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Botonica

4.4 (14 reviews)
Closed 4:00 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)
Updated 3 months ago

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BOTONICA ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Happy hour specials
Good for groups

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Reviews With Photos

Jose L.

Upscale and atmospheric Halloween pop up with the Cursed Caldron at Botonica. Ambiance: 5/5 Parking is available on the street or paid for parking in the garage behind the bar. Highly recommend making reservations to secure a spot as it can get busy. I do enjoy a good themed bar, and It was moody and felt lush and well planned in their pop up setup. They have different areas to sit in, from the bar area to a more lounge space and then the upstairs, which I didn't get to experience because it was closed for a private event. Service: 5/5 Upon entering I was greeted by the hostess, she was also serving the tables when I got there. Elizabeth was friendly and attentive in refilling my water and checking in regularly. Food: 4/5 I got a beef and a chicken "IMP-enadas" (empanadas but Halloween named) . The chicken was flavorful, warm and my favorite, , but you only get one per order, which adds up if you're hungry. Additionally, the food I ordered came served on paper plates, earlier I mentioned the lush feeling when you walked in, I was a bit confused since that was unexpected. Would've thought maybe some hard plastic plates, but not paper. For the pop up experience, they had additional bites, but I didn't try them. Drinks: 5/5 Presentation is part of the experience with a pop-up and Botonica made sure to have the piece covered along with the names and of course the most important part, TASTE! The cost is pricey, but if you manage to get there for happy hour that ends at 6, you'll get to enjoy some spirits. Coven's Calling - is gin based and very refreshing. Very well made and balanced. Old Magic - their take on an old fashioned with whiskey and smoked. It had a mix of flavors from vanilla, citrus and black walnut amongst additional savory flavors. While it there was a delay in getting the drinks, there was only one bartender at the time, but will say the wait was worth it for both drinks. I do plan on returning and might consider it a favorite depending my next experience.

Pumpkin cinnamon roll with pecans
Lesley M.

The Cursed Cauldron experience at Botonica was a fun way to celebrate spooky season! Botonica went all out decorating the space with all things creepy, mystical, and magical! I definitely recommend the upstairs lounge as it felt more intimate than the larger space downstairs which was very loud and crowded. A reservation is required, and I did see multiple people without reservations get turned away at the door. Parking is rough, but free valet is offered. As we walked upstairs, we were met with sparkling lights, a bubbling cauldron, and spooky sounds! We were sat at a table near the "fire place" and given themed menus. All of the drinks and food items were curated for a Halloween experience. My friends and I tried several different drinks, my favorite being magical sec on the beach. We specifically requested that our drinks be served in "the cutest cups available", otherwise, you get standard glasses. We also ordered the pumpkin cinnamon roll with pecans, which was a bit of a let down - nothing special and too expensive. The drinks were great, but each cocktail was $16. Ultimately, I would recommend visiting The Cursed Cauldron at Botonica at least once if you are someone who enjoys Halloween!

Girl's bar crawl in the main room.
Nancy M.

We really like how this place feels like a local and that the staff turnover is low. The cocktails are fantastic. The decor is very bar-ish. We do love the holiday pop up, Jingle Bell Bar. It is a cozy get away from the River Oaks District madness.

Ashley Y.

We came here for the Christmas theme. Love the atmosphere, service, food and drink were all good but not many selection for food.

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8 days ago

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1 month ago

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4 months ago

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5 months ago

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6 months ago

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11 months ago

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2 months ago

Great drinks and food and amazing servers ! Just sat at the bar and they picked the food and cocktails and it was all amazing.

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9 months ago

Food is amazing. I want to try different drinks but can't stop drinking the suavecito!

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Review Highlights - Botonica

The cocktail menu has a number of choices with strong Latin influence, with a strong presence of mezcal and tequila.

Mentioned in 3 reviews

Read more highlights

Hidden Bar - More mini cranes!

Hidden Bar

(55 reviews)

West University

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

Muldoon's the Patio

Muldoon's the Patio

(113 reviews)

$$

Galleria/Uptown

We always enjoy our visits here, which don't happen often enough. There is a small parking lot…read morewhich we tend to be lucky in getting the last spot every visit. Theres a beautiful patio and a small amount of seating inside. The bartenders are always super friendly and welcoming. Every cocktail has been crafted expertly and is perfection. No food but is next to becks prime if you're feeling like a burger.

