Little Dipper Bar

First bar we went to in Houston after our arrival for the Championship game! Great ambiance and fantastic bartender! The signature drinks were delicious! Incredibly friendly and welcoming, even gave us some swag from the bar, stickers, pencils etc, so sweet! Never got a chance to go back but will definitely visit again when we are back in Houston! Definitely give this place a try when you are on Main Street!

I go to this joint from time to time since it opened and I've always enjoyed it's unique ambiance. In fact I was at this place when Astros won their first World Series in 2017 and the owners scheduled only one bartender (Billy) and one barback (Jesus) for the WS final game. Astros won and the crowds from Minute Maid that night all came to Main St. To celebrate and Billy and Jesus was slammed from the surge... good times. So today I got here earlier than usual long before the closing shift crew. I had my tab opened long before the 2nd shift clocked in. I was minding my own business, not bothering anyone whilst this barback, Jackie was her name... eye balling me like I have no business being there even though I've my tab still open. At some point I went to the restroom and tucked my beer in my back pocket (I don't leave my drinks at a table unattended). Afterwards she grilled me and asked me if the drink I had was from the bar (like I smuggled it in) eventhough she saw me earlier ordering drinks from Billy and Brooke. I have to tell her and prove to her I've a tab. I could only surmise Jackie, the barback was being a judgemental slag thinking I was a transient that doesn't belong to the establishment. I've never been offended so much in my life, ever. F*ckin' 'ell, you can't just have fun these days, minding your own business without some overzealous racist barback Karen judging you.

Little Dipper is just the perfect spot for a martini in downtown Houston. One of the more mature and relaxed spots on Main Street, this dark lounge reads a bit retro in its decor, with its spacious booths, neon signage, and vintage books lining the wall. The martinis were delicious and the service was kind and thoughtful. This spot is definietly one of my go-to's in the area.

Nice little spot. Fun assortment of books. Was a nice spot to have a drink in a quiet spot and people watch.

So it is my birthday weekend and we are dancing to the music on the way to the bar and this girl said we are too intoxicated to come in!

Drinks suck, and so does the service. The bartender (if you can call her that) was on her phone the entire time and stared off into space instead of asking us if we needed anything. Absolutely ridiculous. Don't waste your time coming here.

Just like what everybody's been saying: Poison Girl vibe but not Poison Girl - pretty much just a very casual, divey, hipster, laid-back, everybody's welcome kind of bar. They have pop up cocktail hours with the ratchet twins when they'll offer some funky cocktail drinks like nothing you ever had before. A cool place to stop by and get a drink or two when you're bar-hopping along Main St. However, I can't really see myself just hanging out at the bar for a long time though.

Little Dipper is a chill, cute little bar and the perfect spot to start a night of downtown bar-hopping. The cocktail prices are a couple bucks cheaper than some of the other adjacent bars so it's a good place to get a few drinks in before getting more selective. It's not quite a classy lounge but I would hardly call it a dive; the decor swings faux old England sitting-room with lots of gold picture frames on the walls. If you could imagine dropping by for a visit at your well-to-do single Aunt's house and partaking in her liquor cabinet, this might just be the place. As another review noted, they do not have any draft beers; you can get cans or bottles of local beer. The only reason I docked off a star.

Can you spot the Little Dipper in the sky? If you can't, at least you can visit Little Dipper Lounge for a drink. Located on Main Street, the hopping part, your best bet is street parking since this is downtown we're talking about. The bar is bordered by Honeymoon Cafe. Like a lot of bars in the area, it's not huge but there is a bar with some seating as you walk in, some table seating, and some couches in the back. They don't have waiters, at least on a Sunday evening when I visited, so put in your order at the bar. They have a list of eight or so craft cocktails. I tried their version of the Moscow Mule. They also have some pinball machines in the back where you can pay for play. Chill bar to start out your night.

