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Finally made it out to Leon's Lounge recently, when my friends and I were cruising for a bar on Halloween night that wasn't packed to the gills a la Montrose Pub Crawl. When we saw that Leon's was mercifully un-busy, we all let out a cry of victory.
My friends described this place as "a dive bar with chandeliers", and it's pretty much spot-on, both literally and metaphorically. There's nothing fancy about the place but since it's the oldest continually operating bar in Houston it's got a certain provenance of its own. The bartenders are no-nonsense and pour with a heavy hand--my whiskey soda was as it should be...whiskey first, THEN soda, which is a concept lost on many bars. My friend ordered a round of lemon drops and they were basically pure vodka with a little squeeze of lemon on top. Helloooo alcohol!
The interior isn't fancy but it's definitely warm and welcoming. There was a band playing when we were there, though I don't think Leon's is really set up to be a venue. There's a pool table in one room and out back is the requisite post-smoking-ban patio. The only negative in Leon's corner is the parking situation--we were able to jet across McGowen and snagged a parking space in a lot, but towing was a definite concern. Take the light rail and save yourself the headache, especially with McGowen completely torn up right now due to construction.
Maybe it was the spirit of the season or something, but the crowd was really agreeable and we even got everybody to yell "HAPPY MOTHERFUCKING HALLOWEEN" as we made our exit. I definitely see Leon's in my future thanks to its friendly crowd and historic setting.
I WANT A LEON'S IN DALLAS
That could suffice as all I want to say, but that wouldn't give you a very good inclination as to *why* I want a Leon's in Dallas, now would it?
Leon's reminded me a lot of the Loon back home, but smaller and a lot cooler. If I ever had to move to Houston, it would definitely be my regular hang out.
First of all, it just has a cool vibe. Everyone seemed to know everyone and it was obvious when we walked in that we were out of towners. But they weren't rude about it, more like looked at us then turned back to their conversation.
The bartender quickly become one of my favorite people in the world - sooo friendly and nice, and treated me like he has known me for years. The pours were strong and the prices made me a happy camper. For all that we had we should have had a much higher tab, but I guess either we got a hook up or they're just plain cheap.
The music was great and I really enjoyed the random piano players, although one of them came by our table haggling us for a tip and I was a little off-put by it.
Next time I'm in town I'm going to Leon's again. No questions asked.
Um, whoa, Leon, what in the For Crying Out Loud is going on here? I dropped in here on the tail end of an epic couple of days that saw me ciimb and descend the same batch of stairs give or take a billion times (I may exaggerate somewhat, but trust me, there were stairs, there were lots of them, and I was climbing those suckers). I was so wiped, in fact, that when the esteemed Lisa A suggested something else I basically replied with 'well, you lead, I'll follow.' Even the dim can occasionally burn bright, and how cool it was that we found this place on the back end of a full day.
I admit to being a little clouded by the cheery skies, and was a blank snowglobe of enthusiasm when we hit Leon's afterward. Cockails, friends, family, a smiling barkeep who's feigning thirsty. We'll see. But for now, thanks for being such an important part of all that's going right thus far. Viva!
I love this place, they have dark lighting and they let you bang on the piano for hours.
Leon's Lounge
At the time of this post this place is a perfect place to take a date after or before dinner if you want something that is unique and of a dive style. I say this date suggestion because currently the bar is suffering from mere population of people which means you can very likely have the entire piano room to you and your date to talk and listen to the jukebox.
This said, you should check it out first before you bring a date because it does have a specific style that is somewhat hard to describe in a short review so it will either speak to you or it will not.
My personal reaction to it was instantly positive. I love the place itself, I just wish more people would go.
Why is it that I want to start every review of a dive bar with "I love this place?" Actually I do, I just rewrite those intros. So here's how I'll start this one:
Leon was a bookie. That's what I was told by the bartender. I'd asked whose framed, folded flag was hanging above a doorway and was given that juicy tidbit. It had belonged to Leon, the bookie. Apparently there was originally one entrance and five exits. Awesome. I looked for a game of craps, but was lucky to have not found one. No telling what dangerous ghosts would have been involved in that scenario.
