The Top 6 Bars and Restaurants with Live R&B Music

What we like is how Phil & Derek’s Restaurant offers a unique dining experience in Houston, focusing on live R&B music, brunch, and a vibrant atmosphere. 

The combination of live R&B music, DJ sets, and upbeat party vibes creates a fun and enjoyable experience for diners looking to unwind and have a good time.

We can’t help but rave about the brunch offerings at Phil & Derek’s. The menu features a variety of delicious dishes, including old favorites and new creations prepared by talented chefs. 

Highlights include the Mimosa Tower and flavorful pork chops, contributing to the overall enjoyment of the dining experience.

We appreciate the relaxed and chill vibe at Phil & Derek’s, along with the attentive service provided by the staff. 

While some customers praise the ambiance and service at Phil & Derek’s, others express disappointment with the food quality. 

We’ve heard of other reviewers who mentioned that the food may not live up to expectations, with some dishes being described as tasteless or not worth the price. 

Overall, we think Phil & Derek’s Restaurant offers a dynamic dining experience with its live R&B music, flavorful food options, and inviting atmosphere. 

While the food quality and parking arrangements may vary, the overall ambiance and service contribute to a memorable dining experience for many guests!

Scott Gertner’s Rhythm Room features live music, tasty bar food, and refreshing cocktails. At least that’s what we’ve heard. 

Upon walking inside Scott Gertner’s Rhythm Room, we liked how the atmosphere was welcoming and inviting to both customers and the musicians performing on the stage. 

We also liked that if you’re sitting at a table or waiting to be seated, you could enjoy the live bluesy R&B. The music was not too overwhelming, as we could still converse.  

Although we did not make a reservation, we recommend making one to save yourself time from waiting for a table. By the way, the wait for a table was under an hour without a reservation. 

Additionally, the hostess at the front of the restaurant was pleasant and friendly. At the table, when we opened their menu, we noted the menu was mainly Cajun and Creole cuisine. 

They had various meals such as boudin balls, bananas foster, white chocolate bread pudding, and chicken and sweet potato waffles. As far as the alcoholic drinks go, they had a decent selection of martinis and frozen cocktails on the menu. 

As a side note, those who want wine and hard liquor can find those drinks served at the bar. 

We ordered red beans and rice, catfish, and potato salad. Their catfish was salty and overcooked, but the potato salad and red beans were well-seasoned. 

So, while we enjoyed their live music, do note that Scott Gertner’s Rhythm room charges an entertainment fee of $10. 

Some claim that Houston’s R&B scene is kept alive at The Big Easy Social and Pleasure Club. Others boast that they provide Houston with a dose of down-to-earth charm and a strong soul. 

From what we noted after our evening at The Big Easy Social and Pleasure Club is that a majority of their featured performers are local musicians who are striving to make a name for themselves. 

Regardless of levels of fame, the selection of musicians at The Big Easy Social and Pleasure Club maintained the liveliness of the crowd with their groovy hits and soulful lyrics.  

We liked how portraits of legendary musicians hang on the walls—it’s as if their spirits linger there. Additionally, we liked how despite the crowds, we still had a pleasant view of the stage from the bar. 

They also have an open dance floor, two pool tables, and an outdoor terrace for those who want to sit outside or take a smoke. Keep in mind, though, that whether sitting inside or outside, you’ll still have to pay the $10 entrance fee. 

The one thing we didn’t like, though, was their lack of hygiene in the restrooms. Despite this, The Big Easy Social and Pleasure Club has reasonably priced drinks and groovy R&B music that can make anyone want to get up and dance.

Many Houstonians raved to us about Café 4212 weekly musical nights and lively atmosphere. After our experience at Cafe 4212, we can attest to the fact that Cafe 4212 has different musical performances throughout the week.

What we liked the most about Cafe 4212 was that on the night we went (Tuesday), the entire lounge felt as if we were in a miniature speakeasy with live performances of classic and modern R&B hits. 

Towards the end of the night, they even had a lineup of poets who rapped their poems to R&B rhythms. 

Moreover, the overall decor contributed to making the atmosphere sophisticated and mature. There was even a dance floor and a DJ booth beside their long bar. 

They also have an outside terrace for anyone who wants to smoke a few cigars, and a hookah—that is if that’s something you’re interested in doing. 

Although Café 4212’s has a small lounge area inside, we liked how they have a vast menu with a wide selection of reasonably priced dishes. Such as New Orleans shrimp and grits, boudin balls, fried catfish, and more. 

Also, at the bar, they had a good selection of drinks, and the bartenders were efficient and kind. 

However, while the drinks we had were refreshing and not too strong in alcohol content, the appetizer of fries we ordered was served to us cold and charred. 

When we visited Urban Social, true to the claims of others, we found that it’s more than just a typical nightlife bar. What sets Urban Social apart from other bars in the area is that it’s completely run by women. 

Despite Urban Social being on the nightlife strip in Houston, parking was not difficult to find. We recommend parking across the street instead of in their small parking lot—if you want to save yourself the trouble of having your car boxed in, that is. 

Moreover, before we could enter Urban Social, the entrance was guarded by security personnel who conducted bag and ID checks. 

One of the things we liked, though, about Urban Social was that right when we walked through the door, the staff and the overall ambiance of Urban Social made us feel as if we were right at home. 

We were drawn to the walls that were lined with booths and tables reminiscent of a bar in the Prohibition era. But, we liked how the bar was the focal point of Urban Social as it was in the center of the room. 

We liked how their bartenders, cocktail servers, and mixologists combined elements from Houston’s past and present to create an unforgettable experience in terms of drinks and the atmosphere. 

Yet, we didn’t like how it was hard to hear the music being performed as their speakers only gave off static. Besides this, the singer on the stage had problems with the microphone. 

We also didn’t like how at Urban Social, they don’t serve food here—only drinks. However, if you must have something to eat, the back entrance of Urban Social becomes a hot spot for food trucks after 10PM.

MKT Bar is not only known just for its alcoholic drinks but also for its coffee, gelato, and live R&B music throughout the week. At least, that’s what we’ve been told. 

Since MKT bar is inside the Phoenicia Market, it shares a small parking lot with the marketplace. So we recommend parking on the street as it’s easier. 

When we went to MKT bar, we liked how the atmosphere at MKT bar was laid-back, and the walls were decorated with art from local Houstonians. Furthermore, most of the musicians that performed at MKT bar were local favorites. 

They played some familiar classics, but we noted that most of the songs performed at MKT Bar are a fusion of R&B with rock or jazz. 

Although the song selection was interesting, the sound quality of the music was too low and could hardly be heard over the crowds of people. Bit of a shame!

As far as their menu goes, we liked how they put a creative twist on classic Southern dishes like their juicy braised tacos and crispy fried chicken and waffles. Additionally, true to the claims of others, their gelato was delicious and creamy. 

One thing we didn’t like, though, was the appetizer of Za’atar fries, as the fries were mushy, thin, and soaked in garlic.