Casual,kicked back,retro three words sum up the place. Group of about 15 came and the drinks were made decent and very quickly. The staff was really on top of their game. of course the group had to pose by the moon to make it memorable. Lots of old fashion mirror on the walls, and lots of comfortable couch to sit and hang out with your friends. It's great location for bar hopping or hang out before the Astro game. I hear they have great happy hour drinks. The location is locate within walking distance of minute maid park. I liked the place because it is so kick back. Almost want to take a nap there..... The place is friendly definitely a cool place to hang out .

This bar was really nice and chill. We went later at night it was right across from our hotel. It was a super chill vibe. I would definitely come here anytime I'm in town. Good drinks and the bartender was excellent

What the heck... THE WORST BAR I've been to in Houston. AVOID COMING HERE. My boyfriend was getting a beer. In the midst of this, I was on my phone. The bartender ASSUMED I was taking a picture of her. She then asks in an aggressive way, "are you going to ask me to take a picture of me???" When I wasn't at all. My boyfriend stands up for me because of the aggressive accusation then the bartender proceeds to take away the beer he paid for and throws it in the trash. Unacceptable and she bellows she doesn't care of our business because of how many people they were at the bar because of 7/13 pub crawl day in Houston. Jokes on her because I live seconds away walking distance of going to that bar. FOREVER LOST MY BUSINESS. And will tell my friends to NEVER go to this bar.

Google says open until 2:00 am - went at 11:00 at it was closed. May want to update your hours

I really love this place. 1. The Bartenders The bartending staff at Little Dipper is incredibly knowledgeable and laid back. The service is great -- even on busy nights, you can expect to get a drink fairly quickly. And while the bartenders may not know about every obscure cocktail, but they do know how to make every signature or classic cocktail, and each bartender is also very knowledgable about the different spirits at the bar. The staff is professional, chill, and very friendly. 2. The Drinks The bartenders at Little Dipper make great drinks. The signature cocktails are all excellent (my favorite is the Brushfire), and the classic cocktails are even better. Little Dipper has one of the largest and rarest collections of whiskey on Main Street -- just as well because the sister bar, Poison Girl, is a legendary whiskey bar in Houston. Little Dipper is known for heavy pours, so if you are looking to get more bang for your buck, this is the place to do it (other than Warren's). Finally, a frozen cocktail is almost always available, so you can beat the heat with a frozen Moscow Mule or frozen coffee cocktail (among others, possibly). 3. The Vibe If a Doors song was a bar, it would be Little Dipper. Little Dipper has a unique and unpretentious vibe inside. The decor is reminiscent of a New Orleans whiskey bar. The bar is dimly lit, with Art Deco lamps and furniture. The bar is made of dark wood, and the walls are covered in antique mirrors. There are couches if you want to sit on couches, tables, booths, and the bar itself. If patios are more your thing, they have one of those, too. The music at Little Dipper is an eclectic mix of Rock, Rockabilly, Folk, Americana, and Soul.

