Best Bars in Upper Kirby, Houston: Patios, Pubs and Game-Day Bars
Date Published
The best bars in Upper Kirby, Houston, cluster in two places: the Levy Park blocks around Eastside Street, and Richmond Avenue and West Alabama Street just west of Shepherd Drive. Our eight picks run from Kirby Ice House's huge dog-friendly patio and Velvet Oak Tavern's soccer screens to McGonigel's Mucky Duck, an Irish pub with a stage, and a short Richmond Avenue strip of lounges. We confirmed every one open on its own official website.
Here's the line for the group chat: Upper Kirby's initials are U.K., and the British look is deliberate. The name and the British decor were chosen on purpose to give the area its own identity, the red phone booths once actually worked, and a double-decker bus used to shuttle patrons between restaurants. Keep an eye out for the red street signs while you bar-hop.
Where does Upper Kirby start and stop?
For this guide, Upper Kirby means the area west of Shepherd Drive, east of Buffalo Speedway, north of Bissonnet Street and south of Westheimer Road. That's the commonly cited outline of the Upper Kirby District, the commercial area named for Kirby Drive.
That box takes in Levy Park, the Kirby Drive corridor, Richmond Avenue between Shepherd and Buffalo Speedway, and the West Alabama and Norfolk Street blocks near the Southwest Freeway. Bars north of Westheimer are in our River Oaks bar guide, bars east of Shepherd are in our Montrose bar guide, and the University Boulevard spots south of Bissonnet are in our Rice Village bar guide. For the wider neighborhood, start with our Upper Kirby area guide.
How we chose
We kept only bars we could confirm on their own official website, with a current address inside the boundary above and current hours, menus or events. Each pick had to give you a clear reason to go: a patio, a game on with the sound up, live music, a strong drinks list or a room with a point of view. We left out places whose websites were down or whose status we couldn't confirm, plus anything that had moved out of the neighborhood.
Hours and specials change, so treat every time and price below as "typically" and check the bar's site before you go.
The quick list
- For a huge patio with your dog: Kirby Ice House.
- For soccer, college football and trivia: Velvet Oak Tavern.
- For a pint and a live show: McGonigel's Mucky Duck.
- For a cocktail next to the park: Hearsay at Levy Park.
- For a dressed-up night with a DJ: Santé.
- For wood-fired pizza and weekend live music: Capone's Pizza Oven & Bar.
- For scotch and a martini on the patio: The Davenport.
- For oysters at the bar: Eunice.
Levy Park and Kirby Drive
Kirby Ice House
3333 Eastside St · patio bar · dog-friendly · 21+
Kirby Ice House in Upper Kirby calls itself the original home of Houston's biggest backyard, with 35,000 square feet of outdoor space, 6,500 square feet indoors and more than 60 beers on tap, rotated daily. One or two food trucks park here daily, and the bar is dog-friendly every day. It's typically open 2 pm to 2 am on weekdays and 11 am to 2 am on weekends.
Insider tip: Kirby Ice House allows outside food, just not outside drinks, so you can pick up dinner on the way. Happy hour typically runs Monday through Friday, 2 to 7 pm, with $7 spirits, $6 frozens and cocktails, and $5 house wine.
Good to know: it's 21 and up at all times, so leave the kids at home. Groups of 25 or more can book complimentary reservations with no venue fee, which makes it the easy answer for an office watch party.
Hearsay at Levy Park
3728 Wakeforest St · cocktails and comfort food · weekday happy hour
Hearsay at Levy Park is the Upper Kirby outpost of a Houston gastro lounge that first opened in 2009 inside the 1889 W.L. Foley Building. It's the place for a proper cocktail before or after a walk in Levy Park. Weekday happy hour typically runs Monday through Friday, 3 to 6 pm, with $6 cocktails, $5 spirits and bites from $3.
What to order: start from the house cocktail list, then add happy hour bites. Hearsay also serves weekend brunch, typically 10 am to 3 pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Eunice
3737 Buffalo Speedway · Cajun-Creole restaurant and raw bar
Eunice on Buffalo Speedway is a restaurant first, but its raw bar is a good reason to grab a seat at the counter. Chef and owner Drake Leonards serves a modern Cajun-Creole menu built on local seafood. It's typically open 11 am to 9 pm Monday through Thursday, until 9:30 pm Friday and Saturday, and until 8 pm Sunday, so plan on an early evening. See our oyster guide for more raw bars.
What to order: oysters from the raw bar and a cocktail. Ask about happy hour when you book, because it isn't listed on the restaurant's site.
Richmond Avenue and West Alabama
Velvet Oak Tavern
2221 W Alabama St · sports bar · soccer and college teams
Velvet Oak Tavern calls itself Soccer Central, showing "every game, any time, sound on." It lists itself as home to the Houston Gooners (Arsenal FC), FC Barcelona of Houston and the Houston bars for Florida Gators, Stanford Cardinal and LA Chargers fans, plus all summer soccer tournaments.
