Best Bars in Memorial, Houston: Ice Houses, Patios and Sports Bars

The best bars in Memorial, Houston cluster around two hubs: the Gessner Road and Memorial Drive corridor east of Beltway 8, and CityCentre, the mixed-use development at I-10 and Beltway 8. Between them you get one of the largest ice house patios in the city, a Michelin-recognized neighborhood tavern, a hotel cocktail bar rebuilt from one of Houston's most storied lost rooftops, and several sports bars walkable from the same parking garage.

What we call Memorial

This guide covers the area between Loop 610 (east), Beltway 8 (west), I-10 (north), and Buffalo Bayou and Memorial Drive (south) — the neighborhoods of CityCentre, Memorial City, Briargrove, and the Katy Freeway corridor locals call Memorial without qualification. Spring Branch and the Energy Corridor begin just outside those edges; where a pick sits on the seam, we say so.

How we chose

Every bar was confirmed open via its official website or official social account as of October 2026. We looked for bars with a genuine reason to make the trip: a destination patio, a serious drink program, game-day setup, or an interesting story. Hours and prices change — always check the official site before you go.

Neighborhood bars and cocktail spots

Memorial's neighborhood bar and cocktail scene runs from one of the most famous outdoor ice houses in Texas to a Michelin-recognized tavern, all within a short drive of each other.

Kirby Ice House — Memorial

1015 Gessner Rd · ice house and patio bar · 21+ at all times

This is the one you go to first. Kirby Ice House's Memorial location has roughly 35,000 square feet of outdoor space — one of the largest bar footprints in Houston — with around 6,500 square feet of indoor bar as well. The format is classic Texas ice house: covered patio, a long bar, cold draft beer, and large screens for the game. Kirby Ice House bills this location as Texas' Second Longest Bar.

Hours differ weekday versus weekend, so check the official site before you drive over.

What to order: Whatever local draft is coldest. The outdoor setup is made for lingering over multiple pints.

Good to know: The 21+ rule applies every day, at all hours. Bring a valid ID.

Bar Bludorn

9061 Gaylord Dr · neighborhood tavern · upscale casual

Aaron Bludorn, whose Montrose flagship restaurant has received James Beard recognition, opened this deliberately casual spin-off as a neighborhood tavern for Memorial. The room is comfortable: seasonal cocktails, an approachable wine list, and bar snacks — fried chicken with peanut butter gravy being the most talked-about — that take the food more seriously than the relaxed setting suggests. Bar Bludorn earned a Michelin Recommended listing in the Texas Michelin Guide, making it one of the few neighborhood taverns in Houston to receive that recognition.

What to order: A seasonal cocktail and whatever the bar snack is that week.

Best for: A weeknight drink or a group that wants good food without a reservation or dress code.

The Allegory Bar — The Moran CityCentre

800 Sorella Ct · cocktail bar and terrace

Hotel Sorella at CityCentre was renovated and reopened as The Moran CityCentre. Its second-floor bar, The Allegory, occupies the space that once held the Monnalisa lounge — one of Houston's most-discussed bar venues before the hotel closed for renovation. The new bar has a terrace overlooking the CityCentre plaza and a handcrafted cocktail program. It's the most polished cocktail bar in the Memorial area.

What to order: A classic cocktail made from scratch. The terrace view of the plaza is worth staying for.

Best for: A date-night first drink or a post-work happy hour with a view.

By Popular Demand

12420 Memorial Dr · whiskey and cocktail bar

A whiskey and bourbon bar on Memorial Drive with a focused spirits selection and small shareable plates. Check the official site for current hours before you go.

What to order: A neat pour from the bourbon list or a craft cocktail.

Patio bars

Two Memorial bars are worth the trip specifically for the outdoor setup.

Liberty Kitchen and Oysterette

963 Bunker Hill Rd, Ste 110 · restaurant and patio bar · live music Friday and Saturday evenings

Liberty Kitchen occupies the Treehouse — an eco-friendly mixed-use building in the Memorial area — with one of the better patios in the neighborhood. The bar anchors a coastal American menu of Gulf and East Coast oysters, sushi, and fresh pasta. Live music plays Friday and Saturday evenings from around 6pm. It works as a happy hour oyster stop or a full dinner with drinks.

What to order: The oyster selection and a glass of white or a cocktail. Check the website for the live music schedule.

Daily Gather — CityCentre

800 Sorella Ct, Ste 940 · casual bar and patio on the CityCentre green

Daily Gather sits on the main CityCentre green directly behind The Moran hotel. Its patio overlooks the CityCentre green where live music plays on weekend evenings — close enough to hear without a ticket. It's the most laid-back of the CityCentre bar options, better for arriving with a drink and staying as long as the music is good.

What to order: A seasonal cocktail. The snack menu is built for sharing.

Sports bars

CityCentre and Memorial City have three of the better game-watching options on Houston's west side.

