La Carafe

Believed to be the oldest bar in Houston and certainly the oldest commercial building still in use in Houston, the La Carafe building is listed on the National Register for Historic Places. Built by Nathaniel Kellum in 1847, the La Carafe building has been a two-story public venue since its construction. Located in the original Old Market Square in Downtown Houston, the building is small and worn, showing more than a century and a half of use. Today, La Carafe is a little wine and beer getaway and a downtown treasure. The interior exudes a cozy comfort with its intimate space and dim lighting even during the day with natural light coming only from the doorway and a small window. Under a dim chandelier hanging from the center of the ceiling over the bar, each table sports a candle that is lit after sundown for the evening bar crowd. La Carafe’s brick walls are covered with photos and paintings of the city in bygone days, a museum-worthy collection dominated by a huge portrait of Sam Houston. The wax behind the bar has likely not been removed for the past 25 years, and the dim lights are coupled with the best jukebox in town, ringing tunes from jazz and oldies to the cool sounds of Bob Marley.

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