The Darkhorse Tavern is my kind of place. It's a rustic, cozy little bar with some flare. They have a pretty good selection of beers and the liquor selection is good for a bar this size. The service is good, people are friendly. What the Hell else can you ask from a bar on Washington Ave? Stop in, grab a seat and stay awhile. read more

Darkhorse Tavern - Having a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. - Pubs Near Me - Houston, Texas

My friends and I stopped into Darkhorse as we made our way down Washington. We made it in about an hour before closing. There were a few patrons at the bar so we thought it was ok. We sat and the bartender started taking orders one by one. She did not look like she wanted to be there and was going through the motions. If she did not want to serve us, she could have easily said they were closed for the night. No one in the group was inebriated or rowdy. When she asked the last person what she wanted she rolled her eyes and mumbled something along the lines of she just made the same drink. How was it my friend's fault that the bartender did not know how to be more efficient and get everyone's orders at the same time? We cancelled that order and closed out and went on about our business. That being said, the drinks were made well and everyone did like the drinks. If the business has set hours, we should not be penalized or treated badly if we come in during the posted open hours. I would completely understand her frustration if it was minutes before closing and we expected service. We really wanted to like this spot because it looks like a nice chill spot and it is close proximity to most of my friend's houses. There are way too many more options around the area to have to come back here. read more

Darkhorse Tavern - Maple Old Fashioned - Pubs Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Looking for a neighborhood haunt in which to hangout? A little divey, the Darkhorse Tarvern possesses all the charm you need for a Thursday night full of draft beers and hockey. That's all I need, really. My tribe. A beer. Hot men skating around on ice and occasionally breaking into some fisticuffs. The bartender was delightful and made sure the beer kept coming and the hockey stayed on. Maybe eat before you come here. The food isn't great, but is that why you're here? read more

Loved this bar. Came here last night with my boy for some late night drinks and it was awesome. Exact vibe we were looking for. Has that old time feel, lights are dim - all that cool stuff. Drinks are great too. Bartender was great. That guy made the drinks fast and they tasted great. Will definitely be back. read more

This is a pretty solid neighborhood bar with a couple of food options, decent non-alcoholic beverage options, darts, and a pinball machine. There is also a jukebox and at least one TV for sports. I'll admit, I mainly come here for pinball, but there is something here for almost everyone. read more

I've been coming every Wednesday for D&D and the place is great! The drinks are so very yummy and are a pretty good price. The food is decent, maybe a bit small for the price but the mozzarella sticks are fantastic. They have pretty good parking and a nice back area for outside drinking/smoking. Great Magic Missile shot!! read more

Darkhorse Tavern - Lemon drop, Magic Missile, and on the rocks Margarita :) - Pubs Near Me - Houston, Texas

Hate to be the one to rate this bar so low but honestly didn't even get to enjoy it. I was with a group of 7 people. We were bar hopping in the area and someone suggested this place. I was actually excited bc I had been wanting to come here and it's so close to where I live. We walked in about 30-40 mins before they closed. As soon as we walked in the bartender seemed to not happy with our group walking in. We sat down at the bar couple of friends order drinks... eye-roll from the bartender. Then a couple other friends ordered after still seemed annoyed. I got distracted having a convo with a friend and when she got to me and asked what I wanted I guess I ordered something she had just made and another annoyed sigh and eyeroll. I sat there and looked at my friend like wth??? Definitely very unprofessional and unwelcoming. I catch up to her and let her know to cancel my drink. Definitely killed our vibe. We didn't walk in loud or rowdy or anything for her to have acted that way. And it's not like it was packed either. There were maybe like 5 other people in the bar. Very disappointed bc it seems like such a chill low key place. Sucks that the customer service was so terrible. read more

Darkhorse Tavern - a bar with a lot of glasses on the counter - Pubs Near Me - Houston, Texas

Great bartender. Clean restrooms. Drinks poured to perfection. Definitely coming back. read more

Darkhorse Tavern - a man sitting at a table with a drink - Pubs Near Me - Houston, Texas

