Gulf Coast & South Texas
Fresh ground coffee from a wide menu of styles, hot-from-the-oven bakery treats ($2-$9), and the attached fine-art photography gallery with nice prints of…
Must-see nightlife in Texas
Dallas & the Panhandle Plains
Look out your window at the right moment as you fly into DFW and you might spot the vineyards of one of Grapevine's several wineries. Su Vino is one of…
Dallas
A kitschy dive bar with a decades-long provenance. They contend the name has nothing to do with Lee Harvey Oswald (we hope not). Everything is an ode to…
Dallas
With over 80 selections of Mexican tequila, this bubbly downtown party spot is thronged for its happy hour. It's certainly the breeziest patio, with a…
San Antonio
This 18-and-up club is frequently open after hours, catering to a late-night crowd which comes for the huge dancefloor, techno music, theme nights and…
Austin
Oh, yes, there’s dancing. And oh, yes, it’s packed. (And how are you supposed to dance with all those people in there?) As much as the girls wish it were…
Dallas
Everyone's working on laptops and drinking arguably the Dallas area's finest coffee here: why not join them? The rich and creamy latte has caused may a…
Austin
This German biergarten has been around forever – or at least since 1866 – and its proximity to the capitol building has made it the traditional favorite…
Gulf Coast & South Texas
The clichés start with the thatched roof over the deck, but that doesn't stop the mixed crowd of tourists and locals from cutting loose from before the…
West Austin
The hula theme is so thorough that this restaurant feels like a chain, even though it's not. But the bar's sprawling deck that stretches out over Lake…
Galveston
The de facto Strand District community center, this warehouse-based cafe serves fine espresso drinks and iced teas. Tables out front are great for people…
Hill Country
Devil’s Backbone Tavern is a perfectly tattered and dusty beer joint with a country-music jukebox, dollar bills stuck to the wall and a Thursday-night…
San Antonio
This downtown bar is a nice alternative to the madness of the River Walk. Small and laid-back with a lounge-style atmosphere, it's usually pretty chilled,…
Austin
Hidden inside a parking garage, this cozy, dimly lit lounge draws a hip but not overly precious Austin crowd who give high marks to the first-rate…
Houston
You really can't get more kicked-back than a giant shaded deck with sports on the TVs and so many beers on tap. One of several around town, the Rice…
Flying Saucer Draught Emporium
Houston
At this big beer bar there are more than 200 types of brews, including drafts from local Houston microbreweries like St Arnold and elsewhere in Texas…
Corpus Christi
Fancy coffee with quality beans ($3 to $9) and natural juices ($8), a tasty selection of snacks and baked goods ($3 to $8), and a cozy dining room that's…
Houston
English pubs in this town are commonplace, but not ones in gorgeous brick buildings with lovely patios and giant outdoor chess games. There's typical pub…
San Antonio
See those great big brewing tanks behind the bar? That's your craft beer being made. The people-watching, the relaxed vibe and the location inside the…
Coastal Plains
For a craft beer or fancy cocktail downtown, this is the go-to place, and the regular schedule of live music certainly doesn't hurt either. Try a flight…
Dallas
An airy, contemporary style cafe in the West Village area with plenty of outlets for your gear and strong coffee. Pastries and sandwiches for snacking,…
Dallas & the Panhandle Plains
A standout pub in chain-obsessed Arlington. Sure (like everything else here) it's in a strip mall, but its a great place to hang out with sports fans…
Galveston
From a beer-garden-styled porch overlooking Strand St, order any of 50 or more beers off a regularly changing menu from around the world. Oh, and brings…
Dallas
Come for the games, stay for the drinks. Value-conscious imbibers will like the specials that include carafes of mimosas at Sunday brunch. The food's good…
Houston
Start out on the chill back patio at this long-running – and welcoming – women's bar; after midnight, when the DJ comes on, migrate to the dance floor to…
Hill Country
This small brewpub offers tasty homemade beers in an eclectic atmosphere across from Cibolo Creek. It also serves Mexican and German dishes and plenty of…
Panhandle Plains
Good dive bar that takes its name from the vintage pinball machines that line the back room. Serves a dozen creative versions of hot dogs with names like …
Houston
With a stylish but low-key vibe and cheap drinks, JR's consistently rates among the best in Houston – aim to come Tuesday night, when drag queen champion…
Dallas
Sip your adult beverage on a stylish terrace overlooking the city, at least what you can see through a new crop of apartments. There are snack options for…
Houston
The jukebox at this lovable downtown dive bar has been officially voted the best for oldies in town, while the cheap drinks have been unofficially voted…
East Texas
This long, narrow bare-brick bar has a fine lineup of Texas microbrews, although nothing is on tap. People like to catch games here while enjoying burgers…
Dallas
This cafe multitasks gracefully: sip fair-trade coffee, watch the financial markets and hear some of the best acoustic music in Dallas. Tuesday is open…
Austin
With a legendary jukebox and even better burgers, this is the spot for serious drinking and late-night carousing. If it's too dark inside, head for the…
Houston
A great indie coffeehouse. Even if you're not in Montrose, the casual local vibe, decent baked goods and a rotation of food trucks outside make it worth a…
Panhandle Plains
It's dark and grungy, and the huge beer selection gets a workout during the 4pm-to-7pm happy hour. A classic college bar, it's right near the Texas Tech…
Northeast Texas
Grab a guy or gal and two-step around the floor to live local country music in a suitably sweaty hall. Wednesday night offers country-and-western dance…
West Austin
This great little neighborhood bar is known for its excellent jukebox, loaded with almost a thousand tunes in all genres. Yep, it's a dive, but a top-rate…
El Paso
If you prefer dive bars, duck in to the Tap. Located right downtown, it's also a Mexican restaurant, so you can scarf down some nachos to soak up the…
Fort Worth
An atmospheric Downtown coffeehouse, serving European-style coffees, and with plenty of power outlets for those in need of a charge beyond the caffeine.
East Austin
It's dark. It's loud. At first glance it's not terribly inviting. But damn, the drinks are cheap, making this a popular spot on the East 6th circuit.
