The Shakespeare Pub

They ought to pay me for the amount of advertising I do for this place! Like for real! I love this place. Always will. The live music… is FREE and it’s better than anything you’ve ever heard. The staff is down to earth. I can go alone, chill, no one bothers me. Best place ever.

Live Music on a Monday night equals Awesomeness.
Perfect atmosphere for the mid-​age range chillaxer-​types. I am not a drinker, but enjoy tremendously, live music, and you have it here! It was phenomenal — the band rocked and the dance floor, although very small, can accommodate you and your partner if you wanna get up and shake a leg. The many opportunities to dance, relax at a candlelit table gazing into your lovers eyes, chill at the bar & watch the end of the game, hang outside on the patio to take a smoke break or chit chat, people watch, play pool, throw a dart — there’s something for everyone!
Parking is a beast, so arrive early!

This is our go-​to spot for live music! This little hole-​in-​the-​wall joint knows how to pick em! Sir Hubbs and I have been to Shakespeare’s quite a few times and the music never disappoints. Since the renovation they’ve got a lot more space and they’ve moved the pool and fooseball tables to the well-​lit little room behind the stage and added seating to where they used to live.
The crowd is mixed and lots of fun! Have never run into any drama or issues at this place. Just lots of good times had by all.
The only reason I didn’t give them 5 stars is because I think they might need to hire a little extra help on the weekends when they get super busy and it can be a bit difficult to get a drink in your hand. And also, I’ve probably watched too much Bar Rescue, but as John always says, «your drinks need to be consistent.» It wouldn’t hurt if they did a little bartender training so that they’re all making the same drink the same way.

Is it possible to give this place less than one star?
Went with a girlfriend to listen to some live music. It was late — 11:15 or so — and the crowd (if there had been one) had thinned out and not many people were still there. Despite that fact, we sat around for 10 minutes or so without anyone even coming up to us to ask if we wanted anything. Pretty poor customer service if you ask me. We waited a little longer and then just left. Not the way to build repeat business.

Music is live, pretty much a regular bar other than that. Drinks are reasonably priced, décor is total dive bar, and it isn’t the cleanest place. Somehow they manage to book pretty good music talent, made the trip worth easily worth it.

This is the spot for live music! Sundays are the Blues Jam with Sparetime and The Honeymakers. Bring your instrument and put your name on the list if you want to play some BLUES! LSK is the guitar-​playin’ superstar you’ll usually see having a cigarette outside. He and Sparetime start the night off with a set at 9 and the open jam begins at 10. You’ll see a lot of regulars here if you come every week.
I got to sing my favorite song on my birthday in April, «Born Under A Bad Sign» by the late great Albert King. The pictures on the wall pay tribute to the many musicians who have played here. And there’s a rare photo of a young Little Joe Washington who passed away recently. Rest his soul, and B.B. King’s too!
This place is a Blues and Zydeco institution, and there’s live music here every night of the week. It’s worth the drive if you live inside the loop and any local would be a fool to miss out on this great little juke joint of a watering hole.

Pleasantly surprised. This bar had amaaaazing live music –which they feature every night of the week. I went on a Wednesday night and got to jam to John McVey and the Stamblers which was well worth it despite how amazingly loud it was. Definitely stress the dive bar atmosphere, there’s a regular crowd here and it’s really dark inside. All things considered, the people were friendly and really relaxed so it’s a nice place to go to in some comfortable clothes for good tunes, but not a first date kind of place on account of the very loud music — unless you’re down for patio seating (there’s only 4 or 5 tables though). Parking wasn’t a problem.
Super plus: the bathrooms were super clean. Nothing fancy but I’m blown away with the cleanliness… seriously. The cleanest bar bathroom I’ve ever been in.
Definitely coming back to see the other weekly sets.

Great Live Music scene which makes the old, sticky décor bearable. The place is dirty and needs a make over or at least a good deep clean.

Excellent place to dive in with live Cajun music… parking is not a problem .the ambience is nice. there is a small patio too

Great place to hang out and the drinks are very good. You will get your money worth with the strong drinks and the music is always great!

A buddy of mind stumbled upon this place a few months ago. He moved in down the street. Went to check it out and was impressed. At first glance place is in a small shopping center, small parking lot so when its busy good luck finding parking. Ive been here maybe a hand full of times and every time the music is fantastic. Good blues, classic rock, jazz. Definitely a good place to come if you like that type of music. Staff is nice, people for the most part have been nice. Drinks are moderate, not too shabby. Inside this place reminds me of a dive bar, its cozy good size facility. Haven’t had any problems finding a seat.
Its a good place to grab a drink, listen to some good music and hang out with the buddies. I will not be a stranger to this place. Its a hidden gem.