One time and I'm hooked. I love divey bars. DarkHorse wasn't a typical dive but I would more call it a Hole-in-the-Wall / pub. It was nice, quiet and Lowkey on a Friday night. The owner/ bartender (George) is amazing. Very attentive, and very stern on the COVID rules and distancing in the bar. I appreciated that. Great drinks, great price. I can't wait to go back. OH... and there's Pizza read more

Darkhorse Tavern - a can of lone star beer and a glass of water - Pubs Near Me - Houston, Texas

The Darkhorse never fails. Cold beer, back patio, board games, darts, kickass bartenders and a tube to watch a game. I've never seen the place filled with more than 10 people, but for some reason, they had a larger, more diverse crowd this weekend. (Oh yes, the ever popular Washington Corridor is attracting the masses) They have daily drink specials, but Wednesday's happy hour that lasts til 11pm is their best night to swing by. It's also a big hangout for the Art Car peeps, meaning you might strike up a really interesting conversation with someone. If you're hungry, order the thin crust pizza, though it'll take a while for multiple orders. They only have one oven. I really do like this place and would have granted it 5 stars, but they took out their old skool jukebox (which had great hits, BTW) and replaced it with a digital one. Tragic. read more

Stopped back in for another go at the Bloody Mary~ It was not as crowded as before (patio is still very small), we were given quick and friendly service, and the Bloody Mary is still top of my list. At the end of a shopping day with Rachel B, this was a quick drink before parting ways -- which then turned into a couple of quick drinks. They were so good we could not resist! Lip-smackin' good. Can't wait to be back in the area! read more

Darkhorse Tavern - They were as good as we remembered. Damn good. - Pubs Near Me - Houston, Texas

The kinda place you go when youve already gone to all the crazy madness around town and need a place to let out a long sigh while you ask for your standard beer. ---despite this being the first bar i came to after moving to houston for the first time lol, it kinda felt like a nice neighborhood bar-- easy to miss right on washington ( not complaining about the easy to miss part). Older/homebody crowd the day i went ( fri eve?) with a jukebox thing in the corner. I quickly felt welcomed. Ill be back. read more

Darkhorse Tavern is a comfortable neighborhood bar with games, food, a full bar and a great jukebox. Just west of downtown, it's got the hole in the wall feel while still feeling comfortable. Daily Specials Sun: Bloody Marys $3 Mon: Jagermeister $3 Tue: Premium Pints $3 Wed: Happy Hour Until 11pm Thu: Single Malt Scotch $5 read more

Darkhorse Tavern - Pubs Near Me - Houston, Texas

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I love this bar. Nestled away in a little old run down strip center amongst all the bars on Washington, you have to know about it or really look for it to find it. The bartenders are really nice. It's easy to get to the bar to order every time. I love the lighting and the music on the juke box, the pin ball machines, the box full of board games, the dart boards and the little out door patio. What I love most about this place though is the sense of community. We talked to pretty much everyone in this place all night. There was a couple with an adorable dog that I guess is a "regular" and so many different types of people. I love that I knew everyone's names by the end of the night. This place is amazing. read more

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You've probably driven by dozens of times... A staple, not only on Washington Avenue, but to the City of Houston. A bar that has truly seen the rise, the fall, and the rise again of nightlife on the busy avenue. Fresh, crackling, buttery popcorn usually greets a group of regulars that occupy the bar top during happy hour. A daily rotating chalkboard of specials make for a super cheap weekday hangout. If you're craving a list of obnoxiously complicated house-made cocktails, this isn't the place. In fact, the only thing on their "secret menu" is free peanuts and goldfish, *available upon request. When the weekend hits, the bars' no-froufrou approach maintains a crowd of adults who know how to drink and mind their business. Dare step out of line, you'll either hear it from the regulars or the bartenders themselves. When you're craving a break from the frat daddies and blasted sorostitutes that continue to plague Washington Avenue, stop in for a cold beer and a hot & crispy $8 pizza. The people watching is elite. Notables: *Maple Old Fashion *Peanut Butter & Jelly Shot (made w/Skrewball peanut butter whiskey) *Bloody Mary (award winning/unbelievably tasty) ***Wild Goose Chase (the only drop shot you'll ever need, good luck) read more

