Hermann Sons Rathskeller Bar

What is it about drinking in a basement that gets people to let loose? Tucked away from the street, it's like there's no one to peek in and judge you. Everyone in a basement bar is hiding from something. A motley crew, in the hull of the ship, contempt to ride out the storm with their rations of rum.

In Tokyo, the Golden Gai district consists of alleys packed with tiny bars containing as few as five seats. This makes them the perfect size for hard-drinking businessmen looking to take a coworker out or get tanked solo. The chances of running into your boss are pretty slim when there are only four other seats in the joint. That way, you don't have to worry when you're sucking down beers like a storm drain in a typhoon.

These were the thoughts taking laps in my mind when I visited @hermannsonsrathskeller. One of the oldest bars in Texas, it's a top-notch basement bar hidden away in a striking art deco building that's home to a German fraternal order. The building houses offices and a bowling alley but is primarily used as an events venue these days. And, of course, has a basement bar. The kind of place where time slows down and the beer flows like embezzled cryptocurrency.

It may not be a tiny bar in Shinjuku, but the Rathskeller Bar is perfect for drinking with a purpose. You'll most certainly run into some interesting characters ready to dish out a story or two. I encountered a local named Jay, a history buff who lectured me about the decorative pistols at the Esquire Tavern and the unfortunate shooting of a waitress at Tacoland.

In the back, there's a section of old collectibles that you can peek at through a window. It's a bit spooky, which gives weight to the rumors that the Rathskeller Bar is haunted. I have no doubt the bartender here has heard some curious noises.