If you’re still planning to spend the whole day at home in the backyard, this list of specials and activities across Houston might inspire you to go for a drive. We organized the list by mealtime so you can make a day of it with friends and loved ones.

From all of us at Houston Food Finder, have a wonderful and safe holiday. (To that end: don’t do anything stupid with fireworks, be responsible if you’re going to drink and never mix the fireworks with the drinking.)

HOLIDAY BRUNCHES, ALL-DAY HAPPY HOURS & MORE

Brasil, 2604 Dunlavy: The time-honored Montrose hangout is serving breakfast until noon (including most brunch options). Take advantage of drink specials that feature a brand-new cocktail program alongside, including $7 Bloody Marys.

Broken Barrel, 1950 Hughes Landing: This relatively new addition to The Woodlands is open all day, but is all set to help those who want an easy picnic instead. The special to go menu includes pretty prosciutto and goat cheese sandwiches, grilled cheese sandwiches, Kahlua-spiked tres leches and strawberry-mint lemonade. Click this link to peruse the full to-go menu and call 281-719-8542 to place an order.

Cyclone Anaya’s (all locations): Enjoy one cent mimosa refills from open until 3 p.m. alongside the special Tuesday brunch and all-day happy hour for the holiday. Happy hour lasts until 7 p.m. and features bottles of wine for half price. It just wouldn’t be the same without their traditional red, white and blue margarita, so of course these will be available as well. The regular size costs $5 and the jumbo costs $10.

Eight Row Flint, 1039 Yale: The casual, Heights Avon area hangout is throwing open it’s doors two hours early at noon. Enjoy happy hour until midnight, with $3 beer. Mules, Margaritas and Old Fashioneds will be only $5.

FM Kitchen & Bar, 1112 Shepherd: The “FM Over Texas” celebration runs all day and part of the night—from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Live music and entertainment is being provided DJ Yon Don and local bands No Rehearsal and Muddy Belle. There’s no cover fee to get in. That leaves more spare change for enjoying $2 Lone Star and Pabst Blue Ribbon beers, $4 holiday-themed cocktails, plates of barbecue by chef Ryan Hildebrand and Apple Pie Milkshakes for dessert.

Fusion Taco, 4706 North Main: The Heights location will be open all day and is debuting its Taco Tuesday for the Fourth. Select tacos, margaritas and of Eureka Heights’ Buckle Bunny beer are all only $2 each.

Jonathan’s The Rub, 9061 Gaylord: This neighborhood favorite in Hedwig Village (just off of I-10 west between Voss and Echo Lane) is closed for dinner on the Fourth, so it’s serving a festive lunchtime feast instead. Chef and owner Jonathan Levine is firing up the hardwood grill and rotisserie cooker for a “Freedom Feast” on the patio that includes steaks, lamb chops, ribs, scallops and much more. Go for one of those selections at a la carte pricing, or opt for a classic Independence Day meal of a burger and Texas craft beer for only $16 (normally $20). There are plenty of wines to choose from, but the restaurant also allows BYOB. Lunch runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Updated 7/4/2017,  8:43 a.m. 

Molina’s Cantina (all locations): Celebrate your independence (from work) with $5 margaritas all day long. An order of fajitas alongside wouldn’t hurt one bit.

Plonk! Bistro, 1214 West 43rd: Have some free fireworks for your mouth. The Oak Forest bistro is offering free Firecracker Pizza to patrons who visit before 7 p.m. The prosciutto, provolone and arugula pizza gets its heat from the addition of habaneros. Fortunately, Plonk! is also known for a cool selection of wines.

