HOUSTON'S ULTIMATE SPORTS BAR

Houston's Ultimate Sports Bar Showdown: 16 favorites face off for the coveted MVP title​

Houston's Ultimate Sports Bar Showdown: 16 favorites face off for the coveted MVP title​
Watch the game on Pour Behavior's 42 giant TVs. Photo via: Pour Behavior/Facebook.

CultureMap and SportsMap are teaming up to celebrate the return of the fall sports season with The Tailgate, our all-out party devoted to everything sports. It’s happening Wednesday, October 25 at Silver Street Studios, and tickets are already on sale.

For The Tailgate’s second year, we’re inviting CultureMap and SportsMap readers to vote for Houston’s best sports bar in our Ultimate Sports Bar Showdown. Our panel of editors and other local experts has compiled a roster of 16 local favorites with an array of different strengths. Some are owned by professional athletes, while others are part of local or national chains.

Some are big enough to accommodate hundreds of people at a time, while others are more intimate. Regardless of the specifics, they all offer a lively atmosphere for rooting on all of our favorite teams.

Rather than a head-to-head, bracket-style tournament, we’re inviting readers to vote for their favorite establishments from the entire field. The top half of all vote getters will advance to the next round as we go from 16 to eight to four to two to a winner. People may vote once per day, and voting will be monitored to ensure every establishment gets a fair shot to win. Vote here for your favorite.

Want to find out who wins? Join us at The Tailgate on Wednesday, October 25 at Silver Street Studios. Favorite restaurants such as FM Kitchen and Bar, Wild Concepts, Leaf & Grain, Ramen Tatsu-ya, and CultureMap Tastemaker Awards Best New Restaurant winner Aiko will serve sports-themed bites alongside many of our Ultimate Sports Bar nominees.

The event also will shine a spotlight on sports-related nonprofits and give you the chance to pitch in and make a difference for the causes they champion. Learn more about Dynamo and Dash Charities, Houston Texans Foundation, and others.

General admission ($50) and VIP ($75) tickets are on sale now. All tickets include bites by participating restaurants, complimentary premium beverages, and access to fun activities throughout the event. VIP tickets offer one-hour early entry, a dedicated VIP bar, and a meet-and-greet with former Houston Texans star Johnathan Joseph. Buy them now.

Not sure who to vote for? Read on for profiles of all 16 nominees. May the best sports bar win.

Biggio’s

The first of three sports bar nominees tied to a professional athlete, Biggio’s honors Craig Biggio, the first player to be enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame wearing an Astros cap. Located inside downtown’s luxurious Marriott Marquis — yes, that’s the one with the Texas-shaped lazy river — Biggio’s features two, 30-foot tall screens that wouldn’t be out of place in a Vegas sportsbook. With an extensive cocktail selection and a wide-ranging menu, it’s an ideal place to celebrate an Astros win.

Biggio's has plenty of TVs. Photo courtesy of Biggio's.

Christian’s Tailgate

Originally a legendary burger joint on the I-10 feeder, Christian’s has evolved into a four-location mini-empire of local sports bars. The burger still leads the way, of course, but they’re now joined by tacos, sandwiches, wings, and even salads. Daily specials and a generous reverse happy hour ensure fans stay properly motivated to root for their favorite teams.

Grab a burger at Christian's Tailgate. Photo courtesy of Christian's Tailgate.

Cobo’s

This EaDo bar’s proximity to both Minute Maid Park and Shell Energy Stadium has made it a favorite place for Dynamo fans and members of #AstrosTwitter to gather for pre and post-game celebrations. It probably helps that owner Raul Jacobo (aka Cobo) maintains such a fiery presence on the platform, posting in support of the local teams and mocking their rivals. The epic deliciousness of the signature brisket boudin mac and cheese quesadilla helps, too.

George Country Sports Bar

A Montrose favorite for more than 15 years, this gay sports bar subverts stereotypes and affirms that all Houstonians like to root for their favorite teams. When patrons aren’t watching TVs, they gather around the pool table or at the dart boards. Get there early on Thursday nights for the steak special as it routinely sells out.

Kirby Ice House

The lines about “everything is bigger in Texas” are mostly a tired cliche, but it is true at this three-location sports bar empire. Each one that opens debuts with what’s touted as “the longest bar in Texas” (surpassing its predecessor) — all the better to find a space to choose from the dozens of beer, wine, and cocktail options. The massive interiors and spacious patios also mean never having to struggle to find a place to watch one of the dozens of TVs that fill each location.

