Poison Girl in Houston is the Montrose whiskey dive bar on Westheimer, with a deep bourbon selection, a backyard patio with skee-ball and Hi-Life longnecks.
Anvil Bar & Refuge in Houston is Bobby Heugel's Montrose cocktail bar on Westheimer since 2009, the city's modern cocktail-bar template with the Brave.
Refuge in Houston is Bobby Heugel's reservation-only cocktail apartment above Anvil on Westheimer, with a four-stool bar, stirred cocktails and a slow-paced.
Signature drink: Stirred Manhattans and Negroni variations
Food: Tasting menu of bar snacks
Tip: Reservations only via the website. Two seatings a night. The price is steep; the cocktails are the city's most precise.
La Carafe in Houston is the Market Square dive wine bar on Congress Street in an 1860 building, the oldest commercial structure in the city, candlelit.
Signature drink: Bottle of Vinho Verde, by candlelight
Food: None
Tip: Cash only. Bring exact change for a bottle of Vinho Verde. No food; eat first.