Cancel

Open app

Search

Bar Buena

4.6 (13 reviews)
Closed Closed

Bar Buena Photos

BAR BUENA ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?

You might also consider

Recommended Reviews - Bar Buena

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos - Bar Buena

Enamorada - mexican prickly pear gin, genepy, lime, guava, honeydew & egg white
Maggie J.

Really enjoyed this new neighborhood bar in River Oaks Shopping Center. We stopped by for a drink with friends on Friday around 6pm. Upon arrival there was not a table available but we were able to order drinks at the bar until a table for 4 opened up. The bar itself is very moody and dark and cool. Vibes are great and the service was exceptional as well, but as some other reviews have mentioned, it is LOUD. Like really really loud. Hard to hear your friends, hard to hear your server, hard to hear the voices in your own head. Despite how loud it was, I would still recommend. My husband tried the Enamorada because he saw the bartender making one for someone else and it wasn't his favorite because he said it was quite "smoky", but I really enjoyed my tequila flight and they make a solid negroni.

Cheers to good company!
Jose L.

Quick stop in before catching a movie at the River Oaks Theatre that's across the street. Somewhat easy to miss, it is located on the side corner of Goode Co. They specialize in tequila and mezcals, but offer other spirits. Ambiance: 4/5 Parking is available at the River Oaks Shopping Center Garage making it convenient to walk over. Walking up, there was a door man monitoring the entry. Once inside you are met with mood lighting and lively music. Loved the smell of leather throughout it as their menu and coasters were made of leather. For a small space it was pretty loud, I could barely hear the bartender explain some of the items. It's like a speakeasy, but loud. Service: 5/5 From the doorman to the bartender everyone was friendly and attentive. While I couldn't hear the bartender, he made recommendation based on what I enjoy and suggested the "Bee's Knees" Food/Drink: 5/5 They do offer a selection of food, but I didn't try any. Bee's Knees: 5/5 - the gin drink was made just right. Majority of the drinks are on the pricier side here so be prepared and they also do offer beers and wine.

Interior
Robert W.

The same ownership as Good Co. Kitchen and Catina and pretty much in same building this dark and moody tequila and mescal retreat is a great place for small groups or one on one dates. The design is old mexican vibe with dark chocolate hues and specs of lighting for mood setting. Normally on weekends later in the evening you'll need to get reservations otherwise the door man won't let you in, but you can wait about 10 mins or so and get on the list before they seat you. All if not most of their cocktail drinks have some tequilla or mezcal in them. It was toward the end of the evening for us, so we went with the Enamorada that is composed with mexican prickly pear gin, genepy, lime, guava, honeydew, egg white. Wow what a great drink! Bar Buena is another nice add to Houston coctail scene would recommend adding this to you list of choices to try out.

See all

7 months ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

1 month ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Business owner information

Photo of Krystle C.

Krystle C.

Helpful 3
Thanks 2
Love this 3
Oh no 0

10 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Jose L.
318
250
2272

11 months ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 3
Love this 2
Oh no 0

9 months ago

Helpful 4
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

8 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 0

10 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 0

10 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 2
Oh no 0
Photo of Mark M.
72
87
124

11 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Bonnie F.
99
53
36

8 months ago

So so so dark inside which was cool but hard to adjust to. Drink selection was varied

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Carrie W.
60
77
126

11 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 0

11 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

Ask the Community - Bar Buena

Clarkwood

Clarkwood

4.5
(605 reviews)
0.7 mi
$$

Okay...so I think I may have fallen in love with Clarkwood's espresso martinis. I've been on the…read morehunt for my favorite espresso martini in Houston, and while surprisingly, my favorite so far was at Postino's, but man. Clarkwood really does know what they're doing with these espresso martinis! I loved the added touch of the burnt marshmallow on mine, and the coffee seemed pretty good quality too. The second time I visited I also enjoyed their spicy watermelon margarita. Also amazing. It tasted a little bit like a spicy jolly rancher? SO good! They also let us know that if we posted and tagged them on our instagram, that we could receive a free round of shots. So, of course, me and my two friends posted to get some shots too. We were able to try the Mexican candy shot, the raspberry lemon drop shot, and the mini matcha martini shot. Honestly all were really good, but my favorite in order were the 1) raspberry lemon drop shot, 2) Mexican candy shot, then 3) the matcha martini shot. The matcha martini was good but as it's creamier, I think having it as an actual martini than a shot is more appropriate. Still, it's a great way to try a new drink and just sip on it rather than taking it as a shot. Also - the venue is so elegant and charming and such a cute spot for a date night. The music was a littleeee loud for me considering it's such a small space, but that's okay. Either way, I loved Clarkwood and will be coming back again :)

