who wants a drink?

These Houston bars will welcome customers for the phase 2 reopening

Houston’s bars are allowed to resume service beginning Friday, May 22, as part of Gov. Greg Abbott’s “phase 2” to reopen the Texas economy, but the experience of drinking at a bar will be very different than it was pre-COVID-19.

Consider a typical bar experience in which a person walks in, sits at the bar, looks over a menu, uses cash to buy a beverage and tip, and strikes up a conversation with a stranger sitting next to them. Under the state’s published health protocols for bar operations, a person could walk in and read a menu (provided its disposable), but the rest is not permitted.

To maintain social distancing, bars have been instructed to remove bar stools and seat all customers at tables of six or fewer people. To help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, the protocols stipulate that, “individuals should, to the extent possible, minimize in-person contact with others not in the individual’s household.”

As for that bumping soundtrack that creates a mood to linger over another drink or two, it better not inspire anyone to move around too much. “Activities that enable close human contact, including but not limited to dancing, are discouraged,” the document states.

Abbott’s order empowers the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission to enforce these protocols. Bars that don’t comply risk having their license to serve alcohol suspended for 30 days for the first infraction.

On a more positive note, Houston’s patio bars have never been more essential. Patios are not subject to capacity restrictions, but they are still required to maintain at least 6-feet between tables and limit groups to six people or fewer.

So, yes, drinking at a bar will be weird, at least for the foreseeable future. People will have to decide for themselves whether being around others while savoring a cocktail, glass of wine, or properly poured beer is worth deal with the hassles of these various restrictions.

Maybe that's why lots of popular Houston bars like Grand Prize, Houston Watch Company, and Double Trouble have all announced they aren't ready to reopen yet. But given the enthusiasm with which some people have greeted restaurants reopening, it seems pretty likely bars will be busy this weekend.

The list below is not comprehensive. CultureMap will update it periodically.

13 Celsius: Reservations are required at this Midtown wine bar. Email rsvp@13celsius.com for more information.

77 Degrees: The stylish rooftop lounge reopens this weekend.

Camerata at Paulie’s: The intimate Montrose wine bar resumes service on Friday. Hours are 2 pm - 12 am daily.

The Cottonmouth Club: The downtown cocktail bar will require reservations when it reopens this weekend. Contact the bar through social media to inquire.

The Dogwood: The Midtown patio bar reopens on Friday at 11 am.

Dahlia: Reservations are available at this stylish bar and lounge in Midtown.

Eight Row Flint: The ranchwaters will flow when Agricole Hospitality’s taco and whiskey bar reopens at 11 am on Friday.

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Looking forward to getting back into the swing of that proper Ranchwater program tomorrow at @eight_row_flint. Doors open at 11am. Can’t wait to see all your beautiful faces. Been an agonizing two months seeing you fine people only in your cars. . . . . #EightRowFlint #Covid19 #Reopening #HoustonFood #HoustonHeights #EightRowFlint #WhiskeyBeerTacos

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May 21, 2020 at 10:10am PDT

Electric FeelGood: Slide into this retro-styled Midtown bar when it reopens at 11 am on Friday.

El Segundo Swim Club: The beachy pool bar returns for the summer season this weekend; $20 day passes offer two hours of time in the pool plus a whole afternoon of drinking and lounging.

Heights Bier Garten: The spacious patio bar with almost 100 beers on tap has reopened with its normal hours: 3 pm - 2 am Monday - Friday and 11 am - 2 am Saturday and Sunday.

Holman Draft Hall: The spacious patio bar with almost 100 beers on tap has reopened with its normal hours: 3 pm - 2 am Thursday and Friday and 11 am - 2 am Saturday and Sunday.

Kirby Ice House: Upper Kirby's massive patio bar reopens Friday with temperature checks for customers, the ability to enter directly into the backyard, and contactless payment including Apple Pay. See website for hours.

McIntyre’s: The spacious sports bar reopens Friday at 2 pm.

The Patio at The Pit Room: This casual bar reopens with crawfish available on the weekends. Opens daily at 11 am.

Pistolero's: The Montrose taco and tequila bar reopens with its normal hours: 4 pm - 2 am Monday - Friday and 12 pm - 2 am Saturday and Sunday.

Pitch 25: EaDo’s soccer-themed patio bar has reopened with its normal hours: 3 pm - 2 am Monday - Friday and 11 am - 2 am Saturday and Sunday.

