return of the mac

Downtown's largest covered patio bar welcomes hot Houston crowd for massive opening bash

If the completely ridic recent opening is any indicator, the future of downtown nightlife may well be in one of its oldest buildings. Downtown’s largest covered patio bar, McIntyre’s, recently opened with a jam-packed event that looked positively pre-COVID.

Young professionals, downtown regulars and residents, and even some veteran politicos popped into the sprawling, multi-level space that was once the beloved Spaghetti Warehouse building, which dates back to the early 1900s.

What they found was nothing short of a dramatic transformation; the new space in Market Square boasts a sparkling new facade, more than 7,500 square feet of second-level space, sweeping downtown and Buffalo Bayou views, a vibrantly decorated main space, lounge seating in front of a stage, an upstairs L-shaped patio (plus dog-friendly patios), and the bar’s signature swings (an Instagram favorite, to be sure).

The transformation has been in the making since early July 2018. Plans were made to completely gut the old building (60 percent of load-bearing walls were removed) and actually add food trucks inside the venue (the city quickly nixed that idea), co-owner Kyle Berg tells CultureMap.

Given the previous devastation of the familiar (and rumored to be haunted) building due to flooding, new designs means the entire downstairs can take on potential flood waters — a total gamechanger, should the bayou rise.

By the numbers, the new downtown McIntyre’s boasts 65 TVs, two giant screens, 24 beers on tap and 30 bottled and canned, two cocktails on tap, and the “only highball Ranch Water machine in the world, to my knowledge,” Berg notes.

(Fun fact for Ranch Water fans: Berg notes that the machine makes the cocktail with a club soda that’s 40 percent more carbonated than a Topo Chico.)

Food offerings —via food trucks— include hamburgers, hot dogs, quesadillas, pizzas, popcorn, peanuts, nachos, and more pub-style fare.

As for the scene, Berg says the crowd is a mix of those who understand the brand (followers flock to the Heights bar regularly and now, downtown) and those looking for a laid-back, downtown hang. Between live music — country nights and more — and pre-and-post Astros gaming, the massive bar promises to be a favorite.

Berg and his partners — Chase McIntyre, Brian McIntyre, Michael Paolucci, James Crable, and Trey Helle — may have just accomplished a downright historic feat (seriously, how often are beloved Houston buildings adaptively reused) here, but they’re far from done. He teases two new McIntyre’s locations in San Antonio.

First-floor fun.

Photo by Trust in Visionaries

First-floor fun.

craft-beer urban-renewal preservation openings nightlife downtown

River Oaks Remix

River Oaks lounge reboots around '90s DJ culture and retro bites

Photo by Michael Anthony

The recently formed LCN Hospitality group—David Anderson III, Mikos Adams, and DJ Mr. Rogers—have relaunched Fancy's with chef Dominick Lee curating the menu.

Less than two years after opening, a River Oaks cocktail lounge has new ownership and a new personality, though under the same name: Fancy’s.

Located at 1947 W. Gray St., the original Fancy’s opened in May 2024 under the guidance of Clé Group owners Zack Truesdell, Salim Dehkordi, and Dallas Rodriguez (BLVD Park, KISS, Heights Social, Say No Mas). The name said it all: an upscale, reservation-recommended lounge with a strictly enforced dress code.

The River Oaks spot is looking a little more approachable these days under new leadership. David Anderson III and Mikos Adams, both partners in downtown record lounge Off the Record, have joined with local producer and DJ Mr. Rogers to relaunch the space as a sound-driven cocktail lounge. This is the first joint venture of the trio under the recently formed LCN Hospitality group.

Fancy’s next chapter took shape through the success of DJ Mr. Rogers’ S.U.S.H.I. (Songs U Should Hear Immediately), a no-requests music-omakase pop-up during the lounge’s previous run.

“We were already spending time in the space through a music-forward pop-up, and the response made it clear there was a real appetite for guided music experiences where the DJ sets the tone and leads discovery, rather than competing for attention,” Anderson said in a statement. “After years in nightlife, where spectacle often comes first, it felt exciting to imagine something different. We thought back to the way DJs shaped culture in the ’90s and wanted to pair that sensibility with the history and energy of River Oaks.”

Former and first-time patrons will find a concept built around weekly programming, including:

S.U.S.H.I. Wednesdays (Songs U Should Hear Immediately)
Global House Thursdays
Funk, Disco, and R&B Fridays
Saturday Night After Hours, high-energy dance-focused programming

Photo by Michael Anthony

The recently formed LCN Hospitality group—David Anderson III, Mikos Adams, and DJ Mr. Rogers—have relaunched Fancy's with chef Dominick Lee curating the menu.

"As a producer and DJ, I've always been drawn to the idea of creating experiences where music is the guide, not the background,” Rogers said. “At Fancy's, we're building a space where discovery happens naturally, whether you're hearing something for the first time or rediscovering a classic through a different lens.”

In the kitchen, chef Dominick Lee looked to lavish River Oaks dinner parties of the ’90s, researching Baron Ricky di Porta Nova, a local legend known for extravagant gatherings. The result is nostalgic small plates and canapés such as Oysters di Porta Nova, a caviar-topped pasta tucked into an oyster shell, and refined chicken nuggets served with three unique dipping sauces and an optional caviar add-on.

"It's a different dinner party every night, shaped by a different sound experience," Lee said. "The food is there to complement that—indulgent but not heavy, familiar but elevated, always in service of the night unfolding around it.”

Behind the bar, bartender Sergio Contreras (formerly of L’Colombe d’Or and Tony’s) has crafted a drink menu that riffs on classic cocktails. Syrups are made in-house using natural, low-sugar ingredients, so patrons can imbibe without the sugar crash. Contreras’ menu includes highlights like the Razzle Dazzle, a French 75 remix, and Forbidden Love, a margarita with a Cabernet float.

"It's all about balance," Contreras said. "We want people to feel good while they're here and when they wake up the next morning after a late night on the dance floor. The classics are the foundation, but we're reworking them in a way that feels modern and intentional."

For those easing into the evening, the lounge offers “Fancy Hour” daily from 5 to 8 pm, featuring $10 signature cocktails and half-off the food menu. On Thursdays, the special runs all day.

The 102-seat bar also includes a second-floor outdoor patio and two private dining spaces. Fancy’s is open Wednesday through Friday, 5 pm-12 am, and Saturday from 7 pm-2 am. Reservations are available via OpenTable.