Tucked next to the Becks and out of sight off of Westheimer, it's a small classy dive bar with a…read morecool owner in Louie and some nice bartenders. As you walk in, you'll be greeted by the 70's/80's/90's bar music of rock/disco and chessboard floor pattern. Then you get your drink order from one of the many pleasant bartenders (or Louie) and sit either inside or outside and think to yourself you're the luckiest person in the world. So they specialize in three things: cocktails/liquors, cigars, and patio seating. When you combine all three of those, it's the perfect bar. Cocktails such as ol fashions and cape cods are plentiful here. I also appreciate they do a new york sour here which is an underrated cocktail. Cigars are sold here too and they have cutters and plenty of torch lighters to spark them up. Outside on their patio deck has plenty of seating with some of those heaters in case you houstonians can't handle the cold. Only gripe is I wish they had a larger wine selection as they only have bordeuax or a red blend. Not sure if they serve white wines either. But there's wine bars for that. You're here for the hard stuff or a quick beer, maybe a cigar, and definitely a peace of mind. That's what keeps me coming back!

The Cursed Cauldron

The Cursed Cauldron

(5 reviews)

Highland Village, Galleria/Uptown

Very cool Halloween displayed bar. I was so impressed by all the decorations when I visited this…read moreplace. However I thought the service could have used a bit of an improvement. Upon arrival they pointed me to the bar for sitting and brought me water but after that I kept waiting and no one came to get my drink order or describe the different drink options they have other than what was on the menu. So after a few minutes I left the place. I know I had gone around 10 pmish after the food service was over so maybe I will try to give it another shot at an earlier time to see if the service is any better than their late night drink service.

I'm updating my review since it's been a couple years, and the venue/format of Cursed Cauldron have…read moreevolved. For the past 2 years (Oct '24 and '25), I've visited Cursed Cauldron pop-up at Botonica for their Bewitched Burlesque performance. The ticket price is approachable, and the space is adorably decorated. The performers are all fun and really get into the themes - no 2 performances are the same, either, because they feature different artists each week. There is a special drink menu for the pop-up... they are quite expensive at $16 per cocktail, but they are tasty & they do offer a happy hour until 6pm on weekdays. There are some snacks you can buy at the bar, but I wouldn't recommend having dinner there. I wish they had more witchcraft classes, because the Yule Log class I attended in 2023 was the besssst but I'll continue visiting their pop-ups, regardless. Very festive and lots of fun - especially for the witchy girlies out there!

Jethro’s Cocktail Lounge - outside, covered patio area

Jethro’s Cocktail Lounge

(121 reviews)

Fourth Ward, Midtown, Montrose

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.

Bar Moon - Wagyu beef tartare

Bar Moon

(22 reviews)

Galleria/Uptown

0/5 stars Avoid this…read moreplace. This is the first time I've ever left a review, and it's because this experience was that terrible. McDonald's drive-thru has better customer service! We had a reservation and were still seated in an overflow area while multiple tables in the main dining room sat open. We ordered drinks, and after they were brought out, no one ever came back to take our food order. Meanwhile, tables around us were fully serviced, while staff didn't even look in our direction. We waited over an hour for our table to be "ready." No one checked on us or gave updates--we had to track someone down ourselves, only to be met with an annoyed, dismissive attitude. Additionally, a manager approached us with a snarky, hostile comment about taking a photo with flash. It was a birthday dinner--of course we wanted to take a picture! Instead of being accommodating, the interaction just added to how unwelcome we already felt. After finally being seated, the horrible service continued. Our waitress attended to the table next to us multiple times and never once came back to check on us. After waiting that long just to be ignored again, we left and went to another restaurant nearby and had a significantly better experience. What's most concerning is that many reviews describe this exact same experience, while others claim good service. That level of inconsistency makes it hard not to feel like the restaurant is profiling guests and deciding who gets attention and who gets overlooked. We were also the only Latinas there, which makes the inconsistency even more uncomfortable and hard to ignore. Unwelcoming, rude, and not worth your time. It's clear this establishment wants to give off the impression of a high-end restaurant, but part of that experience is also providing the customer with decent service. Drinks were mid at best. The worst dining experience I've ever had. Houston has far better options.

My fiancée made reservations for 9:45 and we arrived around 9:40, unfortunately we had to wait…read moreoutside in the freezing cold to be let on the elevator until our table was available. When we were let upstairs we were greeted by the hostess who offered us a mango Jell-O shots. When we were seated we were impressed with how cute the place is but very small and intimate. I ordered the Morning Dew which is a mezcal cocktail and a spicy margarita. Both drinks were ok. I prefer a stronger drink and both were not very strong. The service was good and both waitresses were attentive.

Botonica - cocktailbars - Updated May 2026

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