Radio Milano and Milano Bar, 800 Sorella Court: Radio Milano is going Polynesian-American for the day, hosting a “backyard tiki barbecue” on the Milano Bar patio downstairs. The barbecue starts at 3 p.m., ends at 8 p.m., and will include all the traditional dishes: burgers, hot dogs, homemade ice cream, snow cones and more. (To-go orders are available, too). Grown-ups can try one of several special tiki drinks for $12, or try a Popsicle Cocktail ($9), Texas-style Messina Hoff sangrias ($8) or a “Murica Flight” of Herman Marshall whiskey ($15). Or, settle in with a bucket of six domestic beers for $12. While away the hours until the Citycentre firewords (see above) playing beer pong and corn hole. If you prefer to visit in the evening, there’s a three-course Texas-themed dinner for $25; add optional Oregonian Rosé wine pairings for an additional $20. Reservations are available for both indoor and patio seating at Milano Bar. Gratuity-only valet parking is available.

Saint Arnold Brewing Company, 2000 Lyons: No one will go hungry dining at Houston’s oldest craft brewery on Independence Day. Saint Arnold is serving a special lunch buffet from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. that will include chopped brisket, ribs, hot dogs, potato salad, pineapple upside down cake and much more. The buffet is $23 plus tax and includes beer! Reservations are required for everyone age six and up. Click this link to make one. A limited food menu will be served after 2 p.m.

EVENING FESTIVITIES

CityCentre, 800 Town and Country Boulevard: The west side shopping district putting on its annual fireworks display at 9:30 p.m., sharp. Consider getting there much earlier, though, for dining at one of the many area restaurants (see also the Radio Milano and Cyclone Anaya event descriptions in this article). The People’s Choice Band will start performing music at 7 p.m., and the festivities go on until 11 p.m.

The Hay Merchant, 1100 Westheimer: It’s goodbye to growlers, as one of Houston’s largest beer bars transitions to being able to also offer cocktails and spirits. To that end, they are having a “Fire(works) Sale. Get a Hay Merchant-branded growler absolutely free with a $10 fill of Live Oak Hef, Saint Arnold Lawnmower and Art Car, Firestone Walker Union Jack or Real Ale Fireman’s 4. (A few more beers might be added to the special at the last minute.) As an extra incentive, Tuesday is also steak night. Have a hearty 4th of July dinner with an eight-ounce Angus sirloin from 44 Farms with seasonal veggies for only $15. The steak special begins at 5 PM.

Laurenzo’s Bar & Grill, 1910 Bagby: Take advantage of the unobstructed view of the big Freedom Over Texas fireworks display at Laurenzo’s 4th of July “Through The Roof Party.” Buy online and get discounted tickets for $75 (plus tax and Eventbrite fee). If you wait to buy them at the door, they will cost you $99 plus tax. Chicken fajitas, cheeseburger sliders, pulled pork sliders, black bean empanadas, crispy taquitos and quesadillas will be served from 7 to 9 p.m. while DJ Taylor Tran spins the tunes (so get there on time). For drinks, the fully-stocked bar is serving up frozen “Midtown Breeze” and “Freedom 44” cocktails, as well as a selection of beer. The party runs from 6 to 11 p.m. Update, 7/3/2017, 5:33 p.m.: A reader flagged us on the news that Laurenzo’s Bar & Grill in Midtown is closed. However, a representative for the company says that this party is still happening and they are “contractually obligated” to go on with it.

Public Services Wine & Whisky, 202 Travis: For the holiday, this gorgeous downtown bar in a historic building is discounting all American spirits by 25-percent. As a bonus, they’re discounting their Madeira, too, a product of Portugal, by the same amount.

Reserve 101, 1201 Caroline: Every Fourth of July, the site of Houston’s biggest whiskey collection Marks the day with a special release of the Buffalo Trace antique Collection as well as the coveted Pappy Van Winkle whiskeys. The doors open at 5 p.m. First come, first served and the event will only run for as long as supplies last.

Phaedra Cook

Phaedra Cook has written about Houston’s restaurant and bar scene since 2010. She was a regular contributor to My Table magazine (now closed) and was the lead restaurant critic for the Houston Press for two years, eventually being promoted to food editor. Cook founded Houston Food Finder in November 2016 and has been its editor and publisher ever since.