Follow the Cajun folk, find le bon temps. With its coastal ambiance and work-hard, play-hard way of life, Port Arthur has long been host to a good party. This creates a ripe environment for delicious cocktail menus, and in recent years has inspired the opening of half a dozen winery and breweries in the area—many of them boasting the claim of being the very first. Follow us on the beverage trail (and bring a designated driver).
Come for the Vibes, Stay for the Cocktails
Image courtesy of Visit Port Arthur Texas
Delicious drinks and bites from Tia Juanitas
Tia Juanita’s Fish Camp has been a Southeast Texas staple for a decade now, with a menu of MexiCajun cuisine inspired by owner Ricky Martinez’s “Tia”. Fill your belly with gumbo, boudin quesadillas, fish tacos, and chargrilled oysters while enjoying local live music, then allow yourself to be mesmerized by the swirling, neon daiquiri machines behind the bar. Go classic with a margarita, or swirl in some sangria or a Corona. Louisiana daiquiri shop goers will recognize frozen powerhouses like the 190 Octane and Sex on the Beach, but Tia Juanita’s also offers some original specialty options like Tia’s Pain Killer (Pina Colada & Pusser’s Rum) and the Pleasure Island Iced Tea, which adds pomegranate to the infamous blend. tjfishcamp.com
For something a little more low key, spend your evening at Dylan’s Bar & Grill, one of the largest pub venues in the area. The backyard is designed with “hanging out” in mind, and a live music schedule brings acoustic sets on Tuesdays, plus regular DJ nights and party bands (check Instagram for the latest). Bar food/comfort food is on the menu: expect wings, nachos, spinach dip, seafood, and burgers (stuffed ones!). And the full bar means the options are endless: craft beers and old fashioneds, cosmopolitans and vodka sodas, follow where your heart leads. Follow @dylansbarandgrill on Instagram.
Breweries in Southeast Texas
Image courtesy of Visit Port Arthur Texas
Blissful brew from Neches Brewing Company
In the past eight years, three breweries have opened up in the Sabine Lake area—each bringing enthusiasm and intriguing new approaches to the vibrant Gulf coast craft brewing scene.
In 2016, the Neches Brewing Company became the first brewery to open in the entire Southeast Texas region. In downtown Port Neches, the pop art-meets-coastal casual (there’s a deer mount beside the television) taproom features a slate of twenty-or-so house brewed options, ranging from traditional blondes, ales, lagers, and pilsners, to a Belgian Dubbel called “Screendoor Jesus 2.0” and the Buenas Neches—a jalapeno cream ale. There are even options for zero-proofers, including the recently-released Hop Water, with notes of passionfruit and citrus. Check the brewery’s socials to see the latest events on the schedule, and visit when local live music is performing or for a trivia night. Follow @nechesbrewingcompany on Instagram.
Just down the road, Nederland got its first brewery in 2019 right in the heart of the bustling Boston Avenue district—making it a great way to end a day of sightseeing and shopping. Buckstin Brewing’s storefront is easy to spot: just look for the mascot—a puppy with antlers, tongue hanging out adorably. Offering a robust pizza menu and a fine wine program in addition to the house-made brews, the cozy space is also designed to be family friendly. With around twenty beers on the menu at any given time, including a host of rotating seasonal options, there’s sure to be something to please the palate of every beer drinker. Some highlights include the Frau Nau German-style Pilsner, named after a former Nederland High School choir director, and the Red Wedding Sour (if you know, you know) made with sweet cherries, tart cherries, and raspberry. This summer, the Chugboat Island Belgian Dubbel won a gold medal a the United States Open Beer Championship. buckstinbrewing.com.
For the Vino Lovers
Image courtesy of Visit Port Arthur Texas
Sangria at Meridian Wine Bar
In 2022, Port Neches native Katie Scott opened the first wine bar in Southeast Texas—bringing an experience like those she had enjoyed in Dallas, back to her small hometown. Offering a carefully curated selection of wines from across the world—Napa, Oregon, Washington, Argentina, Portugal, New Zealand, and more—Scott’s Meridian Wine Bar has become the area’s go-to for wine education, as well as basic “wine nights” out with friends. Live music and cheese pairing nights stand on the calendar beside sommelier visits and tastings, and the menu offers satisfying belly-fillers like flatbreads and seasonal tapas. meridianwinebar.com.
Explore more of the Port Arthur area’s culinary offerings at visitportarthurtx.com/food-drink.
