Scott Gertner’s Skybar & Grille

Sad to see this place go. so many memories of this place! Yes parking and the elevator ride up is a hassle but once you get out on that terrace and see the amazing view of all of Houston, its worth it. I loved the live bands and cheap bottle service. Cajun cooking was served some nights here too for $ 5.00. Perfect to soak up all the liquor! I will truly miss this place and hope they plan to do better things with this spot.

First time I went here I went with a group of friends who worked promotions for Bud Light, so we just walked in there and drank for free. Great time!!! Second time I went with another group of friends on a Thursday night. You have to pay to park either in the garage or at Kroger. I try to avoid having to pay to park my own car at all costs, so I just parked on Lovett St. Then you have to wait in a long line to take the elevator. Once up I had to pay a $ 10 cover charge. I ain’t cheap, but most of my drinking days were spent in Austin, so I am not a fan of the cover charge unless I’m getting something out of it. It was Latin night, and being a Latino myself I can’t hate on that. But there was a lot of ugly up in there. I don’t pay $ 10 to be surrounded by ugly. And the view is just OK.

This place was live on a Saturday night. The line was around the corner. The music was tight, the drinks were a bit watered down (even the shots), but it was pretty chill. I went for spring break and the only downfall was the line for this place. They only had one elevator… skybar is on the top floor of this high rise building, so it takes a while to transport people up to this club. Leaving doesn’t take as long because both elevators are used to transport people down to the first level. Overall… its a nice place with a beautiful view.

DISCLAIMER
I am not a great salsa dancer.
That said, I was better then 70% of the people here. Is that a bad thing? Heck no! It’s a confidence booster! Especially when your skills are no where near the level of those who go to Melody club or Plaza 59. Most people there are’nt even dancing salsa!!! Cumbia is not salsa.
The place is impressive in size and scale. It also has the best view of downtown I have ever seen from a club. It’s just too bad they are ridiculously crowded all the time. I can barely dance each time I go and when I do I can’t pull out the fancy moves for lack of space. The line to the elevator and up to the club is tooooooooooooooooooooooo long. Last time I waited nearly an hour! Honestly, I know this place is popular but this is just too much. If there crowd was a bit thinner, I would have given it 5 stars but alas, it has never been even remotely bearable each and everytime I have gone for salsa night.

I went to the Skybar for an jazz/​oldie-​but-​goodie night. I believe it was on a Friday… It was cool. I think that maybe I was a little to young to be at this place. but the music was very good. Make sure to get there early if you want a table, as they go every quick have have a two-​drink min for each person sitting…
…but the drinks were STRONG! That’s what was great!
I went with my ladies and we had a good time. Would go again if my girls asked :)

«This is why I don’t do nightclubs anymore.»
The searching around for parking, searching for an ATM, snagging a spot in the garage ($ 5, not bad), waiting in line, getting ushered up through a busy elevator … but you know what? It was worth it.
Thursday night at Skybar, otherwise known as Latin/​salsa night, was a thrill. Yes, I said a «thrill.» Why, you ask? Well, I only dream of vacationing in Puerto Rico or the DR, and this, my friends, is my Little PR.
Lots of dancing partners, pretty gals, two patios (which are perfect right now for this weather), a blasting A/​C and fans, no cover for the ladies, live music from Salmerum
, a wonderful mix of Cubans, Colombians, Gringos, Asians … the crowd spans the globe.
Here are some of my salsa etiquette tips, which I’d say the majority of the guys at Skybar follow (Salsa queen, Allie N, please feel to chime in.):
*When you ask a girl to dance, you are just asking her for just that. A dance. Not her phone number or bra size.
*After one dance, walk her back to where she was and leave. Don’t stand there claiming your territory. Leave. Wait a few more songs before you ask her again.
If you’re not a dancing, go out on the floor and have fun anyway. And whoever you dance with will be more than obliged to teach you. It’s a Latin male ego thing. They love it. Or you can hang out by the bar sippin’ mojitos. Geronimo (of Ettro) bartends there, so give him a holla. He loves Unilocalers!
Downside is that they could use a valet system. For an unaccompanied señorita like myself, that parking garage can be scary. Also, you may want to leave by 1:30am, the latest. Soon as those lights are turned on at 1:50, the elevator and stairs are packed.