Present Company: Houston’s most Instagrammable bar reopens with its normal hours and brunch on the weekends.

The Secret Group: The bar and comedy club reopens with table service, temperature checks, and other procedures to comply with state protocols. Hours are 5 pm - 2 am daily.

Wicklow Heights: The spacious patio bar in Shady Acres returns for its normal hours on Friday.

Wooster’s Garden: Midtown’s stylish cocktail bar has reopened with its normal hours: 4 pm - 2 am Monday - Saturday and 2 pm - 2 am Sunday.

Reservations are required at The Cottonmouth Club.

Photo by Quy Tran

Reservations are required at The Cottonmouth Club.

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Oh, Donna

New Houston cocktail bar serves up a house party fueled by music and martinis

Courtesy of Donna's

People are flocking to Donna's.

It hasn’t taken long for Houston cocktail fans to discover Donna’s. Ever since it opened Thanksgiving weekend, the new cocktail bar in the Heights has been packed with people eager to check out the new project from Anvil owner Bobby Heugel and veteran Houston bartender Jacki Schromm.

Named for Schromm’s grandmother, both partners use the word “house party” to describe the kind of atmosphere they want to create at Donna’s. That party can be very energetic on busy weekend nights and a little quieter and more intimate during the week — allowing patrons to choose what kind of experience they want to have.

Heugel and Schromm worked with collaborators on the design, music, and art for Donna’s. So far, people seem to be enjoying themselves.

“It’s really f---ing awesome,” Schromm tells CultureMap. “It has been really remarkable to have people in this building. To see the room full is a rewarding experience. The feedback we’ve received has just been really positive.”

To transform the former Ready Room into Donna’s, the partners collaborated with Brittany Vaughn of Garnish Design. Known for her work at establishments such as Tiny Champions, Maximo, and Milton’s, Vaughn helped divide the retro-styled cocktail bar into two distinct interior spaces. The main bar area is defined by high-top, organically-shaped tables that allow large groups to congregate or smaller groups to share without being on top of each other. The more intimate living room section features a large couch and a spacious booth.

“There’s a lot of smart utility in the space,” Heugel explains. “We kept talking about how it’s a small space. We want to find a seat for everybody as much as possible.”

To honor the space’s history of hosting live music, the partners worked with Chicago-based firm Uncanned on a powerful vintage stereo that includes both a reel-to-reel tape deck and a turntable. Known locally for their work at restaurants such as Nancy’s Hustle and Nobie’s, the Uncanned team gave Donna’s the ability to kick out the jams with ultra-clear sound while not being so loud that people can’t talk to each other. It also opens up the possibility of people playing their favorite albums on select nights.

“Jacki and I both had the bold opinion when we started talking about Donna’s that cocktail bars were boring. We wanted to add more layers to the onion,” Heugel says. “Having music be here as an additional component to the bar makes the room feel really good. That’s important to us, and we’ll have some programming related to that.”

Keli Hogsett of Austin’s CoCollect helped Schromm and Heugel select the room’s distinctive art on its walls. Heugel describes the works as museum-quality, contemporary pieces from regional artists that are a cut above what’s usually seen in bars. Hogsett will also source the art for the new restaurant Heugel and chef Justin Yu are opening next year in the former Vibrant space.

Schromm, who partnered with Heugel after working at Anvil and Reserve 101, created the opening cocktail menu herself. One highlight is the Jacki’s Martini, a nod to the “Bobby’s Martini” served at Refuge and the “Terry’s Martini” served at Squable. It’s a 50-50 mix of gin with Cocchi Americano and Dolin Blanc vermouth. She describes it as more “sessionable” than a traditional martini.

“I think this cocktail menu has a lot of personality,” she says. “Some of my flair, whether it’s a spirit I chose or a flavor I like.”

Although parking on the property is limited, Heugel notes that street parking on White Oak is relatively plentiful. A nearby pay lot is available, or people can skip the issue altogether by using their favorite rideshare service.

Of course, the adjacent restaurant space won’t stay empty for long. As CultureMap has previously reported, Austin-based pizzeria Home Slice has claimed the building for its second Houston location that will open in fall 2026.

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Donna's, 2626 White Oak Drive. Open daily from 2 pm-2 am

Courtesy of Donna's

People are flocking to Donna's.

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