Diners' Choice: Lively restaurants in Houston

OpenTable

Updated September 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants that have the most vibrant bar scenes in Houston? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Scott Gertner's Rhythm Room

4.9

4.9 (515)

$31 to $50

American

River Oaks

About the restaurant

SCOTT GERTNER "Houston's First Name in Entertainment" This venue highlights the best live entertainment from the local, regional and national scene. Enjoy a delicious full menu including our Happy Hours, Steak Nights and Live Music Showcases.. Our SGRR has a full bar including delicious signature cocktails, wine and champagne. Our award winning Scottie Hottie Chicken Wings won 1st Place in Houston! Plan ahead for your next visit. Join us inside or on our outdoor patio....and be a part of the ultimate Scott Gertner experience.

DRESS CODE : DRESSY CASUAL
NO BALL CAPS , ATHLETIC APPAREL, FLIP FLOPS, BACKLESS SANDALS, BAGGY CLOTHING, TALL TEE SHIRTS OR SHORTS.

Top review

Denise

Dined on Aug 30, 2024

The food and drinks are amazing. Would love to see a wider wine selection of Cabernet.

Soto - Houston

4.9

4.9 (527)

$50 and over

Sushi

Montrose

About the restaurant

Soto offers sushi dressed to taste giving you a unique experience you won't forget. Chef Andy and team curated an award winning menu that also features two different Omakase'. Our bar carries an extensive Japanese whiskey and sake menu guaranteed to have something you will love. Stop in today for an upscale Japanese dining experience!

Top review

Jennifervip

Dined 3 days ago

we went for a late lunch. service was great- server was very attentive and food came out quickly. it was a nice quick lunch, would enjoy a longer meal with drinks next time. the uni truffle pasta was delicious.

Stella's Wine Bar

4.9

4.9 (103)

$31 to $50

American

Galleria / Uptown

About the restaurant

Tucked away in the southeast corner of the hotel, Stella’s Wine Bar is Houston’s newest and most alluring wine destination for both casual wine enthusiasts and serious oenophiles. Offering over 30 wine-producing regions through a variety of flights and close to 60 wines by the glass, Stella’s Wine Bar provides a unique journey of tastes from around the world. Guided by our unrivaled team of highly skilled yet incredibly approachable sommeliers, guests can learn and explore both the new and the familiar wines in a social convivial atmosphere with world-class wine resources to share as little or as much as you want to know. The full Cellar wine program can also be accessed within Stella’s Wine Bar, so options are near limitless.

Top review

Anna

Dined 5 days ago

Great wine tasting experience! The meat and cheeses are amazing.

Sushi on Post Oak

4.9

4.9 (200)

$30 and under

Unspecified

Galleria / Uptown

About the restaurant

Modern Japanese cuisine located in the heart of Galleria Houston on Post Oak Blvd.

Top review

CarolineEvip

Dined 5 days ago

Best restaurant and staff in Houston! Quality of the food is excellent.

Bandista

4.9

4.9 (210)

$30 and under

Cocktail Bar

Downtown

About the restaurant

Discreetly located within Four Seasons Hotel Houston, Bandista is an intimate, modern-day speakeasy, reminiscent of a 1920s lounge that dazzles with a decadent Latin vibe. Guests of the 20-seat bar and lounge enjoy inventive and artistic interpretations of classic and contemporary cocktails, as well as rare spirits from around the world. Bandista's eight bar seats provide a center-stage show of the cocktail laboratory, where guests connect with the city's most talented bartenders and other discreet guests.

Experience @BandistaHouston on Instagram

Top review

Janesha

Dined 6 days ago

The drinks and ambiance was very nice. Our bartenders Josh and Zach were very attentive and entertaining. I will definitely be returning! If you know, you know!!!

Emilia's Havana

4.9

4.9 (58)

$50 and over

Cuban

Galleria / Uptown

About the restaurant

Discreetly located next to The Annie Café & Bar, Emilia’s Havana is an intimate, 50-seat lounge reminiscent of a vibrant 1950s Cuban club with a luxe Latin vibe. The latest from Berg Hospitality Group, guests will enjoy inventive interpretations of classic and contemporary Cuban-inspired cocktails by the James Beard award winning mixologist, Alba Huerta, along with an elevated wine list and bottle service. Perfect for a post-dinner snack, the light, Latin-inspired small plates by Executive Chef Brian Sutton are not to be missed.* The highlight of the evening? The live “bossa nova style” music performed at every seating by our house band along with tunes by local DJs on Friday and Saturday nights.

