Dean's Downtown

The vibes in here are immaculate!! I love the sultry red lighting and the cozy couches. They also had the most bumping music! The drinks however are pricey. It was $75 for four double vodka redbulls.

Update 7/1/2025: I still have not received a call back and have since taken measures to dispute through my bank. I recommend everyone verify charges on their accounts if you visit here. Be warned that their call service does appear to be a screening measure since they “have no way of contacting management directly” according to the two people I spoke to on the phone out of the three calls made. Makes you wonder how a company could not have means of contact with the business that employs them. I was recommended to appear in person which -in all fairness- I did not do because I felt I would just be turned away and referred back to the dead end phone number. Suffice to say I will never return here. Original review: I had a random charge hit my credit card in early May. This was a charge in addition to what I was actually charged and authorized. I’ve called the listed number three times (which goes to an answering service) and waited on a return call for more than a week with no assistance. Dean’s has taken no accountability for this yet and the answering service seems like an intentional dead-end for anyone attempting to contact management. I was told to call during operational hours to speak with someone at the bar but the number just looped back to the answering service.

It's a decent place with good happy hour deals and bar service. They have different events every day in the evening. It was an open mic stand-up comedy kind of thing on the day we visited. However, that was a questionable event not like your professional standby up comedy where u pay entrance fees. This is free, tip if you want. You can have a good time. The blonde girl at Bar was awesome and quick to acknowledge your drinks requests. They have shisha for $30, which is a little pricy and live taco counter outside as well.

I will never come back here. Like if the bartenders are going to take their tip out of your money verses letting you tip them on your own I don’t like places like that. I don’t mind tipping but let me tip you. I got 2 green teas gave her $20 dollars and didn’t get no change back. I was gone let her keep it but it’s the idea.

Great place, chill atmosphere. Love it’s a old Iconic Houston store made into a bar. Front display windows of the old store are now couch patios. Great for people watching! You can even sit at a table in the old elevator shaft with closing door. Bathrooms take a little thinking one has a key one the door the other a lock for the key. Hint key goes into lock LOL Vintage couches set up in separate sitting areas against a beautiful cedar wall. Great Happy hour specials! Kareoke was great !

Low key but classy vibe.. People were naturally in good spirits and socially connected!!! Drinks good… vibe better, and returning probability is 100%

A Houston staple!! Very chill bar on weekdays. But gets poppin esp on the weekends. Reasonable price drinks. Your grandmother's comfty living room with vibes and a bar cart. 😁

Very cool Lounge. Nice Ambience, fantastic drinks and the best bartender named E! Was my first time in Houston and this place started the night off perfectly!

Anytime I find myself on Main Street after 9 PM on a weekend, there's a high chance I'm heading to Dean's. It's one of my favorite and most consistent downtown spots. The vibe always gives cozy-meets-classic energy(like what I imagine the Gryffindor Common Room would feel like if it had a full bar, vintage chandeliers, and a DJ that NEVER misses!) I wish I remembered his name, but he's been a regular for a while and knows exactly how to read the room. The set usually starts slow and gets progressively better, so by 11 PM, the place is packed. But if you get there earlier, you can grab one of the plush couches, which I love. In this age of "section culture," it's refreshing to find a spot where you can sit comfortably without paying a premium. The bartenders are another reason I keep coming back. Even when it's busy, they're attentive, friendly, and quick with orders. It's rare to find a place serving well-crafted cocktails under $15 in downtown, and Dean's manages to keep that energy, especially during happy hour. From the glowing red lighting to the vintage mirrors, curated menu, and easygoing crowd, Dean's gives you a lounge vibe without the pretense. Whether you're just stopping in on a spontaneous night out or for a thoughtful date night, it's always a good call.

Visited this bar for a night out with some friends and was pleasantly surprised. The ambiance of the interior is decorated very nice. There is outside seating for those wanting to purchase hookahs and ample lounge seats inside. The pricing of drinks was extremely reasonable and they did have drink specials. The bartenders were quick and the drinks were mixed well. The lemon drop martini I had was AMAZING and only $12. We had two rounds of Mexican candy shots that were decent pours and really good. I would def come back for a cocktail with the girls or for a date night. It did start to become packed around 11pm so I recommend earlier for those wanting to avoid a larger crowd.

