Loved it! This charming bar is located on Washington St. And the have valet (you just tip the staff member), the parking space is limited but you can also park behind and access through the back. The vibe is chill but classy, you can talk without the need to yell to be heard. Dimmed lights, cozy and intimate atmosphere, what's not to like?! They have bites and entrees, but I went for bites, the Margarita Pizza was delightful, thin crispy crust with fresh mozzarella cheese. Also got the baked Brie, I love Brie and it didn't disappoint, I just wished the bagged was toasted instead soft. I ordered a drink... PornStar Martini, and I really liked it, it was refreshing and slightly sweet. Our server was very attentive and helpful with the menu, her name.. Hope, she will make sure you had a great experience. Definitely coming back! read more

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These craft cocktails are modern style techniques and the speakeasy vibe is EPIC!!!! Love the servers!! Total date night 1000% read more

What can be said about a place that comforts you like an old friend you have not seen in a while. You definitely have to experience Julep on various days to get the full experience of what they offer. The new bartender is fire! read more

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The Kentucky Derby Party May2, 2026 was a hit. The decorations were incredible. The weather was perfect. The band was awesome, however, they offered a small selection of beer and then ran out of beer. Strange for a bar to run out of beer. read more

Julep - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

For parking, valet is available but my friends and I did street parking on White St where there was plenty of space available. My friends and I had a reservation for Friday night and we were originally expecting to be seated in the main area but since Juelp was having a soft launch of their speakeasy bar, we were seated there instead. The interior is intimate and moderately lit unlike some speakeasies where the lighting can be very dim. The menu is quite extensive with a variety of different drinks available. For the speakeasy, there was a list of new drinks available at a discounted rate of $10 due to the soft launch. That being said, I ended up ordering the Golden Halo since that was the recommended drink for people who enjoy very sweet drinks such as myself- and it did not disappoint! My other friends ordered the Sakura Current and the Silk & Oak which they all enjoyed. As for food, my friends and I ordered truffle fries, baked brie, confit flatbread, and oysters. Personally, I thought the fries were a little too skinny/small but the truffle seasoning was good! The baked brie and confit flat bread were delicious and the oysters were refreshing. Overall, this was such a cute spot and I'm glad to have been able to try it out. On top of the good drinks and bites, our server was very knowledgeable and welcoming. Looking forward to coming back! read more

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I've been a fan of Julep for years--it's always been one of my favorite spots in Houston for a great cocktail. So when I got last-minute tickets to their Sip & Guzzle pop-up, I was excited to try something new. Unfortunately, the experience was flat-out disappointing. Our reservation was at 7, and we were promptly seated. Several tables were open, but I appreciated being sat right away. We ordered the French onion dip for a snack, along with a Dirty Mango and a Tomato Tree. The dip came out after about 15-20 minutes, but from there things unraveled. Thirty-one minutes in, a Sixty Forty arrived instead of the Dirty Mango. Only then were we told the Dirty Mango was unavailable because it was a "batch cocktail" and already gone. Two issues with that: first, I didn't expect a pop-up at a high-end cocktail bar to rely on batch drinks; second, we never ordered a Sixty Forty in the first place. Still, we kept it and waited on the Tomato Tree. The service was sloppy at best--especially considering the bar wasn't that busy and they were only serving three cocktails. Honestly, little kid lemonade stands manage more variety in batch drinks and better quicker service. Another server eventually checked in after I voiced frustration, and he managed to bring the Tomato Tree. But by then, we were 42 minutes into a 45-minute reservation window and had only received two drinks--neither of which matched our original order. Around the 50-minute mark, our first server finally appeared with the Tomato Tree he'd gone to retrieve 20 minutes earlier. If you're going to hold guests to a 45-minute slot, drinks need to come out much faster. To make matters worse, we watched some tables get no attention at all, while others seemed to have staff and managers constantly checking in. The inconsistency was hard to ignore. I hope this was just a poorly executed event and not a sign of how Julep is being run now. I'll give them another chance because the owner, Alma, genuinely listened when I spoke with her before leaving, and I do believe she cares about guest experience. But this pop-up simply wasn't worth the time or money, and it left me questioning a place I've enjoyed for years. The event definitely doesn't make me want to try Sip and Guzzle in NYC. read more