Yard House — CityCentre

800 Sorella Ct, Ste 116 · sports bar and 100+ taps

Yard House combines a serious craft beer program with a game-day TV setup. The CityCentre location pours from more than 100 taps and has outdoor plaza seating alongside a screen layout for multiple games at once. It's the go-to spot for Houston Texans games and Houston Astros playoff runs on Houston's west side.

What to order: A half-yard glass of whatever is on draft. The bar gets loud during big games.

Sports tip: Arrive 45 minutes before any major game. The CityCentre bars fill up fast.

Pluckers Wing Bar — Memorial City

10407 Katy Fwy · sports bar and wings and pickleball

Pluckers is a Texas-based chain headquartered in Austin. The Memorial City location has pickleball courts on site, making it the only wing bar in the Memorial area where you can play a game before watching one on the big screens. Draft beer, a full wing menu, and TV coverage for NFL, NBA, MLB, and college football. Wednesday trivia runs at 7:30pm.

What to order: Classic bone-in wings and a pitcher of draft. Reserve the pickleball courts online for weekends.

Bowl and Barrel — CityCentre

797 Sorella Ct, Ste 118 · entertainment bar and boutique bowling and craft cocktails

Bowl and Barrel pairs boutique bowling lanes with a full craft cocktail bar. If your group wants to compete and drink at the same time without a screen, this is the CityCentre option. Book lane reservations online before you go — weekends fill up quickly.

What to order: A craft cocktail from the Barrel menu. The shared plates are designed to eat between frames.

Save this: Memorial bar checklist and routes

Never drive between bars after drinking — use a rideshare or designate a driver.

Patio and neighborhood route (afternoon into evening)

1. Start at Liberty Kitchen and Oysterette on Bunker Hill for Gulf oysters at the raw bar
2. Move to Kirby Ice House on Gessner for cold draft in the outdoor patio setup
3. End at By Popular Demand on Memorial Drive for a bourbon and totchos

CityCentre game-day and evening out

1. Pre-game drink at The Allegory Bar on the second-floor terrace
2. Watch the game at Yard House across the plaza
3. Catch live music on the lawn at Daily Gather before you head out

The checklist before you go:

• Kirby Ice House Memorial is 21+ at all times — bring a valid ID, no exceptions
• The CityCentre bars (Yard House, Bowl and Barrel, The Allegory, Daily Gather) are within a short walk of each other — one parking spot in the CityCentre garage covers all four
• Pluckers Memorial City packs out on NFL Sundays — arrive early or call ahead
• Bowl and Barrel lane reservations fill on weekends; book online before you drive over
• Liberty Kitchen live music: Friday and Saturday from around 6pm; confirm on the official site

More Houston nights out

For the dining side of Memorial, our guide covers the neighborhood's best restaurants. The Houston nightlife guide maps cocktail bars and happy hours across the city. For outdoor drinking citywide, the Houston patio dining guide has the full list. The Memorial area guide covers what else to do in the neighborhood, and living in Memorial, Houston has the full neighborhood picture.

Last verified: October 2026.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best bar in Memorial Houston?

Kirby Ice House Memorial (1015 Gessner Rd) is the most popular neighborhood bar — roughly 35,000 square feet of outdoor patio, one of the longest bars in Texas, cold draft beer, and game-day screens. For a cocktail-focused evening, Bar Bludorn on Gaylord Drive is the Memorial pick, with a Michelin Recommended listing in the Texas Michelin Guide.

Are there sports bars in Memorial Houston?

Yes. Yard House at CityCentre (800 Sorella Ct) pours from more than 100 taps with wall-to-wall TV coverage for any major game. Pluckers Wing Bar at Memorial City (10407 Katy Fwy) has wings, draft beer, and pickleball courts on site. Kirby Ice House Memorial also shows games on large outdoor screens.

Where are the best outdoor patio bars in Memorial Houston?

Kirby Ice House Memorial on Gessner Road has roughly 35,000 square feet of outdoor patio space — one of the largest in Houston. Liberty Kitchen and Oysterette on Bunker Hill Road has a notable outdoor patio with live music on Friday and Saturday evenings. Daily Gather at CityCentre has a 100-seat covered patio on the main plaza green.

What replaced the Monnalisa bar at Hotel Sorella in Houston?

Hotel Sorella at CityCentre was renovated and reopened as The Moran CityCentre. The bar space that housed the Monnalisa lounge reopened as The Allegory Bar, a second-floor cocktail bar with a terrace overlooking the CityCentre plaza and a handcrafted cocktail program.

What neighborhoods does Memorial cover in Houston?

For this guide, Memorial covers the area between Loop 610 (east), Beltway 8 (west), I-10 (north), and Buffalo Bayou and Memorial Drive (south) — including CityCentre, Memorial City, Briargrove, and the zip code 77024 Katy Freeway corridor that locals call Memorial.

Is Kirby Ice House Memorial 21+ only?

Yes. Kirby Ice House Memorial (1015 Gessner Rd) is a 21-and-older venue at all times, every day of the week. Bring a valid ID. This is different from some ice houses that allow all ages during daytime hours.