I came here having high hopes after reading yelp reviews which state that it's nothing like other bars on Washington. They may be right about one thing, but it just wasn't my cup of tea. You park in the back, walk through the outdoor smoker's patio and you enter the rear where the darts and restrooms are located. The front is the bar area where most people seem to congregate. The building is definitely dated, and not really in a good way. The dartboard was pretty much beat up too. On the night I came, there was a decent mix of patrons but because it's further toward the east end of Washington, I hate to say it but it probably brings in some of the wrong crowd and is really kinda dumpy. My friend that I brought with me got groped 3 times by another female customer that was walking by while we played darts, which she was not really digging in the least. So, except for the grunginess (read: not in a good Montrose kinda way) of the place and the overly aggressive customer that night, the drinks were good and the atmosphere was definitely low key. read more

A nice chill spot to have a beverage. Nice Coppertop bar, booths, tables, darts, patio. It's a good after work spot or date spot. read more

Darkhorse Tavern - a bar filled with liquor bottles - Pubs Near Me - Houston, Texas

Perfect hole in the wall spot to relax and have some drinks. Been coming here for a few years now read more

Darkhorse Tavern - a pint of beer on a bar - Pubs Near Me - Houston, Texas

So I guess not all of Washington is the HELL of Houston's night life. After finding Liberty Station, I had a sliver of hope to find some decent joints in this god forsaken land of douches. Sure enough Darkhorse Tavern is one such joint. It's a very relaxing bar. There is dartboards, pinball, and even classic video games. They also have popcorn!!! I can actually just grab a drink and chill here. read more

This is what you want in a neighborhood hole in the wall. Old art work, dark, with a jukebox. There is a great selection of beer as well as liquor. Locals make up for most of the guests here but everyone is welcome with open arms. They can make a classic cocktail here but I recommend the house special. Lone star with a jager or fireball on the side. You will see this combo throughout this small joint. Myself and wife have had many get together here and the team is always accommodating. George and Paul make this bar feel like "everyone knows your name". read more

The Bloody Mary is probably the best invention of all time. Okay, maybe not, but if you've ever been hungover and nothing else is working, you're best bet is "a bit of the hair of the dog." And Bloody Marys are the St Bernards of that category. (Picture a St Bernard with a small barrel of whiskey attached to his/her collar, bounding up to an injured cartoon skier.) They provide: sustenance in the form of tomato juice, vodka, salad (usually just celery, but still healthy), and enough spice to help you sweat out the rest of your hangover. Darkhorse Tavern is amazing. They know when this tasty little beverage is most needed (Sunday, late afternoon), make them for you from scratch, then sell them to you at $3 a pop. I was here recently for a UYE on a Sunday, and got to experience this neighborhood-like bar. I wouldn't call it a dive, nor a hole in the wall; the huge antique buffet and punched-tin ceiling are too regal for that. I got the feeling that they have regulars. There were a few people camped out at the bar. Also, we kind of crashed their Holiday party. Potluck, and people kept bringing presents. They were really friendly and asked us to help ourselves to the food. For those of you that like darts, they have two boards in the back. They also have a "jukebox," but it really is just a box of heartbreak. It's digital. read more

I'm always very sad that places don't run with their names more. Where is the DARKHORSE? Of course, such a menacing sculpture might scare the hell out of people. Scratch that idea. I too was savvy enough to catch Gretchen P's brilliant UYE here. Bloody Mary Sunday is a great idea. It's a good drink for people who don't quite want to get the week started yet. A mini dose of tomato power to help one buck up and charge forward! The way it's made here is pretty solid. Spicy, aggressive and just the right amount of hard stuff. The food is delightfully and humorously cheap here. Both price and quality-wise. It's what I expect when bar food is shoved my way. I'm sure this won't be my last Sunday here. Cheers! read more