As I walked through the bar, I noticed a seedy feeling. Very vague, but present none the less.
The main room, where the old wooden bar lives, has a sketchy, you're being watched feel to it. Perhaps it was the regulars sitting at the bar cutting glances at us, but I also felt as if history was staring me down. Like a storied past was giving me the once over for never visiting it. And with it's storied past, I'm not a bit surprised.
At the back of this room, I got the feeling once again. I spotted my absolute favorite qualifier in the dive bar equation: the juke box. Sitting on a wooden pedestal, this old dear looked at me sadly when I only put a dollar in. When fellow Yelper, Mike, put in enough for an additional thirty songs, both Jaire and Mike were lucky to be able to type in a couple of their selections. Two minutes later, I'd dialed up a list of awesomeness. My choices were of course scrutinized. (I just want to apologize to everyone that evening, jukeboxes with seventies, sixties, eighties, and hair metal gems turn me into a maniac with crack addict like tendencies.)
Beyond this room, is a lounging area. Basically it's just a anteroom with a low table and seventies-esque stuffed chairs. To the left, a game room with a pool and Foosball table. To the right was a back bar that smelled of stale ghost and wood. There were several old registers, an old piano with candelabra, and more chairs. Beyond the lounging area was the outdoor area/gated space between the two buildings. Not so "ghosty" out there with it's beer banner hanging along one wall, but I was still a little apprehensive.
I went to Leon's lounge after a hockey game at Toyota Center. When we made it there we found parking right away, but I can tell parking can be a problem. We stepped out of the car and Eren M didn't believe we were in the right place, it just looks a little questionable from the outside. We found the door and went it. The first thing we saw as we walked in was the narrow space to walk to the back. Once there we met with the rest of the Yelp squad and discovered the great things about this bar.
Thanks to Mike W, we had 30 songs to choose for our musical entertainment. However, the jukebox played about 5 and then decided to stop working. The bartender was nice enough to go fix it, but didn't offer to reimburse mike for the other 25 songs we purchased. Moving on.. I really enjoyed the look of the place. It seems fancy in a antique rustic kind of way (visualize that!!). It actually has a lot of original touches to it. I have a thing for stained glass windows and couldn't get enough of the ones at Leon's lounge. I loved the dim room with the piano. I can so see myself just relaxing there enjoying the dimness. In reality the place is bigger than it seems, but still very compact.
They have a small alley outside used for smoking. We enjoyed a portion of our stay in the alley, while Gretchen and Tony smoked their fags (just learned what that means). I liked Leon's lounge and can see myself going back.
Where do I begin?
I have always wondered about this dive bar, but I finally went on Saturday, all i can say is thank god I had male protection. The bartenders were weird! I was on a "date" of sorts and me & my date are on the patio, then the bartenders just come over and sit with us and start talking about ramdom chit and one of them is flirting with my date it seemed. He and I were the only ones in there, except for the guy who lives above the bar and he was drunk and the bartender was yelling at him to get up to his room, just weirdness. They did however have a pretty cool piano room, too bad there was no piano player, i tried, but I cant play a note. This could be a really cool dive bar, but i dont know, it was kinda creepy, and i've been to dive bars on the lower height & ashbury, this place was just a big NOT.
Drinks were weak, in my opinion, but i think my date was almost drunk by the time we left, some people are light weights =)
I'd like to drop this review a few more stars, but I can't completely justify doing so since my issues aren't necessarily the fault of the establishment. However, it has been months since the "incident" and I'm still irked, so down one star you go.
We'd planned the going away party for Ms. Fayza at Leon's to commemorate her time as the Houston CM and to wish her adieu on her move to SF. That being said, my previous experiences at Leon's (minus the parking issues) have always been great and wonderful. I'd always heard there was a local celebrity that entertained guests on the piano, but had never met him before. That was my (un)lucky night.
Yes, Little Joe Washington is famous. And talented.
No, I'm not a fan of him.
