I'm a sucker for a good neighborhood bar. Smoke-scented walls... dim, seedy lighting... bartenders that know your order just by looking at you. Sassafras is all that, plus some Hasselhoff razzle-dazzle. I usually only get a few hours out every other week, so I am that annoying customer who asks for creative shots to speed up the drunk process. The bartenders at Sassafras never miss a beat. They've whipped up some concoctions that would make even Baywatch-era David Hasselhoff blush (in a good way, of course). They're patient with my indecisiveness and always manage to send me on my way with a drink that's both potent and delicious. Two thumbs up for strong cocktails, chill vibes, and a staff that knows how to have fun. read more

A lovely little neighborhood bar with a small parking lot and indoor, outdoor, and bar seating options. They had a little cash-only taco bar outside (I think it was $5/taco, I didn't have any). Happy hour daily from 4-8PM was $1 off draft beers that I could tell (my happy hour drinks were between $5.50-$6.50 each, and one off happy hour was $6.50). The staff were very considerate in raising the umbrellas outside so that we could see each other across the table. Inside was clean, had some cool little retro options and a pool table. Would definitely come back. read more

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Their sangria is so good, but you will get drunkie lol Definitely a fun dive bar. The bar isn't super big, but they do have a patio. read more

5 stars for service and 5 stars for vibes. Aaron and Johnny are the combo behind the bar that make this place the spot to be when you want to leave with a great fun memory! read more

This is a great neighborhood watering hole. Their house red is excellent! Their sangria is a customer favorite. WiFi is available for customers. read more

Very old times, western saloon, or medieval tavern feel, love the vibe. The service was impeccable, and the sliders they served were delicious. read more

Not all dive bars are bad, and i wish this one was one of those. Inconsistent service, un friendly staff, you know where this is going. I wish it was a good hangout spot, unfortunately its just not. I tried a few times here, and it just isn't service oriented. read more

Loved the cat theme bar, it's very cozy with cool vibes! Drinks were good, loved that it's pet friendly. Bartender was so sweet and friendly! read more

Service and conversation was absolutely amazing!!! Can't wait to come back. The staff is absolutely amazing! read more

Sassafras - Tito's and cran & a Manhattan - Wine Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

This spot is definitely on my dive bar radar. It has all the things that make a dive bar great. It's small and cozy. It's full of regulars & locals. It's dark with a pool table and a couple video games. And the patio/parking lot is as cozy as the bar itself. I wasn't there for a long time, but sure as heck had a good time. read more

Sassafras - Wine Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

Finally made it to Sassafras and it definitely lived up to the hype! What a wonderful neighborhood dive bar, full of friendly locals who would love to chat. Parking in the front may be small but there is a second (connected) lot in the back, follow the signs around the block and you'll come straight to the second lot. Full bar options with excellent homemade sangrias, both red and white. If you're looking for an intimate, casual place to hang out and have a low-key evening with friends, this is the bar for you. read more

I was actually disappointed today. I love wine bars and have generally had great experiences in these places. The place itself is a decent place. The location seems a little sketch but they have a good patio and the parking was full as their happy hour goes from 4 to 8pm. But lets face it, its a little better than a dive bar. So when my single 6oz pour of Cabernet was charged $13 I was a little miffed. In fact I don't even know if this was a 6oz pour. This place isn't worth $13 for a single goblet of whatever. There are way better places that are less expensive than this. Seriously disappointing. I would have come here more often if the wine was up to $8 for a glass. When I asked the bartender she said that the Cabernet wasn't on the happy hour menu. The décor on the patio is a little quaint. Read furniture is old and nicked at several places and the inside was like a grungy bar. Listen, I know with the pandemic and all its hard to keep a business going and so you don't want to lower prices willy nilly. Besides its been difficult to get waitstaff. But the bar was half full for people for the happy hour. I would have appreciated if the bartender had offered me a happy hour wine list or at least told me ahead of time that the cabernet was not on the happy hour menu. But either way the price tag is pretty stiff for a cabernet, for that kind of bar. It's going to be hard for me to go back. read more

