Shoeshine Charley’s Big Top Lounge

So fun. A super kitschy dive bar right on Main Street! (Next to the Continental Club.)
So you don’t really go here for the drinks — no fancy cocktail menu or beers on draft. Grab some Lone Stars, enjoy some live music inside, take in the décor, then continue drinking on their shared outside patio.
Such a bizarre place with so many twinkly lights inside, weird mismatched furniture, etc.
Games as well!
A very unique place — don’t miss it! An underrated Houston bar!

I had a great time coming out here with some of my girl friends last weekend. It definitely falls under the category of dive bars, which is one of my favorite scenes in Houston! There’s a patio area out back with lots of picnic tables if the band is too loud. The drinks were reasonably priced with generous pours. We’ll be back again very soon!

Now THIS is my kind of bar! Enough kitchy decorations to make a guy feel at home, quick service from the bar — and reasonable prices to match.
Venue acoustics are pretty good, but the live shows would benefit greatly from a real sound booth with a real audio engineer. Sorry, but most bands have no idea how to level things for a venue.
Loved the large covered front porch for smokers, which allowed us addicts to partake in our habit, hear the music, and NOT melt (well, I am made of sugar, spice, and everything nice, dammit!) from the torrential downpour.
Enjoyed the large group style seating, so our team of eight could comfortably sit down and actually hold a single conversation without leaving anyone out!

Its a dive bar next to the Continental. You won’t find anything else like it in the city as this area has uniquely identified itself.

My first time to Shoeshine Charley’s was for the Fistful of Soul event which was such a blast. Come with your dancing shoes on and ready for a blast from the past. This place is easy to pass and I would have never even known it existed had it not been for the event.
We spent most of our time in the spacious outdoor patio which reminded me a lot of Austin. It was very simple, with picnic tables and lights strung throughout. TIP**don’t wear heels. I didn’t spend any time inside other than walking through to get in and out, so I’m not sure what thats all about. The only downside is the bar in the back is tiny and it took forever to get drinks. I’m not sure what it is like on a «regular» night, but for this event we were waiting forever!
Overall, great vibe, loved the place and can’t wait to go back!

I am really not sure how to rank this place… this is all I will say:
Every 3^rd Friday of the month A Fistful of Soul takes over and so do my dancing shoes. Last time I went, I left with a shirt completely drenched from sweat and in the AM it was still wet. IT is my favorite time of the month, every month. Skip Midtown, Washington and all the rest of the same old same old. 3^rd Fridays of the month I will see you here… EVERYTIME!

I tried this place for the first time this past weekend for A Fistful of Soul, which is the 3^rd Friday each month. We really had a fun time! I don’t think I’ve ever been to another bar where the dance floor is packed with people dancing to some 60s/​70s soul/​funk sounds! The djs were great.
The bar is pretty cool, and a lot bigger than I anticipated. There is a dance floor inside and outside, and seating in both areas as well. The outdoor patio is huge, and we spent most if the night out there.
I was kind of misled by «lounge» in the name, so I dressed in some nicer shoes and jeans, not realizing there was such a nice outdoor patio. Next time I’ll wear a dress or shorts, and wear flats or wedges to make the gravel dance area less treacherous!
I thought the drinks were overpriced, but there was no cover so I think it evens out. One thing I really liked is that they had a huge cooler of water and plastic cups sitting out. It was so hot, and water drinkers didn’t have to wait in the bar lines.

One of my friends invited me out here to check out A Fistful of Soul who was DJing here that night and I expected awesomeness. However, when I arrived here, I was denied entry due to them being at «full capacity.» Alright, so I waited outside for a little bit waiting for people to leave. But as more and more people left, dude at the door never actually let anybody else in. So I knew, it wasn’t due to me being Asian or whatever. However, after about 20+ minutes and nobody else was allowed entry as people left, I became impatient and I decided to go through the Continental Club next door which shares the same back patio with the Big Top Lounge. Guess what? $ 10 cover charge! I paid it anyway when I was inside the CC, it was almost empty. I went straight to the back patio, and it was packed, but it wasn’t that packed. I went into the Big Top lounge, it was packed, but it wasn’t that packed either. So, was this just a ruse to get people to go through the CC and pay the cover fee? I don’t know. But I wasn’t very happy about it.
After I got in, it was cool though. The music was great. The bartenders were quick to serve. Prices are very reasonable. I have been back when there isn’t a cover charge at both the Big Top or at the CC and getting in was never a problem. Maybe that was a one time thing? Who knows? If I go back when the CC is charging a cover and I find it hard to get into Big Top for free, then I’ll know fore sure.

Love love the ambiance of this place! Very relaxed, I enjoyed the live music and the the pricing was decent, although they do have a $ 10 credit card minimum. Would definitely want to come back.

This was an interesting experience, to say the least. No cover, which was nice. The classic rock cover band playing that evening was made up of, get this, three ~12 year olds. Very impressive!
The drinks are pretty standard. It has a very divey feel to it… sort of reminds me of Big Star Bar. Dim and cozy… a good place to hide out if you’re feeling unattractive. :P

While I would like to keep the Big Top as my secret little bad-​ass place, I have to give it credit. It’s the Best! The Big Top has a laid back, relaxed, come as you are vibe, with circus themed décor. It’s creepy and awesome all at the same time. If you’re on Main, or seeing a show at Continental Club, stop by at least for a drink. You’ll thank me.

