McElroy's Pub

Gonzo does karaoke on Wednesday night and he's one of the best karaoke hosts in Houston. Like, for real. I trust very few people to do my sound and he nails it every time. There's a pretty good selection of beer at this little dive bar as well and a pool table AND cool people AND just a good vibe all the way around. 5 stars. I highly recommend Wednesday nights. --Kat

Nice place to grab a beer and relax. Staff and patrons are ALWAYS so polite and friendly. A great everyday place to grab a drink after a hard day of work.

Liz is the Best! My favorite neighborhood bar, especially Wednesdays on karaoke night w/ Gonzo!

Great sports bar with a large patio! Really friendly people and decent choice of drinks. Will definitely go back!

Had a great time singing karaoke with my daughter. Very laid back and friendly service.. I'll go again.

I've been here a few times, but tonight (10/18) was my best experience. My friend suggested that we come there, and it was honestly kind of dead, but it was also 1am. That's fine though. The bartender that was working was absolutely amazing and put up with, and humored all of the weird stuff that I was saying. I really appreciate that! I'd definitely marry that woman. Oh God it sounds like I'm writing on the missed connections section of Craig's List now.

We love this Irish bar so much! BUT, when KRISTI is working she’s rude, obnoxious and she gave us our tab with 20% gratuity already on it and it was just us 2! I’m a bartender so she knows I’m industry and we get 10% discount. But when I reminded her she told me “I don’t have to give it to you” which I ignored and stayed nice. We both did. So confused as to why she’s like this. Do not recommend having her as a bartender. We’re regulars and I wanna keep coming back but when I walk in and see her working I sometimes don’t even wanna be there, knowing she’s going to be rude as hell.

Was awesome. The only problem was that they didn’t have menu which still wasn’t big problem. The ladies were so professional and you just have to tell them what you want.

My friend and I came here for a pre-dinner drink. Besides the group of men crowding at the bar watching both Astros and Sunday NFL games, the interior of the place was empty. The decor is an old-school style. Similar to a cigar lounge or whiskey lounge furniture. Sadly, they were not comfortable couches at all. They just looked comfy and cozy, looks can be deceiving. I sat on one of the couches for a little while, and we had to move. It was rough, no padding. They also have a patio with tables/chairs out back, but only some of them were under the covered awning. The rest were tables under the sun. It looks like there was a TV out there as well, as people were watching a game. I did not see a menu, nor was I offered a menu by the one bartender. So I tried to order Shiner on tap, which she said they didn't have. But when I asked about the bottle, she said they did. Nearly all of the business surrounding this place and Davenports is shuttered. I'm hoping they have plans to renovate this stripe area because it's looking shabby! Parking is street, and there is no designated lot. But you can use one of the closed business lots, you should be fine.

Great neighborhood pub/bar. Outside patio seating that is dog friendly. TouchTunes inside so you can select your own music. Full bar. Chill ambiance.

Best neighborhood bar in Houston! Great patio! Amazing bartenders!!!! Management there is very helpful! The regulars there are the very friendly! Love this place

One of my other yelp friends frequents this place as it is next door to a bar that is extremely busy most times. He said there's no waiting for drinks here! I met him there the other night as I left out of the busy place to have a few drinks with him. There weren't many people here so the service was great. There wasn't a DJ I don't remember where the music was coming from. It was a good change of pace as you can sit down and talk and be heard.

Eh, only ended up at McElroy's because The Davenport next door was uncomfortably packed. My taste buds were looking forward to a very strong and delicious martini (standard at Davenport's), and I was gravely let down. This place was a bit dingy, pretty empty and not really exciting. They seemed to have an alright beer list, but most of it was in bottles...I prefer draft.

Didn't even get a chance to try a drink here as the bar tender completely ignored my boyfriend and I. We waited about 10/15 minutes and all we got were "are you ready?" And an annoyed face when we asked to see the happy hour menu. The place itself was not packed with people and smelled like an old hotel. Would not recommend this place to any friends of mine. Plenty of others places to go.

Whether you belly up to the bar late night, party in the back patio or kick back on a sofa - you're gonna have a "not too bad" time at McElroy's. Even though it's in my 'hood, I tend to overlook it. But lately I've been making it a nightcap spot. They've got darts, TVs (I was mesmerized by Shark Week most recently), a decent electronic jukebox - or at least patrons that can select an entertaining playlist - stiff drinks, good beer selection, cool bartenders, and nighttime visits from the tamale family. Winner winner chicken tamale dinner.