We came here to check out something new close to where we typically are on Sundays and stopped by this location. We had seen that it was "Happy Hour" 3-7pm and decided to check it out. For my boyfriend I ordered a Moscow Mule, for myself I asked the bartender as I didn't know if I wanted a "well whiskey and ginger or maybe something with well gin like a Tom Collins." The bartender recommended I try a Tom Collins. I agreed and my boyfriend and I talked as she made our drinks. I was astounded to see that a $2.50 well drink came in a pint glass but figured hey, maybe we'll be regulars if this is the case. We sat and talked over drinks and ordered another round. When I got up to claim the check, it took awhile for the bartender to notice me and she made some further drink orders while awaiting my ticket to print. she gave me my ticket and walked away and didn't come back. I looked at the final check and it was for over $30! I look at the itemized bill and for my drinks, not only was I NOT given well prices, but I was rung up for Bombay Gin at $5.50 a glass with a "MISC" charge of $1 added to each of my drinks. I never asked for Bombay Gin, I'd of asked for Tanqueray if I wanted shelf. I said "WELL" when I ordered and seeing as we were there from about 5pm to 6:30pm, we damn well qualified for the "Happy Hour" prices. As for the "MISC" dollar fee added to my drinks, I don't even know what that is about. If it was because my drinks were made in a tall pint glass, I never asked for that nor was I ever told or explained that there were going to be additional fees to beverages ordered even during "Happy Hour". Seeing as the bartender did not come back and explain any of this to me, I initially took the overages out of what would have been her damn good tip (I really enjoyed the drinks before I got the price tag) I believe in tipping well in the industry but felt like I had been ripped off. So I changed her tip after waiting a little bit longer for her to still not come back and I gave her $1 for each drink we purchased. Her tip due to her own inaction of completing my order or offering any customer service went from $20 to $4. I tip well and when I find a bartender I like that's adjacent to places I frequent I like to make a good first impression and I like to value hard working industry folks. I felt like I was ripped off and wasn't given the best face to face service. I'll admit we were in old punk t shirts and shorts as it was hot and we are moving but still, you have to give better service. I will never come back to this place. There are so many other amazing bars throughout Houston and with far easier access. Really, it was the fact that I was totally swindled $10 more than what I ordered. I don't know how one gets Bombay Gin from "WELL" especially when ordered during their advertised "Happy Hour" or what the damn "MISC" dollar added per drink fee was? NOT WORTH IT.

Great place to sit and enjoy the ambiance. Pinball machines in the back. Drinks were good, staff was attentive. The photo booth was broken so we improvised. Definitely will go back.

Great vibe! Arcade games, friendly people, Kentucky Mule is super chill place to just hang in a booth, sip drinks, and chat with your friends

Do you like to pre game? Are you a bit of a risk taker? Do you like gambling? If you have said yes to any and all of these then you've probably came to the right place. The Little Dipper is the sister bar to poison girl, which is another whiskey bar in montrose. We're not really here for poison girl so let's get to what makes this place so special. This place has a vintage old school pinball machine in the back that'll bring you back to the good ol days of arcade days when you'd spend every quarter you could find to have an endless night of fun. There's a giant crescent moon to the left with a little seating for you and your posse to take pictures with and pretend to be a bit fancy and say that you've all sat on the moon. It's dark and a little divey, but we yelpers wouldn't want it any other way right? So their happy hour is from 3-7 and it's $2.50 well drinks and $2 shots. The shots are more of s gamble because you get a set of 3 dice and the odd die out is a specific shot. Ie, 4 is tequila, 1 is their house shot, and 2 is the poison girl shot. If you get something you didn't like, you could opt out by paying .50 cents more for something you'd prefer. This place is an excellent bar to grab some cheap and/or good shots and drinks before an awesome night in the town. Don't forget to grab candy that you'd probably find in your granny's candy jar. Leave the strawberry candies for me, please. Otherwise I'm going to have to fight you.

OutstAnding place!!! Bartenders are attentive and knowledgeable! Great atmosphere and vibe!

From the people that brought you Poison Girl presents, Poison Girl Part 2: Little Dipper Lounge. Basically everything that's about Poison Girl is now here in downtown minus the backyard patio and dark lighting, oh and a bit less pinballs. But one of the reason I like about this place over the other bars on the 300 Main blocks is that the price is pretty good as for $5, you can get a shot of Jager and a Lone Star to chase it. Yes, I know Jager is probably what you down back in high school but it brings back memories, right? They also have a good selection of whiskey and free nibbles at the bar with candies of all kind. If you ask them nicely, they will pour you a bit of the pub mix for you to munch on. Of all the times I've been there, I had nothing but good times and great conversation with random strangers. Again, the laid back atmosphere is also what make this bar stand out from the others around the area. The price for the their cocktail is fair and the well shots isn't as pricey as some of the places. Overall I will be coming back to this place again and again but mostly for 'The Montrose'.

Happy hour every night. $2 roll of the dice for a shot. Go for a six: Bulleit Whiskey. Bartenders are friendly. We were the only people in there at 6:00 on a Saturday night.

Love this bar!!!!! Happy Hour: $2.50 wells $2 Lone Star $4 wine Bartenders are always so nice and drinks are yummy seriously........ Really really good downtown spot.

