Houston Hall — Restaurant in New York

One hundred years ago, long before craft beer taps and truffle fries, the building at 222 West Houston Street served a grittier, more functional purpose—it was a garage and stable, a vital cog in New York City’s infrastructure at a time when horsepower still referred to actual horses. Built in the early 1900s, the space was designed for practicality: thick brick walls, cavernous ceilings supported by hulking wooden beams, and wide-open floors that could accommodate wagons, carts, and eventually, those newfangled automobiles. You can almost still hear the clatter of hooves and the hiss of steam if you listen hard enough beneath the ambient indie rock and the clink of pint glasses.

Today, that same space has been reborn as Houston Hall—a sprawling, high-ceilinged beer hall that still wears its industrial history with pride. The exposed beams and raw brick aren’t decorative; they’re authentic remnants of a New York built on muscle and grit. It’s a transformation Sir Patrick Stewart might call “a most noble repurposing”—and I’d call “a damn smart use of square footage in this part of the Village.”

This place really resonates with me. It has that vibe that is rustic but not rough, spacious but still intimate when the crowd hits its rhythm. The beer selection, brewed by Greenpoint Beer Works, leans into approachable craft styles rather than obscure brewing one-upmanship. Think hazy IPAs, crisp lagers, and a rotating seasonal brew that gives the regulars something to look forward to.

Food? Solid bar fare with a few flourishes. The truffle grilled cheese gets mentions, as does the soft pretzel with beer cheese. No one's mistaking this for a fine dining establishment, but for a beer hall built in the bones of a turn-of-the-century garage, the kitchen holds its own.

Service is brisk and friendly—occasional chaos, but that’s par for the course when you’re dealing with large tables with non-homogeneous diners and pitchers of pale ale. The acoustics, courtesy of that soaring ceiling, can turn raucous quickly, so if you're looking for a quiet conversation, go early or aim for a weekday. Or definitely a weekday later in the evening, it seems to quiet down pretty quickly.

In sum: Houston Hall is a celebration of old bones and new brews. A place where the past hasn’t been erased—it’s been repurposed, revitalized, and handed a flight of beer. One could raise a glass and say, in both reverence and delight:...

An ELITE place to come and watch a game. We came here to watch the USC vs Washington game in what was an absolute SHOOTOUT.

They had 4 different college football games on 4 different projectors, fans of each watching the screen that their team is playing on. My big bro even started rooting for Michigan because he saw a couple cute girls in Michigan gear. "Wow, your offense looks good!... What year did y'all graduate tho??..." Next thing I know he's in the middle of their long picnic table making them all laugh smh. I just came to watch a game......

I love Houston Hall because there are tons of people but there is still AMPLE space, as its prior use was for horse stables and carriages. This amount of room is an absolute luxury in New York. It really reminds me of being in Texas watching a game. Shoutout to Texas Live one time.

They have the big boy Steins of beer that will at least last you a full half, unless you're a BEAST! One of my other big bros was getting the medium sized beers though and we were on his head for it, he might be downgraded to lil cuzzo after this.

USC ended up losing the shootout, and my boy Caleb Williams ended up crying in his Mom's arms in the stands and getting clowned for it. I feel him though. Sometimes you just need a good cry smh there's nothing wrong with a man being vulnerable.

Thank you Houston Hall. I will see you next weekend when Oregon is gonna WHOOP us.

IG...

Houston Hall needs to hire better staff, the 2 i dealt with yesterday were not hospitable, do not know how to properly communicate, and were condescending and rude with a "nice" exterior. I never write negative reviews but my experience last night has drove me here. I had a very big night planned and these two ruined it. Whoever that "supervisor" was on shift on Wednesday nights needs better training, her and her one henchman bartender need to learn how to manage their tempers better. How are you guys the ones who are supposed to be the hospitable ones, and we as customers are getting yelled at? Our entire party saw their behavior.

I'm bummed because Houston Hall is a great place, but after my experience I will not be going back, and I will tell recommend everyone else check out the Brooklyneer, which is right next door. Our party happily migrated over there after these two spoiled the mood.

Thankfully the owner was super kind and understanding and made the effort to call me after I emailed about my experience, so I'm...