It’s getting hot out there.
Summer hasn’t quite arrived yet, but it will soon enough. With temps teetering on the edge of triple digits, Houstonians are faced with two choices: escape it, or embrace it. Apply some sun screen, grab your beach towel, and get yourself a cocktail at these eight poolside bars in Houston to beat the heat this summer! [Featured image: @heightshousehotel]
1. Marriot Marquis
While lazy rivers are not so easy to come by in Houston, you can now swim over to the Marriot Marquis in Downtown, Houston, where visitors at the hotel can float the Texas border. If you’re not a guest at the hotel, you can buy a Day Pass for $50 which gives you access to the lazy river, the heated infinity pool, hot tub, poolside food and drink service, towel service as well as the fitness center.
2. Space Cowboy at Heights House Hotel
The bar, located at Heights House Hotel, is a tropical oasis complete with vintage sun-brellas, colorful beach chairs, and a shimmering pool. The Palm Springs-esque watering hole is certainly a vibe, whether its the retro color scheme, vice-like mural, and effervescent lawn-scape.
3. El Segundo Swim Club
This 21+ splash pad in Houston is a hidden oasis in the Second Ward. Complete with palm trees, lounge chairs, and a retro vibes, El Segundo offers sunbathers the chance to unwind or turn-up depending on the mood. With a full bar, private cabanas, and DJs on the weekends, the swim club is the place to make a splash. General day pass is priced at $20.
4. The Canary
Opened earlier this year, The Canary is a brilliant new cocktail hangout in Houston. Located in Oak Forest, The Canary is a patio bar and kitchen that offers a smashing list of house cocktails as well as your go-to beer, wine, and seltzers. When summer’s in full force, go for a dip in their on-site pool!
5. Lago Mar
Lago Mar, the 12-acre lagoon in Texas City, is infusing super-soaked activities across a mile-length of shoreline this summer. Take a dip in its 24-million-gallon turquoise pool, soak up some sun in a private cabana, go out on a jet ski, or go for a run on the lagoon’s aqua course.
Whatever water activity you can fathom, the lagoon’s got it; not excluding sailboats, stand-up paddle boards, kayaks, electric jet boards, and the largest floating obstacle in the United States of America (on a lagoon).
6. The Woodlands Resort
For a $50 day pass, you can cool off at this resort-inspired hangout in The Woodlands. With 30-foot double helix tower waterslides, a lazy river, a lagoon-style pool and more, the suburb splash pad is open year-round with cabanas, dining room, cafe, and bistro, as well as heated pools – not that the latter are relevant in the summer – you and the whole family can enjoy this suburbs oasis.
7. Bolivar Beach Club and RV Resort
The beach club is equipped with a resort-style pool, clubhouse, swim-up bars, and private cabanas for ultimate relaxation. Additionally, Bolivar plans to open a variety of other fun amenities later this year that include the Starfish Bar & Grill, an arcade, golf cart rentals, and private poolside cabana reservations, among others.
8. Sekai HTX
New Houston luxury club, Sekai, features a swimmable 1,000-square-foot, resort-style pool. Plated in dramatic, checkerboard tile, the pool will be framed with 10,000 square feet of decking, spanning over two stories of cabanas, daybeds, tables, a 30-foot patio bar, and private open-air Atrium Lounge nested above the pool and DJ booth for large groups.
9. Cielo XLIII
Opened this December, Cielo XLIII offers a lavish new hangout in the sky with unparalleled, 360-degree views of the city from the tallest bar in the city Houston.
Its lavish features include exclusive VIP sections, top notch DJs, sweeping views of the skyline, and an expansive rooftop lounge fit with a glowing infinity pool. Unlike similar establishments in the city, the 23+ bar and lounge requires either an invite or reservation, the latter which can be submitted through their website here or their Instagram page.