Best Of Houston® 2025: Best Bar
Best Bar – Downtown: One Armed Scissor
Any bar worth an ounce (or 1.5 ounces, standard shot size) of consideration as its area’s best should boast some intriguing patrons, compelling characters who add the sort of flavor you can’t summon from a cocktail shaker. When we go to the bar, we go to soak up the energy of our fellow Houstonians and the best place to do that in downtown Houston is One Armed Scissor.
One recent week, we day drank and hanged late night at One Armed, enjoying one of the city’s top Old-Fashioneds (last year’s best, tune in to see 2025’s honoree) and cheap Lone Stars while consorting with consummate story tellers, the best kind of bar crowd and the only kind One Armed Scissor seems to attract. No cap, in one week we learned all the skibidi Gen-Z slang from a genial wooly-haired regular; listened intently as another listed the hidden merits of Joel Schumacher’s Batman & Robin; got turned onto Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s writing (go read Mexican Gothic now!); eavesdropped on a family discussing “gooning” during an otherwise wholesome birthday celebration (do not Google it at work); talked ink with the artists who saunter over from It Always Hurts, the neighboring tattoo studio; learned about a Shibari speakeasy on the outskirts of Houston; volunteered to campaign for a regular who is running for judge; and, sat enthralled as the Houston graffiti artist known as Remüv shared unheard tales from Houston’s underground arts community.
It’s no coincidence that these fascinating folks gather at One Armed Scissor. A lot has to do with the brothers Molina who run the place and have deep roots in Houston’s bar community. They set the bar a street away from the busy nightlife of Main, close enough for its beautiful crowds to add to the mix but removed (Remüv-ed?) enough to afford the quiet needed to lean into a good conversation. The vibe check – One Armed Scissor’s not Ohio, it’s got that rizz.
208 Travis
One Armed Scissor on Instagram
This article appears in Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2025.
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Reign Bowers is an outdoor enthusiast, adventure seeker, and storyteller passionate about exploring nature’s wonders. As the creator of SuperheroineLinks.com, Reign shares inspiring stories, practical tips, and expert insights to empower others—especially women—to embrace the great outdoors with confidence.
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