Favorite neighborhood bar. Great music, great vibes, very laid back.

Ok, the 5 stars come from their fist full of soul night, by far the best time to go to big top, great music/dj’s (real dj’s) and great crowd.

My favorite bar, especially on Fistful of Soul night!

I went here last night for a drink and to watch the band. Had a tequila and a lone star. I received my tab of 12.25. I asked what the charges were. 8 dollars for the tequila, 3.25 for a lone star, and 1.00 added on for «open tabs». I discussed this with the bartender and she said, that’s the policy.
I think that the policy of adding a dollar onto a tab is ridiculous.
I will vote with my dollars that I get to keep when I open a tab elsewhere.

As soon as I walked into Shoeshine Charley’s, I knew I was home. I love the lighting, vibe, colors, music, and people of this bar.
It’s a funky, eclectic, vintage, dive bar. It’s got tons of indoor seating where you can watch whatever local band play. There is a back room that no one ever seems to be in where you can play foosball or shuffleboard.
Then there is an amazing HUGE outdoor patio that connects to the back of the other bars in the area. Strung up white lights, cool graffiti art work, plenty of places to sit, and awesome people all over the place.
I think this is one of the coolest bars I’ve been to in quite a while.

An Elvis wall, creepy mice mannequins, christmas lights… my new favorite dive bar.
My divey requirements used to just be picnic tables and cheap beer, The Big Top has raised those standards or perhaps created some new freakydive category.
We went here Friday night and caught the Jitterbug Vipers, throwback music to the raucous days of the 30’s and 40’s– there was no cover, the crowd was colorful, the couches comfy, and the Shiner was reasonable at $ 4. (Note: since there’s no cover, do your best to tip the talent!!)
Love this place, can’t believe with all the times I’ve been by the Continental and Taco Express I hadn’t popped in here– and even on Friday night parking was not a problem–
We will so be back!

A friend asked for a night out away from law school studying. Sure, I says.
He says his friends are looking for a dive bar, heading to Continental Club. Doesn’t sound very divey. Are you sure, I says.
We spend some time scouring Unilocal,find another dive bar to head to. Meh, his friends say.
Continental Club it is. I meet them up at 11 ish. Drive out to Midtown, ample parking. Sweet. Look for the bumper car in front, he says.
Waitaminute, this isn’t Continental Club. It’s Shoeshine Charley’s. Doorman sees my Asian-​ness, looks at me cockeyed. Go on in, he says.
I meet up friends. Random band playing, not very good. Oh well, no cover. Bar seats are ample. Sidle up to friend. Spot bartender. What’ll it be, she says.
Drinks are plentiful. Cheap. Check out band. Meh, I say.
Lovely night. We decide to head out back. Stop prior to door. Shuffleboard table. Kind of grungy, no sand. Whatever, pucks are already out. Commence game, we say.
Band still playing. Still not very good. Drinks still coming. Drinks still cheap. Pucks still flying. Shuffleboard still free. Epic comeback game. Great night, we say.

I love this bar. The décor is awesome and I really enjoy seeing Light Rock Express. They play about 1 Friday a month. From The Doobie Brothers to Stevie Wonder, they play anything that is typically considered soft, and maybe a little lame, managing to make these songs awesome again.
Also look for the Disco Expressions, which is Light Rock Express + some horns and they play disco hits. Who doesn’t love DISCO? I took my parents here once and they had a blast!

All eyes on me in the center of the ring just like a circus.
When I crack that whip, everybody gon’ trip just like a circus…
Ah, Britters. You coulda shot your hot and *amazing* circus vid right here at Shoeshine Charley’s.
Everyone else thoroughly described the kitchy décor at Shoeshine Charley’s Big Top Lounge, so I won’t bore you, but I just want to add that I love the velvet Pink Panther poster/​painting.
I came here for the first time on one of Houston’s most recent rainiest night (Which one, you ask? I know. We’ve had so many lately.). An ex-​coworker was in town, Flyp P, so a bunch of us were out to kick it ol’ skool. By the time I got there, everyone was «on a different level,» but I played catch-​up with a few glasses of their house wine. Not too shabby.
Get this: No cover and there was a lively honky tonk band playing. A few patrons were out on the small and dark dancefloor having a blast, including a woman doing turns and twirls in her electric wheelchair. I think I’ve just arrived to Awesometown, y’all.
We moved the party outside – for the smokers and just to hear ourselves think – and played a few games of Pac Man, checked out the *ancient* jukebox and just kicked it.
The bartender was a hell of a lot nicer than the ones at CC and faster, too. When closing time came, my friend John K and I were content to see our bar tabs were insanely small. Flyp-​dawg, however, had a larger tab than expected for drinking Lone Stars all night. Methinks a few of our drinks made it onto his tab. Whoops. We’ll getcha next time, brah.
I like this place and give ‘em two thumbs up. Impress your date or out of town friends by making a night of it here, along with The Continental Club, The Mink, and Tacos A Go-​Go just a few steps away. This is why I love H-​town. Variety, folks.