The video above takes you on a walking tour of the Montrose neighborhood in Houston, following Westheimer Road and its concentration of bars, restaurants, and live music spots. The Montrose neighborhood Houston locals often call the coolest in the city sits just west of downtown and covers about four square miles. It's widely considered the most walkable area in Houston, which is saying something for a city built around cars. The neighborhood dates back to 1911, became a haven for the LGBTQ community in the 1970s and 80s, and still carries that eclectic, countercultural energy today. Off the main Westheimer strip, you'll find tree-lined streets with bungalow homes that feel surprisingly quiet and secluded given how close you are to the city center.
What Are the Best Bars and Live Music Venues in Montrose?
Westheimer Road is where most of the action is — bars, restaurants, tattoo shops, thrift stores, antique stores, murals, and pop-up markets all packed into a walkable stretch. Here are some of the standout spots covered in the video:
- Catbirds — Known as where the cool cats and jive birds come to play, this is a favorite neighborhood hangout
- Anvil — A well-regarded cocktail bar on Westheimer with a reputation for serious drinks
- Refuge — A darker, more intimate cocktail spot hidden behind Anvil for a speakeasy-style experience
- Poison Girl — A beloved Montrose dive with pinball machines, solid cocktails, and a giant Kool-Aid Man in the back
- LaGrange — A live music spot with a patio that leans toward weekend afternoon shows
- Avant Garden — An old house converted into a venue hosting poetry nights, open mics, and live music in an intimate setting
- Numbers — A historic nightclub that's been around for decades, known for booking rock bands and alternative acts
- Anderson Fair — A legendary Houston listening room that has hosted Texas songwriters since the 1970s, including Townes Van Zandt, Lyle Lovett, Robert Earl Keen, Guy Clark, and Lucinda Williams
A Night at Anderson Fair
The video wraps up at Anderson Fair, which sits just off the Westheimer strip and remains one of the most important songwriter venues in Texas. David Bridwell was invited onstage by Matt Harlan for a songwriter showcase, performing an original tune about a rockabilly dancer who moves both feet at the same time. Anderson Fair is the kind of room where the audience is there to actually listen — no TVs, no distractions, just songs and stories in a space that's been doing exactly that for over fifty years.
The Food and Culture Scene Along Westheimer
The dining options along this stretch are all over the map in the best way — Mexican, Indian, Korean, Greek, Japanese, Mediterranean, a New York-style deli, brunch spots, and an oyster house. Montrose is also home to art museums, street murals, farmers markets, and festivals that pop up throughout the year. It's sometimes called the strangest neighborhood east of the Pecos, and that reputation is well earned. The whole area has a creative, offbeat character that makes it one of the more interesting places to spend an evening in Houston.