Houston’s Ultimate Guide to Dining and Drinking During Pride Month
Lick Honest Ice Creams, Three Brothers Bakery, Arnaldo Richards’ Picos, and Dessert Gallery are offering colorful specials to get you in the Pride spirit
This June, members of the LGBTQ community, friends, family, and allies will gather downtown for one of the biggest Pride parades in the South. Pride Month has been celebrated in Houston for nearly 50 years, but this year, recent controversy has made the festivities a little more complicated.
Pride Houston 365, which has historically been the nonprofit organizer for Houston Pride, will host its 46th annual parade and festival on June 29. However, over the last few years, due to a legal battle between the organization and former executive director and president Lorin Roberts, who was accused of theft and misappropriation of funds, has increasingly made the celebration subject of controversy. Partially in response to this, New Faces of Pride, a new LGBTQ nonprofit, launched last year. The organization will hold its own Pride parade downtown on June 22, with the same route as Pride Houston 365’s, starting at Smith Street and Lamar Street.
No matter which parade you decide to go to, Pride Month will go on, and it starts now. Houston’s vibrant LGBTQ-owned and -allied businesses are celebrating with menu specials, donations to area nonprofits and, of course, parties complete with drag shows, cocktail specials, costume contests, and lots of dancing.
Specials Around Town
Lick Honest Ice Creams: This Austin-based ice cream company, which has two locations inside the Loop, is rolling out two new offerings for Pride Month. A new flavor, “Orange You Glad It’s Pride?,” is a Creamsicle-esque orange and vanilla ice cream. Try it by itself, or in the new Pride Fundae, a sherbet sundae with scoops of Lick’s Orange You Glad, grapefruit paloma, and cherry limeade. The three colorful scoops are served in a waffle bowl with whipped cream, sprinkles, and edible glitter. Various locations
Kenny & Ziggy’s New York Delicatessen: The Galleria-area deli launched its “Cakewords Cake” series earlier this year with a new cake each month. This June, it’s bringing back its Rainbow Cake, which originally debuted June 2022. The cake is 12 inches tall and consists of five layers of cake dyed red, orange, yellow, green, and blue, which is all wrapped in a layer of white icing. Cakes run for $55.95, or $10.95 for a slice. 1743 Post Oak Boulevard, 77056
Courtesy of Kenny & Ziggy’s New York Delicatessen
Arnaldo Richards’ Picos: The Upper Kirby Mexican restaurant will donate 20 percent of your check (before tax and tip) to the Montrose Center if you book its Pride Donation Table on OpenTable. 3601 Kirby Drive, 77098
Dessert Gallery: The Upper Kirby bakery Dessert Gallery has been a longstanding fixture in the Houston LGBTQ community. This year, it’s once again offering a Pride-themed menu, with brightly decorated, rainbow-iced butter cookies, cupcakes, chocolate-dipped pretzels, petit fours, and a Pride cake, available as a whole 6-inch or 9-inch cake, or by the slice. The bakery will donate a portion of proceeds from the butter cookies to the Woodlands Pride Organization and the Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce. 3600 Kirby Drive #D, 77098
Three Brothers Bakery: Three Brothers Bakery pulls out delicious baked goods for the holidays, and Pride is no exception. The bakery’s Pride menu includes rainbow-hued petit fours, cupcakes, cakes, and cookies. One of its standouts is a colorful comic book-style rainbow cake, outlined with black icing to give an illustrated effect. Half of the proceeds raised from Pride royal icing cookies sold between June 1 and June 30 will be donated to the local LGBTQ health organization the Montrose Center. Various locations
Courtesy of Three Brothers Bakery
Common Bond Bistro & Bakery: This hugely popular Houston chain has a new Pride-themed special at both its regular and on-the-go locations. This year’s offering is a Pride Cream Puff, a red-hued pastry shell filled with tropical passion mango diplomat cream, topped with Chantilly cream, a passion mango shell, and an adorable little edible rainbow. Various locations
Jethro’s: The new Montrose bar will offer a Lavender Blair cocktail with a shot ($14) during the month of Pride. The drink is made of flor de cana eco, coconut, orgeat, lavender, lemon, while the shot consists of vodka, peach puree, cointreau, and sweet and sour. One dollar from every drink sold will be donated to the Montrose Grace Place, which provides a safe and welcoming space for housing insecure youth aged 13-24 by offering meals, essential services, and long-term supportive relationships. 95 Tuam Street, Suite 102, Houston, TX 77006
Betelgeuse Betelgeuse: Betelgeuse Betelgeuse is serving up the Yass Queen! Cocktail at its Montrose and Washington Avenue locations. The beverage includes vodka, fresh strawberries, lemon, simple syrup, edible glitter, and sparkling wine, and is sold as a single serving ($11) or in batch form that serves 4 to 6 people ($45). For each drink served throughout June at the Washington Avenue location, $1 will be donated to Montrose’s Grace Place, while $1 from each drink sold at the Montrose location will be donated to the Montrose Center.
