terrbo Posted July 9, 2007 Share Posted July 9, 2007 My husband and I were talking about the bar near River Oaks Theater, Marfreles (sp?) last nite, and I was wondering.. how long has Marfreles been around?anyone? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricco67 Posted July 9, 2007 Share Posted July 9, 2007 My husband and I were talking about the bar near River Oaks Theater, Marfreles (sp?) last nite, and I was wondering.. how long has Marfreles been around?anyone?you mean the dark bar that doesn't advertise, with selectively blind waitresses?don't know what you're talking about.it's a myth.never heard of it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArchitecturalPRGirl Posted July 9, 2007 Share Posted July 9, 2007 My husband and I were talking about the bar near River Oaks Theater, Marfreles (sp?) last nite, and I was wondering.. how long has Marfreles been around?anyone?I'm not sure about how long, but I do know that if you haven't been there in a long time, it has changed. For the better I think. I remember the old days when it was super dark and the couches were seriously grimey. Since Mike Wells bought it a few years ago he improved things like added more lighting and got new furniture. I actually went to a political campaign meeting for Michael Berry there when he was running for mayor! I thought that was a pretty cool move on his part.I'm curious as to how long it has been there. Anyone? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted July 9, 2007 Share Posted July 9, 2007 from tmariar in this thread, a link to this blog entry:1958 - Houston City Directory does not list a Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gonzo1976 Posted July 9, 2007 Share Posted July 9, 2007 The first rule about Marfreless is -- you do not talk about Marfreless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicman Posted July 9, 2007 Share Posted July 9, 2007 I'm not sure about how long, but I do know that if you haven't been there in a long time, it has changed. For the better I think. I remember the old days when it was super dark and the couches were seriously grimey. Since Mike Wells bought it a few years ago he improved things like added more lighting and got new furniture. I haven't been in yrs but from your description i'd think the additional lighting is a minus while the new sofas would be a plus. those were nasty. never know whose DNA is there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArchitecturalPRGirl Posted July 9, 2007 Share Posted July 9, 2007 I haven't been in yrs but from your description i'd think the additional lighting is a minus while the new sofas would be a plus. those were nasty. never know whose DNA is there.It was a little too dark, but trust me it's still dark. Besides the additional lighting will help prevent what happened with the previous furniture. The Pimm's Cup cocktail is yummy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vertigo58 Posted July 9, 2007 Share Posted July 9, 2007 We used to go there on occasion around 1987ish? Was originally intended to be for couples to make out upstairs. Now its like a preppy bar full of Paris Hilton wannabee's. Consider yourself warned. PS, this is not a historical place at all. Merge!? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isuredid Posted July 9, 2007 Share Posted July 9, 2007 It was a little too dark, but trust me it's still dark. Besides the additional lighting will help prevent what happened with the previous furniture. The Pimm's Cup cocktail is yummy!I believe the Pimm's Cup is the signature cocktail of the Napoleon House Bar/Restaurant in New Orleans. I've never tried one, but now you've got me curious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicman Posted July 9, 2007 Share Posted July 9, 2007 We used to go there on occasion around 1987ish? Was originally intended to be for couples to make out upstairs. Now its like a preppy bar full of Paris Hilton wannabee's. Consider yourself warned.Thx for the warning. I frequented in the late 80's to early 2000's. Sounds like it went Midtown. I'll have to miss out on the Pimm's Cocktail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArchitecturalPRGirl Posted July 9, 2007 Share Posted July 9, 2007 We used to go there on occasion around 1987ish? Was originally intended to be for couples to make out upstairs. Now its like a preppy bar full of Paris Hilton wannabee's. Consider yourself warned. PS, this is not a historical place at all. Merge!? I don't think anyone was saying it's historical, it's just been around a while. When was the last time you were there? I don't think it's fair to generalize the clientele. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vertigo58 Posted July 9, 2007 Share Posted July 9, 2007 I went about 2 months ago?Your right dont let me discourage. Everyone has different takes. Just like food and movies! Next haif meet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArchitecturalPRGirl Posted July 9, 2007 Share Posted July 9, 2007 I went about 2 months ago?Your right dont let me discourage. Everyone has different takes. Just like food and movies! Next haif meet?Haha! Yeah we can all kiss and make up there:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texianjoe Posted July 9, 2007 Share Posted July 9, 2007 If the place really existed I would have gone there in '84 to '87 when I worked next door. It had already been there quit a few years and had already earned its reputation.joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedScare Posted July 9, 2007 Share Posted July 9, 2007 It may be a little more popular now that Sherlock's Pub is closed. Not saying I've ever been there, but if I did, I got kicked out one night about 4 years ago....not that this is news....I've been kicked out of every bar worth going to at one time or another.It is never my fault. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kristiw Posted July 9, 2007 Share Posted July 9, 2007 Oh wow! I never could remember the name of that place (which you're correct -- doesn't exist). But if it did, I'm sure it would have been the place a date took me one evening after dinner (back in the early '90's).First date... can you believe the nerve of that guy? Lucky for him, he was hot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmariar Posted July 9, 2007 Share Posted July 9, 2007 I go to that particular non-existent bar a fair amount... not as much recently as I did a few years ago, but I happened to be there one night last week, and have something scheduled there again this week, and that was about how often I used to go.I've hosted a couple of fundraising-type happy hours there before, and have been to a few other groups' fundraisers there, and the downstairs area is a pretty nice venue for those. If you were to happen by while one of those was in swing, though, you might get a different impression of the bar than you would on a regular night. The secret-make-out-bar reputation no doubt keeps some people coming in, but they all go upstairs (or should, if that's why they've come). Downstairs is just a regular bar. The crowd tends to be a little older on average than some Montrose bars, and it's not what I'd personally call a see-and-be-seen crowd. I think it's got a nice grown-up, relaxed atmosphere. They have a good, extensive cocktail menu, and they do make a very good Pimm's Cup. [Yes, one of the signature drinks at Napoleon House. And people mix up vats full of them at boat races in England, complete with cucumber slices floating on top. Good summer cocktail, as it's very light. One of my favorites.]Anyhow, thumbs up from me. If the place existed, I'd encourage you to try it (or try it again) sometime. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jm1fd Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 We used to go there on occasion around 1987ish? Was originally intended to be for couples to make out upstairs. Now its like a preppy bar full of Paris Hilton wannabee's. Consider yourself warned.I couldn't agree more. It used to have a wonderful laid back anything goes sort of atmosphere....now its full of a bunch of uptight snots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croberts Posted August 6, 2007 Share Posted August 6, 2007 My husband and I were talking about the bar near River Oaks Theater, Marfreles (sp?) last nite, and I was wondering.. how long has Marfreles been around?anyone?I used to go there in the mid 1970s, when I worked at the Hobbit Hole nearby, and lived around the corner. This would have been 1974-1976. It seemed new, clean, nice couches, classical music, low lights and low key. I wondered if it still existed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sifuwong Posted August 6, 2007 Share Posted August 6, 2007 Marfreles,Some people not only call it a make out bar for couples, but swapping couples too. Not sure if this is true or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WestUNative Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 I'm rather amazed it is still 'not there'. My one and only visit was an eye-opener to say the least. In 1995, a gay friend of mine, attending Rice U. at the time insisted I see it for myself. So intriguing, a place that didn't officially exist, no exterior signs, just had to know which back door to open. We went upstairs and sat on one of the couches in the open sector, people watching, especially the ones entering and emerging from the area curtained off and totally dark.For years I've kept the tiny, black matchbox I picked up there just to prove it did exist after all. I was told by my friend that it had been notorious originally as a place married River Oaks people could escape for some adulterous hanky panky. There was a couple going after it, but clothed on the couch opposite us. We spoiled everything, laughing ourselves silly and getting dirty looks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texianjoe Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 I'm rather amazed it is still 'not there'. My one and only visit was an eye-opener to say the least. In 1995, a gay friend of mine, attending Rice U. at the time insisted I see it for myself. So intriguing, a place that didn't officially exist, no exterior signs, just had to know which back door to open. We went upstairs and sat on one of the couches in the open sector, people watching, especially the ones entering and emerging from the area curtained off and totally dark.For years I've kept the tiny, black matchbox I picked up there just to prove it did exist after all. I was told by my friend that it had been notorious originally as a place married River Oaks people could escape for some adulterous hanky panky. There was a couple going after it, but clothed on the couch opposite us. We spoiled everything, laughing ourselves silly and getting dirty looks.Oh No. You removed something from there. Now the guys in black suits and sunglasses are going to come and remove all evidence that it or you ever existed.joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WestUNative Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 Tell you what, Joe, if I see a black helicopter hovering over my house, I'll hold up a sign swearing you were the friend who took me there and forced me to kype the illicit matchbox! How you like them apples? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texianjoe Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 Boy your good. With one sentence you accused my of stealing, contributing to the delinquency of another and gay. loljoe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeggyAnnR Posted July 14, 2011 Share Posted July 14, 2011 I have been in Houston for over 35 years and it was here when I was in college in the late 1970's. It has been here for a LONG time! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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