I have run into a few Deans downtown, such as Dean Martin, Richard Dean Anderson, Dean Cain (that man felt like steel) and the Dean of admissions of the University Of Houston. But this one was new to me. I heard great things about the old Dean's, but the new one didn't really do it for me. I found the drinks to not be that great and Barbi - who is a drink expert - was not feeling them. It's priced like an expensive bar but looks like a cheap bar. I know there are a lot of bars like that now, but if you're going to charge this much for drinks, you better be really good.

Stopped by on a booze and boos ghost tour and loved the vibe and history of the bar. You wouldn't know by walking in the rich history behind it all (and the FIRST Electric elevator in Texas). The drinks we received were really good part of a special just for us but the staff were really great.

Love the vibes here. Music is diverse, vibes were nice and Jake was a dope bartender. Will definitely be back!

I was telling my wife that I would love to find a lounge! Comfortable chairs and great drinks. This fit the bill! Chill inside with couches and chairs. Excellent liquor choices. Comfortable bar stools which I seem to find rare these days. Even extends outside if you're a smoker or want to people watch.

Such a fun vibe at this historic downtown bar. They have a great Happy Hour... the Old Fashioned is only $5! And the bar tenders are fun and mix up great drinks! (we loved Chris) The lounge feel and comfy furniture adds to the overall vibe here. It's a smaller bar but still plenty of space to gather with your group of friends. We enjoyed all the drinks we tried but our overall faves were the Old Fashioned and Whiskey Sour. They don't serve food but Franks Pizza a block away will deliver so if you want some munchies with your drinks, just order online and enjoy with your cocktails. We have added this to our ongoing rotation for HH's downtown!

Visited on a Sunday night, nice vibe. We were walking downtown and heard the music blasting so we decided to stick our head in. Pleasantly surprised and glad that we made the decision to stop. The DJ was playing a hip hop mashup and it was chef's kiss. He said he's there on the weekends, so go and check him out. Mixed crowd and everyone was in the groove. The place itself was cool, like a friend's living room or something, idk if that's the intention but it was cozy. Good history on the place, it's an OG spot and has outlasted many other bars in downtown. Drinks were reasonably priced during normal hours. NO FOOD ugh I'm sad about that lol I am not sure if you can bring food, somebody lmk if so :) Not packed at the time that I visited, but the bartender on duty was on the slower side. Ordered margaritas at the bar before I even looked at the menu. It was horrible and super bitter. Sent mine back immediately for the aforementioned reasons, bartender guy said he could just make it sweeter. Skeptical, I just ordered a drink from the menu. The Mink Mink Mink was way better for me. Cute spot if you're bar-hopping downtown and need a little flavor in your scenery lol

Top bar in Houston!!! Super fun , great music , & great drinks ' great vibes ! Super fun place to hang out !

Deans downtown is a dive bar that has many different vibes you can karaoke on certain days and grab a cool drink or u can go on a Thursday night when they have all kinds of bike riders go with good food vendors of your choice with great music selections by the dj they also sometimes serve food made by my best friend Ashley and sometimes they do tattoos there as well the place is by far a great vibe very reasonable prices and ppl are very nice and professional

This bar was very fun! The drinks were reasonably priced (their happy hour was listed at $5 for most cocktails between 5-8pm) and well made-the best I'd had all evening. The decorations, full screen showing Full House, and music choice was fun and well balanced (not too loud). There was a speed dating event, and the bartenders were doing great keeping the first-timers well stocked with drinks even as they were moving around every few minutes. Will definitely come back on a night without an event listed, and hopefully for the happy hour!

Dean's is a spot I happened upon. The crowd is laid back and chill. The bartender recommended this shot with green tea and Jameson and it was delicious ! Dean's I will be back. It's like a little hideout spot. Check it out..the ambiance is nice!

Went over last Sunday for an after-work drink. Ordered a double gin & tonic. All good till this point. As soon as I take 1-2 sips, the bartender started fighting with two clients. They all start throwing stuff to each other, and me being right next to them my drink gets spilled. So after the whole commotion is over, I ask the bartender if she can remake my drink, I tell her that it was a double gin and tonic, and I see her pour a single (I'm a bartender, I know what an 1.5 oz pour looks like), even after I remind her that it's a double, she doesn't pour any more Gin into it. Anyways things get worse when I realize that this new glass is cracked, probably due to the recent fight, which makes me have to ask for ANOTHER double gin & tonic. This time she actually gives me a double so maybe it was a blessing in disguise that my other drink's glass was shattered. Anyways I was only there for 30-45 mins and all this made me feel the vibe that I was bothering the bartender by asking for something that was rightfully mine. Don't remember who the bartender was but it was a chubby white looking girl.