Kirby Ice House features a 120-foot long bar. Photo courtesy of Kirby Icehouse.

Little Woodrow’s

Given that it has locations all over Texas, including nine in Greater Houston, we probably don’t need to say much about Little Woodrow’s. We celebrate this local institution for its extensive beer selection, lively atmosphere, and hospitable service. No wonder that so many alumni groups make it their game-watching destination of choice.

Maple Leaf Pub

Among sports fans, it’s routinely acknowledged that the NHL playoffs are the most exciting tournament of the four major professional sports. Hockey-loving Houstonians know that the most exciting place to watch the NHL is this Midtown bar. Being surrounded by like-minded fans always creates a festive atmosphere, as does the Molson on tap and the signature poutine.

McIntyre’s

With its casual, indoor-outdoor space, dog-friendly environment, and signature swings, both the original Shady Acres location and downtown outpost have become popular destinations. TVs everywhere allows fans to follow multiple games at once — perfect at times like the NCAA tournament or when watching the Rangers choke away the division. The formula has proven popular enough to sprout two locations in San Antonio and a new Webster expansion that’s opening soon.

Nick’s Place

For almost 30 years, this West Houston sports bar has prided itself on showing every major college and pro game — as well as boxing, UFC, and WWE — on its more than 40 TVs. Serving food until 1 am means that fans can get a signature calzone or other Italian American favorite even when the games go into overtime. Weekday happy hour specials keep regulars coming back again and again.

Patterson Park

Fans of the Longhorns, Aggies, and LSU Tigers have made this Heights-area patio bar their game day destination. Patterson Park caters to their interests with team-themed drink specials, food trucks, and more than 40 TVs spread throughout its inviting, treehouse-inspired atmosphere. Co-owner Lonnie Schiller, one of the Houston hospitality legends who founded concepts such as Cafe Annie and Cafe Express, ensures that friendly, welcoming service will always be a priority.

Pitch 25

Dynamo legend Brian Ching partnered with the owners of the Kirby Group (Heights Bier Garten, Holman Draft Hall, etc.) on this sprawling bar in EaDo. Located blocks from Shell Energy Stadium, it’s become a favorite pre and post-game destination as well as one of the city’s most popular destinations to watch the World Cup and other global tournaments. Those who are feeling particularly athletic can show off their skills on on its indoor pitch.

The Phoenix on Westheimer

This intimate Montrose pub is a favorite of sports fans who appreciate its welcoming atmosphere and elevated pub group that caters to the neighborhood with well-executed plant-based dishes. The 24 TVs mean never missing a critical play. Regular parking lot parties take the fun outside.

Pour Behavior

At 18,000-square-feet, this massive Midtown bar offers plenty of room for watching the game. A scratch-made kitchen, including Italian-style pizzas made with imported flour, offers a fresh alertnative to typical pub fare. Beer towers, bottle service, and craft cocktails help fans keep their spirits up throughout the night.

Quad Houston Restaurant & Sports Lounge

Our third athlete-owned establishment comes from native Houstonian Michael Brockers, who had a distinguished career at LSU before playing for the Rams and Lions. Newly opened in Third Ward, Quad and its companion cigar lounge The Den feature a menu of elevated, Southern-style fare such as blackened salmon and shrimp and grits. With more than 40 TVs, fans will never miss a pitch, snap, or corner kick.

Rockhouse Southern Kitchen

Among our most recently-opened nominees, this concept from the minds behind Patterson Park and The Warwick features a lively game day atmosphere that’s backed up by a game day Goal Line menu. It features specials such as red and blue frozen cocktails, $15 domestic buckets, and massive platters that combine wings, chicken tenders, and Rockhouse’s signature oxtail egg rolls. On weekends, the restaurant lives up to its name with live music in a variety of genres.

Rockhouse Southern Kitchen serves upscale Southern fare. Photo Raydon Creative.

Twin Peaks

With more than 100 locations across the U.S. and Mexico, Twin Peaks is arguably the country’s most successful sports bar. While the attractive staff gets people in the door the first time, they come back for scratch-made food that includes in-house smoked pork ribs and chicken wings. Cold beers and plenty of TVs further enhance the game day atmosphere.

