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Margs await at Eight Row Flint
Eight Row Flint/Facebook

12 Perfect Day-Drinking Destinations in Houston

Where to party long before 5 p.m.

by Megha McSwain Updated
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Margs await at Eight Row Flint
| Eight Row Flint/Facebook
by Megha McSwain Updated

Desperately need a drink before 5 p.m? This is a guide to bookmark. Many of these spots open the doors as early as 11 a.m., which means that you can get lit before even ordering lunch. Others open a little later, around 3 p.m., making them perfect pre-happy hour destinations to spend an hour or two before your favorite bar opens.

For anyone looking for a refreshing brew, great Bloody Mary, or perfect margarita, these 12 day drinking destinations have it covered long before nightfall.

Is your favorite day drinking spot missing from this map? Shout it out in the comments.

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Eight Row Flint

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Open from 11 a.m. to midnight daily, this unassuming Heights bar boasts a strong cocktail list and plenty of snacks to soak up the booze. Order a ranch water spiked with sotol, or consider a fizzy riff on the classic jungle bird cocktail, then pair with Valentina-drenched chicharrones or sizzling fajitas.

1039 Yale St, Houston, TX
(713) 880-8463
(713) 880-8463
Eight Row Flint/Facebook

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Bobcat Teddy's Icehouse

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New to the Heights, Bobcat Teddy’s Icehouse offers all of the perks of a solid neighborhood hangout. In addition to a focus on Irish whiskey, the open-air bar boasts patio games like jumbo Jenga, food pop-ups and live music — and its open seven days a week at 10 am.

2803 White Oak Dr, Houston, TX 77007
(832) 742-5535
(832) 742-5535

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Better Luck Tomorrow

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Open daily at noon, Better Luck Tomorrow invites guests to partake in all-day happy hour until 5 pm, featuring half off all libations. Grab a seat inside or on the spacious wraparound patio, and after you’re good and liquored up, give in to the temptation of the “party” melt, a beef patty sandwich with crispy cheese and caramelized onions. 

744 Yale St, Houston, TX
(713) 802-0845
(713) 802-0845
Jenn Duncan Photography

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Moon Tower Inn

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Open from noon to midnight, this popular dive serves a slew of beers on tap, plus solid burgers and hot dogs made with game meats like duck, wild boar, elk, and buffalo.

3004 Canal St, Houston, TX
(832) 266-0105
(832) 266-0105
Moon Tower Inn/Facebook

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Truck Yard

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This sprawling bar, complete with a live music stage and a working ferris wheel, provides an amusing destination for day-drinking in the EaDo neighborhood. The 15,000 square foot space is spread out over various levels, and a number of rotating food trucks parked on-site make for perfect snacking in between tequila shots.

2118 Lamar St, Houston, TX 77003
(713) 855-9666
(713) 855-9666

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Postino

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Wining and dining before sunset is much more fun when it’s also budget-friendly. The daily special at this popular wine bar boasts $5 glasses and pitchers of beer before 5 p.m., plus snacks like paninis and bruschetta boards.

805 Pacific St, Houston, TX 77006
(713) 388-6767
(713) 388-6767

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D&W Lounge

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For those who need need a cocktail seriously early, this no-frills bar popular with Houston’s shift workers opens at 7 a.m seven days a week. Order a beer and a shot, and start the day off in the best way possible.

911 Milby St, Houston, TX
(713) 226-8777
(713) 226-8777
sozavac/Foursquare

a'Bouzy

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Rise and wine at A’bouzy, open at 10 a.m. on weekdays and 11 a.m. on weekends. The lively River Oaks restaurant offers a substantial wine and champagne list — with bottles ranging from $12 to more than $2,000 — and an oversized covered patio to lounge around on well after dark.

2300 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77098
(713) 722-6899
(713) 722-6899

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West Alabama Ice House

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Despite only serving beer and wine, West Alabama Ice House is a beloved day-drinking locale, known for its laid back atmosphere, dog-friendly space and its close proximity to the Tacos Tierra Caliente food truck. Regulars can rely on getting their fix here — the bar is open every single day of the year, at 10 a.m. Mondays through Saturdays and noon on Sundays.

1919 W Alabama St, Houston, TX 77098
(713) 528-6874
(713) 528-6874

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Kirby Ice House

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A destination for anyone looking to kick back with a cold one during the day, Kirby Ice House’s patio is also pet-friendly. 30,000 square feet of patio space, furnished with Adirondack chairs, picnic tables, and outdoor games, awaits, plus more than 50 beers on ta. A rotating cast of local food trucks are parked onsite for convenient snacking. The party starts at 2 p.m. on weekdays, 11 a.m. on Saturdays, and noon on Sundays. 

3333 Eastside St, Houston, TX
(713) 524-2752
(713) 524-2752
Kirby Ice House/Facebook

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Axelrad Beer Garden

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This sprawling beer garden, peppered with picnic tables and hammock swings, opens at 2 p.m. on weekdays and noon the weekends, making it a reliable day-drinking destination. Order from the lengthy list of beers, or consider cocktails like a cucumber Cape Cod or frozen mangonada on especially hot Houston days. Insider tip: Luigi’s Pizzeria is located on site, and drinkers are welcome to enjoy pizza and snacks in the beer garden.

1517 Alabama St, Houston, TX
(281) 630-2222
(281) 630-2222
Axelrad/Facebook

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Secret Garden

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The jewel of Bravery Chef Hall, Secret Garden offers guests an escape from the compact bars and pubs found in Downtown, with its lush, airy terrace bedecked with vines and flowers. Weekends are a lively scene with a DJ mixing beats, and cocktails like the whimsical Secret Garden G&T await.