For awhile I started checking out different areas of time to grab a drink. I was dead set against Washington for awhile now, and the village has just plain bored me so I started expanding back towards upper kirby and montrose area. This bar is one chilled and relaxed place. They have an updated jukebox but people still play the oldies. The patio area is deceptionally big. Nice place to grab a simple drink and converse amongst friends.

Great bartenders, great back patio, tv's outside and in, pool table, darts, golden tee, a lot of bourbon and whiskey, awesome jukebox, seating for big groups, fun place to party and the best Guinness on draught. Traditional Irish pub.

yes this is the best laid back chill bar. Absolutely amazing atmosphere little nice vintage sofas on each corner. i'd love it if it was little darker on around where the sofas are from an interior designer point of view. also make sure you check out their out patio. not sure their parking though.

Probably the chillest neighborhood bar in Neartown. I stumbled into McElroys Pub a few years ago and stumbled back regularly ever since. I cannot emphasize enough how relaxing this place is as the decor is of a worn well broken in leather and a rich mahogany (please get the reference). The price point is competitive compared to the local market. The staff is really cool and great conversation types. Quite a few TV's posted here to expect to be able to catch a game or four. Darts off in the back corner, pool table, and Golden Tee this spot has all the staple local pub games. When with friends this is a perfect situation to wager some drinks and find out who is most formidable. Wednesday night is Kareoke Night. This is valuable if you want to trick your friends into getting hammered and then find out its kareoke night when they are already buzzing. **Evil Laughs**

Local recommendation- horrible service . Female Sunday funday bartender not so customer centric . From Chicago - not a recommendation

This is a cozy bar with comfy seating. It was pretty empty on a Thursday night and the staff friendly. They have board games and good music.

Great place for adults to come have a great draft beer and a good conversation. Seriously, I've known about this place for years but it seems we never pop into this little corner of Upper Kirby for drinks. I am glad we decided to start. We actually started at The Davenport right around the corner. Then we thought since we were here we'd check out McElroy's for a beer. This joint has a wonderful large inside bar area, a lovely patio outback for smokers or a nice night outdoors in the city and clean bathrooms. The bartenders are friendly, quick and knowledgeable. Sure they have your basic Miller and Lone Star but they carry St Arnold on draft, Harp & Smithwycks and the wonderful imports you expect from an Irish Pub. The music wasn't too loud from the jukebox and out on the pretty big patio was a wonderful calm place for friends to sit and have a beer and enjoy a little cigar. If you like a good bar with fairly easy parking that's NOT in the Village or on Washington then here's your alternative. I bought a round of beers and walked out with money left in my pocket. So it's cheaper than places like the Gingerman (which I really like for the beer selection but hate for the parking) and Flying saucer (which has a nice beer selection but you can't carry on a conversation in because of the noise level). If you're an adult and don't need a dance floor, a pick up line or kids spilling their beers on your shoes then you need a place like this. Adults having adult beverages make this middle aged gal happy.

I will now attempt to review this place without using the word "chill". It may not be possible. It's got leather chairs, but it's not pretentious. It's got darts and cozy booths, but it's not skeevy. It's just.. nice. TVs if you care to watch them, a jukebox if you care to play music, and while I didn't sit on the patio, that is always a plus in my book. Come here if you want to... relax, but don't tell anyone else. I don't want to ruin the vibe.

I have been going to McElroys off and on for the last 5 years, but have never written a review. This place has consistently been a great, laid back, atmosphere to have a damn good Guinness, Smithwicks, Harp, St. Arnolds, insert your favorite beer. The prices are very reasonable for the area. They have nice bartenders, a great patio, and a non-douchy crowd, unlike many establishments in the Upper Kirby area. To top it all off, the jukebox is awesome, and when the jukebox isnt playing, the bartenders place great music from their I-pods. Sometimes you just want to go hang out without waiting in line to get in, paying a cover, and trying to get the attention of the aloof bartender that is a part time model but can't quit their day job.

