A nightlife mainstay amongst dive bars, Catbirds has been a part of the Montrose scene for the last 3 decades. After closing for a hot minute close to two years ago, it was revitalized with new ownership which made some significant updates to the interior while preserving the old school vibe. The neon signs, LCD TVs perched high above the bar, the lively patio area, and even the pool table really add to the overall experience. I tend to find myself at the bar mostly, slamming back a few of what they do best: affordable libations. My recent string of $5 well tequila drinks were appreciated, along with a series of shots form other ddddd The friendly bartenders are a plus, along with the occasional food vendors that make their appearance in pop-up form or the randoms selling overpriced tamales. There are some nights where it's relaxing jazz with a martini, or a weekend evening full of crowded college-aged kids with music so loud that I can't hear what I'm saying. Bathrooms are always a flight risk during times of desperation and the prices have remained steady despite hikes across the rest of Westheimer. The parking situation is limited to a few spots out front, which are so tight that backing in is a gamble and going front in might result in an angle. it's a tight squeeze for larger cars, but these are coveted spots for the bar hopping kind (#1). Catbirds is a nice place to start and potentially a solid place to end, but here's hoping that the changes from new ownership will take this place to new heights. Montrose will forever be thankful. ___________ (#1) Which definitely includes me. read more

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Great local spot, dive-bar feel with friendly staff and approachable atmosphere. Certainly a "come-as-you-are" spot, which I enjoy. Great happy hour specials and affordable drinks overall. A great place to kick off the night. Several parking spaces out front, otherwise street parking available. read more

Catbirds - Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

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First time here , so excited to come after long day at work and wanting to unwind. Heard really good recs about this place. But upon arrival I was greeted by a bartender named "gtfo" which i found out his name was Ronnie but told me his name was gtfo which was really rude and upsetting to hear. I ordered a drink and was trying to show my appreciation and was thrown the hand held cuz I guess I didn't grab it quick enough for him. Should've not tipped just for that but still did because I also work in the same industry and it's rude not to tip but Super distasteful and didn't appreciate the service from him. I don't know if it was because he was also impaired? But didn't like how this was my first impression of the place. Although the place is really nice and the history behind it I'm sadden that this was my first impression of this place. read more

My wife and I loved this place. This place is so awesome wheelchair friendly very friendly staff. You really feel welcome there even me two or three friends while I was there. read more

Wednesday night trivia is the best!!!! The drinks flow the bartenders are awesome, def recommend this place.

Fun and cool spot. They have free pool night on a Sunday. Great happy hour and their steak night was delicious. read more

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This is my favorite little neighborhood dive bar for the montros area. Great music, stiff drinks and they sell local artist artwork. I love that about this place read more

I've been to Catbirds twice and had a good time each time. This dive bar located in Montrose is a cool place to grab some drinks if you're looking for a casual, and unpretentious, time. Located off of Westheimer, they don't have their own parking lot but you should be able to find street parking close by. They have both an indoor area and a narrow patio. I've sat in both areas. The drinks are reasonably priced. You have a hipster vibe. Sometimes they play music. Check it out. read more

this place is great drinks are iconic and so is the music and vibe, staff are all amazing and hilarious.

Not sure who the incredibly rude person is that shooed us away today, but we parked in this strip center in front of this bar to go to the shop next door for ice cream (in an unmarked parking spot). As myself, 2 children AND A BABY IN A CAR SEAT unloaded, someone from this bar came out and told us " I hope you are coming HERE to drink, because those parking spots are reserved for this bar and I'll be sure you're towed". OBVIOUSLY (with two children and a baby) we were not going to the bar. Instead, we were taking a 10 minute ice cream break, at 3:30PM on a Saturday after a day at the museum. Even after explaining that, he rudely shrugged us off and walked away. After a mess trying to street park (and note, pushing a stroller through gravel...!) The owner of the ice cream shop informed us that they did not have a right to reserve any spots per their lease! Look... i get needing to do everything you can to get business through the door, but that's exactly what we were doing for the business next to this bar, and this was a SUPER negative experience to have, especially with little ones in tow. A little bit of kindness goes a long way. read more