$200 to Get Cancelled On: A Masterclass in Hospitality…read more We had reservations for the 6:00 p.m. cocktail tasting in the Arc Room and were required to pre-pay $200--because nothing says "relaxing evening" like a firm financial commitment. Naturally, if we hadn't shown, we would have been charged in full. However, when we arrived right on time, we were informed the event had been canceled. Apparently, a text was sent. Equally apparently, none of us received it--nor did at least three other couples standing there having the exact same delightful surprise. The double standard was...impressive. The hostess was apologetic but clearly overwhelmed and not exactly presentation-ready (stained shirt, visibly frazzled), which didn't inspire much confidence that this was an isolated hiccup. The proposed solution was to seat us in the bar--with the added charm of a strict "out by 8:00" timeline. A bold recovery strategy for canceling a prepaid experience at the last minute. We ordered the Clarkwood gin and tonic and a lychee martini--both recommended--along with a charcuterie board. Neither drink made it to the finish line. The martini leaned aggressively sweet, and the gin and tonic featured fruit-infused ice that sounded creative but tasted...confused. It also arrived in a shade of neon blue that felt less "craft cocktail" and more "science experiment." The charcuterie board was, somehow, the standout disappointment. The almonds were oily, the meat had those telltale dried edges of something that's been sitting out too long, and the accompaniments included what appeared to be Wheat Thins and plain animal crackers. It was an unexpectedly nostalgic trip to a child's snack drawer--just not one anyone asked for. Overall, this might pass as a novelty stop for a 21 run looking for something flashy, but between canceling prepaid reservations, questionable communication, and execution that missed the mark at every turn, it's difficult to find a compelling reason to return.

Photos
Mini Matcha Martini shot with Tequila
Mini Matcha Martini shot with Tequila
Seating area
Seating area
Great drinks, music and location!

See all

Great drinks, music and location!
Kanpai Club

Kanpai Club

4.5
(70 reviews)
2.6 mi

Had a great time. JJ the bartender was very welcoming and gave me some local recommendations as I…read morewas visiting from out of town. The food was the perfect amount of food for a late night meal and everything was fresh and flavor. I regret I don't remember the name of the drink I had, but it had rum, Ube, spices, and guava.

After enjoying a late night snack at Handos, we decided to mosey on over to Kampai Club. I had…read moreheard good things for years, and I remember driving past it a couple times and not seeing it or any signage. Even this time the GPS took us to an entrance that had us going the wrong way down a one-way, but we eventually figured it out I will say that the parking isn't all that great, but we were able to find a spot. If the parking lot is full you should be able to find street parking nearby Kanpai Club is a sister location to Handos. They share a kitchen and you can walk through an inside door access either. You can find the same cocktails and bites from Handos on the Kanpai menu, but there's also additional drinks and bites The bar feels like a Japanese Izakaya. It's a narrow space resembling a Japanese outdoor bar. It's intimately lit and well decorated. We did have to wait for two spots to open up, but that didn't take too long The bartenders were friendly, professional, and efficient. We went on a Friday night (fairly late), and they had two dedicated bartenders The cocktails were fun and were beautifully crafted. Most were served in novelty glassware. You can order classic cocktails, but both Kanpai and Hando offer a variety of signature cocktails. Most having some sort of Japanese or Asian fusion. They have beer, wine, and extensive sake list, as well as green tea and other nonalcoholic options The cocktails were tasty. The only one I was iffy on was their Espresso martini. It was poured from a machine and I guess there were having issues with it. The presentation was phenomenal. There was a roasted marshmallow garnish. The drink itself was far too Smokey in flavor than I like, or at least in terms of my espresso martinis The Yuzu Kosho fries were incredible. The flavors really hit the spot. The Okinawa Potato salad was both questionable to looks and and to eat lol. This purple mound of potato's had an interesting taste, look, and consistency. It wasn't bad, just... interesting and new Some tips: If you can't find this spot from the street, look for Handos. It's part of this restaurant Ask the bartender about the happy hour menu. And most nights they're open until 12am, but on Fridays and Saturdays they are open until 2am If you order food online (technically from Hando's) you can get 10% off using code: HANDO10. This is part of their "Hando and Chill" special Cheers!!

