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Feel The Rhythm: 4 Best Music Bars in Houston

Feel The Rhythm 5 Best Music Bars in Houston
  • Astounding Atmosphere:  Music bars are known for being the liveliest, most energetic places in the world. For us to really recommend a music bar in Houston, they should fit the music bar atmosphere to a t!
  • Bombastic Drinks: What goes well with a lively atmosphere? If you said drinks, then you’re right on the money - and we’re looking for music bars that also offer solid drink options for you to choose from!
  • Convenient Location: What good is a music bar if you can’t find them? That’s why the ideal music bar should be relatively easy to find!
  • Diverse music: Sometimes, being a jack of all trades is better than being a master of none. Thus, for a music bar to be the best one in Houston, they should have a diverse musical performance to make sure that everyone can enjoy them!
  • (Optional) Fast Service: It’s not required for a music bar to have quick service, but it would be greatly appreciated.

1. McGonigel’s Mucky Duck

McGonigel's Mucky Duck Logo

Website: McGonigel’s Mucky Duck

Address: 2425 Norfolk St, Houston, TX 77098

Contact info: 713-528-5999

Operating hours:  Monday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Tuesday – Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM

Thursday – Saturday: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Sunday: Closed

Google Reviews Score4.7/5
Yelp Reviews Score4/5
Facebook Reviews Score4.6/5
Total Reviews4.4/5
Score Consistency4.4/5

Pros

  • More laidback compared to other Music Bars
  • Live performances daily
  • Irish Music Wednesdays
  • Authentic Irish food

Cons

  • Closed on Sundays

From the name alone, you can expect some great Irish music and a more laidback vibe with McGonigel’s Mucky Duck – and you’d be right on the money for that one! Their homey atmosphere makes them one of the more relaxing music bars in Houston yet!

Although they mainly focus on Irish music, we can greatly appreciate that they go out of their way to provide a wide array of music genres for you to visit. From hard rock to alternative music, there’s space for your preferred genre at McGoniger’s Mucky Duck!

McGoniger’s Mucky Duck’s food also matches their Irish vibe, with their menu having a touch of the Irish to them. We suggest trying the Welsh Rarebit for that fully authentic experience, but the Black Bean Queso is also good if you want something nostalgic.

The only thing that we don’t appreciate as much about McGoniger’s Mucky Duck though is the fact that they’re closed on Sundays. In our perspective though, it just ramps up their exclusivity among everything else.

The air of exclusivity doesn’t end there though, especially since McGoniger’s Mucky Duck also plays Irish-only music on Wednesdays! You can expect music from mainstream artists like Enya and U2, and even underrated gems like The Virgin Prunes!

2. The Continental Club

The Continental Club Logo

Website: The Continental Club

Address: Mid Main, 3714 Main St, Houston, TX 77002

Contact info: 713-529-9899

Operating hours:  Sunday – Wednesday: Closed

Thursday: 6:00 PM – 2:00 AM

Friday – Saturday: 8:00 PM – 2:00 AM

Google Reviews Score4.6/5
Yelp Reviews Score3.8/5
Facebook Reviews ScoreN/A
Total Reviews4/5
Score Consistency4/5

Pros

  • Great for all music enthusiasts
  • Diverse 
  • Plenty of good events on days without live performers
  • Beautiful t-shirts for sale

Cons

  • Closed 3 days a week

For all the country music lovers out there, The Continental Club will be your next go-to for their performers along with their stunning decor! After all, The Continental Club has seen iconic performers like Stevie Ray Vaughn and The Cobras through their doors!

That being said though, The Continental Club also offers a diverse selection as well, ranging from the usual country to rock and even some alternative music thrown in there. This gives The Continental Club a dash of versatility that is always greatly appreciated.

The Continental Club also hosts plenty of events whenever they’re open as well, even on days when there aren’t any live performers in the club! We strongly suggest visiting them on Saturdays for their Bingo Nights, especially since there’s no cover charge.