Joining the party and playing on the piano for tips is understandable. After receiving tips, staying around to badger us for more money and then harass certain members is not. Racist comments are just not going to put me into a giving mood--go figure.
Again, though it isn't the bar's fault that Little Joe can be a jerk, it has forever tainted my feelings towards the place. And though I love the place, I doubt I'll be heading back any time soon in hopes of living out the rest of my days without running into him again.
I love dive bars. I do. It makes me all warm and fuzzy inside to walk into a place and have that… Read more »
It seems that I'm not the first one to be more impressed by the bartender here than anything else. His name is Jason. He's cool. Friendly, professional, and personable, he knows just how to handle the kinds of drunken confessions that only a bartender is privy to hear.
But we aren't here to talk about bartenders, we're here to talk about the place itself. And I like it. I recommend it. It's very non-pretentious, which is essential for making me feel at home. Laid back, casual, easygoing. This is the kind of place you can let down your hair and unwind.
The rooms are rather split and separated though, it's an odd layout. You've got the front room with the bar, a side room with billiards and other such games, and yet another room with a piano and a homeless man who talks too much.
Is that mean? The homeless man, though, apparently is always here, and definitely is part of the experience. At first he is charming. He's entertaining and he clearly loves being center stage. But after a few minutes, you realize that his speech is not winding down anytime soon. You start to want him to leave so that you can go back to socializing with your friends. And he is not going to leave.
All the same, though, what could possibly fill out the experience of a true dive bar, better than being serenaded by a friendly, slightly crazy indigent older fellow?
My friends and I decided to visit Leon's for the first time for our Friday outing last week. I would have to agree that the bartenders are excellent and definitely give you your money's worth when pouring a drink...well more than your money's worth considering drinks were pretty cheap. We talked outside with the doorman who apparently worked at Ringling Brothers for awhile. There was a strange mix in terms of crowd which was definitely a plus. Everyone was friendly and about midnight the place really came to life with everyone coming through the doors at about that time, making the place really rowdy.
All in all, I was told it was a good call (it was my turn to pick a bar) and my friends and I vowed to return. We'd be back this week if it weren't for Ike!
That's it! It's all settled. You're all welcome to my 70th Birthday Party at Leon's Lounge (date and time TBD). Since Leon's has been open since 1947 I'm quite certain it will still be around in 40(ish) years!
What a terrific place to find yourself with strangers! The bartender is fun and helpful and remembers your name (I'm sure wearing a name tag helps). The beer is ridiculously cheap! They've got plenty of fun and games: darts, pool table, and a terrific jukebox. Plus, the clientele is a kooky mix and a maybe a little rough around the edges but we were all there for the same purpose -- a cold drink.
I particularly like the atmosphere and the eclectic decorating that's probably as accurate as carbon dating: 1800s stain glass windows, silver candelabras, beautiful chandeliers, pleather 70's lounge chairs (I'd half expect Merv Griffin to appear and interview me in those chairs), a metal deco wall decoration...now that I think of it the carbon dating may end around 1979.
If that isn't enough for you Little Joe Washington might show up (if you're lucky) and make the piano come alive with a few blues songs. Then your Leon's Lounge experience is complete!
2.5 stars, for those who are saying this is the oldest bar are wrong. La Carafe, is Houston's oldest bar and has much more character.
This to be honest is just a normal bar stuck in a place where people expect glam. There really is nothing too special outside of the lighting fixtures and stained glass window. Sure you can play darts/pool/shuffleboard/jukebox, but thats avail in most bars. The bartenders/clientle are cool as this place is geared toward having the regulars pay the bills.
Overall I enjoy this place, but its not a bar I would drive across town for. Drinks are low priced, not incredibly difficult to find parking, and it is not loud so its a good choice to meet up friends there before you go out.
This place is great for getting away from the crowds or to grab a drink before getting on the light-rail to Reliant (you can actually park in their lot and leave your car!) The prices are excellent considering that their standard "pour" is 1.5X that of other bars! This place feels fancy in a antique way that I find quite charming. The bartenders are always available for conversation, so if you're waiting for others to join, you're never alone!