Great environment and excellent staff! Brittannie is the manager and is incredible! It's a downtown bar with a small town feel!

We stumbled across this cute and low-key cocktail bar while looking for pre-dinner drinks in Houston's lively and hip downtown bar district early on a Friday evening. We were enchanted by this spot's stylish old-school decor and front patio decked out with antique furniture, making for an exceedingly comfy happy hour. We happened to catch the tail-end of happy hour, and she went with a Tom Collins, where I had the Ranch Water, both for an unreal price. We followed that up with another Tom Collins for her and very spicy Hound Dog for me that really kickstarted the evening. On top of the friendly service, Dean's stands out as one of the best hangouts in town.

Me and my wife came here for 2 days in a row! There was a bartender who was also djing on turntables while also making drinks at the same time on Sunday and that was just so cool!. The drinks were awesome highly recommend the old fashioned and whatever that is, our bartender Britney was very helpful in helping us choose the perfect drink for the night, we had so much fun we came back Monday and only planned on staying a short while but we noticed the same dj was now playing from a table! And there was 2 chefs outside with bbq plates that were too good to have time to get a proper picture.The atmosphere was energetic and felt like we were at a close friends place in short we ended up staying till close and even invited more friends to join us! We highly recommend this bar!

Truly a gem. It isn't pretentious, yet it's still upscale and nice. Cocktails are *AMAZING*. This will be my go to place to show friends visiting from out of town. Great find!

Super cool place with great history! I love the variety of cocktails and the bartender was amazing.

First time in Houston, and got recommended this bar a lot. Eventually came around to going one evening (around 5PM) and only had a few folks in, and one bartender who greeted us right away. They were playing a good mix of music, and had lots of liquor to choose from, plus outside seating areas. Our bartender Joy, was the literal definition of her name. She was awesome to converse with, always checked in, and even made us an off menu drink that we had found at another bar. Leaving that place, I knew I had to leave a review just to make sure she got her shout out! We ended up going back there later that night and it was extremely busy, had a DJ, and a lot more bartenders. Definitely recommend when in the downtown area!

The bartenders are very rude. However they made yummy green tea shots. Didn't stay long because of service and bartenders making us feel like we were a bother.

Came on vacation, Rocky & Gladys where the bestttttt! Handled busy hours effortlessly, great customer service. I'd come back to HTX just to see them! GIVE THEM A RAISE!!!!!!!

Brittanie is the best bartender I've ever had. I've been to downtown bars and she had made a great first impression. I highly recommend finding her in this bar more than everyone else.

The best surprise of a find. I had wrapped for the day and happy to return to notsoH but it was not opened yet and found this next door. It was a ton of fun / excellent prices for a good drink at happy hour. I loved the staff and the history of this place. Thank you for working so hard to make this place great for others.

Great place to lounge and have an afternoon cocktail. It was completely empty and me and my buddy enjoyed some well made mixed drinks, The Georgia Sweet Tea was superb as was the Lola drink. Comfy couches, nice & cool, plus great 80/90's tunes. Lolie the bartender rocks! We literally had the place all to ourselves for an hour or two. Plus they had the world's besr-ever men's & women's bathroom door symbols...

I found this place not too long ago and it's quickly become one of my favorite spots. It used to be a department store and I believe it was the first place in Texas to have an electric elevator. With that being said it's an old building with a lot of character. Said to be haunted too haha. Nonetheless it still has a cozy and welcoming vibe. The drinks and happy hour are great too! I'd recommend Dean's Lean or their Southern Punch

Pretty cool spot to check out! Went to celebrate a friend's birthday for Motown Monday and it was really fun. They sadly only had one bartender, who was great, but it was a pretty busy day. Old fashion was okay.

My girlfriend and I were on a pub crawl of downtown Houston and happened to find this place purely by chance. What an absolute hidden gem. Warm and inviting interior, friendly and skillful bartender, and a classy yet casual vibe that puts one in chill mode instantly. We toasted my girlfriend's mother's birthday with an Old Fashioned, a daquiri, and a couple of beers. The drinks were perfect and the price was right. Great job guys!

Extremely rude service When asked for a garnish for old fashion the bartender stated that cherries are not traditional and will be an up charge??? My other guest ordered a dirty martini that was served w no olives and when requested one was provided I Bragg about this bar all the time but tonight was an embarrassment Very disappointed in the service.