This place has a nice relaxed atmosphere. I typically go on Thursday nights, and the bar has just the right number of people. Enough that it's lively, but not so many that you're bumping elbows or searching for a seat. The patio is French Bulldog-friendly with a couple TVs and speakers. It's easy to bring outside food in, and the tamale guys make their rounds too. Staff is friendly and attentive and service is fast. Beer on tap selection isn't huge, but that fine for me. I'm not a beer connoisseur, I just want to get a 22-ounce pint (Thursday night) or three and sit on the patio. I started coming for trivia nights (again, Thursdays). The host is rather personable, making the game fun, and does a faaaaantastic job on the microphone. There are a moderate amount of teams, so a decent chance of winning and 100% chance of having a good time.

I only started coming to McElroy's because they sponsor my current dart league team. . .and now I've fallen in love! The bar is a fun (yes, and chill) place to come and relax. The bartenders remembered my drink after the first time I came in (okay, it isn't that hard to remember Bud Light, but still) which I love. The restrooms are always clean, which leaves a great impression. Their back patio is great. It is spacious and they have plenty of fans going to keep you cool. They have live music a lot of nights and that can get loud, so holding a conversation during a set may be a bit difficult. The funny thing about McElroy's is that I come here every other week for league night, but our boards is the talk of the town. They're hidden away in the corner in a room that can give you a headache if you're not careful. The carpet is famous for being a maze--if you drop a dart, good luck finding it! The room is a strange shape and can play tricks on your mind--and the mirror on the back wall doesn't help the feel either. Nevertheless, I kinda like the quirky room. It has grown on me and now that I'm used to it, I feel like we kind of have a home court advantage with its strangeness. :) If you're looking for a laid back place to relax with a drink, this is a great place to check out. Plus, the parking lot for the strip mall always has spots so you don't have to worry about that on a weekend.

This is a great spot to have a few cold ones and visit with friends. Inside is comfortable with lots of seating and some dart boards, however I prefer the back patio, filled with picnic and patio tables, surrounded by beer signs and some greenery. The staff is always nice and friendly.The jukebox has a great selection! I agree with Jack H that special events are a blast there! Halloween 2009 I was in the running for winning the costume contest, until some stupid chick with a sexy Wonder Woman costume came in at the last minute and stole my thunder. Ugh! St. Patty's day is awesome at McElroy's as well. They open up the side lot and have a live band.

I've been twice. The last time was on Christmas Eve whilst the family was at church. I'd been inadvertently locked out of the casa, and needed a place to assemble some of my homemade presents. This place was great. Nice atmosphere. Great bartender. Cute Ms. Claus waitress. Great pints and Jameson on the rocks. Don't come here. You'll ruin my Houston hangout.

What a little hidden gem. We were over in the area at Cactus for Record Store Day but my friends were really wanting to grab a drink in the area. So we walked on over not really knowing what to expect. There were so many things for me to like about this place. First of all it feels like a REAL bar. The decor is like it's been there for ages, like Houston's version of Cheers. Big dark red and deep chairs and couches, dark walls, a brick wall with darts, two different restrooms, an amazing jute box (we found super obscure songs) and a really cute back patio. I loved that you could hear the music inside and out, that the back patio was nothing like what I imagined. It was quaint and homey. And best of all, it wasn't in the sun. You could enjoy the outside without burning up. You can get bar service, and that day the bartender came out to help us so we got table service too, but this was a Saturday at about 7pm (I don't know what it's like here at night when it's busy). I really like this bar better than majority of bars I've been to that people rave about it. It's chill just like my group of friends.

Went here for a last stop to my friends bachelor party and I really liked it. I have been looking for a place to go to on a regular basis and this might be it. Selection on beer and liquor is good. Its an Irish pub so it helps that I like Irish Beer and Whiskey. They have 2 dart boards that were surprisingly unoccupied when we went on a Saturday night. Good area with darts that arent in pieces. there outdoor area looked fun but I may avoid this until it gets a tad bit less hot. Also there Juke Box is good. Its over the internet so It gives it an eclectic selection. The music really varied but I was happy to hear Ratatat and Vampire weekend both play over the box. All and all I like this place alot.I will be going back to it again and hopefully I can make this my bar of choice.

Awesome low key british bar and a perfect place to watch a soccer match. Great people, great vibe.

Really good music and the bartenders were really nice. I had a rum and coke and it was good. Had fun just relaxing with a group of friends.

This pub always has a nice vibe to it. It's convenient for those that live downtown or work there and want to have a nice happy hour. They have a small patio area out front that is great for people watching. The bartenders have always been nice and they have a decent beer selection. They also sell cigarettes and cigars, so that's a bonus for the smokers out there.