This was our first time staying in this area of Houston, and we just stumbled across this place and fell in love. The very cool Wes Anderson vibe drew us in and the super friendly bartender, Hunter, kept us there till closing time. The music was also super awesome, and Hunter was nice enough to write down the info of the owners radio show. If you like chill places, good music, delicious drinks, (I had their Paloma) and getting the 411 on eats in the city The Little Dipper is the place to go and Hunter is the bartender to go to. We even checked out his food truck recommendation today, Taqueria Jalisco, and it was ama-zing!!

A cool hole in the wall bar on main st. Very laid back compared to other clubs/bars. The night we went there was only one bartender for a completely packed bar. Several people including me went because they were hosting a morrisey party since the concert was cancelled so many concert goers went there instead. They were swamped. They finally got 3 more bartenders. The guy they hired as dj kept flubbing up the songs. We still had fun but too many issues to overlook

My wife and I had a great time in this joint! Not only was it inviting from the outside, but the staff and local patronage really make this place top notch! Definitely a return visit on the horizon

This place is the best. We are Saturday night regulars. Lex, crystal, Lynn, Billy etc. they are all great. Drink suggestions? Lex - Gin Martini Billy- Bloody Mary Crystal - Old Fashioned Lynn - Margs

This place was alright...but not near as hopping as The Nightingale. The music was quiet and most everyone was sitting at a table or couch. If you're looking to take a break from head bopping and dancing your azz off at a nearby bar, then this might be your place.

The vibe is cool, the bartenders are cool, the drink prices are even cooler. It's so awesome to go from an 9 dollar gin & soda at one of any of the bars on Main- to 2 of them for 8 at LD. Cool little patio to people watch and lots of far out lunar eye candy inside. Definitely a place to visit over and over again while downtown.

This must be a new place because I don't remember it being here before, but it's a very nice looking place in downtown. I guess everything comes around full circle in night life because I could have sworn that downtown had died down as far as nightlife but it's making yet another comeback with its own style- older buildings with character, lots of concrete and bricks, etc. The talk of the bar seems to be the ginger beer they have which actually is not alcoholic so it makes for a great mixer with Jim Beam. Try it.

So--I'm not one to go on and on about a bar, but this place was just too chill for me to keep it to myself. My hubby and I were out on the town checking places out. We stopped in here on a whim...boy am I happy we did. The cocktails were fabulous, the conversation was real, honest, and pure, and the pin ball tables took me back to my childhood. If you're looking for great cocktails, and a down to earth spot--this is the place!

Great little hipster dive off of Main. They're open on Sundays too! (unlike other hipster dives in the area) They had a vibe that reminded me of Marfa, which would make sense, since they even referred to one of the cocktails being attributed to the White Buffalo bar in Marathon, TX. Great place for a sip, PBR or mixology.

This place is a quaint little bar which was pretty quiet, so perhaps a good escape from the crowds on main? While some people were camped out for a while, others seemed to just stop in for a single drink (keep in mind we were here between midnight at 2am on a Friday/Saturday). Sadly the Star Wars Pinball 2000 in the back didn't work. Overall it seems to be a decent place to sit and chat with a group of friends or a quiet date. You have to go to the bar to get your drinks... so on the upside, no pushy serves, on the downside you have to get up... or just sit at the bar.

Some of the friendliest bar staff I've encountered. Also I like their prices and deals.

It was my 21st birthday and the bouncer (a skinny guy in an adidas jumpsuit) read my ID wrong (I was 21) and told me I couldn't get in, my girlfriend who has the same birthday as me got in,I told him about the situation telling him we had the same birthday and for some reason still wouldn't let me in, he started to yell and cuss at me telling me I was a "fucking loser bitch" and to "get the fuck out of his face" some other people that approached him next he thought were with us and he told them "get the fuck away from me" and didn't let the strangers in. The hostile bouncer proceeded to call the cops on everyone. Worst experience I've had at a night club.

