The Red Door

by Matt H.

I think this place will never go out of style. It's been talked about before I was old enough to drink, and it's still going strong to this day. I don't know  what the real hype is, but people seem to be drawn to this place a lot.

by Rachael M.

A few friends took me here while I was visiting and, given the location, I wasn't sure what to expect.  Fortunately, we had a blast and I liked the setup of having a downstairs upstairs bar to choose from.Definitely try out the upstairs, even if you can't grab a table early in the night.  The view is great and the bar is less packed.  If the tables are all booked up, lean up against the edge and you'll still have a good time.  Lots of people watching to be done and the open air is great.  I'd rather stay up here all night and avoid the masses downstairs, personally.Downstairs was extremely crowded and getting a drink at the bar was neigh impossible.  In all fairness, both bars (up and downstairs) made stiff drinks, so there wasn't much difference there.  And the prices were the same - fairly expensive.  I've paid more, but I've definitely been charged less in the area.  Maybe it was just that particular night, but the DJ wasn't very good.  In fact, I think he had a bad case of A.D.D. because he couldn't stick to a song or even a type of a song.  It was just constant song style changes... We couldn't even get into a good dancing rhythm before we were thrown into another beat.  Definitely should have stayed upstairs that evening!

by Charlie D.

I have to start this review with a small disclaimer. The Red Door is and will always be my favorite bar/lounge in Houston. Let's just put it this way, we use to go there so much that the door guy wouldn't even card me and would greet me with a hand shake. Man I honestly have had so many great times at Red Door that I have lost count. Once we even spent a New Years Eve at the Red Door and it was freaking amazing. On with the review, well the establishment itself is a two story building with an outdoor patio up top. The downstairs area has a circular bar with two small areas with sofas for chilling. Those sofa areas are great for birthday parties or just small crowds. Oh and don't forget about the DJ area with tiny dance floor, which people still use to break it down. Once you head upstairs you will find another bar and the awesome outdoor patio. The outdoor patio is usually where you can find everyone no matter the season. If you have never been to the Red Door don't expect a big sign outside just look for a building with believe it or not a "red" door. Usually you get a mixed crowd but you are almost guaranteed a good time no matter what. Of course the best nights to go are Friday/Saturday or any night my peeps are there. So if you ever find yourself in H-Town you owe it to yourself to check out the Red Door.

by Jolyn R.

This midtown club/lounge is nice, a little pretentious, definitely a place to "see and be seen". The downstairs gets very crowded around the circular bar in the middle. There's a nice cozy area off to the side for VIPs and reserved bday parties. But it gets very crowded and trying to get around the bar, to the bathroom or the stairs, you're sure to get more feels than you'd like. The upstairs is better. Good view, less crowd, and usually pleasant unless it's real hot/cold outside.

by Matthew M.

If you love strict dress codes, shitty music, and butt hole management and door men, this is the place for you!  One of my friends in a group of six did not get in due to the door men not knowing how to deal with a person with proper paper work with an expired license.  We even got the cop at the door  to clear it up, but at the end of the day the management reserves the right to let in who they want. The door men told me and another to pull up our pants as if we were thug gangsters chilling in the hood.  Nope, just me in jeans nice shirt and cooool shoes!  That is all.....

by Rachael M.Pooja K.Spanky S.AB G.Alex V.

