Hip Second Ward Swim Club Returns with a Splash

Hip Second Ward Swim Club Returns with a Splash

HOUSTON’S INFAMOUS HUMIDITY is already creeping in, but cool and casual El Segundo Swim Club has the antidote to beating the heat. Houston’s only private outdoor swim club and bar — with a 1,350-square-foot swimming pool, cabanas and adult beverage service — will officially reopen for the spring and summer swim season Saturday, May 4.


“El Segundo Swim Club is the premier spot for those seeking a fun and unpretentious, yet sophisticated pool club in Houston,” said Matthew Healey, owner of El Segundo Swim Club in a statement. “We’re excited to reopen our doors and bring our relaxed, international vibe to our friends and those visiting our city right here in the Second Ward.”


The East End swim club, a 15,000 square-foot oasis, features an oversized cocktail-depth pool and a full-service bar. As you step through the club’s stacked stone entrance, you will be transported from a concrete jungle into an urban retreat where the drinks are always flowing.

El Segundo Swim Club channels the eclectic, bohemian and laidback energy of Houston while also layering colors and murals that are reminiscent of vintage Rio. Oversized, sculptural palm fronds, a mix of industrial elements and lush landscaping create a chill environment, kind of like visiting a friend’s whimsical backyard pool.

Reserved for those 21-plus years of age, the club features amenities including hammocks and lounge chairs, complimentary towel and sunscreen service and changing rooms available for all guests. For guests or groups looking for an upgraded experience, multiple private cabanas are available and can be reserved.

The swim club’s beverage menu, curated veteran mixologist Chris Frankel, features a variety of summer cocktails, a collection of independent grower Champagnes, mixed-drink carafes, frosty pitchers and canned beers. Food is available for purchase during peak hours via rotating food trucks.

Day passes (from $25) to access El Segundo Swim Club are available through the club’s website or TOCK.

People + Places

Pappas Bros. Steakhouse

IT’S THAT TIME of year again: Wine Spectator, the world’s leading authority on wine, has unveiled the winners of the 2024 Restaurant Awards, which honor the world’s best restaurants for wine. This year’s awards program recognizes 3,777 dining destinations from all 50 states in the U.S. and more than 75 countries internationally. Houston, the fourth largest city in America, garnered 42 awards.

Keep Reading Show less

A next-gen artificial heart from BiVACOR has successfully been implanted in a patient at Texas Heart Institute. The patient survived more than a week, until a donor heart was found for a transplant.

THE PIONEERING CARDIOVASCULAR inventors and surgeons at The Texas Heart Institute (THI) in the Texas Medical Center have made another huge leap forward in the treatment of heart disease, officially announcing yesterday what they’re calling a “monumental advancement."

Keep Reading Show less
People + Places