This place is the coolest, it has the oldest elevator in the states or something like that. It's vibe inside is really genuinely unique and comfortable. I love it. The only issue is, it can be a little quiet sometimes. More people need to go here.

Had such a great time here. The atmosphere is amazing; it's sort of like a speakeasy style bar - at least that's the vibe they give off. I love that they don't have TV's, definitely a rarity in any bar....in Houston! Would you believe no one was on their phone? Like...literally no one! My type of spot. Loli, one of the bartenders, is a super mixologist & her old fashions are AMAZING!! She has a sort of vibe about her and such a positive attitude, it was refreshing to see! I also love that they do industry pricing for us cool kids! If you're ever hanging out downtown, make sure you check this place out. The drinks are on point and STRONG, the crowd is more relaxed, and no crazy drunkards! I mean what could be better than that? Can't wait to go back and see my new fav bartender!

My friend and I went in for a couple of shots that the bartender quoted $39.90; when her bank notification popped up on her phone the next day he tipped himself $17.29. I had already tipped him in cash since she had paid for the drinks. Some bar man contacted her back and claimed it got mixed up in other card info, lies, lies, and more trash lies. Good thing she kept her receipt because they would've lied about the actual charge. BE AWARE and keep your receipts because I'm sure they do this all the time, thinking people are so drunk they wouldn't realize. THEY ARE SCAMMING IN HERE YA'LL

I love Deans. It's literally my fav bar downtown but after what I saw Sunday (3/26/2023) I'm disgusted honestly. I visit Deans several times during the week I just like the atmosphere and the staff is friendly. Unfortunately, Sunday was a gross experience for me and several other patrons that I later talk to. One of the staff members, (tall, thin white guy with tattoos) who is usually a door guy and usually very chill and friendly was there having drinks I'm guessing on his off day. Within the span of an hour I witnessed him loudly berate his girlfriend, and go off on a patron who politely asked him to stop using the N-word, he stated things like "I work here and you can get the f**k out" then tried to back track by trying to apologize while still being covertly racist "I can say it cuz I'm 25% black" "I'm from the hood" "I'm Nicaraguan" (which isn't even a race!) etc. I was disgusted and uncomfortable. This man was using that word so loudly and aggressively like he was trying to prove a point it was just too much and very disrespectful. He used what power he thought he had over this patron by telling him that he works there and he can leave. He loudly stated to this man, "I drink my way into this job, I've tried to get fired I run this place they ain't going to get rid of me". Very gross! Also a homeless man walking by begging (because that's usually what homeless folk do) was berated so badly and loudly there's no way he saw that man as another human being it was disgusting. I understand it's annoying that they beg but these are still ppl and should be treated as such! I love coming to Deans but I won't be coming around if that guy is at the door. His behavior was unacceptable and I don't feel comfortable or safe in his presence. I hope someone speaks with him and let's him know that these things aren't okay. The other staff and DJ are always bomb, they are very respectful and friendly and I do really enjoy this place! Please sit this grown man down and have a conversation about workplace etiquette especially on your day off!

I love the presentation of the place with all the roaring 20's decor and velvety sofas. The seating out front allows you to people watch if you can get there early enough to grab a seat there. Cocktails are well made however the service could stand to be more inviting.

I absolutely love this place music always awesome and always clean and fun even the restrooms definitely going to visit again

I enjoy stopping by Dean's for drinks whenever I am downtown. It's a nice bar with good drinks. They have karaoke on Wednesday's and $5 old fashions on Mondays what's there not to like. There's is plenty of couch seating if you want to cozy up to someone or not. The bathroom is located in the back with key/keyhole indicators. They also have seating outside in front for folks who like to watch people walk by or have to smoke. Come by Dean's for chill vibes and stay for the tunes.

Hey guys, I just spent $30.00 on Uber rides to come down with a group of friends to see the "Houston Songwriter Series" which, according to the website, happens "every Sunday from 8pm to 10pm" (http://deansdowntown.com/houston-songwriter-series/). There were no singer/songwriters--just two people in the bar. The bartender didn't know anything about it (she said she's only been working there for a month). Very disappointing. It seems that Dean's is no longer featuring songwriters on Sunday evenings. They should take it off of the website, so supporters of local music like myself don't waste time and money coming there. That's damned inconsiderate.

I'm sitting here for my fifth time in Dean's and realized they deserve a review. If you're looking for a chill bar during the day/afternoon, look no further. Comfy and cozy couches, strong cheap drinks, and happy hour from 4-8 make Dean's my favorite go-to bar to hang out and talk with friends. Bartenders have always been friendly and accommodating, and the vibe is awesome. Check it out!