Such an unexpected wonderful find on a Saturday night! Went on a night out trying bars around Houston with a friend, and on our way to Anvil (which of course is uh-mazing) we popped into this little spot because it looked so lovely, friendly and inviting. Guess what? It was! People were chill, kind, chatty. Crowd was a mix of basic conservative Houston (25-35) with some 30-45ish millennial hipster/GenX "alterna" types in the mix. The bartender made a super tasty basil gimlet that was solid. Unpretentious bar that still knows how to make cocktails! Would be a lovely local spot if I lived here. Seems like a spot you could go to to hang with friends, go to before hitting a more packed club later, go on a 3rd date, a 3 year date, or even meet someone to date. Thank you Catbirds! read more

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When you need to visit a bar on Caturday you better make hecka sure that the name involves the word "cat." Catbirds is a Houston institution in that it is one of the last remaining /dive bars/ in the Montrose area where million dollar townhouses and developers fueled by oil money greed and excesses have rubbed out nearly all of the more interesting elements of the creative class enclave over the past several years. You can even buy cigarettes here. There is a lit up Camel sign on the wall leading towards the restrooms and packages of a variety of Camel lines (including Camel Crush) are on the right hand side of the bar. It smells nice and smokey when the door to the patio briefly swings open and close - it reminds me of a kinder and gentler Houston back in the aughts when going out to a bar included coming home smelling nice and smokey regardless of whether or not you had smoked anything. But now Houston is just like Palo Alto where smokers are relegated to the third class of citizenry and the nonsmoker vanguard say smarmy things like "nobody has ever died of second hand heroin" unlike second hand smoke. Catbirds still looks the same as it did when it first opened, or more accurately for a point in time and space when I first moseyed on in new to the Houston scene back in the aughts. It's nice that some things never change. This is like that bar in Cheers except most of the patrons are hipsters with great big bushy beards, tats, and a fuckton of extreme piercings on and around the facial region. It's not the kind of bar you would bring your mother to for a genteel and sophisticated $11 cocktail (like at Stone's Throw across the street) because she would be under the assumption that you live more of an unorthodox hardcore S&M sex dungeon lifestyle than you actually do given your advanced level of Star Wars knowledge. With that being said, it is so /dive bar/ it is an enjoyable experience once you get past all of the negatives. Well drinks are $3.50 on special during a Caturday afternoon so you can have not just "tee many martoonies" in the parlance of Elliot Richards - but three many without even denting your pocketbook. Since it caters to "regulars" in a very cult-like (exclusive) way if the bartender(s) don't know you on a first name basis to discuss which of your mutual friends have been hookin' up lately, then you get prioritized last for your drink order. I learned some new "adult content" from the patrons that I did not need to even look up on urbandictionary on my iPhone, I got the mental picture from their stories. And based on those stories that young lady needs to spend more time in church, just sayin' As a non-regular I am of the opinion that the service is not very good. It took 20 minutes to place the order for our first round of drinks even though there were only seven other people in the bar, with none of them actually needing another drink at the moment besides me and my drinkin' companion. 20 minutes is as incomprehensibly bad as the service at OKRA to glare at a bartender just chatting up their homeys meanwhile I am dying over here in need of a drink. We nearly left to go back across the street to Stone's Throw. It's a tiny bar and it is obvious when two gentlesirs walk in, sit down at the bar, and require sustenance in the form of party liquors because why else would they be sitting there instead of the bar at the TGI Fridays out by the airport? Service is not that great for a bar (dive bar or not) if they make you wait a long time to get your hooch, the place is hella dirty too ... I know it's a dive bar but a good wash behind the ears might be all she needs to turn from the side chick you hesitantly tell your friends about into wifey material that you tell everyone and their mother about. The longer my drinkin' companion and I stayed the more I softened up to the place. In need of a second round of drinks it only took 10 minutes of obvious groaning and complaining before we got to place the order, and then the drinks came out quite expediently. Later on when the popcorn machine was fired up the bartender brought over a styrofoam cup for us. It is unique for such a grimy dive bar to still be standing in Montrose, I will give it that. I think they could vastly improve their star quality on the yelp dot com if they got brothers their hooch more quickly - work first, disgusting sex talk with other patrons later when nobody else inside the bar is trying to order their next round. read more