Good place to collab w/​friends on a week nite. Weekends are more congested and too difficult to find a parking spot. Valet? I save that money for another drink rather than somebody ‘swangin’ your car around the block for ya.
It’s better to come with your friends than be a loner. I’ve seen women get hounded more than Elvis Pressley singing at an ASPCA Gala.
I mostly like it b/​c everyone is accepted as long as you dont bring drama.

I came for the first time last Thursday. It was a group of six of us and we got there early before 9 so we could meet and greet before the crowd. This was my first salsa night in Texas, and I had a really good time, the band was great the drink specials were good and the view was a major advantage. I think the place could use a little referb but honestly around 11ish it was getting so crowded that you didn’t notice. By 12 it was so packed and loud that you barely could hear but there was plenty of seating on the balcony so I didn’t mind.
For $ 3 their margaritas get a big thumbs up… I didn’t like the mojitos, tasted like alcoholic flavor-​aid… for all you who don’t know, that’s an off brand of Kool-​aid for those times (college) when you really have to save those extra pennies.

I remembered when Skybar first opened, but I couldn’t go because I was only 19, but when I turned 21 which has been *cough, cough* some years ago lol, it was so on. I wanted to go to Skybar because of the jazz, and it was also known for being somewhat upscale and having classy people in attendance (keep in mind, this was before downtown had the night life scene to choose from); but my oh my have things changed.
Since I’ve been in going out mode for a year now, I decided to give Skybar another go because I was looking for something different. I started going to the bar on Friday nights, which is their urban night I suppose and it was pretty cool with many of the people in attendance being in their 20’s and early 30’s (I believe their urban night used to be on Sundays back in ’06 and ’07 when the day/​night party was known as Sunday Ritual). Depending on if there’s a special performer there (over the past year, Slick Rick, Ginuwine, and others have made an appearance), the cover charge will vary. If there’s not a special performer, it’s usually free before 9 pm and $ 10 after 9 pm. My girls and I get there for their happy hour which is from 6 pm-​8 pm. During this time, you’re treated to a live performance of some talented young man or lady performing their jazzy renditions of oldies and current R&B songs with a live band backing them up that usually lasts until 11 pm. The singer (s) are very talented and do a very good job of getting you relaxed from a long week of work. In between their sets, the DJ spins a few tunes and gets the crowd moving. The party doesn’t start though until after 11 pm when the last set is over, it’s at this time, you begin to notice how packed the place has become. The DJ plays the latest R&B/Hip-Hop songs until the bar closes at 2 am. Lately what used to be a pretty laid-​back crowd of young professionals, is now becoming kind of ghetto, with the type of people who lack alot of class, that you can see it in the way that they dress to their loud talking.
The same kind of goes for Wednesday night. On Wednesday from 6 pm — 8 pm, it’s happy hour with a complimentary buffet which usually consists of Mexican food and of course drink specials and ladies are free all night. Wednesday is more of a mature crowd with many people in attendance being in their late 20’s to early 40’s, with a few older gentlemen in between offering to buy the younger ladies drinks left and right lol. During their happy hour, it’s very laid back, with many people opting to eat and socialize on the patios. It can get pretty packed for happy hour, so do try to get there early, especially if you want to eat because the food goes pretty quickly. If you missed the food, you can purchase a plate from a caterer Skybar contracts that sells southern comfort food from fried catfish, smothered potatoes, dirty rice, and things of that sort. The food is also available on Fridays. I guess the food is pretty good from the long lines waiting to purchase a plate. Like on Fridays, from 6 pm — 11 pm, there’s a live performance with a singer and a live band playing current and old R&B songs. As the night progresses, the place gets packed and more people in their 20’s arrive.
I have been hearing about their Salsa night on Thursday, which many say is really fun, but I have yet to try it out. Also on Saturdays, it’s a more mature crowd with just jazz being played, in the past, the owner, Scott Gertner, usually performs with his band. Overall the place is okay, but seriously needs to update their décor because it’s very dated. The dance floor is very small, leaving people to dance any and everywhere, which can be a bit frustrating if you’re trying to get to the bar in an already extremely crowded place. The best part about Skybar is that it’s located on the top floor and no matter where you are in the bar, you’re sure to get a great view of the Houston skyline, which is pretty beautiful to see at night.
Keep in mind that if you choose to make a night of coming here, parking is available in the parking garage and across the street at Kroger for $ 5, or you can choose to park on the sidestreets for free. Depending on if it’s a busy night, the lines may be long, forcing you to wait outside just to catch the elevator which can be a downer in the winter, but all are just minor things that won’t inconvenience you from making the best of your evening once you get inside.

