2020 Will Be the Year of the Ice House in Houston’s Bar Scene

Ice houses, or laid-back beer bars known for serving brews in cans in laid-back, often open-air spaces, have always been a fixture of Houston’s bar scene. In 2020, a slew of exciting newcomers looks to join the ranks of vaunted Houston bars like West Alabama Ice House and Kirby Ice House.

Over the next several months, at least six new ice houses are in the works for various locations across Houston and its suburbs. Scope out the projects that are in the works now, and stay tuned for more intel on when you can expect to sip brews on the patio at these 6 forthcoming Houston ice houses.

Post Oak Ice House

Describing itself as a “neighborhood hangout” for folks living near the Galleria, Post Oak Ice House will occupy 12,500 square feet of “laid back awesomeness” at 5610 Richmond Avenue, according to its website. Renderings of the space indicate that it will have a street-facing patio, plenty of seating on Adirondack chairs, and of course, beer. Expect it to open sometime in May.

Sawyer Ice House

As reported in September 2019, this new ice house will set up shop at 1225 Sawyer Street, inside the Sawyer Yards development. Per Houston Business Journal, the new bar is a bit of an expanded version of an ice house, with a full bar, frozen drinks, and 40 different brews on tap, along with a full menu of breakfast, lunch, and dinner options. Originally, Sawyer Ice House was expected to arrive last year, but construction delays have pushed that timeline back.

Memorial Trail Ice House

Memorial Trail Ice House [Official Photo]

Located adjacent to Memorial Park in Rice Military, Memorial Trail Ice House raised more than $200,000 via crowdfunding platform NextSeed to build out its historic address at 6202 Washington Avenue. Expect it to arrive sometime in June 2020, with plenty of space for drinking on a massive patio, outdoor games, and of course, plenty of beer on tap. Also on the menu: a tight list of wines and frozen cocktails.

Savoy Urban Beer Garden

While it’s technically a “beer garden,” the latest project from the minds behind the Turkey Leg Hut definitely qualifies as an ice house. Taking over the space formerly occupied by Bar 5015, Savoy Urban Beer Garden boasts that it will serve the coldest beer in Houston in its massive, two-story location. Construction on the new ice house, located at 4402 Emancipation Avenue, is still underway, but here’s hoping for a mid-to-late 2020 debut for the Third Ward’s newest drinking destination.

Katy Crossing Ice House

Taking over a former bank at 5733 Second Street in Katy, Katy Crossing Ice House was originally expected to arrive sometime in 2019. Construction on the space is still underway, but when it arrives, expect an expansive patio on which revelers can enjoy cocktails, beer, and wine.

Kirby Ice House (Memorial City)

This iconic ice house, known for its 22-and-up drinking age, will debut a massive second outpost later this year. As reported previously by Eater, expect Kirby Ice House’s Memorial City outpost to boast a 10,000 square foot space, complete with a 120-foot bar that a rep says may be the longest in Texas, designed by Energy Architecture. Cocktails, 120 beers on tap, and wine will be on offer when Kirby Ice House hits Memorial City sometime in Fall 2020.

Got a tip on a new ice house that’s headed to Houston? Send it our way in the comments.