Houston's modern cocktail era largely traces back to the Montrose stretch of Westheimer Road. Anvil Bar and Refuge on Westheimer Road set the template for serious classic drinks, and Better Luck Tomorrow on Yale Street carries that lineage forward. La Carafe on Congress Street downtown is a historic candle-lit bar, while Poison Girl on Westheimer Road holds down the dive end of the spectrum.
8 cocktail bar places in Houston we have eaten in, sorted by editor score. All cuisines in Houston · Cocktail Bar across every city.
Drink Brave (gin, mezcal, lemon, jalapeño honey)
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.
Drink Stirred Manhattans and Negroni variations
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.
Drink Stirred riffs and house lower-ABV menu
Better Luck Tomorrow in Houston is the Heights cocktail bar on Yale Street from Bobby Heugel and chef Justin Yu, with stirred drinks, the BLT burger.
Drink Bottle of Vinho Verde, by candlelight
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.
Drink Bourbon, plus a Hi-Life back
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.
Try Stirred whiskey cocktails and bar snacks
Refuge in Houston is Bobby Heugel's late-night cocktail apartment on Westheimer Road, above Anvil, with reservations-only stirred cocktails and a snack menu.
Try 100-cocktail list and bar snacks
Anvil Bar and Refuge in Houston is the Montrose cocktail bar on Westheimer open until 2am, with a 100-cocktail list, a small bar-snack menu and one.
Try BLT burger and stirred cocktails
Better Luck Tomorrow in Houston is the Heights cocktail bar on Yale Street from Bobby Heugel and Justin Yu, open to midnight, with the BLT burger.