409 Travis St, Houston, TX 77002
(832) 350-6595
(832) 350-6595

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Eight Row Flint

1039 Yale St, Houston, TX

Open from 11 a.m. to midnight daily, this unassuming Heights bar boasts a strong cocktail list and plenty of snacks to soak up the booze. Order a ranch water spiked with sotol, or consider a fizzy riff on the classic jungle bird cocktail, then pair with Valentina-drenched chicharrones or sizzling fajitas.

1039 Yale St, Houston, TX
(713) 880-8463
(713) 880-8463
Eight Row Flint/Facebook

Bobcat Teddy's Icehouse

2803 White Oak Dr, Houston, TX 77007

New to the Heights, Bobcat Teddy’s Icehouse offers all of the perks of a solid neighborhood hangout. In addition to a focus on Irish whiskey, the open-air bar boasts patio games like jumbo Jenga, food pop-ups and live music — and its open seven days a week at 10 am.

2803 White Oak Dr, Houston, TX 77007
(832) 742-5535
(832) 742-5535

Better Luck Tomorrow

744 Yale St, Houston, TX

Open daily at noon, Better Luck Tomorrow invites guests to partake in all-day happy hour until 5 pm, featuring half off all libations. Grab a seat inside or on the spacious wraparound patio, and after you’re good and liquored up, give in to the temptation of the “party” melt, a beef patty sandwich with crispy cheese and caramelized onions. 

744 Yale St, Houston, TX
(713) 802-0845
(713) 802-0845
Jenn Duncan Photography

Moon Tower Inn

3004 Canal St, Houston, TX

Open from noon to midnight, this popular dive serves a slew of beers on tap, plus solid burgers and hot dogs made with game meats like duck, wild boar, elk, and buffalo.

3004 Canal St, Houston, TX
(832) 266-0105
(832) 266-0105
Moon Tower Inn/Facebook

Truck Yard

2118 Lamar St, Houston, TX 77003

This sprawling bar, complete with a live music stage and a working ferris wheel, provides an amusing destination for day-drinking in the EaDo neighborhood. The 15,000 square foot space is spread out over various levels, and a number of rotating food trucks parked on-site make for perfect snacking in between tequila shots.

2118 Lamar St, Houston, TX 77003
(713) 855-9666
(713) 855-9666

Postino

805 Pacific St, Houston, TX 77006

Wining and dining before sunset is much more fun when it’s also budget-friendly. The daily special at this popular wine bar boasts $5 glasses and pitchers of beer before 5 p.m., plus snacks like paninis and bruschetta boards.

805 Pacific St, Houston, TX 77006
(713) 388-6767
(713) 388-6767

D&W Lounge

911 Milby St, Houston, TX

For those who need need a cocktail seriously early, this no-frills bar popular with Houston’s shift workers opens at 7 a.m seven days a week. Order a beer and a shot, and start the day off in the best way possible.

911 Milby St, Houston, TX
(713) 226-8777
(713) 226-8777
sozavac/Foursquare

a'Bouzy

2300 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77098

Rise and wine at A’bouzy, open at 10 a.m. on weekdays and 11 a.m. on weekends. The lively River Oaks restaurant offers a substantial wine and champagne list — with bottles ranging from $12 to more than $2,000 — and an oversized covered patio to lounge around on well after dark.

2300 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77098
(713) 722-6899
(713) 722-6899

West Alabama Ice House

1919 W Alabama St, Houston, TX 77098

Despite only serving beer and wine, West Alabama Ice House is a beloved day-drinking locale, known for its laid back atmosphere, dog-friendly space and its close proximity to the Tacos Tierra Caliente food truck. Regulars can rely on getting their fix here — the bar is open every single day of the year, at 10 a.m. Mondays through Saturdays and noon on Sundays.

1919 W Alabama St, Houston, TX 77098
(713) 528-6874
(713) 528-6874

Kirby Ice House

3333 Eastside St, Houston, TX

A destination for anyone looking to kick back with a cold one during the day, Kirby Ice House’s patio is also pet-friendly. 30,000 square feet of patio space, furnished with Adirondack chairs, picnic tables, and outdoor games, awaits, plus more than 50 beers on ta. A rotating cast of local food trucks are parked onsite for convenient snacking. The party starts at 2 p.m. on weekdays, 11 a.m. on Saturdays, and noon on Sundays. 

3333 Eastside St, Houston, TX
(713) 524-2752
(713) 524-2752
Kirby Ice House/Facebook

Axelrad Beer Garden

1517 Alabama St, Houston, TX

This sprawling beer garden, peppered with picnic tables and hammock swings, opens at 2 p.m. on weekdays and noon the weekends, making it a reliable day-drinking destination. Order from the lengthy list of beers, or consider cocktails like a cucumber Cape Cod or frozen mangonada on especially hot Houston days. Insider tip: Luigi’s Pizzeria is located on site, and drinkers are welcome to enjoy pizza and snacks in the beer garden.

1517 Alabama St, Houston, TX
(281) 630-2222
(281) 630-2222
Axelrad/Facebook

Secret Garden

409 Travis St, Houston, TX 77002

The jewel of Bravery Chef Hall, Secret Garden offers guests an escape from the compact bars and pubs found in Downtown, with its lush, airy terrace bedecked with vines and flowers. Weekends are a lively scene with a DJ mixing beats, and cocktails like the whimsical Secret Garden G&T await.

409 Travis St, Houston, TX 77002
(832) 350-6595
(832) 350-6595

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