BOUDINANDBOURBON.COM - Virginia Billeaud Anderson: May 2020

"How admirable that Bar Boheme preserved its building, which dates to 1930..." (Discusses Bar Boheme in Montrose neighborhood, its architectural preservation of as well as its splendid patio, cocktails, kid-friendly drag brunch on Sunday.)

Bar Boheme - Houston Bars - Drag Brunch - Architectural Preservation

My friend Hugo Ovalle has a talent for finding interesting places to drink. Abu Dhabi, Kazakhstan, Buenos Aires, anywhere he goes, Hugo’s radar plops him into interesting spots.

It was Hugo who introduced me to Bar Boheme, years ago. The night he did, I fell in love with a particular red leather couch, located on the right side of the large bar. Boheme patrons carry on about the fancy patios, and I’ll admit the patios are splendid, comfortably laid out and decorated with sculpture and greenery. In fact Houston Press readers rank Boheme’s patios “Best Bar Patio” in 2019. Nevertheless, when I go to Boheme, I always highjack my favorite red couch.

The virus, of course, interrupted that ritual for now. I believe though that very soon Governor Greg Abbott will open the bars, and things will get back to normal here in Montrose neighborhood.

Having two Louisiana brothers who own restaurants, makes me particularly aware of how painful these times are for bars and restaurants. Boheme’s response to the lockdown was to boldly service its customers with curbside pickup and free deliveries, until it was allowed to reinstate patio service, doggies included. On Sunday May 31 Boheme will host its kid-friendly Brunch with Drag Bingo, on the patio from 1pm to 4pm. The eye shadow and lashes on Angelina, Cyn City and Chloe give me a deep yearning to go to an expensive salon for pretty makeup.

Despite Houston’s sorry reputation for architectural preservation, my neighborhood has many preserved historic structures. The house I live in, for instance, dates to 1925. There is a house on my block that dates to the 1910. How admirable that Bar Boheme preserved its building, which dates to 1930. When you go, notice the striking asymmetrical brick patterns on the façade. Then shift your gaze to the roof to see, in my opinion, the building’s most stunning architectural feature, a decorative pineapple-style roof finial. I’m guessing the finial is made of limestone. Other historic buildings in the neighborhood have decorative features of this type. Perhaps you noticed the finials on the building that Hugo Ortega restored when he built Hugo’s Restaurant. I think that building dates to 1925.

The other Hugo, my friend with radar for interesting places to drink, lives in the neighborhood. Hugo and his beautiful family have an architecturally preserved home that dates to 1905.

Images are from Bar Boheme’s Facebook and Instagram.

Bar Boheme
307 Fairview St
Houston, Texas 77006
Barboheme.com

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