*PLEASE NOTE: Emilia’s Havana has lounge-style seating with Cuban-inspired small plates but does not have a full dinner menu.

Top review

OpenTable Dinervip

Dined on Aug 4, 2024

One of our favorite spots for date night! They seem to be going through some changes in management but for the better. We always have a great time regardless.

Magnolia Society

4.9

4.9 (78)

$30 and under

American

Columbus

About the restaurant

WELCOME TO MAGNOLIA SOCIETY. Magnolia Society offers a food and wine experience like none other in Columbus, Texas. Sip on curated craft cocktails paired with chef-driven dishes or indulge in a bottle of your favorite wine. With a focus on providing hand-picked selection of premier wines paired with exceptional hospitality and crave-worthy cuisine, Magnolia Society sets the standard for an unforgettable affair where food and wine meet.

Top review

Ralph

Dined on Aug 30, 2024

Incredible food, atmosphere, waitresses and host! We loved it and joined Magnolia Society as members!

Maggiano's - Baybrook

4.8

4.8 (1463)

$30 and under

Italian

Friendswood

About the restaurant

Welcome to Maggiano's Little Italy at Baybrook Mall. Our dining room is ideal for family-style dining with our Italian–American cuisine, reminiscent of a Sunday night visit to your grandmother’s house -- or as they say in Italy, nonna’s casa! These delicious dishes paired with great service, generous portions and a warm atmosphere keep our guests and their families coming back for more.

Join us soon! We look forward to hosting your next business or family gathering.

Top review

Wadevip

Dined 6 days ago

The ambiance, music, and service were all excellent. The Chicken Marsala was good, but the sauce does not taste like Marsala wine at all, to me. But I loved the mushrooms that accompanied this dish. My Sister really enjoyed the Lobster Carbonara. I just wish the dishes tasted more homemade, and less like a chain restaurant.

Ka Sushi

4.8

4.8 (304)

$31 to $50

Sushi

Heights / Washington

About the restaurant

KA Sushi in Houston has been doling out amazing sushi for over half a decade. We have been creating unique and delicious asian fusion plates and rolls straight from our chefs to you. Be sure to check out the nigiri/sashimi menu items as well including the Golden Eye Snapper, Shima Aji, Otoro, Japanese and California Uni, Foie Gras + quail egg, and Seared Miso Scallops A5 Wagyu.
Our dinning area offers an intimate setting to enjoy our artfully created cocktails from our top notch bartending staff, our rotating menu offers seasonal creations you won't find anywhere else. We also have a huge selection of Japanese whisky, Bourbon, Rum and Scotch.

Finish off the experience with the KA Sushi with one of our house made desserts.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined on Jul 28, 2024

It was easy to make a reservation at Ka, quality of food and cocktails were great, the outdoor ambience could be better, but overall it was a great experience.

Gyu-Kaku - Sugar Land, TX

4.7

4.7 (255)

$31 to $50

Japanese

Sugar Land

About the restaurant

Founded in Tokyo in 1996, Gyu-Kaku has become the world’s #1 Japanese BBQ brand! Thanks to our devoted fans we have reached over 700 locations worldwide. Each day, hundreds of thousands of people gather around the table-top smokeless grill, a centerpiece of our dining concept, enjoying selections of premium meats, just off the grill, and other freshly prepared foods from our kitchens, inspiring laughter, conversation, and a magical dining experience.

Our authentic yakiniku (grilled barbeque) dining experience crowns you the chef. Share a variety of delicious appetizers and premium cooked meats over a flaming grill, paired with Japanese sake, frosty cold beers, or other alcoholic and non-alcoholic options of your choice. We're the perfect spot to enjoy time with friends and family, organize an office party, or to spend quality time with your significant other!

Before you go, don't forget to taste our best-seller Harami Skirt Steak or Prime Kalbi Short Rib among other must-try dishes!

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined on Aug 25, 2024

Always wonderful! Fantastic food and prompt service! Love the parking upstairs also.

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Experience

Prix-Fixe Yakiniku Courses for Everyone!

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