![]() Many of the cocktails utilize higher-end spirits, while other drinks include multiple servings, such as the Sazerac Flight with rye, cognac and tequila variations or the Dead Man Walking, clarified gin cocktail served in a ship-in-a-bottle decanter. The drinks come with a Four Seasons price tag, but that cost is often justified. All of these details, in addition to over-the-top drinks, create an atmosphere of exclusivity. Seating is limited, split between the bar top and a small lounge with a few couches and tables. A neo-speakeasy, Bandista is well-hidden and requires a reservation, a guide and potentially a passkey to get in. Bandista, hidden in the Four Seasons Houston, continues that legacy with style. Photo by Ryan Baker.īandista at Four Seasons Houston, 1300 Lamar: There was a time when if you wanted to find craft cocktails, hotel bars were your best bet. We’ll share our thoughts on Refuge in a forthcoming article.ĭead Man Walking cocktail at Bandista. Specifically, it’s an upstairs cocktail bar in the space that used to house Penny Quarter and Tongue-Cut Sparrow after its brief relocation from downtown. It’s also worth noting that while Anvil Bar & Refuge meant only one bar for a dozen years, Refuge is now its own thing. We highly recommend visiting Sunday through Wednesday before 7 p.m. ![]() The one drawback to visiting Anvil is that it gets uncomfortably crowded. The bar also offers seasonal drinks, as well as one of the largest selections of spirits in the state. Anvil is also known for having its 100 classic cocktails list that every bartender is expected to know by heart, a phenomenal Widow’s Kiss and Bobby’s own modern classic, The Brave, are both on the menu. Consistent great quality is Anvil’s greatest strength, thanks in part to weeks of rigorous training required of every bartender. Photo by Jenn Duncan.Īnvil Bar & Refuge, 1424 Westheimer: In opening this Montrose landmark, Bobby Heugel and his business partners, Steve Flippo and Kevin Floyd (who would later separate from the partnership ) catalyzed a new age for Houston cocktails. A selection of cocktails at Refuge, the 50-seat bar above Anvil and Tongue-Cut Sparrow. Looking for great drinks in more casual venues? Check out our list of The Best Casual Cocktail Bars in Houston. At these bars, the adventure as a whole is almost as important as the drinks that are being served. This list focuses on the more-refined spots that go above and beyond to create wonderful drinks, atmospheres and settings. The city’s drinking options range from elegant and intimate to neighborhood dives, all of which offer quality cocktails. That makes excellent cocktails available in many more neighborhoods no need for a long haul across town. However, instead of cocktail bars tightly clustered in a few inside-the-Loop areas, a growing number are opening in the suburbs or outlying towns, such as Spring Branch, Clear Lake and Old Town Spring. A high concentration of top-quality bars near Congress and Main in downtown Houston - including The Pastry War, Tongue-Cut Sparrow (both with the same owners as Anvil the latter had a brief second life in Montrose), Moving Sidewalk, Public Services Wine & Whisky and The Honeymoon - were decimated by either uneven weekday business levels or the COVID-19 pandemic. Houston’s cocktail bar scene has continued to grow albeit sometimes on unsteady legs. It never won, but its impact is undeniable. Between 20, this pacesetting bar was considered for a James Beard Award 10 times two of those times as a national finalist for Outstanding Bar Program. ![]() While practices were improving, and there were a few craft cocktail spots, there was not a boom in truly refined drinking experiences until Anvil Bar and Refuge opened in 2009, catalyzing the growth that’s turned Houston into one of the best destinations for mixed beverages. ![]() Compared to many cities around the United States, such as New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles, Houston was late to the party. Time-honored, cocktail-making practices rapidly expanded and evolved, inspiring hundreds of new cocktail bars to emerge. The late 1990s and early 2000s are regarded as a renaissance period for cocktails.
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