines, mocktails, tiny martinis, and shots. For those craving something off-menu, head bartender Joao Diniz is known for crafting bespoke drinks on request. Moon is located at 1800 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 6110, and is open Tuesday-Thursday from 5 pm-12 am, and Friday and Saturday from 5 pm-2 am.

Starduster Lounge
There’s something both nostalgic and timeless about Starduster Lounge, a Heights neighborhood bar that puts a subtle cosmic spin on West Texas style. Will Thomas, co-founder of White Oak Music Hall and owner of Dan Electro’s, teamed up with Benjy Mason of Johnny’s Gold Brick and Winnie’s to transform the nearly 100-year-old building into a charming destination with a rustic yet refined interior of leather, vintage tile, and wood, and a spacious, tree-shaded backyard. The menu is constantly evolving, but standout drinks include the Pecan or Pecan?, with rye, bourbon, and Licor 43. Steak night is on Thursdays, with other food offerings announced via the bar’s Instagram. Happy hour is Monday-Friday, 4 pm-6 pm, with half-off cocktails. Starduster Lounge is located at 3921 N. Main and is open Monday-Friday from 4 pm-2 am, and Saturday and Sunday from 2 pm-2 am.

CultureMap editor Eric Sandler's Honorable Mention: Montrose Grocer
Building on her experience as the owner of Avondale Food & Wine and Heights Grocer, Houston entrepreneur Mary Clarkson opened this wine shop next to Catbirds. What distinguishes it from Heights Grocer is that MG also has a carefully-chosen selection of wines by-the-glass and bottle available for drinking on-site. Paired with snacks in the form of sandwiches and charcuterie boards and enhanced by a soundtrack of 4,000 records, Montrose Grocer has become a popular spot with hospitality workers and wine lovers who appreciate its low key atmosphere and affordable prices. (Full disclosure: Clarkson and Sandler are friends. She is a regular contributor to CultureMap's "What's Eric Eating" podcast.)

cocktails wine where to drink nightlife