Doc’s Jazz Club Houston brings live jazz, supper-club dining, and late-night energy to Montrose inside the historic Tower Theatre. When you walk into the room and feel the atmosphere shift—warm, elevated, and intentional—you know you’re in the right place.
Houston City Beat attended the Grand Gala on Saturday, Nov. 14. From the moment the doors opened at 7 p.m., the Tower Theatre felt like it was stepping confidently into a new era. The building has hosted everything from movie screenings to live concerts, including Ella Fitzgerald’s 1980 live album. Now, as Doc’s Jazz Club Montrose, it returns to life as a jazz venue, and the transformation fits the space beautifully.
A Jazz Vision Rooted in Legacy
Doc’s Jazz Club Houston comes from jazz pianist and club owner Brent “Doc” Watkins. Nearly ten years ago, Watkins opened Jazz, TX in San Antonio’s Pearl District and created a supper-club venue that quickly struck a chord with audiences.
Since then, he has imagined a small circuit of clubs where musicians can move and perform with ease. When the Tower Theatre became available after Acme Oyster House closed in December 2023, he saw the moment. Watkins announced the new Montrose club in October 2024, and opening night confirmed what he hoped: Houston was ready.
Inside Doc’s Jazz Club Houston: Classic Cool, Modern Edge
Designed by Card and Company Architects out of San Antonio, Doc’s Jazz Club Montrose spans 11,000 square feet across two levels and seats about 400 guests. The design blends classic Art Deco warmth with modern polish. Deep, moody lighting, rich textures, and an 18-foot video wall frame the stage and give the room its signature look.
This isn’t a restaurant that happens to have music. It’s not a bare-bones music venue where food feels like an afterthought. Instead, Doc’s Jazz Club Houston offers a true supper-club experience, where atmosphere, menu, music, and history all work together.
A Culinary Program Worth Dressing Up For
Chef Jose Avila, formerly of San Antonio’s five-star Hotel Emma, leads the kitchen at Doc’s Jazz Club Houston. His touch shows up across the menu, which runs from indulgent to deeply comforting.
Guests can start with silky foie gras, grilled octopus with a perfect char, crisp short rib empanadas, or pork belly chicharron that crackles on contact. From there, the menu moves into fragrant saffron paella and classic coq au vin braised until nearly falling apart. The showstopper is a carved-to-order Chateaubriand, presented tableside with plenty of flair.
A thoughtful cocktail program and a well-curated wine list complete the experience and make Doc’s Jazz Club Montrose the kind of place where you absolutely arrive hungry.
Opening Night: High Energy and Pure Charm
By showtime, the room buzzed from balcony to bar with the kind of energy only an opening night can bring. Doc Watkins took the stage first and eased the crowd into the evening with his signature jazz style.
Later, Kyle Turner and Friends and the Charly Siaba Quintet took their turns and closed out the night. Each performance felt bigger because of the room itself—a venue with decades of stories now ready to collect new ones as Doc’s Jazz Club Houston.
What’s Coming Up at Doc’s Jazz Club Houston
The club opens Tuesdays through Saturdays from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m., and the early performance calendar already looks packed. Upcoming artists include:
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Charly Siaba
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Jayln Baker
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Ki’ora Michelle
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Graeme Francis
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David Caceres
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Patricia Vonne
Doc Watkins will also perform regularly, including two orchestral shows celebrating the music of A Charlie Brown Christmas.
A New Pulse for Montrose Nights
With the Tower Theatre’s storied past, Brent Watkins’ clear vision, and Montrose’s long-standing creative spirit, Doc’s Jazz Club Houston feels like a welcome and refreshing addition to the neighborhood.
If opening night is any indication, Doc’s Jazz Club Montrose isn’t just another spot to hear music. It’s poised to become one of Montrose’s most exciting new destinations for dinner, drinks, and live jazz in Houston.