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Great place! Classic "dive bar" but withe really clean restrooms! Also excellent whiskey and tequila selections. Apparently the owner Bobby goes out and visits some places where these delicious liquors are made. read more

I've been here a few times before and it was always fine. Came by yesterday when we were bar hopping for my 31st birthday. I ordered 11 green tea shots and it took the bartender like 25 min to make it. My friend was watching him make them and he didn't make enough so he filled the last two shots with just sweet and sour. My other friend asked him on the way out how they make them (half of us are in the service industry) and they didn't want to tell her. The other bartender was kinda snarky saying they aren't a shot bar and we basically had no business ordering green tea shots. I love chill dive bars but I didn't appreciate the way everything went down. I regret the tip I gave and probably won't be back. read more

No! No! No! Don't go here!! Unless of course you want to be treated rudely. I'll explain. I was bar hopping around the Montrose area, and I just heard some positive things about this place which has been here for quite some time. It looked nice on the interior. Good spacing, sort of looked like an actual restaurant with a good sized patio. Nice sized bar too, probably holds about 20 people. However, when I requested a Coors light, the bartender asked for my ID. Of course I am only 21 and I look 15, so you know the story. When he talked to his assistant, he said that "he doesn't feel comfortable serving me" even though I am clearly 21 on my ID! I then said "I'm 21 as of last September." He simply told me to go try somewhere else... whatever. I had no idea that this bar was discriminate in people that don't look their age. I guess they literally judged the book by the cover this time. I won't be back. Obviously the people who work here are really rude and won't have the common decency to just serve people who are of age to drink. It's too bad I didn't get to try the good drinks they had... I just wanted to try a good dive bar here, but I guess they just disregard proper ID's. I won't be back for my business, that's for sure. Worst bar experience ever! read more

Catbirds, I get it. We all get it. You're a dive bar. But that's no reason for one, two, three of your surly bartenders to ignore me and my friends ... my guess is because YOU think we don't belong. Nope, no guy-liner, tatts, ripped fishnets ... none of that, we wore. But ya know, just 'cause I have big Texas hair and smile (a lot), I still like - and prefer - a good dive. You have stiff drinks and no frills. But I'll go elsewhere from now on. Peace. read more

Walked in to Catbirds about 7pm on a Tuesday night. It was dead. The place is VERY hole-in-the- wall and is very small. Most of the regulars, several of whom already seemed drunk, were out on the patio. Although I'm sure the locals love this place, I wouldn't suggest anyone not familiar with the place. They weren't very friendly to "outsiders". Most of the crowd were covered in tattoos, with long hair and smelled of smoke. At first, the bartendar was very attentive. We got our drinks quickly and she checked on us regularly. Unfortunately, after about an hour, she must have gotten off, because a guy bartendar showed up. Between chatting with the regulars (does talking with your friends really count as working?), taking smoke breaks outside and eating (yes, eating at the bar), we didn't get much service. We had to literally flag him down several times. Meh. read more

Initially I was relieved by the chill atmosphere at Catbirds after walking past that super loud obnoxious bar on the walk here. Everyone seems to know each other here and there was lots of food that kept multiplying as more people walked in. We sat at the bar and while others walked in after us we were served after everyone else (read the regulars) was taken care of. I paid and didn't finish my drink because it was time to go onward and upward. Sorry to have crashed your party! read more

Catbirds - a wooden sign for a bar - Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