Great happy hour location in downtown Houston . Nice selection of modern contemporary furniture to lounge in as well .

It is problematic when a place refuses you service and then chooses not to give an explanation as to why they refuse to serve you. This leaves a large degree of possibilities for the reasons you are denied. This recently happened to myself and two of my friends on a visit to the Little Dipper. We had just began to explore downtown when after two drinks the bartender said that she is done servicing us and then also said she didn't have to tell us why. I asked her again for a reason so that I could perhaps apologize if there was something myself or my friends did to offend her, but she insisted on not telling me. We were outside chatting with some of the other patrons on the patio and did nothing that would suggest we were causing any issues. The only thing that makes sense to me regarding our behavior was when I became affectionate with my significant other. I completely believe that she denied us service because we are gay and unless I get a reason I will continue to pass the message along to people that The Little Dipper employs people that discriminate against gay individuals.

I've been coming to this area for years now and I always had an amazing experience. Except this time I came to Little Dipper Lounge I had the worst service ever! I order a drink with the girl bartender and she ignored me and said that wasn't her job while she took a shot behind the bar and was making out with a guy. This lady was intoxicated while on the job I hope she gets fired because that is a very irresponsible thing to do. The bar can lose their alcohol license. She was very rude and I asked her for her name and she just ignored me and walked away from the bar she was wearing glasses. The other bartender served my drink I left after that because she ruined my birthday night with such a nasty attitude. Management needs to take care of this employee.

I really love most bars downtown but the atrocious service left the worst taste on my mouth that not even a drink at this place could fix. I want to emphasize that i've never had such a terrible experience with bigotry and ignorance. A female bartender at the Little Dipper randomly stops serving my friends and I because I am gay. We each had two drinks and then out of the blue says she can't serve us because she is not comfortable with us and refuses to give a real reason. For that reason my friends and I try to put our heads together to figure out what exactly we could have done wrong and I truly feel she had an issue with my partner and I having PDA. That is not right and I demand respect!!! I am extremely in-nerved with the audacity that they feel they reserve the right to act so poorly and mainly unprofessionally. If I could shut this place down myself I would, because it is a mockery of a bar. I would not recommend to my worst enemy.

Low lighting, open, decent amount of seating, good variety for drinks. My friend took me here after a baseball game last weekend. I loved the atmosphere, and the bartenders were ok once you got their attention. It did take me about 10 min just to order a beer and they were doing shots behind the bar, but they were polite and courteous once they noticed they had customers. Bathrooms are clean for a bar. And it is quite loungish- lives up to its name. I would return and try them again.

Great happy hour prices on well drinks, but don't underestimate the cocktail slinging abilities of the bartenders. I've never had a bad drink from the downtown sister of Poison Girl. If you're in for a long night of bar hopping, try the Black Hole for a cold brew cocktail.

Absolutely dead on Thursday evening. Dark and not very inviting, but could be beneficial for those looking to cheat and not be seen. Although I do not condone cheating, this would be the place to do it.

One of the great Main Street downtown bars: 1. Great drinks (a great old fashioned) 2. Casual and laid back patrons, with perfect 50/50 mix of artsy types and professionals; 3. Interesting classy decor; 4. Great location in the middle of the most happening night life in Houston. TIP: it's not a cocktail bar so don't expect a cocktail menu or escargot infused drinks with muddled Peruvian starfruit. Instead, sit back in a couch, enjoy the atmosphere, and order your favorite staple drink.

Went here on a Monday night and ordered a Manhattan. It was great! Lots of places serve them over rocks but the blonde bartender Lauren got it right. I've come before and I'll be back again!

