Houston Dive Bars

When I got my first apartment in Montrose I got to know two things quite well, being broke and dive bars. One lead to another I suppose as I could often walk to a couple of bars and didn't have to spend a whole lot of money. Besides my financial reasons for liking dive bars, I enjoyed the different characteristics of each one. Dive bars in Houston all have their own personalities, some are quirky and friendly like Catbirds others are dark and edgy like Lolas. Whatever you prefer Houston dive bars offer something different from the cookie cutter chain bars and the super swanky clubs and lounges that make you wait in line for an hour just to get in.

Let's face it sometimes you just don't feel like getting all dressed up to go out. Sometimes all you want to do is relax comfortably with some friends and have a good time. Or maybe you just want to get away from the crowds and have some alone drinking time (it's okay I've been there). For these reasons and more dive bars are great and you have plenty of choices in Houston, from the old school like Roll-In-Saloon to the newer Poison Girl. Okay so yeah maybe these bars are not for everyone, but I think that is the point. They are not trying to be something for everyone, the people who run these places are not trying to get the prettiest people or the nicest cars out front. If you like the place great pull up a chair and drink it up, if not that's fine too, have a good day. Places like the Roll-In-Saloon and the Shiloh Club have been around for years because they do what they do well and stick to that.

So how does a bar become a dive? Well that all depends on the bar, it could be the reputation, the hangings on the wall or the jukebox and it's something different for each place. But often times dives get a bad rap for being dirty, hole in the wall bars with restrooms that don't work. I think that is an unfair perception (ok so maybe a few have terrible restrooms). In my opinion, they are unique places where I can get a different experience while having some sort of connection. Meaning when I come back next week I will probably see the same bartenders, get the same great drink and if I come often enough they will probably remember me. You can't get personal like that at some other places, and I think that is important.

What I think really makes a dive bar is the people. Maybe it's the laid-back atmosphere, the often cheap and strong drinks or something else that attracts the variety of people to places like Etro. But whatever it is you will be sure to find a mixed bag of Houstonians thrown in: young professionals, punk rockers, artists, grouchy old men, nerds, hipsters and probably any other social category you can think of.

Perhaps this really is the essence of a great dive bar, the people, both patrons and workers alike. Once you get past the external aspect, you are left with the people that occupy it. Yeah the writing on the walls is interesting but I am not going to spend the night reading it. I'm going to strike up a conversation with the tattooed fellow sitting next to me. Dive bars are a great melting pot of people, trends, fashions and styles. And the best part is that this mixed bag happens naturally, there is no door guy picking out one Goth girl, one Frat boy, etc...So if you haven't already, step out of your comfort zone and join the pot. You might be surprised to find a new favorite spot, your very own diamond in the rough.

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