Bloggers and Publicists Share Their First Dive Bar Experience in Houston

Welcome to the Dive Bar Power Hour, a full hour dedicated to dive bars. Unlike their more popular sibling, the cocktail bar, dive bars are slightly rough around the edges - maybe sticky too - but even they need love too.

Renia Butler, blogger at Gristle & Gossip: "First dive bar was The Davenport. At the time the music was amazing, the bartenders were knowledgeable and the drinks were all double shots. I "Flintstone shuffled" out of there numerous times."

Dutch Small, owner of Immersioncy - Experiential Marketing + Public Relations: "Catbirds. I loved that it was populated by the Montrose underworld but was not as creepy as Lola's."

Ellie Sharp, Eater Houston contributor: "Very first experience was probably Marfreless a few months after I moved to Houston back in 2005, but I am more familiar with my second Houston dive bar experience which was the first of many nights at Davenport (The Davenport Lounge) on Richmond. I remember sitting at the bar at Marfreless to write an article for Envy Magazine back when I was an intern there, hanging out with my photographer, and drinking "the house specialty" Green Apple Martinis. I was impressed by the fresh apple slices floating in our glasses."

Hank Lewis, writer at Hank on Food: "Back in 1991 when I was in Grad School at Rice Univeristy.  My cousin West told me about Marfreless when I first moved to Houston. He showed me where the door was--no sign, under the stairs, looked like the back room or loading dock for the store/theatre in front of it. He told me if I took a date there, it would leave quite an impression. First time I went, brought a date, was a little uncertain, but opened the door and BOOM, a big ol' bar that had a nice selection of cocktails, some snacks.  My date and I went upstairs, where the lights were lower, discovered that there was some serious making out going on up there, noticed an even darker room down the way--we did NOT go in there, though we did enjoy a couple of Cocktails (Whiskey Sour, and Bourbon & Cola) and smooched a bit.  ;)"