Rosemont Social Club
Photo Courtesy of Rosemont Social Club
There are plenty of places around Houston where you can enjoy a glass of wine, beer or a carefully crafted cocktail. But for drinks to savor while gazing at a view of the city skyline, the only way to go is up. From our vantage points, these are four of Houston points rooftops:
An oasis in the middle of the city, Rosemont Social Club’s rooftop patio is designed to make you feel like you’ve stepped into an exotic resort space. It starts when you enter through the back door and walk into a speakeasy-style bar downstairs. Make your way upstairs to the gorgeous wooden-decked rooftop, kitted out to mimic a Moroccan retreat. Bright turquoise cabanas and bar stools with plenty of red-cushioned lounges await, along with a menu designed for social noshing (think cheese and charcuterie, flatbreads and angus beef sliders). Pair the food with something from the stellar cocktail menu created by resident mixologist Curtiss Childress, whose drinks are composed of high-quality spirits, fresh fruits and herbs, yet only contain five or less ingredients. When the late summer temperatures rise, a cooling mist envelops the open space, so that you can relax and socialize into the wee hours amid mood-setting candlelight and house music.
Ask anyone where the best rooftop bar is in town, and chances are he or she will mention Proof. Located in the Midtown area, Houston’s most well-known third-floor bar offers fantastic, unobstructed views of the skyline. On Thursdays and Fridays, stop by to take advantage of a happy hour filled with discounted well drinks, beer and bar snacks. You can visit anytime to sip 15 specialty cocktails, served in mason jars with themed names like the Pepino Diablo (a jalapeño-spiked tequila), Pear-Adise (Grey Goose pear and St. Germain liqueur) and the popular Hendrick’s Gin-based Proof Punch. On Friday and Saturday nights, dress to impress as a DJ comes onto the scene, turning the place into an impromptu nightclub. Sundays are mellower but just as jovial thanks to top-40 tunes blaring from the speakers.
The only rooftop address to open seven days a week until 2 a.m., Dogwood was created with Southern hospitality in mind. With its casual and comfortable vibe, the laid-back stop makes it easy to gather with friends when you’re hungry, thirsty or just aching to hang out. The oldies and alternative-rock soundtrack fits the space, where the drink of choice during our last visit was the Deep Eddy Sweet Tea Vodka (it’s on tap). Expect crowds and a high-energy scene on weekends, as a DJ plays the latest radio hits. Dogwood also offers a full dinner menu; popular items are the burgers, fried calamari and the “I Work Out” (avocado slices and prosciutto-wrapped asparagus on top of two chicken breasts). The restaurant-bar opens for Sunday Brunch ‘N Beats at 11 a.m., too.
You have to take an elevator to reach the 3rd Floor bar, an establishment that occupies the entire top level of an office building in Midtown. Once you get there, grab a seat somewhere on the sprawling rooftop patio overlooking downtown. After posting Instagram photos of the view, unwind with one of 24 wines by the glass, 50 craft beers on tap or one-of-a-kind libations such as the Blossoming Buck, the house version of the Moscow Mule. This is a place to hang out and be social; this is not a club scene. The design facilitates the homey objective, too, with carefully crafted lounge areas with plush leather couches, and a Jack-and-Jill-style restroom.