I came across this place with a co-​worker of mines. He and his wife are both Columbian and we went on Thursday night. From all of the other reviews, you may already know it is Salsa night. It was fun, even though I do not know how to dance Salsa.
I met up with some of his cousins and they were all nice. In general it is nice. Being from LA, the view from the rooftop reminded me on LA. However, it isn’t in the heart of downtown or anywhere close by. Nonetheless, the view was still pretty cool.
The bad thing about this place is the wait for the elevator to go up. Also, the «dance floor» is a bit on the smaller side, but the drinks were reasonably price. Other than that, a great place to salsa dance and mingle.

This review is mostly for their Thursday night salsa night.
Ok let me disclaim my review by saying I am a hardcore salsa dancer. Going to Sky Bar every Thursday is like going to church every week for me. And despite how crowded (and dangerous) it can be attempting to dance amongst flying elbows, stilletos, and large cologne-​dowsed men, I still come back. Why? Well, first of all because it’s the closest salsa place to my house. And ladies get in free all night. But seriously, I like the place because of the beautiful rooftop terraces that over look the city. There’s also a good mixed crowd every week… people of all backgrounds and age ranges.
There’s a live band (Salmerum) every Thursday too. I’ve been hearing them play every week for the past 2 years and they still make it very fun for me. And if you don’t salsa, there’s multiple bars in the club to get your drink on and you can watch the salseros shake it on the dance floor for your entertainment :)

Sundae Fundae at Sky Bar is back! The most spectacular 360 views in the city. DJ’sAlex C and Jimmy Skinner spinnin dirty house beats all afternoon and into the evening. The new covered outdoor patio area with the beds and white flowing drapes was so chic!
The only reason they don’t get 5 stars in their mixers are way too sweet. Need to invest in real juice and tonic!

My review is mostly for Salsa night, which takes place on Thursday nights. That night is also Ladies night, so you ladies get in for free all night. OK, if you have known or spoken to me for more than one minute it would be no secret to you that I love salsa. I learned to dance something like «ballroom salsa?» or «mambo» called ON2 in New York and have been addicted ever since. I love dancing salsa and must dance at least once or twice a Month! Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a salsa snob. I can dance any type of salsa in any style with anybody and have a great time. Now the reason I have a love hate relationship with Skybar is the same reason I love salsa so much, the dancing.
At Skybar the live music from Salmerun on Thursdays mixed with the great music of DJ David Cruz is an amazing mix. So amazing indeed that great crowds come out EVERY single Thursday night, I swear they are like Skybar groupies. When these people show up to Skybar elbows fly, toes get crushed, people pushed, drinks fall, and stilettos somehow end up right on the sensitive part of your foot (whatever that may be for you). I hate Skybar for all those reasons. When I go there, I try to dance with people I know would protect me from the dangers that lurk the dance floor. It is very difficult to have a good dance without incident and that’s why I hate Skybar. All I want is to dance the night away, enjoying the music from the band and the view out the window. I don’t need or want to be ducking and watching everyone as a possible suspect to inflicting my next wound. This is also the reason I hadn’t been to Skybar for almost three years.
The patio is wonderful. After a good dance it is great to step out and feel the breeze hit you softly and refresh your sweaty skin. It also shows a great view of Downtown/​Montrose. I never drink when I go to Skybar as it takes away from my dancing. But the one time I had a drink, it was a Malibu pineapple and it was pretty good.
I’ve been to Skybar other days and it looks and feels like a completely different venue. Once I went on a Wednesday for their Jazz night. They had food out and it was pretty good. People were just having a good time and socializing while listening to live Jazz,
My friends love Skybar and you can find a few of them there with the other groupies every Thursday. I went back to Skybar last week after a three year absence and actually had a good time. Mostly because I only got stepped on twice and no one elbowed me. Oh Skybar, you are kool but I just can’t take the abuse! I shall be back, but I will be wearing protective gear!

I enjoyed myself here. The view is fantastic, but let’s face it, when I go out, I like to party. Scott plays mostly r&b covers and they do a fantastic job at it. The drinks are a lil anemic, but that’s ok, cause I can spruce them up myself so it’s all good. I think the interior is just a little dated, and the elevator seems like a death trap, over all it’s a great date night spot. If you have company coming in from out of town, take them up there and show them the great view of H-​Town.

