4 speakeasies in Houston our editors have drunk at, sorted by score. All Houston nightlife.
Refuge ★ 4.7
Montrose · 1424 Westheimer Rd, 2nd Floor, Houston, TX 77006
Refuge is Bobby Heugel's reservation-only cocktail bar above Anvil on Westheimer, opened May 2022 with around twenty seats, 200 spirits and tasting flights.
Tip: Resy reservations open weekly. Entrance is via the back staircase off the Anvil side door; hot towels and a multi-course tasting flight are house standards.
Bandista ★ 4.8
Downtown · 1300 Lamar Street, Houston, TX 77010
Bandista hides behind a bookcase inside the Four Seasons Houston, off Toro Toro. Twenty seats, a 1920s Latin lounge concept, and a spot on North America's 50.
Tip: Reservations through OpenTable in 90-minute slots; the staff opens with bespoke flights tailored to your spirit preference. No standing-only entry.
Captain Foxheart's Bad News Bar and Spirit Lodge ★ 4.5
Downtown · 308 Main Street, 2nd Floor, Houston, TX 77002
Captain Foxheart's hides on the second floor above the Market Square Bar block on Main. Tin-ceilinged cocktail room with a rooftop patio facing the downtown.
Tip: Look for the small Bad News sign and climb the stairs from Main Street. Open seven nights 17:00-02:00; the rooftop patio opens weather permitting.
Better Luck Tomorrow ★ 4.6
The Heights · 544 Yale Street, Houston, TX 77007
Better Luck Tomorrow on Yale and West 6th is the Bobby Heugel and Justin Yu cocktail and small-plates bar from 2017, in the old Dry Creek Cafe space.
Tip: Half-off BLT cocktails, beer and glass pours weekday happy hour 14:00-17:00. Walk-in only most nights; weekends fill fast on the patio.