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If you're looking for an upscale cocktail bar or possibly a place to take a date for drinks and some light food - Julep would be a decent place. I love to have good old fashioned and I think this place made a decent one. I've had some pretty bad ones where I could taste the bottom shelf liquor but the ones made here - you definitely can taste the difference. Smooth with a hint of sweet - a small kick of bitter. Place can get pretty busy after a work day but nonetheless the waitress were attentive and I had no issue with my drink. read more

Julep - Old fashioned - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

A sweet and intimate bar with speakeasy vibes. It's beautiful inside and the drinks were very good. The service was great too. Our waiter was very attentive and had great recommendations. I will absolutely come back here again. I made a reservation so I'm not sure if it gets busy how the wait is. But it was very smooth once we arrived. read more

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Years ago, I worked in a New York City dive bar in the zone between NoLita and Greenwich Village, so I can usually tell what's on or off regarding any particular bar or night spot. When it comes to Julep, I went in knowing the bar was awarded a 2022 James Beard Award for Outstanding Bar Program. So, I've known about this spot for years, but only recently visited within the past week or so--for a pre-birthday celebration cocktail. Decor and Design [5/5]: I love the look of this bar. It is so cool. The design is sophisticated but also inviting. The lighting is perfect, in my opinion. The blue seating and wooden tables are appealing. Cocktail [5/5]: I ordered an Amaro Colada, which is listed under Julep Favorites on the menu and includes: Amaro Montenegro, Pineapple Juice, Coconut Cream and Ron Barrilito 3 Star. The Amaro (In Italian: bitter), which is an herbal liqueur, dilutes the sweetness of a regular Piña Colada. It is a delectable, memorable cocktail. Highly recommended! Service [2/5]: The server, in my opinion, was not very knowledgeable and I doubt she has ever worked as a mixologist. She couldn't really give a straight answer to my questions, which seemed odd as there is so much hype and buzz surrounding this bar. Before leaving Julep, I sat down in one of the chairs near the door. Several parties were waiting near the host station, but there was no host and no one to greet them. In my opinion, the station should always be attended. That's just good business. Atmosphere [3/5]: I couldn't really pick up on a vibe here. Overall [4/5]: Good, with room for improvement. I would like to return to try the oyster special and another cocktail - so many interesting cocktails to choose from. Caveat No. 1: Parking here is rather limited. When I went, there was absolutely no parking out front - it was all blocked off. There is a valet, and the entrance to the bar is situated in the back. The street parking situation didn't seem legit. It looks like a street (just East of the bar) where one's car could easily get towed. Caveat No. 2: I would suggest making reservations in advance. Personally, I had no idea reservations are a thing here, but if the bar is mostly full, it is kind of tough to get booth seating. read more

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Visited Julep on a weekday afternoon for their $1 oysters (I tackled a dozen alone, this is a new record). The fixings were good and the oysters were a good size for the price. Very fresh, very delicious. I did also order a margarita, and loved it. Maybe because it was a Monday, the place wasn't super busy which surprised me because they have such a good oyster deal. Definitely worth the visit! read more

Julep - Margarita - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

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I only have gone here (twice) for cocktail bar setting and each time it is very sophisticated and staff pays attention to your requests and details. It is quite pricey but if you're looking for an upscale cocktail bar and with small eateries this is my favorite recommendation. read more

Julep is a nice cocktail bar near downtown Houston. I found this place on social media marketed for their great cocktails. They did not disappoint because the cocktail selection was outstanding. I appreciated how the drinks were separated by spirit. I went for the Hurricane because I wanted rum and it was a great choice! The ambiance inside was very vibey and a great choice for a romantic date night. Service was straight forward, nothing to complain or rave about. Didn't appreciate the valet parking for such an early reservation and small parking lot, but it was tip only so price wasn't a factor, just the principle. Overall 8/10. read more

