Our story: art project meets cocktail bar

Established in 1996.

notsuoH (name is inspired by the No-Tsu-Oh Festival celebrated in Houston in 1899) was founded in 1996 as a coffee shop by two artists Jim Pirtle and Missy Bosch.

At that time the only other business open on Main Street was the LGBT cantina next door....and some closed down porno houses and pawn shops. Long before the Rice Hotel renovations and Daikin Park (formally Minute Maid and Enron Stadium)...it was open all night serving coffee, sandwiches and lots of chess boards...the décor was from the upstairs of the building...leftover detritus from 100 years of retail stores...it was a bit of a time machine...Downtown slowly revitalized and became a destination point. In the early 2000s, notsuoH became a bar, boasting the original store window displays, a mezzanine bar, art gallery and interactive “Dome”, it’s not hard to see why we have thrived for almost 30 years.

Jim and Missy, together with their daughter, run a family owned business that is art project meets cocktail bar hoping to make the center of a sprawling city fun, creative and cozy.

notsuoH has been home to artists, film makers, poets, musicians and so much more. We continue to be an offbeat unique bar and venue filled with what we love the most: experiences, art, and people.

Choose your own adventure

  • Where it all starts. Come in and introduce yourself.

    Head on a lion with flowers.

  • Come to the mezzanine for curated cocktails and some quite conversation.

    Bar on the mezzanine level.

  • Need a breath of fresh air? The patio is waiting.

    Patio with illuminated wall sculpture.

  • Visit The Dome for ethereal experiences.

    Table set up under panoramic dome scree,

  • Explore the art galleries , retreat to private lounging, and play some chess.

    Playing chess with an elk.