Best Bars in Rice Village, Houston: 10 Picks by Style

Rice Village packs more bar styles into a walkable neighborhood than almost anywhere in Houston. In the space of a few streets—Bissonnet, Morningside, Dunstan, and Rice Boulevard—you can move from a longtime neighborhood dive to a craft brewery to a hidden speakeasy behind a false wall, all on foot. This guide covers ten currently open bars organized by style, with all picks confirmed via official sites as of October 2026.

What counts as Rice Village for this guide

Rice Village is the retail and dining district anchored by University Boulevard on the north, Bissonnet Street on the south, Kirby Drive on the west, and Greenbriar Drive on the east. A few picks sit on adjacent blocks—Kirby itself and Sunset Boulevard—but nothing more than a five-minute walk from the village core. Spots in Montrose or Upper Kirby that share a zip code but require a drive were excluded.

How we chose

Every bar on this list was confirmed open via its own official website or official social media page as of October 2026. We organized by bar type rather than alphabetically because the neighborhood genuinely covers every style: a long-running neighborhood dive, craft-beer taprooms, a live-music roadhouse, a wine-on-tap bar, and a cocktail bar hidden inside a sushi restaurant. Any place that appeared closed on its own pages was excluded.

Neighborhood bars and dives

Marquis II

2631 Bissonnet St · [marquis2.com](https://marquis2.com)

Marquis II is one of the longest-running bars in Rice Village. The exterior is a windowless corner building on Bissonnet that has not changed much in decades. The bar's website has a dedicated history section covering its West University neighborhood roots.

The draw is cold beer, pool tables, and a jukebox. Cash is strongly preferred. Parking is in the lot behind the building on Dunlavy.

Best for: anyone who wants a genuine old-school Houston dive before everything on the block gentrified around it.

The Owl Bar

2424 Dunstan Rd · [owlbarhouston.com](https://www.owlbarhouston.com/)

The Owl Bar occupies a two-story brick building on Dunstan, one of the quieter streets inside the village. The first floor is a neighborhood bar with a full draft list; the second floor has a covered rooftop deck. The patio fills on Thursday through Saturday evenings.

Best for: a casual weeknight drink with a group, or a rooftop seat on a cooler evening.

Patio bars and craft beer

Little Woodrow's Rice Village

5611 Morningside Dr · [littlewoodrows.com](https://www.littlewoodrows.com/)

Little Woodrow's is a Houston patio-bar institution, and the Rice Village location has one of the larger outdoor footprints in the neighborhood: covered and uncovered patio sections with games, televisions, and a full cooler. It runs daily drink specials and draws a mixed crowd across ages.

Best for: a laid-back afternoon with a group, especially on game days.

Baileson Brewing

2322 Bissonnet St · [baileson.com](https://www.baileson.com/)

Baileson is a neighborhood craft brewery a block off the village core, named after the owners' two dogs—Bailey and Jameson. The taproom pours house-brewed beers alongside a rotating food truck, with a covered patio out front. Hours are Wednesday through Sunday; check the official site before going.

Best for: local craft beer in a no-fuss neighborhood setting.

Cocktail bars

Under the Volcano

2349 Bissonnet St · [underthevolcanohouston.com](https://www.underthevolcanohouston.com/)

Under the Volcano has been on Bissonnet since 1989—one of the longest-running bars in Rice Village. The name comes from Malcolm Lowry's 1947 novel. The bar stocks a serious tequila and mezcal list alongside well-made cocktails, and the interior is dim and eclectic. It functions as a neighborhood bar that takes its spirits program seriously.

Best for: a serious drink in a room that has been here long enough to mean something.

Simone on Sunset

2418 Sunset Blvd · [simonesonsunset.com](https://www.simonesonsunset.com/)

Simone on Sunset sits on Sunset Boulevard, one block south of the village core, and runs a craft cocktail program alongside a small kitchen. The room is intentional and the bar list changes with the season. Check the official site for current hours before you go.

Best for: a considered cocktail in a neighborhood room that does not try to be a lounge.

Wine bars

Sixty Vines

2540 University Blvd · [sixtyvines.com](https://www.sixtyvines.com/)

Sixty Vines pours 60 wines by the glass on tap—sourced direct from wine country, never bottled. The two-story building at University and Kirby has a greenhouse patio and works for a business lunch or a date night. Wood-fired flatbreads are the main food option.

Insider tip: the on-tap system keeps open bottles fresh far longer than a standard by-the-glass pour. You're not drinking a bottle that has been open since Tuesday.