This place happened to be next door to the hotel I was staying at for work in Houston. After everyone I was with decided to go to bed, I felt like going on and found myself here, on my own. I met a bunch of friendly people and had some interesting conversations. For not knowing anything about where to hang out in the city, I feel like I ended up at a pretty cool spot.

McElroy's Pub was actually the first bar I ever went to, due to its close proximity to the old poor excuse for an apartment that I lived in at the time. I'm not sure if it's because of the atmosphere, or just because it was my first bar, but my experiences elsewhere have paled in comparison. I've been to the more trendy places down Westheimer... Anvil, Poison Girl, some place a friend dragged me to name Boheme or something... but honestly I really kind of hate that scene. McElroy's is the kind of place that I can sit and have a drink with the boyfriend, a group of girlfriends, or my regular 'crew,' and not have to shout above the music or fight for a place to sit. It's very low key, and the bartenders are generally nice and make the effort to get to know their regulars. The crowd is pretty mixed some nights; I do feel like my friends and I are the youngest people there most of the time, but I've been going since a couple days after I turned 21 so I guess that's to be expected. I'm actually writing this review because during my visit last night, I noticed they now have Gulden Draak on draft, and quite frankly that gives it 5 stars in my book. Anyway, if you're looking for a glitzy, trendy spot with a huge crowd, loud music, and fancy mixed drinks, this may not be for you. But if you're looking for a nice, low key spot to have a good time with close friends, stop by!

Great bar, great drinks, and no food but Star Pizza delivers, so who cares? I'm here every Thursday for Geeks Who Drink trivia, and the bar has a great special on biggie beers for that. After coming a few times for trivia, I decided I liked the bar so much I've been back on non trivia nights! Highly recommended. Friendliest bar staff in town!

Best bar in Houston. This is not Washington Ave., keep that shit away. Great staff, drink prices, and phenomenal patio.

This has grown to be my favorite bar. Very cozy, and laid back with a spacious patio in the back. Along with the darts and golden tee machine, the pool table is a major hit. Come check out their Wednesday karaoke nights and Thursday trivia!

Was only there for a bit but liked the staff, the pub vibe and the beer selection was good. Also had some cask ales which I appreciated and enjoyed. I'd go back again if I'm in the area.

A comfortable neighborhood bar, decent prices on happy hour beer, good beer selection and friendly bar staff. No food available, but they have takeout menus for places that deliver to the bar (Hungry's was yummy!!).

Totally chill hangout spot. The bartenders are super friendly and pour a great drink at decent prices. The back patio was a nice surprise, a lot of tables, a TV to watch the game on and plenty of heat lamps if needed.

An awesome bar. Brooke's review is right, McElroys is very chill. Comfy seating, nice staff. A great place. A real surprise!

Back in March 1996 I was in the front lot of this bar. I was putting up a yard sale sign for a friend. Someone from this bar came out and demanded I remove the sign. It was an older man, and I was afraid I'd be assaulted. Was it the owner of the bar? I'll never know since I never went back. Moral--bar owners and employees might do anything to you at anytime---even if it's not even on their property.

Nice, spacious bar that's not only clean and has a comfortable patio with a/c and fans in the back but a variety of draft and bottled beers. Set along the Richmond strip, this location offers more than 8 drafts including Harp, Guinness, Lobotomy, Shiner, and Blue Moon. They boast 100 beers on their menu, no food, but 2 sports channel and an extremely tidy restroom. Beers are served in a cold glass which adds to the low-key indie feel of the place.

It's dark, it's cool, it's a bar. Yes, it's free of post-collegiate meatheads and eurasians. But, the clientele does not inspire a boner either. You're here to drink and if you're lucky, no one will bother you with their blabber. 50% chance that you'll be pounded by some kind of dance pop blasting from the stereo. And it smells like puke, so there's that.

