» State Bar & Lounge, The

The State Bar & Lounge is an upscale, classic lounge on the second floor of the Rice Lofts. Considered by many to be one of the cornerstones of the Houston Downtown renaissance, it is also a tribute to the glory days of the city's oil boom.

Much of the furniture and memorabilia are from the old Rice Hotel's Capitol Club, a legendary locale from the turn of the century that witnessed such historic milestones as the first electrical lights and air conditioners of the city, prominent judges and oil men cementing the success of Southern Texas, and the last place where President Kennedy ate before traveling to Dallas in 1963. The State Bar & Lounge has resurrected the Capitol Club's atmosphere and honed it to the times with the chic artwork of Houston artist Alisson Stewart, a mahogany bar, high-arched windows, a private and distinct lounge, and a grand veranda overlooking much of downtown's growth and ambiance.

The State Bar offers a limited food menu along with a large variety of vodkas, various tap and bottled beers, sophisticated wines and a selection of over a hundred different types of liquors.