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The Tailgate is sponsored by Bud Light, NÜTRL Vodka Seltzer, Cutwater Spirits, 1800 Tequila, Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, and more to be announced.

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Jeremy Peña is quietly having a historic season. Composite Getty Image.

All-Star balloting opened up this week for what used to be known as the Midsummer Classic in Major League Baseball. I guess some still refer to it as such but the All-Star Game has been largely a bore for many years, though the honor of being selected on merit remains a big one. As always, fans can vote at all positions except pitcher. The fan balloting has resulted in mostly good selections for years now, though pretty much all teams still do silly marketing stuff trying to drum up support for their players. The Astros’ part in that silliness is their campaign to make it the “All-’Stros” game on the American League squad in Atlanta next month. It’s one thing to be supportive of your team, it’s another to be flat out ridiculous if voting right now for Yainer Diaz, Christian Walker, Yordan Alvarez, Mauricio Dubon, or Cam Smith. The Astros tried to game the system in submitting Jose Altuve as a second baseman where the competition is weaker than it is in the outfield, but given Altuve has played only about 25 percent of the games at second base this season he should not be an All-Star second baseman selectee for what would be the tenth time in his career.

Isaac Paredes’s recent freefall notwithstanding, he has a legitimate case as a backup third baseman, especially with Alex Bregman likely missing more than a month of games due to his quad injury. Jake Meyers is having a fine season but is obviously not an All-Star-worthy outfielder unless he is sensational for the rest of June. That leaves Jeremy Peña, who is simply the best shortstop in the big leagues so far this season. To be clear, no team in baseball (including the Astros) would rather have Peña going forward than the Royals’ Bobby Witt Jr., but we’re talking about the here and now. There are another 100 games to be played, but Peña not only is about a lock to deserve his first All-Star nod, but he is in contention to put in the books the greatest season ever by an Astro shortstop.

Over his first three seasons, Peña was a consistently mediocre offensive player. His highest batting average was .266, best on-base percentage .324, top slugging percentage .426. He is blowing away all those numbers thus far in 2025. While unlikely to come close to reaching his preseason goal of 50 stolen bases, Peña is swiping bags at the best success rate of his career. Add in Peña’s stellar defense and that he has played in every Astros’ game so far this season, and Peña has been irrefutably one of the 10 best and most valuable players in the American League. You could certainly argue as high as top three.

If Peña's productivity holds up for the rest of the season there are only three other seasons posted by Astro shortstops that are in the same league as what would be Peña’s 2025. Carlos Correa has two of them. Lack of durability may be the biggest reason Correa is not tracking to be a Hall of Famer. In only two seasons as an Astro did Correa play in more than 136 games. He was fabulous in each of them. 2021 was his peak campaign, playing in 148 games while compiling an .850 OPS, winning a Gold Glove, and finishing fifth in AL MVP voting. Correa’s Baseball-Reference wins above replacement number for 2021 was 7.3. Peña is at 3.6 with nearly 20 games still left before the midway point of the schedule.

For the other great Astro shortstop season you have to go back to 1983. Dickie Thon turned 25 years old in June of ‘83. He put up a .798 OPS, which gains in stature given Thon played his home games in the Astrodome when the Dome was at its most pitching-friendly. Thon won the Silver Slugger Award as the best offensive shortstop in the National League, and played superior defense. His Baseball-Reference WAR number was 7.4. He finished seventh for NL MVP playing for an 85-77 Astros’ squad that finished third in the NL West. Dickie Thon looked like an emerging superstar. Then, in the fifth game of the 1984 season, a fastball from Mets’ pitcher Mike Torrez hit Thon in the left eye, fracturing his orbital bone. Thon missed the rest of the ‘84 season. While Thon played in nine more big league seasons, his vision never fully recovered and he was never the same player. It’s one of the biggest “What if...” questions in Astros’ history.

Arms race

Players and the Commissioner’s Office pick the All-Star pitching staffs. Unless he suddenly starts getting lit up regularly, Hunter Brown can pack a bag for Georgia. Framber Valdez wouldn’t make it now but has surged into contention. Josh Hader’s first half is going vastly better than last year’s, so he is in line for a reliever spot.

For Astro-centric conversation, join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and me for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday. Click here to catch!

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