This bar sits amid 2 other bars in the same shopping mall complex on the corner of Richmond and S Shepherd St. For drinking prices and specials, McElroy's is the best of those 3 pubs. Two nights a week, they have big ass beer night where you get a 23 oz mug of beer for the same cost of a 14-16 oz mug. Other nights they have all day happy hour (Sundays), so you can order drinks after happy hour would end for the same reduced price. I have oftentimes ordered a pint size Margarita, which they hand mix in front of you, and only paid from $4.50 to $5.50 for the drink. Given the cost other places charge for the same drink (up to $8-9), this is a steal. Other pluses include: - A large, comfortable outside patio in the back of the bar that is typically quiet (not rowdy) with tvs not jacked up to a high volume. You can still hear the music from the jukebox if you pick songs out there. The patio even has plugs for your laptop or phone charger and it has a tree sprouting up in it so you get to feel like you are actually outdoors. Half the patio is covered (if there's rain) and the other half isn't. - A pool table in the back of the bar inside. There isn't a lot of space for it, but it's there. - A very clean, 2 stall women's bathroom. I've never had to stand in line to go to the bathroom there and I don't try to rush out due to it being nasty. This bathroom is one of the nicest I've ever seen in a bar around here. - An internet jukebox so you can pick a large number of songs. Since the other 2 bars in the same area have pre-selected music that you cannot yourself modify, and many other bars in Montrose have old style jukeboxes, it's nice to have an internet one available. - Very close to where I live (obviously, that wouldn't apply if you don't live in the same area near Richmond and S Shepherd). - Huge selection of alcoholic beverages. Compared to the other bars around, McElroy's has a huge whiskey selection (Irish pub and all), but also has a very good rum selection and other types of alcohol. They even have a decent beer selection with Guiness as one example. The only major con for this place is that they only have chips to eat and no food. The nearby Stag's Head could be used for grabbing a bite to eat before heading over here, though. The bartenders and patrons are so nice here that there is even food brought in by one or the other and offered to anyone who wants some of it. Also, I'm not a karaoke fan and there is Karaoke on Saturday and Wednesday nights. I just avoid going there those nights, but for those who like karaoke, hey enjoy! Overall, McElroy's is just a very friendly place all around that isn't crazy busy, has good prices and a nice ambiance.

So far, this has been my only bar experience that I really, really enjoyed. Yes, I do realize that at my age, I should be at a bar every weekend, living it up and enjoying being young. To be honest though, I just don't like bars that much and I don't make it a point to go to them. HOWEVER! I will say that if I'm gonna go to a bar in Houston, it will definitely be McElroys. I went last night with a friend of mine, and we sat out back on the patio. As Fayza and c t both said, the best word to describe the environment is "chill." The people weren't too rowdy - everyone was just having a good time. The best thing (this is a total pet peeve of mine) is that they don't play to music too loud! Like, if you're sitting outside talking, you can TALK. You don't have to yell to a person sitting 5ft in front of you. Also, a bartender comes out and takes drink orders pretty often, so you don't really need to get up and order inside unless you're drinking really fast ;) Everybody there was really cool and chill (lol), the drinks weren't overpriced or weak, and since the patio is covered you don't have to worry about getting rained on. I totally recommend McElroy's and will absolutely be back!

The back patio at McElroy's must have some magical magnetic Blarney Stone or something, because whenever I haven't seen friends for awhile, whether because of time or distance, I inevitably run into them here. The back patio is one of the best in the business, a proper biergarten, with plenty of tables, signage, and foliage. Inside there is a separate little nook for darts, some large seating areas with the de rigueur pub fittings, and a long bar with all your Irish favorites: Jameson's, Guinness, Harp, as well as some of the friendliest bartenders around, who know their regulars' names and faces. The jukebox is internet, but before you grimace, you can always get a read on a bar's patronage by the artists that have been downloaded to regular rotation - McElroy's has some good stuff. They also regularly host events out back, for example at Halloween (2008), where yours truly won a costume contest in the "Morally Offensive" category. I wasn't all that offensive, just dressed as a luchador, but I probably won because the ensemble left little to the imagination. Good thing I had a mask on. Anyway, McElroy's, slainte!

Great Guiness! The best we have found in Houston. They know how to pour it and they pay attention to the beer system. It isn't Dublin but it is the closest thing in Houston!

I should write and say how horrible this place is, so it doesn't get too crowded... If people found out about their patio, which is the best kept secret in town there would be a line out the door every night. Cj and staff are always friendly and remember my drink, and their patio is one of my favorite places to just sit and relax.

Great bar with excellent staff and management that treats you like a regular from the first time you walk in. Nice patio for enjoying the Houston night time weather , inside has a pool table and darts.. Great place to grab a drink and meet friends, new and old...