Wait this is it? Why does it smell a little bit like toilet? And why am I ok with it? I have driven by this place many a time on my way to Liberty Station and never knew it was there. This is a total hole. in. the. wall. And I like every bit of it. Patrons are nice. Bartenders are nice. The drinks are flowing. And I guess you can order food there (but from what I understand it's something you would do in an emergency sitch). Listen, do yourself a favor, avoid the streetwalking hooker side of Washington with the too small t-shirt wearing men to boot. Hit this up. The toilet smell subsides. I think I just walked by the potty. It's totally cool. You'll have a good time. If not, I'll buy you a drink if I'm there on your tab. read more

Let me just repeat the most important facts about this cool, dark hole-in-the-wall: Happy Hour until 11pm on Wednesdays Bartender Mike's Bloody Marys (anytime, but especially on Sundays) Enough said... read more

It was cold outside, I was in a bad mood, and this place provided the exact kind of dark hole I wanted to crawl into. One of the "-olly's" accompanied me here (Molly) after previously being at Corkscrew and seeing the ubiquitous couples canoodling on the couches. I seriously wanted to gouge my eyes out, and so we decided to bury my sorrows elsewhere. Darkhorse is your little average neighborhood bar. No fuss, no muss and that's exactly why it served it's purpose last night. My friend is a regular there (her condo is right down the street), so we were given pretty stiff drinks. I've never seen a bad crowd here (meaning, no A-holes) and the service has been pretty consistent. I'll probably be hanging around here more often while avoiding all the other bars/clubs frequented by my infamous X. It's dark enough to hide my pathetic wailing. Hu hu hu read more

This is a no frills kind of relaxed place. They have excellent taste in music and there is a great beer selection. There are also pool tables and a couple other games in the back but I was too obsessed with the low keyed decor to play games. Didn't try the food but it seemed like your basic frozen pizza-bad bar food to me. I like this place because it lacks the preteniousness of other bars/clubs/wine places in the area. read more

If you find me on Washington Ave. this is probably where I'll be. It's comfy, cozy and they have cold beer. All things that make me happy! It doesn't hurt that the prices are reasonable and I can get a frozen pizza heated up for me for less than $10! Oh, they also have a small deck patio out back and fairly clean bathrooms...both highly important in the Houston area! read more

The dark horse candidate on the Washington strip. While other candidates are stumping their platforms of popped collars and velvet ropes, the Darkhorse flies under the radar with its laid back brand of cool. It's a small place, usually with just one bartender working the long bar near the door on the Washington side. Unless you can find a spot on the street out front, most people come in through the back door from the parking lot. A small deck sits out there where the smokers congregate, or people just getting some air if the weather's nice. Once inside, you'll pass a couple of dart boards (keep your head on a swivel if people are playing at the time) and arcades. You'll see the juke box on your left hand side as you make your way toward the bar at the front. At the bar, they've got plenty of cold beer and strong spirits, and if you're hungry, they'll throw a pizza in the oven for you. And it's not just your average beer selection, they have great micro and local options, like the recent release of St. Arnold's Divine Reserve no. 10 (although, in typical fashion, it was gone in short order). Some nights are louder than others, but it's always a good time here. Cast your vote for the Darkhorse. read more

I find it funny that I have yet to write a review for this place, I guess I'm too busy writing graffiti or of the wall sense of humor in its one men's restroom. Im at this joint mostly on thursdays. I try to hit it up at least once a month. This place is not like other places, yet it always make me feel I'm at a real pub. Locals that tend to always be here seem to know each other. Something similar to cheer's. Big fan of it's pizza, you should try it especially if your really buzzing. I also love playing the classic arcade game of pacman. Since Im also a huge saprano's fan, best beleive I'm on that darn pinball machine. BADA BING, anyone? I enjoy it's small patio also You will have fun here if your just there too have drinks and actually socialize vs. trying to impress in your going to the club clothes and focusing on who's there. read more