Perfect for group outdoor seating. It was mad people smoking cigarettes . But I sucked it up for the group. Nice sangrias. The inside was freezing cold. Would come back if I was forced and/or a smoker read more

Sassafras - Sangria - Wine Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

I'm pretty sure Sassafras earns the proud distinction of being the first dive bar I've ever been to in Houston. Having said that, for a dive bar; Sassafras has a unique nuanced décor that you won't find in most bars that are considered 'dives'. Come for a good drink or two, craft brew and some easy bar talk but you'll also have a lot to look at when you take a look at the subtle attention to detail. Apparently they are cat lovers. This will become obvious once you take a look around and notice the live cats hang'n out, outside and the cat figurines inside. Cat's are cool, I can dig it. read more

One of the best kept "secrets" on the Northwest side of town. This is a no frills place but drinks are good and fairly inexpensive. The white sangria was delicious. I highly recommend it if you like a sparkling wine drink that's not too sweet. Although a small bar, there's indoor and outdoor seating. They don't serve food but patrons can order in through Uber Eats or pizza or subs from nearby places that deliver. No matter how swanky or grungy, a bar is what you make of it. I suggest going here if you want to just hang out after work, catch up with friends, or don't want to be bothered with big crowds. read more

Sassafras - White Sangria -$6 - Wine Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

Ok - this place has everything you need in a neighborhood dive bar: a friendly bartender, cold beer, a patio, good music, and relatively clean restrooms. read more

great local bar. great bar staff which made me a very nice old fashion. local beers on tap. little patio if you want to be outside.

Best sangria!! You can't beat the price either -$7!!! Great service. Interesting decor too. Sure wish I lived close. read more

Sassafras - They pay homage to Swayze here! - Wine Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

Cool little bar by the railroad tracks on Pinemont, just east of Antoine. I came here mainly for the fact that it's owned by the same folks as Grand Prize and Big Star, both which I like very much. Outside patio is great on a nice night. They currently mainly have beer, wine and sangria with a very limited selection of alcohols. They don't have a cocktail menu as of yet, but let's hope it will be soon. I took one star off for signage and location since I drove right by it the first time I came. Even though I am very familiar with this area since I used to drive by this building twice a day to go to work, the temporary sign was small and you can only see it driving west bound on Pinemont. Another star for lack of alcohol. According to the bartender, they are going to expand the building and make it more roomy. Once they do this, they'll increase their alcohol supply. They definitely need to increase the inside space since it's too small right now. The pool table takes up a lot of the room. Reminded us of a bar in a sleepy town from the movies. I will be back after all the renovations have been completed. Let's hope this new establishment can last longer than Crazy J's and Brew House. read more

Came here for the first time to have some drinks in memory of our fallen friends. It's a small place, I passed it up on accident I don't think there's an actual sign for the place the only reason I was able to tell is because they have an outside patio area and you could tell it belonged to a bar. I noticed food and water bowls on the ground when I was going into the bar I figured it was one of those dog friendly places l, I later found out they were for stray cats. The owner definitely has a thing for cats because cat decorations were everywhere which is fine by me because I'm a cat person. Over all it's a nice place and I liked that it didn't get packed I hate when you're at a bar that's elbow to elbow and takes 30 minutes to get a beer. read more

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For a neighborhood bar it's awesome. Affordable and great place to chill and have a drink. Has pool and great craft beer. Great service and special events read more

Sassafras - Wine Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

Cool little hide out spot! Awesome atmosphere Monday nights are a must (steak night) Mickey knows how to make great food, friendly people good times for sure. if your looking for a casual chill place this is definitely where you need to check out! read more

Sassafras - Flat iron steak - Wine Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

Looking for places to hang a bit in the area, I found this lovely spot. Nestled among commercial type buildings and old homes, it's cozy, intimate, just plain nice. We went in the late afternoon, and no one was there. We sat outside, where most of the seating is -- picnic tables and benches, chairs with little tables, lovely plantings around the patio. There is a Happy Hour, but it was dark inside, and I couldn't read the "rules" regarding HH -- when, if M-F only or what. Our wine drinks were $7 each apx. I don't believe food is served here -- didn't see any signs or menus. I can see parking might be an issue as there is no street parking right on Pinemont. Apparently there is a lot around back??? Great spot to meet a friend for a chat. read more

