(Header image credit: Kirby Ice House)
Certainly, patio bars have moments in Houston. Even in summer, sun-soaked imbibers crowd into outdoor spaces to drink icy drinks or pints of locally-brewed craft beer.
Below are some of the best outdoor drinking spots in Houston:
Eight Row Flint
The number of bars in or near the Heights seems to increase all the time, but the property of Agricole Hospitality dedicated to whisky, beer and tacos remains a popular spot with an average of about $139,000 in monthly liquor sales. Co-owner Morgan Weber's one-off whiskey barrel collections give the obsessed a lot to try, but it's the signature frozen cocktails (froze, gin and tonic) that make the summer heat bearable. Finally, Eight Row's Tuesday night pop-up series offers Agricole the culinary talent behind the scenes a chance to show off their talents.
King's BierHaus
Of course, King's is as much a restaurant as a pub, but the completely landscaped beer garden, with its water features, makes it one of Houston's most charming patios. It also generates an incredible amount of income, around 163,000 dollars in liquor sales each month. Trivia nights, special activities, and the annual Oktoberfest party all keep fans coming back and forth.
The Dogwood
Five years into its lifespan, Midtown's staple remains famous, averaging monthly sales of $211,000. With two stories of space, a complete food menu, and Deep Eddy on tap, it offers a lot of fun. With the continued success, it is no wonder that the owners of The Dogwood have an ambitious plan to open a new concept as part of a four-bar complex to replace Midtown Drinkery and Stoked Tequila and Tacos.
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Holman Draft Hall
The new property of the Kirby Group was the hottest new arrival in Midtown this year. Completely covering the outdoor seating area offers some relief from the sun, and the 100 taps provide a wide variety of beer and wine. Connect to Chef Brandon Silva's innovative menu, and it's no wonder Holman has a hefty $279,000 in average revenue each month.
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Heights Bier Garten / Worcester's Annex
Speaking of The Kirby Party, this dual concept property with a huge, completely landscaped courtyard has been a landslide since day one ($302,000 average monthly sales). Worcester's wide selection of spirits and inventive drinks fit well with HBG's wide selection of beer and wine. If the bucolic atmosphere is not enough to attract, the patrons should stay in swings and rockers while chopping on homemade sausages.
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Truck Yard
Despite limited ads or media coverage, this Dallas import has been packed since it opened in May. Credit the funky decor — a mixture of shipping containers, recycled truck beds, and other bric-a-brac — together with potent, frozen, and canned cocktails. Although it's too recent to have publicly available sales data, the manager reported that he had $50,000 on Fridays (Saturdays are even higher). Also, as gimmicks go, it's not going to get any better than a freaking Ferris wheel.
Better Luck Tomorrow
Anvil-quality cocktails and Justin Yu's creative take on bar food and brunch propel BLT to the top of this chart, despite relatively modest monthly total sales of $145,000. Daily promotions — from Pasta Tuesday to the Valentine's "Better Fuck Tomorrow" menu and the newly launched cocktail pitchers — keep things fresh. Even, it's a nice environment and a professional service that really makes BLT stand out.
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McIntyre's
The glitzy sports bar was a very famous addition to Shade Acres — just look at its annual, monthly revenue of $373,000. Swings are definitely common (and sometimes a source of high comedy), but it's the upscale sports bar atmosphere, complete with 49 TVs, that really sets it apart. Cocktails served in 96-ounce copper mugs often help to make every night feel like a group.
Kirby Ice House
At almost full acres, this expansive patio bar takes a Texas-sized approach to serve its clients. The size of the bar's sheer is part of the appeal, but so are the antique furniture and games that decorate the backyard. With fifty taps of cocktails and beer plus a rotating list of food trucks, Kirby Ice House is leading the way in sales.
Axelrad Beer Garden
There's no surprise. After its opening at the end of 2015, Axelrad has redefined patio bars with a fantastic atmosphere in its landscaped garden and first-rate gimmicking; everything from signature hammocks to the Airstream auxiliary bar and even specifics like carved wooden tap handles displays a degree of thoughtfulness that is practically unseen anywhere else. All of these specifics are translated into strong sales.
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