Bagel Shop Bakery: Bagel Shop Bakery is serving its classic, plain-flavored Rainbow Bagel for $2.50 during the month of June. 5422 Bellaire Blvd, Bellaire, TX 77401
Axelrad: Axelrad is offering a Pride-themed cocktail “Category is: Prickly for Pride,’’ (a frozen prickly pear margarita with tequila, Cointreau, prickly pear syrup and lime juice) for $12 throughout the month of June. Ten percent of proceeds from each cocktail sold will be donated to Pride Houston 365. 1517 Alabama St, Houston, TX 77004
After-Parties and Other Bashes
Karbach Brewing Co.: Local brewery mainstay Karbach will host a pride market on June 2 at its Biergarten. This free, family-friendly event will be held from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., with music, local LGBTQ vendors, and Pride-themed Karbach glassware. 2032 Karbach Street, 77092
Moody Center for the Arts: The art museum at Rice University will host a free Pride happy hour on June 6 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Pride Chorus Houston will perform with DJ Krazzy Kris and guests can imbibe complimentary drinks while making crafts. 6100 Main Street, 77005
Chapman & Kirby: Get ready for Chapman and Kirby’s Pride Month Queen Brunch and After Party. On June 15, doors open at 11:30 a.m. for the Pride-themed drag brunch, which kicks off at noon. For $35 per person, there’s an all-you-can-eat brunch, new featured drinks and themed performances. The event is for ages 21 and up. Following brunch is a free after-party from 2:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., which features a themed market.
On June 29, the bar and grill will also host a free Pride Parade Party from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Enjoy live DJs, burlesque performances, a tattoo artist, a glitter bar, themed drinks, a Pride market, and other exciting surprises. This event benefits the Montrose Center and Montrose’s Grace Place, allowing celebrants to party with a purpose. Reserve a free spot online. 2118 Lamar St #100, Houston, TX 77003
Rachel Low
Constellation Field: Sugar Land Minor League Baseball team Space Cowboys will host its third annual Pride Night alongside the June 12 game. A doggy costume parade starts before the ball game, and you can sign up for drag bingo for an additional $10. Food and drink specials include $1 hot dogs from Texas Chili Company and Eureka Heights’ Pride Month-themed Lavender Bunny. 1 Stadium Drive, 77498
Z on 23 Rooftop Bar: New Faces of Pride will host a mindful drinking event with live music and Soiree canned mocktails on June 15 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. 1121 Walker Street, 77002
Kiki Houston: Montrose LGBTQ bar Kiki Houston will celebrate the local Pride Houston grand marshals with a party starting at 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 16. The event is free and for all ages, and will include appetizers and a cash bar. 2409 Grant Street, Ste D, 77006
Rooftop Cinema Club Uptown: Rooftop Cinema Club is hosting two different parties to celebrate iconic ‘90s queer cinema. The first, a showing of “But I’m a Cheerleader” in celebration of its 25th anniversary, starts at 6:15 p.m. on June 20. Before the showing, Rooftop Cinema Club will have a cheer-off, costume contest, and trivia contest, all in celebration of director Jamie Babbit’s cult satire on gender roles. The second showing (starting 6 p.m. on June 23) will be of To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar, a classic drag queen road trip adventure starring the late Houstonian Patrick Swayze. Come early to catch the live cinema-themed drag show. 1700 Post Oak Boulevard, 77056
SoHou: Sports bars aren’t always someone’s first thought for an after-Pride hang, but SoHou, a women-owned sports bar on Washington Avenue that opened early this year, is an exception. The bar’s Pride afterparty, on June 22 from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., is pulling out $5 drink specials along with live music from DJ Jacob Andrew and bites from local food truck Lavish Eats HTX. In an art festival vibe, vendors will be selling Pride merch and artists will give tattoos on site. 1925 Washington Avenue, 77007
Courtesy of SoHou
Heights House Hotel: June in Houston is always a scorcher, so why not celebrate poolside? The 2024 Soaked Pool Party, an official event from Pride Houston 365, will have live music, dancing, hookahs, games and prizes, and, of course, food and drink specials. The 18-plus event will be on June 22 starting at 3 p.m., with tickets ranging from $15 for general admission to $450 for VIP poolside cabana. 100 W. Cavalcade Street, 77009
The Heights Social: New Faces of Pride will host an official brunch on June 23 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with cocktails, mocktails, and brunch served by The Heights Social Chef Cameron Caine. There will also be live entertainment from DJ Chad Guidry and drag queens Sinema LaRue and Lucy Paradisco. Tickets are $60 for buffet brunch and two drink tickets; the 21-plus event will raise money for the Montrose Center. 1213 W. 20th St., 77008
Via 313 Pizzeria: Pride Houston 365 will hold a cheesy fundraiser (10 percent of proceeds go to the organization) at Viva 313 on June 25 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Expect DJs, swag and, of course, crispy Detroit-style pizza. 10201 Katy Freeway, Ste. 350, 77024
Minute Maid Park: The Houston Astros will host its Pride Night during the June 25 game against the Colorado Rockies. Catch pregame ceremonies and a happy hour starting at 5 p.m., and you can snag a Pride Night Astros jersey for $30. 501 Crawford Street, 77002
This article will be updated with new specials.