Well, well, well. It looks like someone has come and breathed new life into the old "Crazy J's." My wife and I went over this last Sunday to finally give this place the once over, and I was impressed. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable about their different beers, and the atmosphere was pretty much right up my alley. I'm glad someone saw the potential in this place after Crazy J's failed and the great "Brew House" debacle of 2013. The place is no frills, it isn't huge but if you have a small group of 3 to 6 this is a fantastic place to go hang out on the patio. The inside is small with some dim lighting, a juke box and a pool table. It is a little hipster, but this should be no surprise as the people who own it now are behind Big Star Bar and Grand Prize. I won't hold that against them too much, especially since they went out of their way to harken back to the Crazy J days with "Motorcycle Only" parking up front. Also, points for the small Swayze shrine on the side of the bar. I don't "Lol" often, but when I do it is because of things like that. You will see an eclectic crowd of the locals hanging out here, most all of whom were incredibly friendly. The Young and The Old. The Hip and The Crusty. The Skinny Jeans and The Boot Cut. I suppose you could probably get away with bringing your large group of 10 Bros from your fraternity here to high-five and do Fireball shots, but the inside will be a little cramped and I am not convinced this is place where it will get THAT kind of rowdy (thank God). But if you want to find a place I believe will be where the long time locals and professional drinkers come to tie one on, I see this place becoming that place. Being married to higher class woman and having to accommodate her tastes in watering holes from time to time (she doesn't like dirt floors like I do), I believe Sassafras has found "The Middle Way." Walking into Sassafras was like seeing a friend who you haven't seen in years and doesn't have a Facebook to keep in touch. When you finally get together they have lost just enough weight to not be pretentious about it, stopped popping their collar, ditched that awful haircut they had in college, and broke up with that girlfriend you always hated anyway. Glad to have them in the neighborhood. read more

There have been a number of neat bars that have opened in Oak Forest/Garden Oaks over the past few years, but they've all been between T.C. Jester and Shepherd. If you live in section 15, 16, or 17, you still had to drive 5-10 minutes to get to a good cocktail/beer/wine bar. Not anymore! Sassafras is a wonderful addition to the oft-overlooked western sections of Oak Forest, literally "on the other side of the tracks." If you live along the 290 corridor between 610 and Pinemont, there's no better bar in the area! Sassafras is run by some of the top-notch folks who brought Big Star Bar to the Heights/Shady Acres and Grand Prize Bar to the Museum District/Montrose. Both BSB and GPB are destinations for folks who live in their respective neighborhoods for good reason, and Sassafras will no doubt become the same for those in Garden Oaks/Oak Forest! The beer selection is full of craft brews and IPAs, but they won't bat an eyelash if you order a Lone Star or Shiner instead. They have a better-than-average (especially for Oak Forest) wine selection, tasty sangrias, and liquor on the way. The decor inside is red-hued, yet not overwhelming. They have a pool table and jukebox, too. However, their patio is the best place to grab a seat and enjoy a drink or three with buds! Their bathrooms are fantastic, and definitely not typical of many other bars in the area. The waiting area just outside the bathrooms had a cool (yet somehow subtle) strobe effect going, and made me want to have a mini dance party before I headed back to my table! But really, it come down to this: Whether you're looking for a great spot to start your evening or a place to spend the whole night catching up with old friends or making a few new ones, Sassafras is the place for you! read more

What a great neighborhood hangout!! This is my first time here and I found out it's been there for several years. Inside: coin operated pool table, several TVs, a table top game from the 80s, a few other arcade games, a jukebox and friendly faces. It was clean and a little dark, but hey...it's a bar! Outside: several picnic tables under an awning with ceiling fans, FOOD TRUCK! Dog friendly place outside. Happy hour till 8 pm most days. I had the red sangria topped with champange while my husband drank a craft beer. Wr ordered from the food truck (forgot the name...sorry - but there regularly) and my quesadilla was fantastic! I didn't think there was ample parking until I got inside and noticed a sign explaining that there was a lot behind them on Broom ST for overflow. We will definitely return!! read more