The vibe is absolutely perfect. A slow rolling friendly crowd from all walks who dig music. A friendly waitstaff that love the crowd. Great beer selection and well made cocktails. And Friday afternoon with the Mighty Orq is like a drunkards church. Mellow but energizin. Come but leave it like it is.
Love. My new favorite in Houston.

Great neighborhood bar! Good blues-​venue, good and easy crowd hangs out here. And it’s point eight miles from my home ;-)

It is a BLUES Bar.
The crowd is usually 40+crowd and only REALLY COOL under 35 year olds! Most young-​uns can’t handle the heat!
In all sincerity: there are only 4 award winning REAL BLUES BARS (not corporate chains) in Houston, Texas (City of 6 million) and this is ONE of them.
Come out and give it a try. It is the WESTSIDE Place to be!

One of my favorite spots for Blues Music in Texas. The place just reeks of blues. I almost always come here when in Houston, TX with friends. Small little intimate bar. Not a fancy bar by any means. This is the type of place you come to listen to blues and enjoy some drinks.
They have a good selection of artisan draft beers and their bartenders are always friendly. Occasionally when I have been here they will have food vendors stop in selling a variety of options. Outdoor area is nice and in front for smokers. They have your typical bar options like pool, darts, etc. The vibe is always cool. You get young and old jammin out to some great sounds.
If you like blues and are in this part of town you will love this place.

What is that Shawn Mullins song, «Beautiful Wreck»? That is exactly what I think of when I go to Shakespeare. Between Kirkwood and Dairy Ashford, behind Old Towne Kolache, this dingy little gem is the quintessential dive blues bar. Parking lot is cramped and full of potholes. They have moved smoking outside to a gated patio area. The place itself is cozy if not dark, loud and crowded most weekend nights. I wouldnt call the crowd an international cross section of Houston but black and white mix effortlessly here. The real draw here is the music. We are blessed with a great local blues scene and most every night of the week, you can catch a great local act. Keep it classy, Westsiiiiiiiiide.

Noise control? Crowd control? This place is cramped. its a big place but its set up all wrong. The lighting is weird and creepy dark. The crowd is mostly 40+ and kinda suburbanite like.
I love me some live loud music but seriously it was too loud i couldnt hear the guy with me basically yelling in my ear… maybe they keep it that loud to mask the ignorant discussions that 20 something soriorty girls who definately got lost going into this bar are having with 50 year old bigots.
It took about 20 min to get a screwdriver. Not the place for me. Maybe you like it. Good for you.

Sometimes it is just better to shut up and have a good time with your friends here. The drinks are really cheap and they have random deals going on from time to time.
Walking in you immediately notice the drab scene and slapped together furniture. Seems that the chairs, tables and all that are just a mismatch of different yard sale furniture. Walk to the back you see that the back part of the building isn’t even on the foundation bur instead on cinder blocks, a completely different slab in some parts that encourages the lean that you feel. The bathroom area is more less a makeshift of walls and plumbing…
The music scene here is not «amazing» but does get your feet moving, hips bumping or whatever you do on the dance floor. The musicians smile real big and enjoy preforming in the moment. That is something that makes this place pretty cool. Zydeco nights are fun times no question.

This was my best friend’s dad’s place-​to-​be when we were growing up. He would walk there (or make us drop him off then walk back) and loved everything about it. When we finally got old enough, we had to see what he was talking about all these years. It was everything he made it out to be: chill, good live music, entertaining crowd and booze. I have also run into my former principal, former high school classmates and my parents’ friends here. I am not sure if they are still the owners, but the (former?) owner used to be a teacher in the area.
darts and pool too. good times.

Great place to hear live music. Have always gone spur of the moment not knowing who or what will be playing and enjoyed myself nevertheless. I have a tendency to gravitate towards hole in the wall establishments and this is a great one. Laid back clientele, the bartenders are quick, friendly and even when they are insanely busy, they notice your drink needs a refill before you do (that’s because you are busy enjoying the music). The place is a bit small but even packed I always find a seat somewhere. It is fun dancing on the ridiculously small area in front of the band. Always a good time visiting the bard!