Photos
Welcome to yam rock
Welcome to yam rock
Kanpai Club
Kanpai Club

See all

Jethro’s Cocktail Lounge

Jethro’s Cocktail Lounge

4.7
(123 reviews)
1.6 mi
Free parking
Happy hour specials

We stopped into Jethro's Cocktail Lounge while we were out at the Vintage Community Market hosted…read moreby Faculty Club Never, and it ended up being one of those places you're so glad you randomly walked into. First, the vibe. It is warm, stylish, and very Montrose in the best way. It feels elevated but still relaxed enough to just sit, talk, and enjoy your time without feeling rushed. We came during happy hour and it was such a great deal. I ordered the Sweet Like Peach Tree, which was light, refreshing, and perfectly balanced with the peach and ginger. My husband got the Frozen Paloma and it was just as good, super smooth with the right citrus bite. We also shared the churros and they were honestly a must order. Warm, crispy, and paired with Nutella and caramel. What really made the experience stand out though was our bartender, Manny. He was incredibly welcoming from the moment we sat down, had such a great personality, and made the whole experience feel personal. You can tell he genuinely enjoys what he does, and that kind of service is hard to find. He also told us about their upcoming two year anniversary party on May 3rd with rotating live DJs, which sounds like it will be such a fun time. We will definitely be back. Between the drinks, the atmosphere, and the service, this place really gets it right.

On my weekly walks through midtown, I got to watch Jethro's be built and come to life. First visit…read morewas a big HIT for me and I love finding time to come back. The vibes are immaculate! It's a little small inside and a small parking lot, but if you're lucky and can walk there, do! The quality of the drinks are really excellent and the burgers have been voted some of the best in town! I can't speak for them, but the drinks and the spot, are phenomenal. They have bingo nights, dj nights, and other themed events that keep the place packed out. Maybe once I try the burgers, it'll be 5 stars, but the smallll parking lot and lack of safe street parking keep me at 4.

Photos
Cheers to Papa
Cheers to Papa
Bar
Bar
Flor De Cana 12yr Daquiri and Redemption Bourbon Chocolate Old Fashioned

See all

Flor De Cana 12yr Daquiri and Redemption Bourbon Chocolate Old Fashioned
Hidden Bar

Hidden Bar

4.5
(58 reviews)
2.1 mi

If going twice in two nights when visiting from L.A. isn't a testament to a great bar, I don't know…read morewhat is. I ate at Norigami Tuesday night and it was great as were the cocktails served up at the nextdoor bar called Hidden Bar. On Tuesday, I tried the Thai Chili Ginger Margarita ($13) and it was great, complete with a hunk of candied ginger which I "gingerly" consumed throughout my drink experience...see what I did there? Next, I had the Three Dots and a Daiquiri ($13) with Rum, Lime, Velvet Falernum, All Spice and Pineapple and it was very similar to one of my favorite tiki drinks, the Three Dots and a Dash, complete with 3 luxardo cherries. To finish, I had the absolutely incredible Golden Laurel ($16) with Gin, Italicus Bergamot, House Greek Botanical Bitters and Sea Salt. It is equally beautiful served with a clear bay leaf and delicious. Last night, I was guided by the friendly bartender to try the Et Tu Banana" ($15) with Banana Bourbon, Spiced Pear, Creme de Banane, Campari and Citric Acid. I was a little worried about the cocktail being overly banana-y but it wasn't at all. It was a fantastic drink. For my last call, he recommended the Left Hand ($13) with Bourbon, Campari, Sweet Vermouth and Chocolate Bitters. Again, fantastic. Both nights, the bartenders and drinks were fantastic. Ambiance is nice with moody lighting. They even have a bidet toilet seat in the bathroom! Hidden Bar is a "hidden" gem, for sure. HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

Stopped by The Hidden Bar for drinks and let me just say... the ambiance is EVERYTHING the…read moreaesthetic is super cute, very picture-worthy, and definitely gives that "night out with the girls" vibe. They even have a selfie ring light on the wall, which is such a fun touch for pictures (because if you didn't take pics, did you even go??) Now--fair warning--we went on a Friday night and it was PACKED. We were lucky enough to find seats, but it was so crowded we could barely talk without yelling, and we were basically shoulder-to-shoulder with the people around us Other than that, it's a really nice spot to grab drinks, hang out with friends, and get some cute content. Would I go again? Yes... just maybe not on a Friday night

Photos
Love the decor!
Love the decor!
Hidden Bar
Hidden Bar

See all

Bar Buena - cocktailbars - Updated July 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...