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    Clarkwood

    4.5 (605 reviews)
    ModerateBars
    Closed 4:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)

    Clarkwood Photos

    Business Info

    CLARKWOOD ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Loud
    Trendy
    Classy
    Upscale

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    Recommended Reviews - Clarkwood

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    Crisp green apple martini, clarified pumpkin spice martini, old fashion
    Rousseanne D.

    Visited Clarkwood and was immediately impressed by the stunning decor. It was definitely an upscale lounge. The drinks were well crafted, and the atmosphere felt lively yet sophisticated. It can get pretty crowded, though, and there isn't much accommodation once tables are reserved or unavailable, so I'd recommend planning ahead. Overall, still a beautiful spot for a night out and worth a visit!

    Thien T.

    We had a fantastic time at Clarkwood on a Saturday night. Parking is street only, it can get very crowded and hard to find any parking. From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere was buzzing with a great mix of music and conversation, but it was tiny bit loud. It was really hard to hold a conversation with ppl next to you at times but overall it was fine . All the servers were very attentive regarding the service. They kept making sure our drinks were good without being intrusive. They do offer a little bit of food but this place is more perfect for cocktails. We'll definitely be back soon.

    Ada J.

    Clarkwood has become a go-to spot for my friends and I when we're planning a GNO. There's plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. Just be aware that late at night they usually have a DJ playing music and it gets loud to have a conversation. Regardless, the place has great vibes and even better cocktails. They have a wide variety of margaritas and martinis. My two favorite drinks are the lychee martini and espresso martini. The menu also introduces some seasonal drinks making each visit different every time. I can't recommend this place enough!

    Bathroom
    Tiffany J.

    Moody atmosphere, dim inside and music is loud when it's after 10 pm. Outside little bar area is the best- there is a bar in there and it usually isn't crowded like the main bar. It has a Mediterranean feel to it with the carved into white wall seating. Now my secret bar area is out :( charcuterie was ok, nothing special

    Alan R.

    We heard about Clarkwood from a friend and it is absolutely a hidden gem in Houston. While the drinks and cheeseboard shined, the best part about Clarkwood was the ambiance. The bar has a moody yet trendy ambiance that can be hard to find in Houston. We have gone her many times and it remains one of my favorite bars of all time. Note- We went during happy hour (excellent deals during happy hour) and were able to get seats but other reviewers mention that it gets very busy later in the night.

    Daisy P.

    Perfect place for a classy night out or a drink after a date night! Been here twice and I'll be back again, definitely recommend. Drinks have a lovely presentation all picturesque. Intimate and small space, can get crowded but standing by the bar isn't a long wait for a seat. Restroom line can take time. Attentive serve even when busy!

    Menu
    David P.

    Nut allergies are clearly marked on their charcuterie boards. Parking is basically on the street, metered from 7AM-6PM. Time to Drinks: 6 Minutes Clarkwood is definitely a trendy, intimate, upper class spot in the intersection of Montrose and the Heights. Parking is difficult, even on a weekday night when it was not that busy. Service is decently attentive, even with self-seating. Waitresses kept a good eye out for when we needed a drink refill or new order. I got their espresso martini and a Victoria Mexican Lager. The beers on tap are extremely basic light beers that would normally be half the price at another venue (1.5/5). The espresso martini was quite sweet, with the marshmallow being an interesting touch but definitely not the best I've had in Houston (3.5/5). It was too sweet (maybe some influence of the marshmallow?) and the espresso notes were light and not roasty at all. It was not mentioned that gratuity was automatically included. I was delighted to see the options for only a 7% tip and maxed out my tip without realizing 20% gratuity was already added on. My mistake for doing bad math, but I seriously missed if this was mentioned anywhere. My friend mentioned his negroni was also too sweet. Our third liked his Mai Tai, so maybe try that. Also, no tap water? At a bar? We specifically asked, since the water that shows up at the table is something like $7 per person. Ridiculous. Overall, I'd say it's overpriced and a nice date spot if you've got the wallet to spend for it. Likely won't be coming back. Edit to respond to the business: A curated, high end experience should provide the expected quality (of which, the drinks are not) and set expectations (which Clarkwood does not make clear, as the intention is not to highlight poor math skills but instead that there is no clear indication of forced gratuity). That's my intended review.