Julep - Hurricane - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Classic cocktail bar with a great elevated ambiance. The bartenders are quick and efficient and just gets everything done and heard without you thinking they heard you. It's nice stop for food, vast options. The sliders are a must, the dips are just a treat yourself. The pizza are flatbread options but still good. After a long day a last word and sliders is my jam. They have oversized booths and every seat is a good seat. Expect the cocktail list to have their signatures but also classic cocktails that really makes a cocktail bar a cocktail bar. Overall the owner is incredibly talented and sweet. The vibe is elegant but you don't feel stuffy read more

As many may know, Julep has been ranked on America's Top 50 bars. We had been wanting to come here before the rankings and had to come once they were released. Our experience at Julep did not disappoint. Although it was busy, our drinks were made quickly and we were well attended to by the staff. The atmosphere there is a great place for a date night or for a nicer hangout. In terms of the drinks, they were very good. The mint julep for which they are named was excellent and well presented. I have had better espresso martinis but still enjoyed this one. Overall, while living in Houston, this was one of my favorite bars and we went multiple times. Note- there is valet service for parking. read more

Julep - Mint julep and espresso martini - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

I've been coming to Julep ever since Alba opened this cozy cocktail joint around a decade ago. It's been great watching her grow her brand and the business over time. There are many aspects that remain steadfast through the years and there is so much to love about this spot, yet with recognition and success comes some unfortunate realities. First, let's hit a couple of the annoyances, the top for me is parking is now ruled by a valet service most of the time. There's still a couple of spots to grab in the parking lot or on the street, but consider me one of those in the camp of a valet service isn't necessary when the parking lot is immediately in front/adjacent to the business. I typically walk here, but for those who cannot, I'd suggest for anyone planning to stick around for a bit to simply use a ride share service. Second, given the recognition (such as. James Beard award), it's more difficult to simply show up and enjoy a great cocktail with friends. Don't get me wrong, it's still possible during certain hours and days, but to be safe, I recommend anyone that knows they want to go to consider a reservation. It will help to get a seat quicker. Now the positives, the place is still fantastic. The decor, the low key yet refined experience still shines through. The back patio has transformed in many ways over the years and now is fully enclosed with a bar itself. This makes service far more convenient and consistent there. In the primary bar and seating area there is typically someone roving to make sure you have everything you want. Food & Drink There are plenty of great on and off menu options for cocktails. There is always some form of rotating house cocktail menu, which maintains fresh options to choose from. Many have moved to being staples of the menu, which makes for plenty of great choices! Alba has been a staple to the Houston craft cocktail scene and it's always exciting to see what the team comes up with as a new menu item. Over time the options for food has grown and makes it far better for those who may want a small bite to go with their cocktail. One item that remains a steadfast staple and a personal favorite is $1 oyster specials every Monday; this is Southern hospitality delight! Service This can vary a bit dependent on how busy it is, but in general it's quite good for cocktails. There's only been a few occasions where we had to wait an abnormal amount of time for a drink. The food can take a bit longer, particularly if you're visiting on a Monday with oysters. But fear not, patience will payoff and besides, why rush here? It's an experience and a great environment to catch up with a friend. Cost As I say, subjective, but you're going to find the prices about in line with norms these days. The cost has creeped up over time, but I guess that's just inevitable. My only suggestion would be to expand happy hour pricing to a bit more than just house cocktails? Maybe a rotating set of classic cocktails too? Just a thought. Overall Look, I've waited for ages to post a review here because I talk about it so much to others. All I can say is for anyone looking to catch up with a friend, have a night out to celebrate something, or a great location for a date, it's worth stopping by. As someone who has worked in the industry and has considered stepping back into the world of owning a bar myself, we know the level of effort it takes. We are proud to see Alba continue to achieve so much and give back to the city. She is everything this city and food/drink scene is about. Keep it up! read more