Best for: a wine-forward evening or a working lunch at the corner of University and Kirby.

Upstairs and rooftop bars

Upstairs at Hungry's

2356 Rice Blvd · [hungryscafe.com](https://hungryscafe.com/)

Hungry's has been a Rice Village institution for decades; the upstairs bar and lounge is the quieter side of the operation. It sits above the main restaurant floor with the same drink program and a smaller crowd. The main floor serves food until late, which makes it practical when you want something to eat at the end of an evening.

Best for: a quiet drink above the crowd when the main village patios are packed.

Live music

The Big Easy Social and Pleasure Club

5731 Kirby Dr · [thebigeasyblues.com](https://www.thebigeasyblues.com/)

The Big Easy Social and Pleasure Club sits on Kirby at the edge of Rice Village and books live blues, funk, and R&B Wednesday through Saturday. The room is a genuine roadhouse: full bar, a stage, and a dance floor. The venue describes its mission as bringing New Orleans music and culture to Houston.

Check the official site for the current booking calendar. Hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 7pm to 2am. Cover varies by night and artist.

Best for: live blues and R&B on a weekend night in a genuine roadhouse setting.

Hidden and speakeasy bars

Hidden Bar at Norigami

2715 Bissonnet St · inside Norigami · [norigamihtx.com](https://www.norigamihtx.com/)

Hidden Bar is accessible only through a false wall inside Norigami, a sushi and cocktail concept on Bissonnet. You walk into what looks like a bookshelf, push through, and find a dim cocktail room behind it. Reservations are recommended on weekends.

There is no sign outside and no separate entrance. The only way in is through the sushi restaurant.

Best for: a date night or a Friday-night reveal for someone who has never been.

Save this: a Rice Village bar crawl

Rice Village is small enough to walk the whole route in under 20 minutes. Here is a four-stop evening that covers the range.

1. Start at Marquis II on Bissonnet for a cold beer in one of Rice Village's oldest neighborhood bars.
2. Walk one block west to Under the Volcano for a tequila or mezcal cocktail—it has been on the same block since 1989.
3. Head north to Sixty Vines on University for a glass of on-tap wine and a flatbread.
4. Finish at Hidden Bar inside Norigami on Bissonnet. Arrive before 10pm to avoid a wait at the door.

Never drive between stops.

More in Rice Village and beyond

For restaurants in the neighborhood, see the best restaurants in Rice Village guide. For cocktail bars across Houston, the city-wide list covers every neighborhood. The Rice Village and West U area page has parking and transit details. For Houston nightlife beyond the village, the guide covers EaDo, Midtown, and the Heights.

Last verified: October 2026.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best bar in Rice Village, Houston?

Rice Village has ten confirmed open bars covering every style. For a classic Houston dive, Marquis II at 2631 Bissonnet Street is one of the neighborhood's longest-running bars. For a hidden speakeasy, Hidden Bar is accessible only through a false wall inside Norigami at 2715 Bissonnet. For live blues, The Big Easy on Kirby Drive books shows Wednesday through Saturday.

Is there a hidden bar in Rice Village?

Yes. Hidden Bar is inside Norigami at 2715 Bissonnet Street. The entrance is through a false wall that looks like a bookshelf inside the sushi restaurant. There is no sign outside and no separate street entrance. Reservations are recommended on weekends.

What is the oldest bar in Rice Village?

Marquis II at 2631 Bissonnet Street is Rice Village's longest-running neighborhood dive and has a dedicated history section on its website. For a confirmed founding date, Under the Volcano at 2349 Bissonnet Street has been open since 1989, making it the oldest bar on this list with a verified date on its official website.

Does Rice Village have live music bars?

The Big Easy Social and Pleasure Club at 5731 Kirby Drive books live blues, funk, and R&B Wednesday through Saturday, 7pm to 2am. Check the official site at thebigeasyblues.com for the current calendar and cover charges.

Is there a craft brewery in Rice Village?

Baileson Brewing at 2322 Bissonnet Street is a neighborhood craft brewery inside Rice Village, open Wednesday through Sunday. The taproom pours house-brewed beers alongside a rotating food truck. The brewery is named after the owners' two dogs, Bailey and Jameson.

Where can I get wine by the glass in Rice Village?

Sixty Vines at 2540 University Boulevard pours 60 wines by the glass on tap, sourced directly from wine country. The two-story building has a greenhouse patio at the corner of University and Kirby.