What to do: come for a match, or for the weekly lineup. Thursday has trivia at 7:30 pm, Wednesday has $1 wings and 22-ounce beers for the price of a pint, and Dungeons & Dragons nights run on Mondays and Fridays at 6 pm. Weekday happy hour typically runs 2 to 7 pm, and weekend brunch runs 11 am to 4 pm with bottles of house champagne for mimosas. See our sports bar guide for game-day bars across the city.
The Davenport
2115 Richmond Ave · cocktail lounge · patio
The Davenport sits on Richmond Avenue just west of Shepherd Drive, right where Upper Kirby meets Montrose. The bar describes itself as a place for everyone, from astronauts and service members to doctors and students. You can take a leather chair at the bar or a table on the patio. It's typically open daily from 2 pm to 2 am.
What to order: The Davenport highlights its extensive selection of scotches, specialty cocktails and martinis, so start with a martini or a pour of scotch.
Capone's Pizza Oven & Bar
2303 Richmond Ave · wood-fired pizza · live music on weekends
Capone's on Richmond Avenue is styled after a 1920s speakeasy, with wood-fired pizza, a full bar and live music every weekend. It works as a family-friendly dinner early on and gets livelier later in the evening. It's typically open 11 am to midnight Sunday through Tuesday and 11 am to 2 am Wednesday through Saturday.
What to order: a wood-fired pizza and a draft beer or specialty cocktail. Weekday happy hour typically runs 11 am to 7 pm, and Thursday brings 50% off wine.
Santé
2309 Richmond Ave · cocktail lounge · dress code · DJ
Santé is Upper Kirby's dressed-up cocktail lounge, with vintage chandeliers, jewel-toned sofas, backlit spirits behind the bar and a copper DJ stand. It's typically open daily from 4 pm to 2 am, and you can reserve a table online.
Good to know: Santé asks for business casual or upscale dress. Men need sleeves and pants, and athleisure, slides, flip-flops, hats and backpacks may be turned away. For more serious drinks, see our cocktail bar guide.
Near the Southwest Freeway
McGonigel's Mucky Duck
2425 Norfolk St · Irish pub and live music venue
McGonigel's Mucky Duck on Norfolk Street, two blocks north of the Southwest Freeway and one block east of Kirby Drive, is an Irish pub and live music venue that also serves food. Shows run most nights, many of them early shows at 6 pm. It typically opens at 11 am Monday through Saturday and is closed Sunday.
Insider tip: unlike most bars on this list, the Duck welcomes guests under 21 when they come with their parents, so you can take a teenager to see live music while you have a pint. Check the show calendar first, because the lineup changes nightly.
Save this: an Upper Kirby bar crawl
The Richmond Avenue bars are close enough to walk between, so park once and start at the Shepherd end.
- 5 pm, Velvet Oak Tavern: catch the end of happy hour and whatever match is on.
- 6:30 pm, The Davenport: a short walk north to Richmond Avenue for a martini or a scotch on the patio.
- 8 pm, Capone's Pizza Oven & Bar: walk west along Richmond and split a wood-fired pizza.
- 9:30 pm, Santé: finish with a cocktail and the DJ, a few doors down from Capone's. Dress for the dress code from the start.
Daytime alternative: take a blanket to Levy Park, then walk to Kirby Ice House with food in hand and a dog on the leash.
Before you go checklist
- Check each bar's website for today's hours and specials.
- Dress up for Santé: sleeves and pants for men, no hats or slides.
- Kirby Ice House is 21+ at all times; McGonigel's admits under-21s with parents.
- Book ahead for Eunice, and check McGonigel's show calendar before you go.
- Plan a rideshare, or pick a sober driver, before the first round.
Want more? Our happy hour guide covers the whole city, our Upper Kirby restaurant guide covers dinner, and things to do in Upper Kirby fills the afternoon.
Last verified: November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best bars in Upper Kirby, Houston?
Our picks are Kirby Ice House, Velvet Oak Tavern, McGonigel's Mucky Duck, Hearsay at Levy Park, Santé, Capone's Pizza Oven & Bar, The Davenport and Eunice. Each was confirmed open on its official website in November 2026.
Where are the boundaries of Upper Kirby?
Upper Kirby is commonly defined as the area west of Shepherd Drive, east of Buffalo Speedway, north of Bissonnet Street and south of Westheimer Road in Houston. It's named for Kirby Drive, which runs through the middle.
Is Kirby Ice House dog-friendly?
Yes. Kirby Ice House at 3333 Eastside St in Upper Kirby says it is dog-friendly seven days a week. It is a 21-and-up venue at all times and allows outside food but not outside drinks.
Which Upper Kirby bar is best for watching soccer?
Velvet Oak Tavern at 2221 W Alabama St is the soccer bar in Upper Kirby. It shows every game with the sound on and is home to the Houston Gooners (Arsenal FC) and FC Barcelona of Houston fan groups.
Does Santé in Upper Kirby have a dress code?
Yes. Santé at 2309 Richmond Ave asks for business casual or upscale dress, and men must wear sleeves and pants. Athleisure, slides, flip-flops, hats and backpacks may not be permitted.
Can you bring kids to McGonigel's Mucky Duck?
Yes, with a parent. McGonigel's Mucky Duck at 2425 Norfolk St says guests under 21 are welcome with their parents. Check the show calendar before you go, and note it is closed on Sundays.