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Julep is one of those spots that makes you fall in love with cocktails all over again. The drinks? Absolutely phenomenal. The bartenders here are artists--knowledgeable, fun, and genuinely excited to walk you through the menu. I tried a few recommendations and they nailed every one. That said, everything outside of the bar experience left a little to be desired. Our food arrived cold and honestly didn't feel special. To top it off, we were served without utensils, had to ask for extra plates (one came out dirty), and only got one water with no refills. The service overall was minimal--our table was checked on once after the food arrived, and that was it. Bottom line: If you're here for the drinks and vibe, you'll be in cocktail heaven. If you're counting on the food and table service to round out the night, you might walk away underwhelmed. Would definitely come back for the bar alone, but I'll probably grab dinner elsewhere first. read more

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The drinks here were pretty good in taste. Definitely refreshing. It was definitely a drink that sneaks on you. I was telling my boyfriend that they were weak. I was wrong lmaooooo. The ambiance was nice. It was definitely date night material. It wasn't too loud. It was very vibey. The lighting was very dim and sexy. It wasn't very busy, which is why I was wondering why it took so long for the waitress to come back to our table. She didn't really check on us after we received our drinks. So we only had one drink and left. However, she was nice to us. read more

Julep - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Julep is one of my favorite cocktail bars in Houston. This bar is nestled in Washington Ave and features classic cocktails and has won a James Beard Award. It is a perfect and cozy location for a girls night out or a after dinner date night. One of my favorite drinks here is the Cherry Bounce Sour julep. The cocktail is incredibly fresh and bright with a good balance of liquor. It is easy to sip on and leaves you wanting to order more rounds throughout the night. Parking can be a bit tight here, but there is plenty of street parking around. The vibes and service here are great and I have no complaints. It is better if you make a reservation as it can be harder to get a walk in spot (although, both times I have visited, I was a walk-in and luckily there was space). read more

Julep - Cherry Bounce Sour (red) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

First time at the iconic Julep cocktail bar (winner of the James Beard award!). We went on a Monday night so it was easy to park and we walked right in and found a spot at the standing tables - by the time we ordered and our drinks came bar seats were available. We came during the week of Thanksgiving and the Christmas theme was already in full effect - the walls were covered in wrapping paper and the ceiling was hung with ornaments and presents, it was really impressive! Not to be outmatched the holiday menu was coming through strong with spiked hot cocoa, coquito and winter spices a plenty. My date had the tepache julep with pineapple wine and mezcal (it was great!) and I had the coquito. Surprisingly my drink was only $12 and hers $16 - all told not the most expensive cocktails in town, even though it was at one of the most awarded bars! I'd definitely come back to try more drinks, especially on a relaxed night like this. read more

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This bar has always been under my radar but I've never had the chance till I recommended it to some friends and they WENT WITHOUT ME! They loved it so much they went again the next day with me. Honestly all the drinks are good, the calypso fireball was super good. I feel like the building is haunted, but that's just me. My friend got this drink that took 30 min to make. It was good but like my drink was better. Our server was chill and cool, gave my friend a shot for her birthday and it tasted it good. I like anvil but I definitely need to come back to this place. It's like anvil's older sister if that makes sense. read more

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Hard to find a $1 oyster place these days especially after 6pm but juelps definitely delivers. Tasty oysters along with delicious drinks. Very surprised it wasn't packed more. Service took a bit but didn't seem to have a lot of staff in the front. She was very nice and make some good drink recommendations read more

We gambled on walking in on a Saturday night and were able to get a table in the secondary room. The vibe is definitely different from the main room but the service wasn't any different. We ordered a drink each (hibiscus sour and missionary's downfall) and the jumbo pretzel, and our server was prompt with each item. The drinks were delicious and pretzel was fine, more German style than American tavern style, but the carb we needed to carry the drinks. read more

Julep - Jumbo pretzel - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Love this place! I always make a point to come during Christmas but I may be making more frequent visits on Mondays since they have $1 oysters all day (limit of 12) and 1/2 house cocktails until 5:30. Drinks and food are always amazing here. read more

