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Nightlife

Barcode

Small, loud Montrose dive with a stage, a patio, drag nights and karaoke.

What it's known for

Barcode is a small Montrose dive bar at 817 Fairview St, in the space that used to be TC's. It has a stage and a patio, and it packs a lot of programming into a modest room. Drag and karaoke are the main draws, so this is a bar you go to for the show as much as the drinks. Both Out x Out and Visit Houston list it.

Regular nights

  • Monday: Magic Mic open mic
  • Tuesday: karaoke, 9 PM to midnight
  • Wednesday: HumpDay Honeys at 9 PM
  • Thursday: karaoke
  • First and third Sundays: The Steam Room

Lineups change. Check with the venue before you go.

Crowd and vibe

Expect a loud, close, casual room rather than a polished club. It suits people who like performers working right in front of them, and the patio gives you somewhere to talk between sets. Dress for a dive bar, and bring small bills if you want to tip the performers. Lineups at small bars change often, so treat the schedule above as a guide and check the bar's Instagram, houstonsbarcode, before you plan a night around one show.

Getting there

Barcode sits on the Fairview strip, a short walk from Ripcord and George Country Sports Bar, so it is easy to fit into a bar crawl. Street parking in this part of Montrose can get tight on weekend nights, and we could not confirm any lot for the bar, so a rideshare is the simple choice. Fairview is also a sensible place to be dropped off, since several bars are within a few blocks of each other. Call 713-526-2625 to check what is on tonight.

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