Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    The Den

    3.8 (99 reviews)
    InexpensiveSports Bars, Pubs
    Open • 11:00 am - 2:00 AM (Next day)

    Order The Den Takeout or Delivery

    The Den Photos

    Business Info

    THE DEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Juke Box
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Outdoor seating

    Recommended Reviews - The Den

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Sunil R.

    What a fun spot. Reminded me of my college days! The atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming, and the staff are friendly. Not a fancy place, but perfect for a chill night out on campus.

    Smashberry
    Vinh N.

    I went to UH 25 years ago and stepping on campus today is jarring with all of the new construction since then. Coog's Den was a bar at the basement of the University Center next to the arcade and was a place where we would go for beers and snacks between classes. My professors would always be annoyed about this but they shouldn't have a bar on campus if they didn't want students showing up to class after drinking. Today's Den pays proper tribute even with a different location next to campus. They have liquor and a number of flat screens to watch sports. What surprised me was the number of customers on a weekend during the summer semester. They get a lot of regulars here from the neighbourhood and former alumni. Prices for drinks are reasonable as a campus bar should and their kitchen is stronger than the previous iteration. They don't have too many vegetarian items on the menu, but the cauliflower wings and fried mac & cheese are great. Shelby, our bartender, was great.

    Ambiance, UH decor  ! Go Coogs!
    Anna M.

    The way you want a university bar stop to feel. Friendly, just enough, exceptional food, drink choices to make the most finicky happy, and TV's broadcasting ALL the events live! First time here, located across from the Rec, and a short walk to all the events and campus activities. University of Houston Campus gem. Go Coogs!!!

    Drunken Golfer (Deep Eddy Tea and lemonade)
    Charlene P.

    Stopped in for a drink to wait for my son on campus who needed a ride since he recently had surgery. Nice energy and fast service. Prices were really good since they cater to college students. My drink had a heavy pour and was only $8! They have various daily specials. Hasn't changed much since I was a student 30 years ago. Definitely worth a stop if you are by campus.

    Front Patio Seating
    LeAnn T.

    The Den, a favorite bar/hangout spot for UH Coogs and guests for years! This special place is where to go for good drinks and eats! Located across from the Campus Rec Center and adjacent to the UH Welcome Center, this quaint establishment packs a punch with it's plentiful choices of tasty American-style food and draft beer, and a cool place to chill in between classes, before or after a game, or during the lunch hour. Decked out in all things UH, you feel the Coog energy as soon as you step inside. There's ample seating at the bar, a table or booth, or even outside in the patio areas - especially when it's not buzzing with students. My only wish is that I wish this place were bigger. Seating may be a challenge if coming with lots of people and trying to sit together, so keep that in mind and plan accordingly. Having been aware of this place for years, I never took the time to actually eat here until now. On the recommendation of a colleague I had to try it! I went with the 0-4-4 sandwich (with a choice of crispy or grilled) and it did not disappoint. This sandwich was so good! Nestled in between a warm, soft sourdough hoagie roll are chicken tenders drenched in a tangy buffalo sauce, provolone cheese, and their yummy housemade ranch! And to top it off, a side of their famous (thin steak cut-style) French fries that are seasoned just right with a light crisp on the outside, soft and potato-ey inside. Omg! I see why folks like them so much- my tastebuds were dancing and my belly was very happy! At just a little over $12 for this meal, you get a hearty portion of food and it's filling! It's a nice portion size whether for lunch, or dinner. I can't wait to try their other menu options, but the 0-4-4 was a great starting point. The Den has found a repeat customer for sure! I can't wait to come back!

    The nachos are really good
    Keisha G.

    The wait staff were really nice and friendly! The nachos were delicious and the drinks were good. Everything was reasonably priced. Nice to just come grab a bite close to campus.

    Traditional Wings and Fries Plain... Good!!
    Angel A.

    Sup Yelpers!!! Came to watch the Saints play.. I didn't realize this place was on the the U of H campus. Lucky students. The vibe was cool, Austin is a sweetheart and was very attentive. They have specials everyday of the week so check out their website.. this place is open to the regular public and I think it's missed because there are so many other bars in the area. However if you want to come to a place Downtown that's reasonably priced and not full or harasser's, come here. Drinks are good and food is good too. I will be back. Hopefully I can convince them to put the sound on for my Saints game over the Texans HeHe

    $8 margarita
    Irene H.

    weather delay on game day - the den came in clutch. affordable drinks. good but small wings. delicious fries - thin potato wedges.

    a group of people at a sports bar
    Adam H.

    The bartenders are friendly and there's a few parking spots, but, unfortunately, The Den doesn't have much to else to offer. ‍ Visited after a Houston Cougars basketball game. Seemed to be a lot of regulars and college students here enjoying themselves, it's not the sports bar vibe we expected. At 5pm on a Saturday with rap music blaring it's more like a pregame spot for UH students to hit up before going downtown.

    Burger

    See all

    12 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 hours ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sunil R.
    1136
    10671
    37242

    9 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Anna M.
    9
    92
    302

    5 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Great food. Definitely recommend. Priced right for a campus bar...................................................................

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Adam H.
    88
    27
    62

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 7

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lisa W.
    47
    28
    0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Great food on Wednesdays! I love the mixed drinks and margaritas on a Friday night. Also a patio to smoke for those who partake.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Great service, and even better ambiance. Very nice people and bartenders that are quick to serve.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    18 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 8
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of A D.
    103
    24
    5

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Natalie A.
    205
    7
    522

    10 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Oscar L.
    37
    47
    47

    13 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    16 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Manuel M.
    81
    19
    27

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Mary G.
    19
    22
    17

    13 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jackie S.
    154
    154
    276

    11 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ben P.

    Ben P.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Paula M.
    55
    41
    69

    9 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - The Den

    Review Highlights - The Den

    “The food was tasty as we enjoyed appetizers, Habanero Mango Traditional wings and the 0-4-4.”

    Mentioned in 2 reviews

    Read more highlights

    McElroy's Pub - Classic dive bar

    McElroy's Pub

    4.2(49 reviews)
    4.5 mi•Upper Kirby
    •$

    Came here on a Saturday night at around 11pm and it wasn't packed or empty. I would say it was…read morecomfortably lively inside and outside on the patio. The vibe was also a classic dive bar. Free street parking, but it was a bit hard to find a spot on a Saturday night. Restrooms were also pretty clean. Most of the seats at the bar were taken so my partner had to squeeze in to order a drink, but it wasn't too difficult to get service. Service was also nice and quick each time he ordered a drink. I thought the prices were pretty good for how expensive drinks can be these days. They also have a happy hour that ends at 8pm every day and daily specials, but I forgot what they were. Maker's Mark Old Fashioned $10 Maker's Mark and Coke $8 Shiner Bock $5.25 Coors Light, Bud Light $4.50 My partner got 3 old fashioned's and thought the first one was too light, so he asked for less ice on the next one. That seemed to fix the flavor balance. There were 2 dart boards and a pool table, but I think you have to pay to play pool because there was a daily special that said free pool on Monday's. I think the darts are free though. There were a decent amount of TVs, but I think there was a sports podcast on when we went lol There were also a number of classic red leather loveseats that I think would be great for couples on dates. The patio in the back was very vibey and had a bunch of lights. There was a birthday party set up back there, so I think you can host parties there if you contact the bar. The floor was made up of wooden planks over the ground, so it wasn't unusual to see bugs on the ground outside. Not much to do about that for an outdoor patio though. There's also a comically large wooden chair that you could take a photo op in lol All in all, this is a classic dive bar that satisfies everything you want when you're in the mood to go to one.

    After hitting up Davenport, we made our way next door to McElroy's Pub for a drink. Located in…read moreUpper Kirby, while I Ubered, there is free street parking around. Ambiance (3.5/5): Pretty much your typical Irish pub. Chill, lots of wood, a decent amount of TVs. The type of casual spot where you can have a good beer, talk, and watch a soccer game. Which is exactly what we did since the World Cup was going on. We sat at the bar. They also have a patio in the back, but I didn't check it out. Service (4/5): McElroy's wasn't too busy when we arrived, but service was solid. We had a beer, closed out, and we were on our way. Food (N/A): We were on a liquid diet, but I did notice that they have free hot dogs during Astros games. That's a pretty awesome perk. Drinks (4/5): As you would expect, heavy on beer though they have a full bar. When I'm at an Irish pub, I'm going to go with an Irish or British beer. They have a good number of those options too. Plus daily happy hours, including weekends, and daily specials. I love a bar that has a good number of deals. You'll find that here.

    Photos
    McElroy's Pub - Darts

    Darts

    McElroy's Pub - Cold Guinness

    Cold Guinness

    McElroy's Pub - Beautiful day at McElroy's!

    See all

    Beautiful day at McElroy's!

    Pimlico Irish Pub - River Oaks - St. Paddy's Day 2015

    Pimlico Irish Pub - River Oaks

    4.4(116 reviews)
    4.6 mi•Montrose, River Oaks
    •$$

    I never understood why Pimlico's had a crowd on weekdays or why my friend talked about a bar's…read moresteak so much... until I went. Steak night starts at 7, which means that's when they start taking orders. If you want to beat the rush, you should already be in your seat by 6:30-6:45. It's a two-man show on steak night. The husband is outside grilling everything on what looks like a standard home grill while the wife is taking orders. Orders go out in batches. They're definitely efficient and work as fast as they can, but with that comes a little abruptness- they aren't the friendliest, but they're focused on getting everyone fed. We got there at 7:05 and didn't get our food until 8:25. Was the wait worth it? Absolutely. The steak was tender and juicy. The lamb chop was charred perfectly. And surprisingly enough, the sausage was my favorite. It was JUICY. When you bite into it, the juices literally burst out. Something had a little kick to it... it wasn't the sauce, but I actually liked it. The jalapeño cheddar mashed potatoes were also great.

    I go here for the Meat Mojo steak nights! Available Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. The food…read moretakes a while to come out, but everything is being made to order, and it's definitely worth the wait. I get the full rack of lamb which comes with their ninja sauce and pineapples. For my side, I get the mashed potatoes. The lamb chops are the absolute best I've ever had! So tender, juicy, and smoky. All their sauces are so good too and compliments the meat perfectly! If you can't handle spice, I'd recommend just sticking to their ninja sauce though. The pineapple and mashed potatoes provide a nice break from all the meat as well.

    Photos
    Pimlico Irish Pub - River Oaks - One of 4 outdoor seating areas.

    One of 4 outdoor seating areas.

    Pimlico Irish Pub - River Oaks - Nice patio

    Nice patio

    Pimlico Irish Pub - River Oaks - Silkies March at Pimlico for Veterans

    See all

    Silkies March at Pimlico for Veterans

    Saint Arnold Brewing Company - Beers

    Saint Arnold Brewing Company

    4.4(1.3k reviews)
    3.7 mi•Northside Village
    •$$

    How have I never reviewed Saint Arnold Brewing Company?!…read more It's the longest running craft brewery in Texas, having won countless national awards. Though I don't drink beer anymore, I love that they do have a line of ciders and sparkling water at the brewery; and they have a few wine options. Most recently, I had their pizza margherita (made with cauliflower pizza crust, per my request). It was surprisingly very good! I wasn't expecting much, but it was crispy and had zesty pesto sauce that made it even better. If you don't want to order from their kitchen, they do have food trucks and other artisan vendors, entertainment. Do a tour if you can. It's kid and dog-friendly. And it's a great spot to watch some sports on their big screen with views of the downtown Houston skyline. Also, love that SA supports so many non-profit events. High community involvement...

    It's might be petty on my side but I'm taking off a star because of how terrible their heirloom…read moreTomato Salad. For $15 plus $5 for chicken, you'd expect it to be at least a decent sized salad and have salad stuff in there but you just get a few pieces of chicken and a green goo with just a few and I mean this literally, a few pieces of arugula? I guess I should have read the fine print which didn't mention lettuce but how can you call something a salad that doesn't have any kind of green leaves? I have been coming here a few times a year for various events but the place just doesn't seem to have any sort of a niche...yeah they have beer but I could get that down the street at any pub. They don't even bother putting ice in their water coolers anymore either.

    Photos
    Saint Arnold Brewing Company - Fresh off the line

    Fresh off the line

    Saint Arnold Brewing Company
    Saint Arnold Brewing Company - Merch section

    See all

    Merch section

    Hugh O'Connors - Spring Branch

    Hugh O'Connors - Spring Branch

    4.2(143 reviews)
    8.9 mi•Spring Branch
    •$$

    Grabbed dinner at Hugh O'Connors before heading to a comedy show at Improv…read more Hands down the best stew I've ever had. Every piece of beef was tender. The flavor was amazing. Truly a dish I'll remember forever. Highly recommend. My husband had the fish and chips. Forgot to get a picture of his. For dessert we had the bread pudding. It was delicious. Looking forward to going back. They got busy, but the staff were great.

    One of my goto futbol pubs since I live in the area. So many memories here from watching the World…read moreCup finals with a packed house to catching Champions League on a random afternoon, to the weekend Liverpool watch parties... Always a good crowd for match days. They've got a solid beer selection on tap and a great whiskey list too.. Great location in the MarQ, you can start or end the night here after catching a movie or dinner nearby. Classic pub food on the menu like Shepherd's pie, Burgers, or Fish n'Chips (one of my favorites here). Appetizers like wings and fried pickles are solid too. Service has always been fairly consistent. Bathroom is small, so keep that in mind. It's not a huge place and the booths and tables fill up fast when it's busy. (They do have a small outdoor patio which helps.) St. Patty's day can be pretty fun here too (check the calendar for events) They also have happy hour and daily specials, definitely worth checking out!

    Photos
    Hugh O'Connors - Spring Branch - Barside

    Barside

    Hugh O'Connors - Spring Branch
    Hugh O'Connors - Spring Branch - Guinness

    See all

    Guinness

    The Den - sportsbars - Updated October 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...