Some very interesting people come here. From reading other people reviews I was definitely an "outsider". But the bartenders were really nice. They even gave me a tray of free popcorn!!! The crowd is definitely "different". Lots of tattoos and piercings. Had a dive kind of feel, but I noticed there was a lot of space vertically. Most dives are usually very cramped feeling. They have interesting wall decorations too. I would have enjoyed it more if there was more patio space. We were the only people inside while all the tables on the side patio and front patio were packed. What can you expect from a bar located right next to an adult store/smoking accessories. read more

I used to dig coming in here as part of my occasional sojourns to Le Quartier Montrose back in the day... the place had a distinct, off-beat quality to it. The old-school jazz constantly on rotation constituted a pretty unique choice in the H-Town bar scene, the clientele was generally a pretty interesting lot, and the $5 pints of Arrogant Bastard on tap were definitely on point. Fast-forward several years, as I haven't really been swinging by this part of town as often... Catbirds is still there, but the jazz is gone, replaced by generic nu-metal and other such stuff. Clientele, to the extent that there is one, must have taken the night off--place was kinda empty (on a Friday night, just to contextualize). And the bartender tried to charge $10 (!!!) for the same pint of Bastard that used to go for $5... after he sensed that I was about to make a stink about it, he lowered the asking price to $7 (who knew--a bar you can bargain at). Now, I am well aware of the concept of price inflation, but I also know that the cumulative growth in CPI in H-Town since the last time I was in here has totaled well below 100%, WTF?? Blech. I don't mean to be harsh, but I also don't see myself coming here again. read more

Catbirds is a fun, chill place to grab a drink. The staff is wonderful and they have gone above and beyond for their customers during the pandemic. They do everything they can to maintain a clean, safe and comfortable place to grab a drink and I love them for it. read more

I had been here couple times. Mostly we came cos of we wanted to get the food from the food truck and you can wait in this bar and enjoy the food in here. Finally just decide to stop by for drinks only. I ordered a pimm's cup and strawberry mojito. The pimm's cup was very refreshing. They will offer some free popcorn too. The inside is more like a dive bar but the mix drinks were pretty good. The service was very good and attentive as well every time I came. read more

Very cool, sleek watering hole type bar in the middle of a bunch of pretentious college type bars, so this place is the definition of a gem. We stopped in here for a second waiting on people and got a drink. Great service and quick turn around. The highlight of this place though was the music, literally some of my favorite hip hop instrumentals! I was in heaven. Song, after song I fell deeper into my vibe. Until it was abruptly ended to go to a hookah place...... but I will be back! read more

Oh Catbirds . . . I don't even like you, which is why I hadn't been here in over four years, but I decided to be bold and venture here again recently. Just one thing really - Dear bartenders - why so cold and unfriendly? Not to say that this particular bartender was flat-out rude, he just wasn't very happy to be doing his job at all. And it was evident. The drinks were reasonably priced, but not especially strong. Please note that I don't expect my bartenders to be brimming with cheeriness because I imagine bartending at such an establishment as Catbirds can get tedious and try one's patience, but anyway . . . As for Catbirds itself it's very much a dive bar. Dim, borderline grimy. The wooden patio area can be quaint and charming on better days, but no need to really venture out there unless there is fantastic weather or you need to smoke. The restrooms - yeah, not very pleasant, but I've seen worse. The other patrons - not too bad. Random people at varying stages of intoxication have randomly struck up conversations with me before - sometimes welcomed, sometimes not. It's not to say that Catbirds is the suck, but something about it just makes it feel unwelcoming to me. Maybe I don't like trivia (always available here)? Or I just like a more festive jovial crowd? I rather mosey down a few blocks to Poison Girl or Cecil's Tavern any day. read more

For a place in the heart of montrose, I felt the least welcome as a queer person. Had gone in once for the first time and had such a great experience I decided to come back. But when I returned the next day, what I experienced was the polar opposite. The second I walked in the door, the male bartender on staff gave a dirty look at my non conforming fashion and left the bar. Said bartender did not return nor acknowledge me the entire time I was there. I was eventually served by another bartender but the environment was cold and unwelcoming from the minute I entered to the second I left. As a result I haven't been back since. Regardless of how staff identify, they should make everyone who enters the establishment feel safe and welcome. Particularly in such a queer dominated area like Montrose. read more