You might ask yourself - does a dive bar exist on Washington? Indeed it does, but you have to venture into the less "Washington like" east side. As some have mentioned, blink and you might miss it. Darkhorse Tavern is located next to Catalina Coffee - if you are heading east and you get to Liberty Station, you have gone too far. I really liked the vibe of this place. Most of the seating was at the bar, they only had a few tables inside (also have a small deck/seating area out back). That type of set up screams "dive" and I like it - particularly because it is a nice escape from the typical Washington establishment. Darts, Box of Board Games, Video Game in the Back, Internet Jukebox - just a chill place to grab a drink and kill some time. My trip to Darkhorse was spent watching Office Space at the bar, munching on some free popcorn, and knocking back a few of their delicious Bloody Mary's (good spice on them as well - more on the horseradish side). Now that's not a bad way to spend a Sunday afternoon! read more

Oh Darkhorse, you lonely yet comforting refuge for my sinful self. I love you. I hate you. I love you again. Your strong drinks and lazy style put me right at ease. But I don't want to stay in this relationship unless we progress. Your lack of security combined with sometimes dodgy/aggressive patrons (hey, not judging, I'm in this bucket too) and neighborhood vagrants can be a little overwhelming for a skinny white girl whose best defense is a kick in the groin. Also, could you mop the women's restroom floor, nay, the entire establishments floor, more often? It's sticky when my darts fall on the ground and my nostrils don't appreciate all the history of blood, sweat and tears your floors emit. Can we work together to make some progressive change? Hopefully they help both of us but at a minimum they will help you. I still love you. I'll likely see you tonight. Laters babe. read more

Darkhorse Tavern is another bar that deserves accolades for being, from what I can tell, the last bastion of non-douchebaggery on Washington Ave. There may be a few other places, but most have fallen to the seemingly unstoppable influx of 'trendy' bars. Even places that used to be great neighborhood bars have turned into chode-filled sweat factories (looking at you Pearl Bar). But amidst the insidious nests for smothering cologne aroma, slicked-back hair, and shirts with one too many buttons undone, a shining beacon of hope lives in the form of Darkhorse Tavern. I was first made aware of Darkhorse about five years ago when I picked up darts as a hobby. I lived right off of Washington at the time and needed a bar that was a little closer than Rudz. Enter Darkhorse. The drinks are reasonably priced, the beer is ice cold, and there's usually some good competition on the dart boards (read: I usually get my ass handed to me by the guys that play there regularly). The bartenders are friendly and talkative but not too chatty. I think recently they bought a little toaster over and you can buy snacks like cheese-filled jalapeños and other previously frozen treats. The long and short of it is Darkhorse, to this point, has managed to do something that few others have. It has survived the onslaught on Washington and has remained hip and inviting. I only feel bad that I cannot make it there more often, but I hope other bar-hoppers will read this review and check this place out, because it is a great, great bar. read more

Went here with the GF some time ago and I really liked the place! Unfortunately, there are tons of places I really like in Houston, and this place isn't too close to any of my typical hang out neighborhoods. Great on tap beer selection, ecclectic feel, odd crowd - this place had it all! So feel free to like this review and remind me to go back to this place! read more

I came across this pub by accident. But I do not regret about it. Cool atmosphere and very tasty beer. The design is like a hunting lodge. The staff here is very nice. Service was also good so I like it. read more

Solid 5 stars for service. Lovely night here. Comfy and relaxed (minus the 5 minutes of drunken revelry that pierced the mood part way through the night). Four stars because of the juke box. What you say? Yes. I lost $5 by adding some songs early in the evening and two hours later when asking what was up with the juke box found out that people can pay to push their songs to the front and that one woman in there had pushed 15 (at last count) of hers ahead of anyone who had been there earlier (I know this because I then downloaded the iPhone app for the juke box and it showed whose songs were playing). Should have asked for a refund but the bartenders seemed pretty blasé about my money essentially being stolen. There are only so many HOURS I can be at a bar before it's time to go home. Recommend a 4 song limit. Come on, guys. I would have rather given that $5 as a TIP if I'd known it was essentially going to be eaten by the machine. Will definitely go back, just won't get excited by the shiny, flashing music box on the wall tempting me to play tunes I'll never hear. read more

