Michael's Outpost

Michael’s was exactly what I didn’t know I was looking for. I’m new to the city and wanted a spot with a chill vibe, a little energy, and interesting people—and this place absolutely nailed it. It really does feel like one of those “where everybody knows your name” bars, even though that’s the biggest cliché ever. I honestly didn’t think a place like that still existed, but here we are. It’s sweet that it’s a piano bar, and even sweeter that they serve real cocktails in real glasses every day. The crowd is usually mature, relaxed, and easygoing, with the occasional wild card—which honestly just adds character. Between the solid happy hour and the great location, I’m shocked it’s not packed every night. I’m genuinely grateful I found this place. I’ll keep coming back as long as the doors stay open.

I’m so happy I found this hidden gem ❤️ The energy was amazing, music was great, performances were fun, and Honey B was hilarious! Definitely would come back again and bring even more people ☺️ I made Saturday night reservations in advance (it was packed but I loved it). No cover required but pleaseeee bring cash to tip the amazing performers and bartenders ❤️ I especially loved how the show started at 7:30pm and not super late like a lot of others.

I come here often for laugh track on Tuesday. It's a comfortable little bar with a piano room behind a curtain. On Tuesday the bar tender is Ulises and he is very sweet and patient lol! Laugh track is a hilarious drag comedy show hosted by the amazing and absolutely kind Carmina Vavra! There is a regular line up with special guest every week! I highly recommend going and enjoying a night of laughter and delicious drinks!

If you are looking for a chill relaxing atmosphere, this is it! Drag show and piano bar. Not fist pumping music, maybe a great date spot or just enjoying good normal music.

Went with a group of folks to celebrate a passing of a friend who frequented Micheal's. We had a great time. It was caberet night & what a blast! The hostess was sassy, foul mouthed (where's the tip jar!) & a lot of fun! The venue is small & cozy. Bring ones for tipping your Queens! After the show, it was piano time. Billy Joel & Elton John songs were sung by the crowd sitting around the piano. Reminder, it is a dive bar so stick to your basics.

We love the piano nights. Great music Great people. Great bartenders, great entertainment.

This has become our Friday night after work debrief. Great drinks. Great price. Fun atmosphere. And it's like Cheers... Everyone knows your name!

If you're looking for a great time, please go to Michael's. You will not be disappointed!

We had a long weekend. We Needed to get away. We went to Micheal's Outpost to have a great night. Well, the service that we normally expected was gone! Two of the bartenders working, a blonde ‍ on the phone playing games not giving Me any eye contact and another guy no response ever. This was on Monday July 31 that evening shift. . I had to interrupt the call or game to get served. (As a customer very awkward), I confronted the bartender saying , Hey man why am I not being spoken too or greeted is it something about me ? I told him I had to flag you down for a drink. I swear you not. This guys said. (Well, we are not busy like we were an hour ago it was crazy.) Really? I told him we should be treated like hundreds of people at the bar. I have to to tell you, the other great bartenders that work For Micheal's Outpost they should be disappointed and pissed. At the end i told the bartender that I am sad and I am not proud that he is in our industry This crazy bartender cursed me our the door Those who know me. That is crazy Michael Outpost please train or make a change.

Live in the neighborhood and stopped by to check it out with a friend of mine about a week ago. Found the best lemon drop martini in the area! Strong but not too strong. Bartender was sweet as can be! Bathrooms were clean as well which is a big plus. Overall vibe was fantastic! We came a little earlier so missed the entertainment but the music was nice and we had a blast. I'm sure the acts they have later in the evening are phenomenal judging by our experience. We'll be back for sure!

Love this place. Just found out about it about a year ago. So many different things going on on each day of the week. I love the environment and just chatting with the regulars. Mondays and Thursdays are my personal favorite nights to come here. The broadsway on Monday and karaoke on Thursday. The entire staff is amazing they make you feel like family here.

Beautiful atmosphere and great music! Cozy place for the locals with comfortable vibe.

