"The main thing you need to have at Bad News Bar in Downtown is a solid equilibrium, ‘cause the narrow stairs leading up to the bar can get treacherous if you’ve had one too many tall boys between innings. Stay even keel on the way out, too. Just like the output of the Astros’ bullpen, the drinks at Bad News are served fast and strong, with a side order of attitude from the skilled bartenders. How to get there: Walk (16 minutes) or take a pedicab (six minutes)" - chelsea thomas, gianni greene
"Behind a door at the end of a long, narrow staircase in a nondescript building on Main Street lies this truly hidden gem. The old-fashioned speakeasy boasts one of the best Downtown patios, which overlooks Main Street below, with the Metrorail frequently buzzing by. Plus, the bartenders know precisely how to mix up a superb martini or Old Fashioned." - Marcy de Luna
"Captain Foxheart’s open-air deck is an extension of the cocktail bar’s moody second-story space, so it isn’t technically a rooftop, but few places offer such stellar views. Located in an 1800s-era building on Main Street, the deck sits above the Metrorail line, allowing guests to take in the busy sights and sounds of the traffic below while they imbibe." - Marcy de Luna
"Find Bad News Bar by locating a line Downtown snaking outside a blacked-out door marked for a lawyer’s office. Join in and head up to a bar with some of the best cocktails—and bartenders—in town. The cocktail menu here updates seasonally, but there is also a long list of mezcals, amaros, and absinthes. And the bartenders combine every single one into inventive drinks made in record time. It is also one of the only bars Downtown with a balcony and great views." - gianni greene, chelsea thomas, julie takahashi
"The door to Bad News Bar advertises itself as a lawyer’s office, but it's easy to spot because there’s almost always a line snaking outside. We can’t tell if the bar thinks the front door misdirect is a funny bit or if they just don't feel like changing the signage. Regardless, the drinks here are excellent, arrive quickly, and will make that trip back down the narrow exit stairs a little treacherous. Come for a night out with friends Downtown or a quick post-work Happy Hour." - gianni greene, chelsea thomas