Leon's Lounge. A surprisingly wild & crazy little bar.
Who knew this seemingly forgotten dive bar was the place to start the weekend? I'd have to guesstimate about 100 or more of Houston's wildest hipsters knew it last Friday night.
My only other experience at Leon's was on a recent Sunday night when the place was basically empty. That "Seedy CD Sunday" night, the bartender indulged us by playing a silly CD I had in the car. This past Friday, Leon's had a live DJ spinning old Country Western tunes.
The main, narrow bar area was tightly packed with all sorts of folks, including leather vest-wearing, newbie bikers. My friends and I scored the more spacious pool table room and played there for most of the evening. Even the dark, cigar-bar-looking lounge in the back with the baby grand piano was teeming with people. The bathrooms were tiny. Barely room to reach around for toilet paper. But that's OK - there wasn't any!
If you like your bars loud and crowded and your drinks cheap and tasty, you're going to like Leon's. A tip for those who plan to stay until last call, consider leaving a bit early to beat the rush of everyone closing out their tabs at once.
Everyone is dead on about the bartender. He is wonderful! So nice.
I totally didn't expect the inside of the place to look like it does, considering it's the oldest bar in Houston, and the looks of it on the outside. But it was so nice on the inside. All of the other rooms are really cute, and there are comfy chairs in the back.
Also, I really dug the jukebox.
And this place if uber close to my house! I'm so glad I went. I'll be back.
This place is great!
First off, the bartender is pure class. I walked up to the bar, ordered a beer, and started to bring out my wallet. He said "pal, you wanna start a tab?" I did, and I pulled out my credit card. His response: "don't worry about it pal, what's your name?" I then asked why he didn't take a credit card for the tab... "well buddy, I will just remember your name... and anyways, if you try to take off without paying... I have sized you up, I think I could catch you."
Honestly, can you beat that for a cool bartender? Although I feel a bit offended because I feel like I could have a fair shot in a footrace. Next time I go back I might have to challenge him.
As for the bar itself. It has comfy chairs, a dart board, a pool table, a piano (which was played on quite well by a man called Lil' Joe... something or other)... basically it is everything you need in a dive bar. Plus it is right next to the light rail and HCC... where I just so happen to be taking an accounting class. I might have to stop by Leon's after class... or depending on how work goes, maybe before.
As far as dive bars go, this was a classy joint. The bartender was excellent, and it made a great first stop for a night of mayhem.
I enjoyed the pool and darts while enjoying my Blue Moon served up in a pint glass and with a juicy slice of orange. The place wasn't that crowded, but there were a couple of people who appeared to be "regulars." Perhaps the most enjoyable aspect of the experience was the bartender himself, who was knowledgeable, friendly, and just a classy guy (which is no small feat for a dive bar).
Leon's is unpretentious, self-aware, and an overall good time. On the outskirts of the strip of "frat-daddy-esque" bars, Leon's has good drinks, mellow times, and you can actually have a good conversation without the din of thumping techno or Top 40 pop.
What can you say about Leon's that hasn't already been said? Like its bosom buddy, La Carafe, it's refreshingly yuppie-and-aged-frat-boy-free. The happy hour prices are great, especially for Midtown. The bartenders are reliably friendly and provide great service. There are tons of little areas to hunker down in for the evening; cozy spots abound, especially good for date nights! The location always makes you feel like it's your own, personal treasure, tucked away from the rest of the world yet right in the middle of the city. Leon's quite simply rocks.
Awesome place, love the juke box, love the bartender, love the ambience, and love the non-yuppy feel to the place. It is the oldest bar in Houston.
This is a great Atmosphere bar...great decor....
one of my former known dive bar haunts
Neighborhood: Fourth Ward
Category: Dive Bars
Neighborhood: Downtown
Category: Dive Bars
Neighborhood: Montrose
Category: Dive Bars
Neighborhood: Midtown
Category: Wine Bars
Neighborhood: Fourth Ward
Category: Dive Bars
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