Houston is turning Cougar Red this week as the University of Houston men’s basketball team gears up for the NCAA Final Four on Saturday, April 5. While some fans are making the road trip to San Antonio for the big game, many will want to find the hottest local spot with the coolest drinks to watch the Coogs take on the Duke Blue Devils.
The city’s official watch party begins at Avenida Plaza in Downtown at 6:30 p.m. but loads of restaurants and bars are joining in the fun with watch parties and specials of their own, ideal for those who want to steer clear of the crowds and enjoy a less raucous viewing.
Here is a list of fun places to yell “Whose house? Coogs’ house!” to your heart’s content, while having a cold beverage and belly-busting snacks.
Saint Arnold Brewing Company
Just north of Downtown is Houston’s oldest craft brewery, which boasts a beautiful, cathedral-inspired restaurant — an homage to the patron saint of beer — and a large outdoor beer garden with views of the city. Saint Arnolds has a 12-foot screen for watching the game and a worth food menu, with items like warm pimento dip ($13), wings ($12), and a sausage plate ($28), loaded with bratwurst, smoked jalapeno sausage, sauerkraut, and pimento dip. Cheering for the Coogs is thirsty work, and Saint Arnold has brews on tap, by the can, and bottle, plus wines, ciders, and non-alcoholic beverages. 2000 Lyons Ave., Houston, saintarnold.com
Home Run Dugout
For families that bleed UH red, this sports bar, restaurant, and indoor batting venue has plenty of activities to keep children happy as parents scream for the team. Numerous televisions are mounted across the 46,000 square-foot space, including a 24-foot mega screen. Along with a full bar and boozy frozens, the menu’s stadium-inspired eats include dishes like loaded nachos ($16), jumbo pretzel sticks ($13), and a variety of burgers and dogs; while the kids’ Little League menu has chicken tenders, sliders, and pizza. 1220 Grand West Blvd., Katy, homerundugout.com
Biggio’s
Located at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Downtown, this two-level restaurant and bar features 30 flat screens for viewing the Final Four. There’s a full bar with beer, wine, spirits, and zero-proof cocktails, plus a menu with tacos, wings, and burgers. The occasional celebrity sighting might include a professional athlete or billionaire. 1777 Walker St., biggioshouston.com
Pitch 25
Pitch 25 may be a soccer-centric sports bar, but it is also a prime spot in the East End for watching any sporting event. With more than 100 beers on tap and a full bar, the well will never run dry. Nosh on hearty bar snacks like popcorn chicken ($13), Tajin cauliflower ($9), and loaded bacon fries ($11), and this weekend, take advantage of $8 Cougaritas, $5 Cougar Paws beer, and a Final Four shot ($4). 2120 Walker St., pitch25.com
Kirby Ice House
If your furry companion is a Coogs fan, this local ice house has three Houston-area locations with pooch-friendly patios and TV screens at every turn. With 60 beers on tap, the hardest part will be deciding what to drink. There are cocktails and wine, and food trucks are on hand at each location for some quick nosh. Multiple locations, kirbyicehouse.com
Hearsay at Levy Park
Hearsay’s new Levy Park location is collaborating with UHLinkU, a community-focused alumni group, to host an official watch party for the Final Four on Saturday. Festivities include a live DJ and drink specials, including a special Coogs Ranch Water from Casa Mexico Tequila, and big screens broadcasting the game. A bracket competition offers fans the chance to win tickets to this Monday’s national championship game by entering before Saturday’s Final Four. 3728 Wakeforest St., hearsaygastrolounge.com
Christian’s Tailgate
Known for its juicy burgers and convivial atmosphere, this local hangout has four Houston-area locations perfect for raising a glass with fellow Coog fans. On Saturday, April 5, Christian’s locations will host Final Four watch parties for Florida vs. Auburn and Houston vs. Duke, during which guests can take advantage of $20 game day beer buckets and $2 NUTRL seltzers. Multiple locations, christianstailgate.com
McIntyre’s Downtown
As Downtown Houston’s largest covered patio bar, this multi-level hangout has plenty of room to spread out and watch the game across 65 televisions and two giant screens. Located in the former home of Spaghetti Warehouse, the bar sits along Buffalo Bayou in a historic structure that has been completely revamped to include lounge seating, picnic tables, and basketball arcade games. 901 Commerce St., Houston, mcintyresusa.com
Bayou Heights Bier Garten
This sprawling Washington Corridor bar is a popular place for sports watching, with both indoor and outdoor space offering ample seating. On Saturday, the bar’s 13 televisions and large screen will show the Final Four with son on, while offering $5 pours of 8th Wonder Brewery’s special red ale, Cougar Paws. The cocktail list is bountiful, and for sustenance, the food menu has range with dishes like pork belly tacos ($14), brisket grilled cheese ($15), and veggie quinoa bowl ($15). If the predicted cold front passes through, there are outdoor fire pits to keep warm. 3905 Washington Ave., Houston, bayouheightsbiergarten.com
Social Beer Garden HTX
This Midtown bar and eatery caters to everyone, including adults, kids, and pups. On Saturday, April 7, Social Beer Garden is hosting the Last 4 Watch Party beginning at 5 p.m., during which guests can watch the Final Four on a gigantic LED screen on the patio, or indoors on one of the many mounted TVs. In addition to a large backyard space, Social Beer Garden has a rooftop patio with lounge seating, dartboards, and pool tables. Linger around on the hammocks and porch swings, and enjoy a live DJ, bites from the Think Tacos food truck, and $7 margarita and Modelo bucket specials. 3101 San Jacinto St., socialbeergardenhtx.com
POST Market
Return to Sender, the cocktail bar inside POST Houston’s food hall, is offering a specialty cocktail called For the City ($15), in honor of the Final Four this weekend. The cocktail is crafted with vodka, peach, cranberry, orange, and soda, and is available through Monday, alongside $5 house beer and $10 house beer pitchers. The game will be shown on two oversized transparent LED screens suspended from the ceiling of POST Market. 401 Franklin St, Houston, posthtx.com
Tom’s Watch Bar
The name says it all — Tom’s Watch Bar is made for watch parties, with its wall-to-wall screens and extensive food menu. Take your pick from a list featuring more than 50 beers, and a menu of comfort eats like potstickers, cheese curds, birria tacos, and jumbo wings. 1201 Caroline St., Ste. #161, Houston, tomswatchbar.com