A few friends took me here while I was visiting and, given the location, I wasn't sure what to expect.  Fortunately, we had a blast and I liked the setup of having a downstairs upstairs bar to choose from.Definitely try out the upstairs, even if you can't grab a table early in the night.  The view is great and the bar is less packed.  If the tables are all booked up, lean up against the edge and you'll still have a good time.  Lots of people watching to be done and the open air is great.  I'd rather stay up here all night and avoid the masses downstairs, personally.Downstairs was extremely crowded and getting a drink at the bar was neigh impossible.  In all fairness, both bars (up and downstairs) made stiff drinks, so there wasn't much difference there.  And the prices were the same - fairly expensive.  I've paid more, but I've definitely been charged less in the area.  Maybe it was just that particular night, but the DJ wasn't very good.  In fact, I think he had a bad case of A.D.D. because he couldn't stick to a song or even a type of a song.  It was just constant song style changes... We couldn't even get into a good dancing rhythm before we were thrown into another beat.  Definitely should have stayed upstairs that evening!This place is horrible. I would never even tell my worst enemy to go here.There was barely anyone there firstly.  Secondly, all of the bartenders are a bit snippy.  You work at Red Door, not Bungalow 8. Chill.My friend was albeit quite intoxicated and we were asked to take him out so we kindly agreed and started to take him out.  For some reason the bartenders felt they needed to "help" by proceeding to with all his mighty force shove all of us out the door like  we were some hooligans causing trouble. I kid you not...we were seriously the nicest people ever trying to take home our intoxicated friend.Then I walk outside to see a long-haired, pierced and tatooed looking bartender pushing my intoxicated friend (who could barely stand and was NOT yelling at anyone) to the ground and shouting racial slurs. Apparently he's a white supremacist.It was ridiculously appalling.  I mean you don't need to be a rocket scientist to see that people are adhering to your requests and taking their friends out nicely. What was the need for the pushing? It obviously only makes things worse. It was not pushing, it was a full-fledged assault and if my friend wasn't so sick I would have called 911 right there and then.I would never recommend anyone who is a human being to ever come to this establishment ever.  It is useless and filled with mind numbing individuals.  And the bartenders are just idiots.  Why create more drama in your bar than you need to? If I was the owner of this bar, I would shut it down. Because your patrons are the shittiest crowd I have ever seen in my entire life anywhere.Un-gladly presenting . . . from the prejudice owner's of the Drake and Sawyer Park . . . weighing in @ a stunningly crowded 300 imitators of Hollywood wanabe's (unfortunately that word still applies nowaday's) . . . the Red Whore . . . i mean Red Door. Warning: Not for the culturally inclined; nor the smarter folks who know better than to waste time frolicking around to a hideous barrage of house music that sounds like the speakers are having an asthma attack of fart noises. Brought to you By. Spanky Curduroy LLC. MD. PhD. ADHDGod knows what happened to this fantastic place. It has everything one can expect from a good lounge/bar/ and has amazing music with a rooftop patio.As I can imagine, all the people who used to be at this place long back feel a need to be in "the place to be" - in the Ghettos - that's on Washington Ave, trying to shove their way into the clubs, waiting in huge lines and enjoying the ghetto neighborhood.Seriously, people should let go of their fake hype and realize what a good place is for nightlife.This place is awesome. The DJ plays awesome house and techno. Some people reviewed this saying its crappy music, but its really great if you like this style. If you dont like it, Im sure there are other bars playing music that you like. You didnt have to go there! One of the only bad things is that they have a relatively small dance area that makes it a bit annoying if you want to get a drink. You have to rub up against all sorts of people trying to impress eachother with their sweet dance moves they just learned on "So You Think You Can Dance". The rooftop area is really chill and set up really well. One of my favorite bars. I have never experienced any racial miscues and I am hispanic. Some of my friends are asian, and they have never had problems getting in either. I have always seen people of multiple races inside the bar. Its unfortunate that just because someone was not able to get in, it becomes a racial issue and they write bad reviews.Mixed drinks are $5, and I dont think the beer is too expensive either. I always bring out of towners to this bar and they love it!

by Tricia S.

3.5 stars.  I liked the design of the place a lot, both the downstairs area with the big circular bar and nice moroccan-looking touches along the walls.  The upstairs bars took a little longer, but the roof patio was nicely appointed and a great place to escape for some fresh air once the downstairs gets so crowded that it's more like a mosh pit than a dance floor.  The crowd seemed plenty diverse to me, although they wouldn't let the guy in front of us in because he had some ratty looking sneakers on.  I would definitely enjoy this place on a slightly less crowded night, but either way, I'd return again.

by Shaina G.

No cover charge on Friday     checkRoof deck                                  checkHot as heck                               checkComplete Ripoff when*          checkStrong-ass drinks                    checkLive ass grabbing and     general getting it on            checkNo lights to view the guy     groping your friend's ass   check*you order from the waitress rather than direclty from the bar. i ordered a gin and tonic and a jack and coke.  first off, the waitress claimed that the bartender accidently poured two gt's on accident, but she assured me that he voided the extra drink.  but, the bill was $20?  my friend paid $11 for his at the bar.  i was too p-ed off to care, which is probably the reaction they were hoping for. 5 points for waitress.  negative infinity for me.

by AB G.

God knows what happened to this fantastic place. It has everything one can expect from a good lounge/bar/ and has amazing music with a rooftop patio.As I can imagine, all the people who used to be at this place long back feel a need to be in "the place to be" - in the Ghettos - that's on Washington Ave, trying to shove their way into the clubs, waiting in huge lines and enjoying the ghetto neighborhood.Seriously, people should let go of their fake hype and realize what a good place is for nightlife.

by Emmanuel C.

Great outdoor patio on the roof. It's a mixed crowd of late 20's early 30's young professionals.There's a big bar down stairs and another one on the roof. The music is more of a house music mix. We've never had a problem getting in but then again we dress the part and have proper ID.