Julep - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

My favorite cocktail bar in Houston. It's cozy, has great rotating art on the walls, and the cocktails are incredible. I highly recommend the Aviation, Brandy Alexander, and any of the juleps. The parking lot can be tight (like most places on Washington) but there's plenty of street parking. read more

Julep - Brandy Alexander and Hibiscus Sour - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

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This is a nice upscale cocktail bar.Drinks were great and the bartender was excellent. read more

Julep - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

Love this place! The ambiance, no matter the time of year, is always on point. It's great for a date spot or to show your out of town friends a cool spot with great drinks. Oh, and the truffle fries are an absolute must. If you are on the fence, use this is a sign to come and try it out! It's a smaller and popular spot, so I'd recommend a reservation. read more

Julep - Christmas set up - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

Service was horrible. It took forever to get a drink and the wine selection is not good.

Love the intense Christmas decor. I ordered the Coquito and it tastes like an horchata. We ordered a few drinks and all were great. It was a tad annoying when the front of house said that someone would come take our order and no one did. Also, maybe it was because the time we went but it was packed so make a reservation unless you like standing read more

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Towards the end of a long work day, a few friends and I decided to cap off the night with a drink at Julep. As we parked in the front of the building, we soon realized the entrance of Julep is in the back of the building. As you walk towards the back you'll see the beautiful glass stained entrance which transports you to this great whiskey spot with a proper cocktail menu. We were ushered into a booth and they have their menus on a qr code. Made it pretty easy to discover their menu. We just missed their kitchen but they had featured oysters and a few other bites. Going to the Julep and not have a mint julep is a crime. So that's why I had two lol. They made it to perfection! Use of crushed ice, a metal tin, powdered sugar, and fresh mint where all the elements I look for. The drinks here were so smooth and I loved them. Service was super friendly and the staff was always open to providing suggestions. read more

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Really cool spot for oysters! Came with some friends while visiting Houston. We didn't make a reservation but still got seated pretty quickly on a weekend. Highly recommend the oysters and the baked Brie. Got a few drinks as well, which were great. They have a full bar. At night, it's a pretty dark place with low light, so great for romantic getaways. It's a bit on the small side so is an intimate spot. A bit pricy, a great experience. Would definitely come again. Also offers free Valet parking out front! read more

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Visited Julep on a weeknight while visiting Houston. The entrance was giving classy southern vibes and the ambiance inside was really clean and welcoming energy. We visited around 8:30 pm and the lights were dimly lit with plenty of candles around. We ended up getting a coffee-flavored cocktail and a gin-based one as well which were both delicious! The coffee flavored one literally tasted like a bushwhacker which was great. Overall, the staff were very friendly and attentive and the drinks were great. Would recommend! read more

Julep - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Let's start with the good. I know Julep is a crowd favorite for cocktails and I have to agree. We tried the Snow Day and the Spiked Hot Cocoa and both were great cocktails. The decor is beautiful! There are two different rooms with two different themes. Nutcracker velvet or Winter Wonderland vibes. Both equally aesthetic and picture worthy. Now to the not so great. The entire place, bar included, is reservations only. I completely understand the need for a reservation. However, if the reservation doesn't show within the allotted grace period, it would be nice to offer the people who have been waiting 30+ minutes standing awkwardly in the middle of the bar. But if you are going to offer that option to people, have someone acknowledge them and take their order. We had several waitstaff walk past us for 10+ minutes until we flagged down a server to place an order. He never returned again. Had to flag another server down to close the tab. All in all, super fun Christmas pop-up. I wish the dynamics were a bit different once inside. Hopefully this insight helps others to plan ahead and have a more enjoyable experience. Cheers! read more

Julep - Bar area - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

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So I've been here a handful of times now, and each time has been amazing. Their service is always on point. This was my first visit during the holidays, and Julep really outdid itself. The decorations were beautiful! This time around I sampled a few of their holiday cocktails. Each one was an amazing creation! Snow day is equivalent to holidays in the Caribbean. The choquito (though not comparable to homemade) was still pretty amazing! The nutcracker was a tasty drink with a hint of spice and just enough sweetness. I will be back!! read more

