S'amuser et sortir Texas

Timetable

Most bars are open at weekends, and rarely at the start of the week. More casual and standard bars tend to be open every day of the week, generally opening their doors in the late afternoon until midnight. Cocktail bars or more upscale bars tend to be open only at weekends, until late hours. Nightclubs are only open at weekends, and sometimes on Sundays too, until 2 or 3 in the morning. Happy hours are usually between 4 and 6 p.m.

Ticket offices for concerts and shows are open until 2 or 3 hours before the show. Concerts and shows usually take place at weekends.

Budget & Tips

Depending on the location, prices vary enormously. For a normal bar, beers run between US$4 and US$6, and cocktails around US$8. At more upscale addresses, cocktails start at US$15, and beers at around US$8. Gratuities are mandatory and add 20% to the bill. In more and more establishments, you'll be asked to pay by credit card only.

When you pay for your first order at the bar, you may be asked"do you want to open a tab? You'll be asked if you'd like to open an account that you'll pay for at the end of the evening. They register your bank card and you collect the bill, paying the final sum only when you leave. This means you don't pay a tip for every drink you buy! Sometimes, they'll even keep your credit card. So don't forget to pay at the end, or risk forgetting it at the bar. If they give you your credit card back and you've opened atab, if you forget to pay the bill at the end, they'll charge you anyway, with an automatic tip.

To be booked

For concerts and shows in large concert halls or opera houses, be sure to book in advance online.

Night transport

Most public transport services stop before midnight and start around 5am. In the vast majority of Texas cities, you'll need to call a cab or Uber, which are available 24 hours a day, if you don't already have your own car. What's more, public transport generally only serves the city centers, so it's not always practical.

Age restrictions

In the United States, you must be 21 or over to consume alcohol. At the entrance to many bars, concert halls, or any establishment where alcohol is sold and consumed, you'll be asked to show an ID card to verify your age. Don't be surprised, even if you came of age many years ago! Take your documents with you every time you go out.

Smokers

You must be over 18 to smoke cigarettes. Most bars offer smoking areas. That said, be sure to smoke in an authorized area, as smoking is prohibited in most public spaces.

In New Mexico, it is permitted to buy and consume cannabis from the age of 21, for strictly private use only. Cannabis is still illegal in Texas, so if you buy it in New Mexico, make sure you don't take it with you to Texas, or you'll be in big trouble.