Went with a group of folks to celebrate a passing of a friend who frequented Micheal's. We had a great time. It was caberet night & what a blast! The hostess was sassy, foul mouthed (where's the tip jar!) & a lot of fun! The venue is small & cozy. Bring ones for tipping your Queens! After the show, it was piano time. Billy Joel & Elton John songs were sung by the crowd sitting around the piano. Reminder, it is a dive bar so stick to your basics.

All I can say is $8.25 for a simple margarita? Damn. I'm not talking about a big restaurant style glass. Just a regular little glass. I love the piano bar atmosphere but the drinks are the measure of a bar.

The bartender Robert was rude from the moment my friends and I walked in. I'm not sure if it's because we weren't the usual clientele (we are in our 20s and 30s) or because we spoke Spanish. Either way, over the course of 10 minutes he managed to be rude, disrespectful, carded me for water, accused my friend of being underage (he's 29), asked my girlfriend to leave (after she played one key on the piano, and she stopped after he rudely demanded she "not touch things at his place") and still managed to call her a bitch on the way out. We've never felt so unwelcome in a LGBTQ+ environment. Shame on this establishment.

His name is Robert. He is a lack luster bar back. His attitude matches his pour! It SUCKS! He needs to take his lead from the other bar back. I can't believe I paid that much for such a low grade drink! Robert is really lacking in all departments!

It's a good place to go to if you're tired of the gayborhood. Non pretentious. It has changed a lot through the years and we need to keep it around.

Adorable little bar with good drinks, great service and a sense of community. Definitely should visit for their show on Monday nights. Fresh Houston talent, definitely a must see.

Best neighborhood piano bar around. With the best bartender(s) Bryan Wade is Houston's #1 ! Great variety of entertainment with a fantastic neighborhood set of regulars. Our favorite place to go

I just read the scathing reviews on this site for Michael's Outpost, only to see that some were many years old. The same family still owns this neighborhood bar but different family members now run it - and it is vastly improved over several years. The interior is quite handsome and the staff and customers as friendly as you'll find anywhere. And you won't find another piano bar (definition: customers sit at the piano and drink and usually sing) anywhere near the Gulf Coast except for Fuad's on Westheimer (another world entirely) and Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop in New Orleans (uber-touristy). A pianist plays 5 nights a week and there is a drag or live singing show 4 nights a week. I urge those who've had a bad experience there in the past to re-visit. Even when it's slow it's a great laid-back neighborhood bar, and when it's hoppin' it's happenin'!

Went there for the first time last night with a friend. I didn't feel like going to some loud glitzy club. I wanted the more "dive bar" experience. And by "Dive Bar" I don't mean seedy. Boy did this place provide. When I went there were several patrons crowded around the piano watching a very talented guy play some great tunes. This is certainly one of the only piano bars left in Houston. This was definitely a place for a mature crowd (with a sprinkling of young ones for extra measure ;-). Like "Cheers", this was the kind of place where everybody knows your name. Steven behind the bar was very friendly and gave me the 411 on the happenings at this establishment. This may very well indeed be my new favorite hangout!

I took my husband to Michael's Outpost for his birthday friday night on 2-1-2019 and we didn't know what to expect since we never been to a gay bar or drag queen show. I tell you Michael's staff and crowd welcomed us with opened arms. Everyone were so nice and friendly. The show was really good and I ran out of money and had to go get more because the ladies were Beautiful. My husband (Don) and I were the only black married stright couple in there and Michael's crowd treated us as if we were regulars. Some of the them brought my husband drinks since it was his Birthday, and I declined because I really don't drink that much since I had chemo, so really don't have the taste anymore. Please if you ever in the area stop by Michael's Outpost I promise you the staff (bartenders), performers and patrons are wonderful . When we got ready to leave people was like saying you all not leaving yet and telling us to be careful and safe. Thank you Michael's Outpost for giving me and my husband a warm welcome!!! We will be back

I have been going here about once a week for the last few months. The staff is so incredible friendly and the drinks are way more than adequate. There is a piano player that is incredible most nights and a drag show on Saturday. I will not say that the drag queens are the pageant girls, but they are definitely entertaining. There is also complimentary food available a few nights a week, which I had heard from others is very good. This is a great place to kick back, relax and not worry about the pretense that is present on the strip.