Julep - Snow Day - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

Julep is all dressed up for the holidays, and she's still perfect! Love the holiday cocktails and craftiness as expected. Same great custom service as usual! Another 5-star experience, with great (holiday) vibes! Pro Tip: Make a reservation or Join the waitlist on Open Table. Cheers! read more

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Tis the season to enjoy some amazing holiday decor and festive drinks!! My friends and I went to Julep on a Tuesday around 10pm to check out how they decked the hall...literally. When we got there, we saw valet but also, there was open parking so we just parked the car ourselves and went in. It was pretty crowded so we stood at the table in the center of the bar and ordered drinks. I tried the coquito but it was kinda bleh, so I swapped it out for baileys. They usually don't have it but because it was the holidays, they ordered some so I was happy. My friends got the gingerbread old fashion and the spiked hot chocolate with marshmallow. Everyone loved their drinks so we did another round. One of the servers was quite rude when I asked to swap out my drink but the other staff made up for it by being attentive and polite. We closed out the bar, that's how much fun we were having. I'll be back. read more

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What a cute little place! We came here with some friends on a Friday night and only had to wait about 10 minutes for a table. They have valet and self-parking so that was nice. There is a main bar and a second room with a smaller bar. It was still nicely decorated for the holidays so that was cool to see. We didn't order any food, just drinks. I got the Coquito which was delicious and not too strong. One of my friends got a whiskey sour but wasn't too impressed. Service was just okay. I would definitely come back for another Coquito! read more

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This cocktail bar cultivates a great holiday vibe. There are lots of decorations and great music to enjoy with your friends and family. The drinks were very festive and tasty. I ordered the spiked hot cocoa and it was a little difficult to eat the marshmallows, but it was very delicious. The cocoa was warm and chocolatey and the marshmallows were perfectly roasted and melted in your mouth. However, there were a few drawbacks to this bar: First of all, this bar requires a reservation for a table. It is extremely busy and crowded, so the reservation makes sense, but it is a little harder to go to on a whim. Second, the service was lackluster. Our first round of drinks took about 30 minutes to get to the table. Our server came by our table maybe once in that time and would not respond when we tried to get her attention. She wasn't particularly rude or anything, possibly just too busy, but it definitely affected our experience a bit. Third, I have never been a fan of valet-only places. That's just a personal pet peeve of mine. And there is no self parking offered. Overall, the drinks and ambience were amazing, but the service could use some work. I'll give Julep 7/11 Freys. FREY OUT! read more

Julep - Spiked hot cocoa and an espresso martini - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

Birthday drinks for the win on a Saturday night at Julep! I do wish they had the ability to accommodate groups larger than 8 but we managed for our 12 top group. The service was pretty consistent with the servers checking on all of the tables and the patience it took to work through all the large tables they had that night. All of the drinks tasted amazing and the lychee highball was probably the favorite for our group. Julep is a cute bar was amazing craft drinks and I definitely want to come back for a happy hour to grab some bar bites read more

Julep - Gingerbread old fashioned - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

I came here with two of my friends and we really liked this place. The decor was festive and the servers/waitress were all kind and very attentive. The parking wasn't bad either. For being on washington dr, I was pretty impressed with their parking lot. Now let's get into the drinks... I had been craving something sweet all day so I decided to order the spiced hot cocoa and it did not disappoint. My friend got the coquito and PERSONALLY I thought it was bad. I'm Puerto Rican, and I thought the coquito tasted nothing like a real coquito. The consistency & lack of cinnamon was underwhelming. Another friend of mine ordered a whiskey sour and she expressed how disappointed she was with the flavor. We did not order any food but every table around us did and everything looked delicious! read more

Julep - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Went for Kentucky Derby's event Super busy but nice . Fun in the sun. Lots of people. Everyone was dressed for the occasion. The music was awesome. I think everyone had a great time. They had plenty of free water because it was very hot in July here in Texas, but it was worth every single bit of time and money. read more

Julep - Kentucky derby event at juleps - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas