I'm planning my brother's bachelor party and we are probably going to do some brewery tours (Karbach, Buffalo Bayou, St. Arnolds) in the afternoon and he wants to get sushi for dinner. I haven't been but was thinking about Crave Sushi on Travis.

After that we were going to go bar hopping in Midtown area. I haven't ever hung out in Midtown Houston before, so I had some questions.
Party will be in late July, so do any places around there let you in with shorts? (my brothers specific request)
Are there bars that are free to get in, or do most charge a cover?
Any recommendations on places with lots of beer on tap? I've seen Mongoose vs. Cobra and Bar Munich are both well reviewed, any thoughts on those?
Recommendations on where to stay near Midtown? Just one of the hotels in downtown?
Anyone use The Wave for transportation? Is it any good or should I try to book one of those Pedal Party bikes (seems like July is a bad time for that)? Or just walk?

Thanks for any positive feedback. Read a thread from last year similar but we aren't going to Vegas so that old thread wasn't much help. (I'm spending over $5k to get my family back to Houston from the Caucasus for his wedding so dinner and drinks is all he'll be able to pry out of me)

I already told him shorts were probably a bad idea anyway.
Are jeans acceptable at most of these places? or do you need slacks/polo to get in at minimum?
Thanks again for the thoughts.

PS - I don't think my wife would approve of me nailing any bachelorettes

Most midtown bars don't have much of a dress code.

If its not too hot, maybe look into a pedal party. http://www.pedal-party.com/

I remember when celtic gardens opened they had a rather strict no tennis shoes policy at night. wearing shorts may limit your options on where you can go.

Dogwood are ******bags about athletic shoes. I've never had a problem with shorts anywhere though.

You can get into everywhere with shorts minus red door. A few places won't let you in with tennis shoes in but most will.

No cover anywhere except for gas lamp occasionally but don't go there.

Don't do the pedal party thing. Houston in July + pedal party = bad idea

I personally would do a downtown from 9:30-11:30 then uber to midtown and hit up Sage county then shot bar or dogwood.

Any recommendations for downtown other than Flying Saucer? I know they have lots of beer there and that's what he'd prefer to be drinking.

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Any recommendations for downtown other than Flying Saucer? I know they have lots of beer there and that's what he'd prefer to be drinking.

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Pastry War and OKRA are my favorites but there are several options on that same block.

Hearsay and la carafe is a good dive bar but probably not for a bachelor party.

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Any recommendations for downtown other than Flying Saucer? I know they have lots of beer there and that's what he'd prefer to be drinking.

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Pastry War and OKRA are my favorites but there are several options on that same block.

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OKRA takes fcking forever to get a drink if there is a crowd. If he prefers beer, then skip this craft cocktail bar.

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Any recommendations for downtown other than Flying Saucer? I know they have lots of beer there and that's what he'd prefer to be drinking.

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Okra, Pastry Wars, Little Dipper, Nightingale, Bad News Bar (next to Nightingale, but has no sign).

All shouldn't be that bad to get drinks if going there first.

For some reason this what I picture the bachelor party looking like.

Don't go to red door

Midtown is ****ty with crowds and long waits at bars, and it's exacerbated in the summer because half of the places are open air. You will deal with lines to get in and lines to drink once you're there, but there will be attractive people. If you must, stay away from Bagby and Smith street dewshatoriums and try out Mongoose vs Cobra (if you have craft beer or cocktail fans in tow), or Weights + Measures instead. Proof Bar is also over that way slightly off the beaten path but has crowds and lines like the rest usually. Barbarella is also off that direction if you want to dance and get sloppy drunk.

Downtown is much cooler and fresher right now IMO and while there will be some crowds it won't be asses to elbows in every popular bar. I'd recommend starting at a place like El Big Bad (tequila and food) or Hearsay (cocktails and food), then moving around the corner to Main Street where there are several places all lined up next to one another, including Pastry War where you can get the best tequila and mezcal drinks you've ever had.

some of yall are terrible with reading comprehension...

the bachelor wants sushi for dinner.

I can vouch for Uchi...seriously some of the best food ive had...two problems that conflict with the info you told ...1) not really a shorts kind of place and 2) they dont do reservations. so if you have a big party...you might be SOL on getting a table. also, at uchi you can easily plan for $50+ pp, probably closer to $100

have never been to crave.

I can vouch for Crave, good food and not nearly as pricy as Uchi, decent HH as well that I think runs on weekends too

There is blue fish in midtown

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some of yall are terrible with reading comprehension...

the bachelor wants sushi for dinner.

I can vouch for Uchi...seriously some of the best food ive had...two problems that conflict with the info you told ...1) not really a shorts kind of place and 2) they dont do reservations. so if you have a big party...you might be SOL on getting a table. also, at uchi you can easily plan for $50+ pp, probably closer to $100

have never been to crave.

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The OP asked questions about and listed Midtown bars in his subject line. Thanks.

As for sushi, you can also look at Soma on Washington. They have great Ramen there as well.

The fish is a sushi joint in midtown and is decent/good.

I'm not criticizing people for recommending bars. But some people are recommending restaurants that aren't sushi restaurants.

In the end we will probably get sushi early and eat again later. I appreciate all the input. Neither he or I ever hang out in town in Houston much but I thought midtown would be a good place to be able to walk to different bars. I appreciate the info on downtown places as that should work too. You guys have provided some much needed feedback.

How dressed up do people get for the downtown bars?

I miss Leon's.

In July in Houston you can wear nice shorts and a collared shirt just about everywhere.

Ra isn't bad and they are lax on the dress code

Sushi dinner on bachelor party night? Sounds like that one will be a blast.

Maybe I'm showing my age, but why would eating sushi effect the fun at a bachelor party?

He wants to have dinner but not fill up, and he likes sushi so it seems like a good idea. It's mostly about getting together to drink since I don't see my brother much and he doesn't see his friends much living out of town. I'm open to ideas. Some other have given good ones and a few of the places look like a nice spot to eat. Personally I'm a fan of Guadalajara and I see they have a place downtown. And I think tapas might be a good thing also. I've been to a place downtown but not sure if it's still open.

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Ra isn't bad and they are lax on the dress code

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The food at RA is pretty good but the atmosphere is horrid. At least in the City Centre location it is.

It's loud, dark, and very clubish. They usually blare techno or EDM and it's just downright annoying. If we can't eat out on the patio where we can actually talk to each other and enjoy our meal we'll go elsewhere.

drinking on sushi is a ****ty idea

Look guys. Posting worthless things on a thread asking for advice is a ****ty idea.

Welcome to the tine board. its how we roll...get it? like a sushi roll.

Eating sushi and doing a pedal party sounds like a cool bachelorette party. You girls have fun.

Why are no titters being mentioned?

Blue star SN

Cris_Dishman