    Yasmin S.

    Came here for a date night, and this bar lived up to my expectations. There was music playing, and the lights were dim which really set the mood. The waiters were super nice, and gave great advice on which drinks to order. I will say that this cocktail bar is definitely on the expensive side. But how they craft the drinks make up for the price. Parking kind of sucks in the area, but they do have valet right around the corner.

    The Spicy Verde (made half spicy by request)
    Tiffany J.

    Clarkwood is a cool, upscale, cocktail bar with an intimate vibe. There's limited parking on the street or you can do complimentary valet. Some of the street parking is free and some is metered. Do not park in the lot across the street because they do tow. Reservations are recommended but both times that I've visited, I was able to get a seat without a reservation. On the first visit, we sat at the bar. We got there right after they opened, so it wasn't too busy, but when we left a few hours later, it definitely picked up. Bartenders Oscar and Alex took care of us. They were super nice and made great suggestions. I started with a Cucumber Melon G+T. It had a fancy presentation and I wasn't prepared lol. The drink was cucumber forward and very refreshing. The bottle of Indian Tree tonic reminded me of the bars in London. For my second drink, I I ordered The Spicy Verde and requested that it be made with 50% spice level. The drink was good, but the spice was still a bit much for me. It is also a cucumber forward drink. The cucumber flavor was very prominent, but I would have enjoyed it more had it not had any spice. My friend had a Mezcal Rita and enjoyed her cocktail. On the second visit, we stopped in after having dinner near by. There weren't any open tables, however the staff let us sit at one of the reserved tables as the patrons hadn't arrived. They informed us that we would have to get up if the party showed. I think we were there for at least an hour, but fortunately we didn't have to give up our table. Our server was nice, but it took awhile to get water. They gave us the option of tap or bottled water. I ordered the Lychee French 75. It was good, but a tad sweet. The drink was very pretty and I enjoyed the Lychee garnish. The one downside is the single restroom, however don't let that deter you from visiting. The fancy craft cocktails are worth the inconvenience.

    Ashley O.

    Clarkwood is a favorite of mine. It has a nice and classy ambience. It's always dimly lit and it's nicely decorated on the inside. It definitely has an upscale aesthetic and feel. The service is also really good. I feel like the bartenders are always very friendly, hospitable, and help to give you a great experience every time you go. Last time I went we got the Mexican candy shots and they were really good. I definitely recommend this place if you wanna go to a nice cocktail bar while in Houston.

    jason j.

    The signature cocktail menu is large. However all the drinks we ordered were just ok. Was able to sample 3 drinks and came away thinking they were not that great on taste. They looked awesome and had some nice presentation, however I was not very moved by the taste. We sat at the bar and the service was fine. Parking can be an issue. Food selection is small and not very appealing for the price. So we did not order any snacks. So make sure you dont show up hungry. This is the type of place to come to be trendy and take nice photos. I think there are many better spots in Houston from a taste or a value perspective. I could not recommend or return.

    Danielle M.

    Delicious drinks and charcuterie board. Good happy hour deals. Fun to sit and have a girls night or a date, pretty bar! Solid overall

    Bar area
    Brittany M.

    Beautiful space and beautiful drinks. For $16.00 the cocktails are on the pricier side and considering my marg came with a giant ball of ice and two large cuts of fruit, I am not sure if it was worth it. Service somehow felt slow and fast. No one came to check on us and had to flag down a waitress to order and when the cocktails came, they were briskly placed in front of us. I would come during happy hour but there are better cocktail places in Houston.