Great small bar. Angie is lovely. Will introduce you to new people and makes you feel welcome. Place Is very friendly, will be back. read more

Catbirds - Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

I don't understand why bars have to have the WORST customer service... and this one is NO DIFFERENT. Terrible customer service. You're in Montrose, go somewhere else 0/10 read more

Great dive bar vibe. Friendly bartenders. The ideal ambiance, this place is exactly what you want a bar called Catbirds to be. Also cool artwork for sale on walls. read more

Well I went here based on so many other people's reviews from both my friends and from Yelp. I thought I was REALLY gonna love it, but I just liked it okay. It was full of cliquey hipsters, the kind that make you feel like you need to go shower when you're done. There wasn't really anywhere to sit on the tiny outside patio. The inside had cool art work and lights that I really liked. One bar tender was really cool but the other was a total jerk who asked me for my ID even though I already had a tab open, like clearly I'm old enough dude cause you already have my money. Then when it was time to close out it took forever even though there was no one at the bar. Although there was a chick bartender who yelled at me over a crowd to tell me that I had a cute shirt on and that super made my night! :) Still, It was nearly impossible to talk to anyone or mingle here. Everyone seemed to be in their own world, and when we did try talking to people it was like they wanted us to go away. Which sucks cause I'm outgoing. If I went back, I wouldn't go on a Friday night and I definitely won't take my friends from Conroe because they hated this place. read more

Catbirds - Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Perhaps this place just wasn't for me. Perhaps it was the apathetic feel of the whole place... or perhaps it was the rather toasty temperature... or maybe even the sugary sweet gin and tonic I ordered, but this place was just not up to par for me. Although, I admit I had a good time while I was at the bar, it was in no part due to the bar itself. I stumbled upon some friends that were there and we chatted it up while I sipped a super sweet gin and tonic, and proceeded to melt. The bar just reminded me of a poorly decorated dorm room. Neon lights, lawn chairs, and white walls. I am pretty sure I won't come back here unless someone makes me. read more

Catbirds - Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

I must say every time I come back to this place I feel welcome. I have never had problems with this spot. Everyone is friendly and the place is cozy. Every time I come here I always enjoy the Jazz music. Favorite combo I get here is the Grape Ape + Stella Artois. I can't say I have had the chance the try the pizza place usually parked in front of Catbirds, but I would not mind giving it a whirl one of these days. If you are looking for a cool,chill dive bar. Check this spot out. Don't forget to try the Grape Ape. read more

Catbirds - Brews & Grape Apes - Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

Hipster central. Expect bad service if you don't look like all your clothes come from thrift stores/Urban Outfitters/American Apparel. I tried to order a bloody mary based on a friend's recommendation (she said they had really good ones), and the bartender told me they don't have the stuff to make them. So I settled for my usual vodka tonic; lo and behold while sitting at the bar chatting with same friend, the same bartender prepares 5 bloody mary's in front of me! Guess I didn't know the magic word? (yes I said please!) Parking is a pain and the patio sucks, it gets crowded quick. read more

I made it out to Catbirds for the Halloween Montrose Pub Crawl, one of a couple of stops. This place is a solid local bar. Not quite a dive bar, but nothing pretentious either. The bar is a good size, I never had a problem getting a beer. The bartenders were great and prompt. They have plenty of tables inside and small narrow patio to the right of the bar. The bar is U shape so you can get service on 3 sides, It makes for a short wait to get a beer. The color of the interior is bizarre, powder blue, but it certainly adds to the uniqueness of Catbirds. The place is totally laid back and beer is plentiful. I can see myself meeting some people here for beer and not thinking twice about it. I will be back. read more