Now, note that we said “when they’re open” – that’s because unlike other music clubs in Houston since The Continental Club is closed from Sundays to Wednesdays. That said, whenever they’re open, they manage to provide an experience of a lifetime.

You can also take your experience with The Continental Club with you home too, since they also have t-shirts that you can buy! These shirts come in pretty designs, with the Ladies’ Gran Prix being the most beautiful design out of all of them.

3. Scott Gertner’s Rhythm Room

Scott Gertner's Rhythm Room Logo

Website: Scott Gertner’s Rhythm Room

Address: The Shops on Memorial, 5535 Memorial Dr g, Houston, TX 77007

Contact info: 832-804-9046

Operating hours:  Monday – Tuesday: Closed

Wednesday – Thursday: 5:30 PM – 1:00 AM

Friday – Saturday: 7:00 PM – 1:30 AM

Sunday: 5:30 PM – 12:00 AM

Google Reviews Score4.5/5
Yelp Reviews Score3.9/5
Facebook Reviews Score5/5
Total Reviews4.2/5
Score Consistency4.2/5

Pros

  • Rock chip repair Diverse music performances
  • Offers discounts on hotels
  • Plenty of food options
  • Chic lounge environment

Cons

  • Mondays and Tuesdays are reserved for special events

Unlike other music bars in Houston, what gives Scott Gertner’s Rhythm Room an edge is their diverse performers. Yes, they feature the regular EDM and rock you’d expect from a regular music bar – but they also host RNB and Jazz musicians as well!

Musical performances aside, Scott Gertner’s Rhythm Room also offers a sizeable discount on your next stay at the nearby Hampton Inn & Suites. This makes them the best music bar to wrap up your Houston visit since you can have fun AND save money!

Scott Gertner’s Rhythm Room also has an incredibly chic lounge area as well, with the red velvet seats being extra plush for you to enjoy the live performances. The ambient red lighting also makes it feel extra cozy as well, which we like.

You can also book Scott Gertner’s Rhythm Room for private events, but they’re only available on Mondays and Tuesdays. That also means that they’re closed on those days, but on the days they’re open, they provide excellent service.

Scott Gertner’s Rhythm Room also has a stunning menu that offers a nice variety of food options for you to choose from as well! Their Crab Hush Puppies are good, but the Scottie Hottie Wings is the ideal finger food to eat while vibing to their live performers.

4. Shady Acres Saloon

Shady Acres Saloon Logo

Website: Shady Acres Saloon

Address: 1115 W 19th St, Houston, TX 77008

Contact info: 713-534-1112

Operating hours:  Monday – Friday: 2:00 PM – 2:00 AM

Saturday – Sunday: 12:00 PM – 2:00 AM

Google Reviews Score4.6/5
Yelp Reviews Score3.7/5
Facebook Reviews Score4.1/5
Total Reviews4.3/5
Score Consistency4.3/5

Pros

  • Classic, all-American music bar
  • VIP rooms available
  • Plenty of miscellaneous activities 
  • Good drink options

Cons

  • Only country musicians are performing

If you’re looking for a good, honky-tonk (their word, not ours) music bar that’s very reminiscent of the Old West era, then we recommend giving Shady Acres Saloon a try. They’re unapologetically all-American, which is something that’s severely lacking.

What we appreciate the most about Shady Acres Saloon is the fact that unlike the saloons of yesteryear, they have VIP rooms These rooms come with air conditioning, a personal bathroom, a small fridge, and beer and liquor service on request!

Speaking of their drinks, they have plenty of good beers for you to choose from, which match the vibe they’re going for. We suggest trying the 6666 IPA if you’re looking for something stronger, or the Lone River Ranch Water if you don’t want to get wasted.

However, we do have to warn you that Shady Acres Saloon only exclusively plays Country music. This makes them less fun for those that aren’t huge fans of country music, but if you are then you’re in for a wonderful time.

You can still have lots of fun at Shady Acres Saloon even if you’re not a fan of country music since there are plenty of things that you can do! You can try out the pool tables or the pinball machines – or just hang out at the bar up front and just relax a little!

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