Dean's is a really cool spot with great ambience, music and interesting menu. There was really only one problem. The bartender was a total jerk. Not even in a quirky, normal, "I'm not trying to be rude, I'm just a very busy bartender" way. Like a total A-hole for no reason. My friend asked her opinion between two different cocktails and was met with "well those are two completely different flavor profiles so I'm not even sure what you're asking me," before rolling her eyes and walking away. When she returned 10 minutes later we decided to just get bourbon on the rocks since we no longer trusted her to put any love or effort into those $13 cocktails. Turned out to be a good decision. Had a sip of a friends Negroni and it was the worst I've ever had. TLDR: Go here. It's delightful. Hopefully the bartender we had has the night off.

Love Love Love Motown Mondays. Had some colleagues in from out of town -took them there and they almost shut the place down. Great drink selection - including shots.

Very cool and hip place to be on a Saturday/Friday night. I loved the vibe they hat going on. It wasn't pretentious or stuffy, but laid back. The people who go there are also a down to earth looking crowd. Nice strong drinks. Their craft cocktails are great! Artistically made drinks here.

Great downtown ambiance! The bartender made a great hot toddy on a cold night that was PERFECT. This is place is great for a casual hangout with friends. Will be back!

$5 old fashions on a Monday night, can I just live here? When we got there a DJ was playing some great tunes but after he left the bartender put on some old school hip hop and it was heaven. Great little patio to enjoy a drink and a smoke. The couches inside are super comfortable.

This place gave me speakeasy vibes! Loved it. Stop by during a visit to Houston, on a mad dash of bar hopping. Didn't drink that night, so can't vouch for that. But the menu looked decent, mix of spirits and beers. The DJ was good for the short time I was there. It was a mix of old school and new hip hop. Comfy couches inside and a nice patio in the front.

Dean's is a cool bar to meet up with friends due to plentiful seating both indoors and out. The drinks are good, medium strength and price. Bartenders are friendly. One of the best bars downtown to meetup with a crowd of people.

This place is ADORABLE. I'm a book nerd so I love the decor. Comfy couches, tiffany lamps, bookshelves with fun old artifacts like the "Remington Noiseless" typewriter and of course old books. $5 old fashioned for happy hour was delicious. Bartender boasted the orange bitters was made in house and you can tell the difference. totally recommend for a chill cocktail.

I remember when I first went to this place when I was younger and it was more of a "kind of all Over the place" vibe. My parents decided to take me back when I had moved back to Houston during the summer, the owner has done an amazing job at fixing this place up and making it more sexy, elegant, and just a really good spot to have a great date night or just to relax with a group of girlfriends or work buddies. The drinks are incredible and definitely different. The taste will catch your attention. The inside and outside seating is very comfortable and I just get obsessed over some of the chairs and couches the owner has chosen. It is also located near other die bars and it's just a really great spot. I know a couple of my friends who have done some art shows there and I highly recommend this place due to the fact that they support local Houston artist and also the owner is a very great guy

This place is a must for downtown Houston! The staff is amazing, the drinks no's are great, and the atmosphere is incomparable! Brittanie is the best, and Dean's is a Houston staple.

Bartender last night was very rude, second time this has happened in there. Just went Nextdoor instead.

I've never been to the old Dean's so I can't say anything about the different atmosphere between the old and the new Dean's. However, the new Dean's is a pretty cool place to chill with a group of friends. I've never had to wait too long at the bar to get a drink, and the atmosphere is pretty laid back. The music they play (at least on Friday nights) aren't too bad. Good enough to dance to, even though nobody's really dancing. Everybody's really just talking/mingling/drinking. Note that they don't serve Jager and Cointreau though. I wanted a couple shots that had these liquors (no, other orange liquor just won't do) and they couldn't make it. There's an elevator car that was turned into a seating area that could fit probably a group of six to eight people. It's pretty cool since you can actually close the elevator door and turn it into your own little private room. Remember that it's first come first serve though. The couple of times I've been here, there wasn't a line at the door to get in. No douchiness and no pretentiousness. Some of the ladies come all dressed up like they were going to the club, but some are wearing something more casual but still classy. They also seem more approachable here compared to a bar like, say, Okra. All in all, Dean's is a good place to start your night before you make your way to other downtown/midtown bars where you can just go crazy.