Jess knows her shit! She is such a great bartender and definitely knows her drinks! If you come here you won't be disappointed! Also she makes a killer old fashion read more

My local, great beers, great prices, great people. Doesn't look like much from the street, but it's pretty nice inside, cold AC, nice bar, and some vintage arcade machines.. Nice porch when the weather is nice, which sadly is quite rare. A real asset to the neighborhood, and definitely a touch of class in an otherwise "industrial" area along pinemont (and that's putting it nicely). Thank you guys for being there. read more

Sassafras - Hans pils ice cold. - Wine Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

This is my favorite place, in my area of town. You can expect great tunes, with Bartenders who know their way around a cocktail. I mean, I ordered a martini there once and they made it the traditional way (stirred, not shaken), which no one does anymore. The wine list is very good, an you can purchase a bottle with the girls, without breaking the bank. The Sangria is the best I've had. The tequila is not slave tequila (see tequilainterchangeproject.org for details, or ask a bartender there - they are all quite knowledgeable). There is a Food Truck parked there, so there's food as well. read more

Sassafras - Ask them about their awesome tequila. - Wine Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

Cool little dive bar. Decent drink selection and the bartender was cool. They have friendly pets too in the patio area.

I have lived in this are for 27 years and this place is a gem! It has a small cozy environment that is true to the garden oaks/oak forest area. Sassafras has affordable drinks, delightful bartenders, food trucks, some arcade games as well as a pool table, and a lovely out door fire pit you can sit and enjoy when visiting with your new neighbor. It's the best kept secret bar that locals love! read more

Trying to find the white people in the hood? You found them. Great music. Will have to check it out on the weekend if I have the balls to go to that part of town once the sun goes down. read more

This place is lowkey and LEGIT: *Music *Food truck *Beer selection *Wine selection *Staff All on point. Best Heights area dive! Get it in. read more

Calm relaxed atmosphere. Great proximity to the booming Inwood Forest area. Friendly staff, stiff drinks, yummy sangria. Mixed crowd, hipster, punk, young and older. Great watering hole for locals. No food except for the except for the occasional food truck on weekends. Steak night during the week. Go to their Facebook page for the exact day. read more

Ok, so this is definitely a dive bar, so don't be expecting super chic seating and mood lighting. That being said, I really liked this place. The patio is awesome, and bigger than I expected!! The sangria was A-mazing. Seriously. But the star of my night was the tacos from the truck parked out front. LIFE. CHANGING. TACOS. Really, some of the best I've had anywhere. I will most definitely be back!! read more

Sassafras - The best tacos!!!! - Wine Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

For the area, very cool. If you don't GPS it at night, you could easily miss it. Small clean bar but still divey. No food but they invite people to come in and cook on the patio for profit. Definitely think the patio is the place to be but barkeep is cool, friendly, approachable. It's Wednesday so pretty quiet. Tried the sangria, meh - ok, not great. Overall, definitely worth dipn in. It's a dive bar so don't come in with high expectations but then again do you ever when it comes to dive bars. read more

Sassafras - Wine Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

Love this place. I've been living in the neighborhood for about 6 years and discovered this gem 2 years ago. Affordable prices, no annoying drunkenly disorder behavior. Just a peaceful place to hang out. read more

This is a hidden treasure. I like how chill and quiet it was the night I went. They have a thing for cats and thats something I can totally relate to! Drinks are good and cheap! So make sure to tip!!! My only concern was on my receipt I saw "UPCHARGES" not sure what that is for but for 8 mix drinks I spent 35 dollars(with the upcharges included.) and that is something that will make me go back for sure. Another thing, if you are new to a bar drinks don't ask the bartender for advice on what to try. He really doesn't help much so just come ready to make his job easier. read more

Dive bar,local Bar, your bar! Locals friendly, non douche baggy ...basically the best bar in the neighborhood. Good drinks, great bartenders and amazing local atmosphere. read more

Love this place! Really chill they have food and a patio. The owners are kind people. Always fun and run into awesome friends.