The 5 Best Bars in Midtown Houston

If you ask anyone who lives in Midtown Houston if they’ve been to the Social Garden, we’re willing to bet most have. Especially during Happy Hour or on a Friday night!

We visited The Social Garden during their Happy Hour (from opening time to 8:00 PM) and we were welcomed with such a warm atmosphere and homey vibe.

If you’re coming here during Happy Hour though, be prepared for a long queue. But in our opinion, the long wait times are worth it! 

We were in love with the overall vibe of the place. It wasn’t too overwhelming or loud – perfect for those who just want to chill after a long work day.

We especially like their craft beers, which are unlike any other craft beer we’ve tasted. We strongly recommend that you give their Yellow Rose a try! It’s a bit expensive, but it has just the right kick.

What’s really unique about Social Garden is that they have a rotating food truck schedule. You get tacos one day and steak the other – the options are limitless! You can learn more about the food truck schedule here.

That aside, we strongly suggest you wait for Taco Day for their delicious tacos. They have the right amount of spice and it has that authentic kick that we all know and love.

The Wonder Bar definitely lives up to its name. From its vibe to its wonderful selection, it’s a bar that’s both Insta and visit-worthy! 

We don’t know if it’s intentional, but we just realized that The Wonder Bar is a pun on the German word for “wonderful” (Wunderbar). We think that adds a nice touch.

What really sold us on the place was just how every decor in here fit the overall theme of the place. It has this very 80’s Warhol vibe going on, which gives it that really unique vibe.

Word of the wise from us? You absolutely have to give their fruit-infused margaritas a try. They taste just as good as they sound – we promise!

That being said though, their beer selections and food optoins are lacking a little bit. But the margaritas more than made up for that and we’ll definitely return!

Luckily, there’s plenty of late night fast food options nearby, so The Wonder Bar is still a fantastic option for a nightcap in midtown Houston! 

With Open Mic Tuesdays, Jazz Wednesdays, and limited-time events, Axelrad offers a different experience every single day. And that’s what makes it special, in our opinion. 

Enjoying all of these wonderful activities in an open space like Axelrad’s gives it that special zing to it. And have we mentioned the HAMMOCKS? Axelrad prides itself as the only hammock grove in the city!

The open space isn’t just for the vibe though – it means they’re dog friendly too, as long as you bring your own potty bag. As a family friendly place, they also allow people below 21 inside, as long as they’re accompanied by adults. They also make sure that every event that they have is for everyone as well.

Their specialty cocktails and their craft beers here are really good. We really suggest The Mean One and the Gangplank Gose, respectively. 

The only thing that we can complain about here, really, is that the seats are a bit uncomfortable. But with such a lively community, great events and large open space, we doubt you’ll be sitting much anyway.

Since Ivy Bar & Bistro is a rooftop bar, they’ve already scored a 10 in the atmosphere department, especially if you take a seat on the patio!

We highly recommend going on Thursday Jazz Night if you’re on a date or just looking for a casual night out.

If you’re looking for a night filled with dancing though, visit Ivy Bar & Bistro on a Saturday Night! These are reserved for Latin Dance Night, and they offer basic lessons here too for anybody interested in putting some salsa in their step! 

But the atmosphere isn’t everything that this bar has to offer. The drinks have pretty creative names and are Instaworthy, in our opinion.

We recommend giving their Poison Ivy a try if you’re up for something chill. But if you want something more adventurous, their Pierre, Le Bon Temps will liven things up for you. 

Although the cocktail selection is a bit sparse, Ivy makes up for it with a lengthy wine list. There’s quite a number of cabernets, red blends and sparkling wines to choose from. 

Their food options, although limited as well, pair well with their selection of cocktails and wine! We particularly liked their charcuterie board which comes with a variety of cheeses and meats, and their Margherita pizza is a must try too!

Wooster’s Garden is not just a place where you can get specialty drinks – it’s also a great bar in Midtown Houston where you can relax after a long day of work.

Everything about Wooster’s Garden is unique – from its food and drink options to its seating, this bar has a certain charm that’s very welcomingly different from other bars.

To start, the drinks all come with uniquely creative names and all taste amazing. We like the Jessica Rabbit because it has that bourbon kick and The Vanilla Punch has that summery fresh vibe that’s perfect after a hard day.

We suggest you visit them during their happy hour (4 PM – 6 PM) since you can get their house margaritas and wine for half their usual price.

The food isn’t half bad either. Their fries are perfectly cooked and crispy, and our main dishes (Chirashi Bowl and Steak Sandwich) all came in at a reasonable pace and with just the right flavor, too. 

We did have several problems, though. Their parking lot was small and we had to park on a different street. Also, when we tried to ask if they do to-go orders, our waiter told us that they don’t do takeouts. 

But two little nitpicks don’t diminish Wooster’s Garden’s charms at all. They still have that warmth to them. Or maybe it’s just because we sat on their patio during the winter and still remained warm since you can control the heating.