I put my hand upon your drink When I dip, you dip, we dip You put your hand upon my hip When you drink, I drink, we drink just thought the funny verse matched this fun laidback relaxed bar. I've been a couple of times and each time it has been a great experience with a fun outgoing bartender seriously the bartenders are hilarious and very accommodating they have craft cocktails, my favorite is the lawnmower or is it the grass killer ... I forget the name but something about lawn care I would akin the experience to hanging out with your bro's best friend's place, you are gonna have a good time with this new friend you made that you click with but take it easy don't rush into anything, don't force it to be something it is not

Stuck between a 3 and a 4 star. Long wood bar along the right, booths along the left wall, and a few tables inside. A small patio area up front along Main. Some funky art work, old mirrors, other nik naks on the wall. Saturday afternoon is not particularly busy, and the bartender is a hoot. This place has that same charm as Poison Girl. A few cocktails, and a few beers, though not as extensive as PG on the whiskey front. They do plenty of happy hour deals. The Manhattan was good, but not as good as some of the other cocktail bars within a stones throw. I like the vibe, and nothing wrong with the service. Just a low key place on a weekend afternoon to grab a drink in this great new hot spot downtown. Nothing wrong with that. I will be here more often.

This is another great addition to downtown, brought to you by the same great folks that run Poison Girl, Antidote, and Black Hole. I'm a longtime patron of all those establishments, so naturally I enjoy this place as well. I didn't order any specialty cocktails, as I've just been doing bourbon these days. The interior is nice, lots of dark blues, grays, and plenty of seating at tables or on couches. I got there around 9:30pm on a Saturday night and it filled up by the time I left around midnight. It's a nice mix of patrons for now, but Wash Ave is starting to die so I'm afraid the dudebros may invade all my new fav downtown establishments soon. Fingers crossed that it doesn't go that way. In the meantime, I'll be making many stops here.

I geeked out at the name so we went right in. It was a quiet night, but it meant more room to lounge in. The place had one very attentive bartender and a local bunch around the bar. A very welcoming group who were up for a chew the fat. The drinks were good. A little heavy handed which I like, but not to the point where it's just alcohol (which is gross). Had a few selections on their menu and the one with the jalapeno kick stood out. I had to have seconds. It was served in a martini glass with sugar on the rim. It had a heat to it that accompanied the finish. It was hot yet smooth and I was a fan! Wish I could remember the name though. When I find their menu I'll make sure to update this. It was so good my girlfriend and I came back the following night for more. This time however the place was packed. Fortunately there was no line at the door and believe it or not, cosmic as it were we found the table from the night before empty and thus we took our seat. Two bartenders now held the fort and a barback helping stock. The bar was crowded and it was a little harder to get their attention. When we finally got one to turn, we ordered our newly discovered favorites. The drinks were okay. The inconsistency is the reason for 3 stars. I understand that when nights get busy it's a go-go-go pace. I understand that sometimes glassware isn't the same. I also understand that each bartender has their own twist on the drink. These difference however shift opinions when they are compounding. This time the drink was on the lighter side, without much of a kick. It was served in a short glass, with no sugar on the rim. I was confused when I got it. It didn't look or taste like the one from the night before. It was a busy night and the place was crowded. We left the place and continued our night. I look forward to coming by again and updating this review. Perhaps the stars will align and we will find ourselves in the same seats again.

Downtown Houston is coming back to life, and the Little Dipper is one new spot that has taken up residence. We were on a self-directed pub crawl trying to scope out some of the new bars in town and rolled upon the Dipper. The decor is fairly simple, with a royal twist. The chairs at the bar were my favorite - baby blue, tufted and comfy! The service was friendly and the bartender chatty (which is a good thing in my book). They are a full service bar, no food from what I remember, and a menu with a few specialty cocktails. We only stayed for one drink as we had more spots to hit, but I would love to come back in the near future!

Awesome service, fun hip bar. We went after work, not very busy at all. So we got full attention from the awesome bartender, hurray! We started playing the two bux dice shots (roll dice to determine which shot to do) and the bartender even gave us a "sample" of fernet! Decor is spot on hipster casual bar. So glad Houston downtown is being revitalized properly!

I like Little Dipper a lot. Pretty simple, straightforward bar. Not too crowded, but not lonely either. Drinks are good. Bartenders are nice. There's a dish of candy on the bar. It's a good spot to visit when you're making the rounds in downtown.