During her most recent Monday night cabaret extravaganza, Regina Blake DuBois insisted that all members of the audience wrote a yelp review mentioning the Monday night cabaret extravaganza, "The Broad's Way". The drinks were strong enough, and the show was good enough for me to comply with her simple request and do my civic duty by reporting to yelp and help promote her Monday night cabaret extravaganza, "The Broad's Way". So the next time you are scrolling the yelp on a Monday night, looking to pass the time at a home-spun gay bar in the heart of Montrose at a cabaret/drag affair. Remember this post and go to Michael's outpost. You may even get lucky enough to see Marco Camacho perform.

What a joke. The bartender was yackin' away for ten minutes while over twenty patrons (I counted them) sat waiting to be served. When I asked the bouncer, "Is the bartender on something?" his reply was, "He's the only bartender." Uh, really? Sadly, he wasn't bartending. After 25 minutes while I was Yelping this (and let the bouncer know I was going to Yelp) he had the frickin nerve to tell me there was a one drink minimum. REALLY? Wish I could have gotten one in a place that wasn't all that busy.

Awesome bloody Mary's and great service in a gorgeous atmosphere. Love this bar! Thanks for supporting the community

Stumbled in last evening wanting to listen to some live music. Well, behold to me I found this little hole in the wall piano bar on Richmond Ave. The bar was busy with regulars and I felt so welcomed by the bartender named David- he was so sweet and welcoming ( as well as good looking too)! They were having a community Potluck- and I got invited to enjoy by the bartender and patrons. I felt as if I were in a small town pub- being everyone was so friendly. I don't recall the gentleman at the piano- I think his name was Jerry- his professionalism on the piano was out of this world. Patrons gathered around the piano and sang all sorts of tunes- he even put the words to the songs on the wall and I even belted out a tune- I'm surprised the patrons didn't run out screaming! LOL! Long story short- I will return again very soon as I just loved the place. Kudos to David and all the patrons who made my night very memorable!!!

I've never actually been here but I accidentally tapped the stars on my phone and don't know how to delete reviews ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I am so glad to see the improvements with the new management. I cannot wait to go back before finishing this review and yes I love Big John's Mixing skills. I just wish there was an establishment like this in Houston that had a full food service menu also as that is something I see missing in this city.

very good bartenders friendly and know how to mix a decent drink. Good prices and the piano players are extremely talented. Jerry Atwood plays on Wednesday night and does more a Karake style with the words to songs posted on the wall. On Thursday Steve Wheaton plays and there are more Broadway tunes. Both Steve and Jerry are also excellent singers. You can go to any bar and just drink or you can go to Michaels and have your spiirits lifted. There is great joy in singing with a group of people.

As a twice yearly visitor to Houston for the past several years, I can honestly say that i find this bar the most welcoming place I think I have ever visited. The bar staff are friendly and provide excellent drinks, and of course the regular piano playing and entertainment is a real treat. The Wednesday evening "Pot Luck" food is always well supported and really does add to the ambiance of the place. It is an older crowd, but that adds to it's charm as there is always someone with a tale to tell of their life experiences etc !!!

Awesome joint for authentic and sassy drag cabaret. The drinks are stout and the atmosphere is festive. Wonder if someone might play that sweet piano as a pre-show cocktail hour

Rude! After me and my friends bought drinks we went to the restaurant next door and the manager told us to move our car! Will not be returning.

The worst gay bar in Houston!!! After arriving we waited to be attended to by the old queens behind the bar. One in a mesh blue shirt with his pants low enough to see his crack (leave it to the bathhouse). After waiting nearly 15 MINUTES I finally asked the bartender what side of the bar we need to be on to order a drink! Mind you he had looked at me and took my order 10 min earlier. Reason I asked was because he kept pulling our side drinks and quickly serving them to other people! I mean were we not old enough for the crowd!? WTF!!! Well not that those queens care but well never go back there again that's for sure, but you can bet this review will be all over the Internet besides yelp. This is problt why thell stay at there mediocre job the rest of there lives!

This place has went down hill very fast it is sad how such a great bar has dropped all around...It use to be a great place to hang out and spend time with friends and enjoy a drink and had excellent piano players and entertainers to know it looks like anyone from the street can come in and play..