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    Ask the Community - Clarkwood

    What is the minimum spend requirement, it is not listed on their website anywhere?

    I've been multiple times and never had a minimal spend. I've come in with a friend, got one drink each and left

    Does this place have any door people at the entrance or can you just walk in?

    Normally self seating during the week. Weekends are more popular and someone will help you find a seat, but reservations are encouraged

    Do you have to make reservations. Do they take walk ins?

    When I went with some friends, we just walked in. There was about 5 of us. This was on a Friday night

    Is it worth it to reserve a table? There are only two of us and we're both planning to drive. Without paying for table service, I think it might be difficult to meet the minimum spend and also drive.

    Hi! I went on a Friday night and did not make a reservation. I don't think it's worth it to reserve a table.

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    Behind Closed Doors

    Behind Closed Doors

    4.5
    (67 reviews)
    2.3 mi
    $$

    On my recent trip to Houston!…read more When I was searching for dowtown bars and dancing, Behind Closed Doors popped up. It looked dark, clubbish, and fun (exactly what I was looking for) and I couldn't wait to come here. After a 25 minute Uber ride we were downtown and walking to our destination. At first we could not find it but thankfully a nice gentlemen showed us where it was. Upon walking in, darkness with these bright lights paved our way. We sat down at the bar, but realized dancing did not start until 10pm. The bartender came over and said to us "we have a speakasy behind door #3" we were like WHAT! Let's go. So, we walked down the dark hallway and pushed open door #3 (hence the name) to find this super cool speakeasy bar. Dim lights, really modern decor, comfy suede chairs and best of all, some really great cocktails. If you are ever in Downtown Houston, I highly recommend you coming here. I promise you will have the best time. We did not stay for dancing.

    Behind Closed Doors is a cool downtown "speakeasy" experience. Each room has its own vibe and…read moremusic, which makes it feel like you're discovering something new as you move around. The drinks were solid, and the overall atmosphere was definitely a vibe. We went on a Saturday evening, so it was pretty crowded, but once we found our spot in the Gold Room, we stayed there most of the night. Great music, great energy, and a unique concept. Definitely worth checking out if you're looking for something different for a night out. Not sure how it took me this long to stumble in here. Parking is what it is downtown so, there's that.

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    Inside
    Inside
    Entrance
    Entrance
    Scrolling bar menu

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    Scrolling bar menu
    Reserve 101

    Reserve 101

    4.3
    (223 reviews)
    2.2 mi
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    Great whiskey bar for your liquor snob friends. Went here on our night out. And had some great old…read morefashioneds- top of the line. Our bar tender was great and super accommodating. Great date night vibes. No TVs in here just a warning if you want to escape the World Cup games and crowds. They have a menu on their website of all the whiskeys, bourbons they have if you want a little pour of something extra special. I tried the old forester birthday reserve 2021. Super nice. Nice bathrooms too

    Been here a few times over the years and it's become a go to spot after games or concerts for a lot…read moreof our Yelp friends. (My good friend Tiff's favorite bar downtown). The location is money, super convenient right around the corner from House of Blues and Toyota Center. You'll often see a mix of locals and out-of-towners on most nights. Bar area gets lively on weekends, but the service stays on point.. The bartenders here are very knowledgeable, can make a drink off the menu if you asks.. The whiskey selection extensive and the staff actually knows how to guide you through it if you're not sure what you want. Vibe is more of a low lit, cozy, and feels a little upscale without being too pretentious.. Good spot for date night or just grabbing drinks with friends after a show. A solid cocktail spot to checkout

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    Bar and one of the amazing staff members. He was so friendly and helpful.
    Bar and one of the amazing staff members. He was so friendly and helpful.
    Spiked Hot chocolate
    Spiked Hot chocolate
    Old fashioned

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    Old fashioned

    Clarkwood - bars - Updated July 2026

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