I came here for a cafe racer meetup, not knowing what to expect. By the time I left, I was pleasantly surprised. Darkhorse is the type of place you come with a set group of friends, I wouldn't expect to be making many new acquaintances here, but that's alright. The whole grungy vibe of the place is very reminiscent of every single other dive bar in town, but that's OK too; you don't stop betting on a winning horse. Darkhorse has some nice people behind the bar, the kind that will take the time to list you their beers on tap during a busy Friday night, and that is hard to find these days. Their beer list is pretty varied, I'm not talking flying saucer-varied, but certainly a lot more than your regular sports bar. I had some superb Chocolate Stout when I went. Hard rock was blaring throughout the night, but it would be a little pretentious to expect anything else when you see the overall vibe the bar is going for. Their pizza was surprisingly good, although that might have been due to the fact that after a couple of beers I was starving. Nevertheless, I strongly endorse it. I like this place and I'm sure that I'll come back to it some day, I just won't rush to do it. read more

So glad we ran across this place! We had a day planned to go to the Houston Wine Festival but it turned into an epic fail. The uber guy even told us he would wait outside for us once he dropped us off because he's been hearing how bad it was. Needless to stay, we didn't stay very long and reunited with our uber man. But where to? It was only 3:30PM and we told him to drive to the first place on the top of our heads - Hughes Hangar. Turns out that place doesn't open until 7PM on Saturdays. Fail. We walked around washington and strolled into Darkhouse Tavern. The lady was just opening up and we were the first ones there. We didn't plan to stay for long, just a place to figure out where we will go next. Or so we thought. We settled in and the bartender was super friendly. A round of drinks turned into 2 into 3 and into 4 once we saw how reasonable the prices were. Then there was the digital jukebox that we were sending songs to with the jukebox app from our phone. Then we walked to the back and played some darts. When we came back we had to order pizza!! It was seriously frozen pizza from the grocery store that they stuck in the oven but we didn't care. Before we knew it was 8pm and the bar was half full. A fun little spot and a gem of a find off washington! read more

Oh, hey, a non-douchey place on Washington! What a concept... Really nice decor inside, a fair amount of parking out back, good staff, a full bar, and a relaxed atmosphere. It could use a proper patio out back, and they could have more beers on tap, but it's a welcome respite in a part of town that I don't frequent very often. read more

Great neighborhood bar, no pretense whatsoever. Good prices and great service. George will make you feel right at home! read more

Darkhorse bumfuddles me a wee bit. While on one hand I love a good dive and a well made bloody mary, I don't like to feel a homeboys breath on the back of my neck waiting on my drink at the bar or be treated like I just robbed the tip jar by the bartender. -let me 'splain- First time going here I was a little thrown off. Love the back lot parking, especially with the crappy sitch on Washington, but because you are going through the back entrance you get a little disoriented on where you are while people on the patio kinda just stare. Not the bars fault but if you are sitting in Darkhorse right now or on your way there reading this... Don't stare... it's rude. Seating is minimal to say the least. Was happy to catch a table with the bestie and her man and enjoy a little post sushi drank. The bartenders were two ladies who seemed to be troubled that I was ready to place an order that would interrupt their obviously very riveting conversation about who sent her a dirty text message the night before. When we first got there it was a pretty small crowd. By the time we left there was a.. I shit you not... group of 25 gang bangers (I will judge you without knowing you when you have everything on your head shaved except for a rat tail and have tear drops next to your eyes, who knows, you could bake cookies in your spare time but based on looks ya scare me) next to our table. Some of them started to get a little rowdy so the group decided to call it quits. On our way out we agreed that the bloody mary was bangin' and the company not so much. Anytime since has been a lot of the same. I don't dislike the place so much as to not go back but will shoot for less crowded nights because did I mention they make a damn good bloody mary? read more