Love the live salsa band on Thursdays. I only go on Thursdays. Better know how to dance because there is no room nor patience for those that do not know. It gets hot and humid with the stage lights and the ventilation up there, so dress light. It is fun though…

This review is for Thursday Salsa Night:
Not too long ago I would have rated this place 5 stars with no reservations, but times have changed a little bit. With the advent of Skybar’s over-​sized mojito glass (or as I like to call it, OMG), the dance floors have become unbearably sticky. Still, the trade off is that you get OMG Mojitos for $ 5. So if you are a non-​dancing, drinking machine, consider this place 5 stars.
Salmarum, the most widely followed live salsa band in in Houston, plays here every Thursday, and the dance floor gets VERY crowded during their sets. Early in the evening, Skybar hosts a beginner lesson, but the novices get… not pushed off the floor, but intimidated off by the experts as the night goes on.
Even on the side there is fun to be had, however. Some of the best dancers in Houston can be found at the edges of the floor showing off their stuff. It’s definitely a place that people go to see and be seen (and I don’t mean just dancing). For the non dancers, there are four separate full bars and two open air decks. The club is on the top of a ten-​story building in the middle of Montrose, and the view of the city is quite nice at night.
Try to get here early (before 10:30pm) as recent run-​ins with the fire marshall have caused the place to start choking the line. The last time I was there, it ran around the block — at 1:00 am.

I love the location and set up… I love the outside patios overlooking the city. This is the kind of place I would go with a date, I dont think if your single your gonna have alot of fun here… I went for a thurs night Salsa night, everyone was pretty much coupled up. So I was a little disappointed for that reason but overall the place is very nice… and HUGE fishbowl size mojitos just $ 5 bucks, ladies free and guys are only 10… so not a bad spot…

I’ve been here for Thursday for salsa nights and Fridays for more soul/​jazz stuff. The place definitely has a different vibe depending on the night.
There’s a parking garage and additional parking in the adjacent Kroger parking lot. Try not to park on the street (my friend’s car was broken into) or the Walgreen across Montrose (tow risk).
Thursdays have a free basic salsa lesson at 8:30 pm, the live band starts at 10, and the place doesn’t really pick up til later between 10:30−11. There are lots of good dancers to watch, but I feel it isn’t the friendliest place to go dancing. The good ones tend to stick amongst themselves and don’t tend to ask strangers or novices to dance. So instead, I tend to be dancing with friends I’ve come with, or short, older men. Be careful of that because he may be drunk and yeah, it’s fun to dance with a lot of fast spins, but he might just launch you off the roof.
The jazz nights draw an older crowd with an appreciation for music. The vibe is a little more laid back, but people are still shaking their booties off. The drinks are strong, and they have a special one that Scott requested for my friends and me. They wouldn’t tell us what was in it, but I remember it was green and goood.
The views of course are fabulous. The club is an L shape with an outdoor patio on each end. Here, you can enjoy the skyline and your drink and have conversation. It’s a great place to take visitors from out of town.
One more note – the bathrooms have attendants, which I hate. Nothing against them personally, but I really can handle turning on faucets and grabbing paper towels myself, but now someone else is doing it and I feel guilty if I don’t tip them.

Went with a couple girls over the summer. Even if the crowd or music isn’t your thing, you have to check out the view!
Thursdays– Salsa night. Ladies get in free all night, guys have $ 10 cover. They offer free dance lessons early, which are fun to watch.
The crowd is sharp and nicely dressed. Again— you HAVE to see the view!

This is one of my favorite places to go out in Houston. The restaurant/​bar is located in the penthouse and has two large outdoor patios with heating lamps (of course this is Houston) that has a view that overlooks the city. The Friday/​Saturday night crowd is classy and sophisticated (albeit a bit older — 30’s to 40’s) and generally interested in listening to some good music and having a good time. Off course, there’s always the meat market aspect of any weekend night outing, but a lot of people bring their significant others here for a night on the town.
Scott Gertner and his band are talented and they do covers of 70’s and 80’s soul and r&b artists like Freddie Jackson, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, etc without coming off as cheesy… although more recent r&B and a groovable hip hop is played during the band intermissions. And since Scott Gertner and some of his band are white and most of the songs covered are usually by black artists, you get a nice crowd mix that’s interested in hearing great music and grooving on the dance floor (as opposed to humping on the dance floor which I experience in other clubs).
I’ve never tried the food here and I remember the drinks being made well even if some of the bartenders were a bit snippy. My only real warning is to stay away from Salsa night. It’s crowded and hot and the vibe is totally different.