Oh CATBIRDS! I love you so much. A friend and I stopped in awhile back on a very long night of barhopping and I was pleasantly suprised to find myself nestled in a home away from home. The interior is nothing fancy, I spend most of my time on the patio. The bartenders overall are pretty great. There is one that I find questionable, I tend to get the stinkeye and poor service from one but all the others are good. They tend to remember that I order whisky-cokes 90% of the time, Im not sure if that says something about me or the bartenders, either way I like when a place is not so busy that they never recognize you. Most of the people who go to Catbirds I find are regulars. Its an ecclectic crowd, of pretty friendly people. I find myself venturing out to catbirds all by my lonesome and ending up spending the evening getting to know some pretty awesome people. If your typical bar is Royal Oak you might not fancy the feel of Catbirds. Its pretty laidback everyones pretty much in everyone elses converation. Good wells drinks. The zilla food truck is here often and thats a whole other world of fantastic. read more

I miss going down to the Montrose on a regular basis. So when a friend suggested we go hit a few dive bars on lower Westheimer I was all for it! Our first stop was Catbirds. It was a Sunday afternoon and the inside bar was pretty empty. A couple folks playing trivia and the barkeep. She was a very pleasant young woman who fixed us up with some strong drinks. I didn't notice if they had a decent beer selection as we were on a whiskey run that afternoon! We fell through the very clumsy and small French doors onto the patio. Trying to get through them with two tall drinks in hand was more humorous than elegant. But I didn't spill any! We sat outside on a cool Spring day with several other folks enjoying the afternoon and the free popcorn....and one or two patrons in the far back of the patio enjoying some cigarettes that were a bit on the "wacky tabaccy" side. I didn't mind but if the place were to be raided I certainly didn't need to be included in the mess. The patio is narrow and holds about 20 folks if ya'll are friendly. The drinks were stout and moderately priced and the experience was fine for the two drinks we each had while there. But I really wouldn't want to make a night or a full day out of it. But for a stop on a dive bar crawl it was perfect. read more

As long as I've been circulating around Montrose, I never had a chance to stop on in. I'm so glad I did. The bartender was super nice and attentive. The atmosphere has nice vibe to it. However, the winner here is $3.50 wells from 3pm to 830pm everyday. I will be coming back to pre-start my night. 10/10/19 - still the best chill music and rad bartender. It's still happy hour everyday until 7pm - $3 vodka soda drinks! read more

Catbirds always seems to be a second stop, never a first. As other places get remodeled, this Lower Westheimer institution stays true to its divey aesthetic. And after a few pricey drinks among the scenesters, I eventually say, "Eff it, I'm gonna go hang out at Catbirds." Usually a good mix of everything from hipsters to swarthy regulars, everyone seems to find their own corner of the bar or seat on the small side patio and have a good time. Certainly nothing fancy, no expensive specialty drinks, just strong ones, cold beer, and occasional live music. Grab a stool, all the cool cats and saucy birds are doing it. read more

Catbirds is a great little Montrose bar. You've driven past it a million times, and that's just fine with everyone inside the bar. It's mostly montrose locals, (both young and old) people who love video trivia, and people who don't want to drink with the hipsters down at Poison Girl. The music is great, the bartenders are a lot of fun, and there's nary a trendy asshole to be found inside. read more

I came here on a Wednesday night. Nothing too fancy, and it was decently well-lit. South Park was on TV, but it was muted with subtitles. If you watch something muted with subtitles, does it mean you actually watched it? Plastered every 10 feet on the walls was a note offering a $475 reward for finding out who stole the bar laptop... which is interesting... I mean, with $475 you can probably buy a brand new laptop... Plus: The jukebox or whatever was playing some jazz tune and the bartender says, "I hate this song" pretty loudly and walks over to change the music Plus: Some random guy walked in and offered Mexican food Plus: Cheap drinks, and they have Woodchuck read more

This is a great dive bar. The large murals on the wall reflect the music you will hear most of the time - jazz and blues. The bartenders are always very friendly and attentive. The beer selection is small but well thought out and I love that they offer ginger beer here. Makes for an amazing cocktail with vodka. All in all this place is always welcoming, comfortable, and cozy. read more