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    La Carafe

    4.2 (273 reviews)
    ModerateWine Bars
    Open 2:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)

    La Carafe Photos

    LA CARAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Juke Box
    Casual
    Intimate

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    Recommended Reviews - La Carafe

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    Reviews With Photos

    Marisa P.

    The name John has a couple different meanings at this bar. 150+ years ago, it was the name of an Irish native who came to Houston and commissioned this building as a bakery. La Carafe has had several lives since then, and there are many people keeping this place running. But as fate would have it, it's still in the hands of another guy named John. My fiancé and I were in town for a concert and stopped at this local haunt to keep the vibes going. Struck up a conversation with John, longtime bartender of twenty years, who is just as interesting as the wine bar itself! One night at this place was just not enough. The dim lights, paintings, old brick walls, the jukebox. Everything was so cool! And we hope that it continues to remain that way. Heading back to Austin with my faith restored in humanity. Thanks for an unforgettable night, man.

    Front
    Tara R.

    The oldest bar in Houston. The bartender was quirky and awesome. He told us a ton about the history of the bar and even provided us with a book of matches as a souvenir. My husband and I each had one drink and then had to make our way over to the stadium. I highly recommend checking out a part of history!

    Upstairs bar
    Carolina S.

    This bar is located in the oldest building in Houston. It's supposed to be haunted, but unfortunately no ghost made an appearance the night we were there. It's two stories and has this beautiful goth/vintage/New Orleans type vibe and a patio upstairs to be able to smoke. They serve beer and wine ,cigarettes and a few snacks. Very cute place !

    Char I.

    Not me going to a haunted bar and not knowing it! So apparently this is the oldest bar in H town! My friends and I were out about around the town and my friend mentioned this chill bar we could goto. Chill it was andddd v v old too lol! There are 2 stories and a patio on the second floor. The stairs are fascinating and very reminiscent of the time the building was originally constructed. The 1800s. We ordered some wine and proceeded to chat! The bartender on the 1st floor is very friendly and attentive. If you want to grab a drink at a chill bar with some history check this place out.

    Upstairs seating
    Sabrina R.

    As a lover of all things spooky, I've been to this bar several times. Rumors are that this bar is haunted. While I've never experienced anything supernatural here, I continue coming back bc every time is a good time. This visit was better than previous times. I was finally able to go upstairs. There was a lot more seating, they accept cards now, and even had a live band. It was the perfect setting for my date :)

    Ole Time bar - nice stout beer
    Mike S.

    Historical bar amazing atmosphere!! Must visit if your looking for historical bars in Houston

    1st floor bar
    Ryan M.

    La Carafe is the oldest bar in Houston and well known as one of the most haunted places in the city. With immersion ambience and a laid back atmosphere, this is a perfect place for evening drinks. Make sure to check out the upstairs as that's where most of the ghost sightings have occurred!

    history information
    Bebe G.

    I was thrilled to finally visit this place that I had heard so much about. It was supposed to be haunted by ghosts and spirits, and I love a good scare. I was in the area and decided to stop by for a drink. The place looked amazing, like a scene from a horror movie. There were candles dripping wax and old-fashioned furniture. The bartender welcomed me and I told her how excited I was to be there. I snapped some pictures to remember the moment. I sat down and checked out the menu. I usually go for whisky, but I wanted to try something different. I asked her if she had any wine recommendations. I noticed that I was the only customer at the bar. She told me that I should go to their other location instead, where they had more options. I said that I didn't mind experimenting, but she insisted. I was disappointed that I couldn't enjoy something new and get into the spooky mood.

    Ambience was nice, wish there was a larger selection of drinks. Personally, I would get something nonalcoholic, but cannot find anything on the menu.

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    21 days ago

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    Business owner information

    Photo of John R.

    John R.

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    John R.

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    1 year ago

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    John R.

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    6 months ago

    Good beer, great vibes, super cool upstairs, bar tenders are very nice and it is clean

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    2 years ago

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    John R.

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    3 years ago

    Business owner information

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    John R.

    Remember bartenders name or appearance ?

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    4 years ago

    Best bar in Houston, Yellow Rose on tap and amazing ambience. Old historic building. Cash only

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    2 years ago

    Oldest building in Houston. Had a cold one. Lunch at hearsay's. Was very good. Was a fun time bar hopping

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    10 years ago

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    Page 1 of 7

    Ask the Community - La Carafe

    Is there wifi for guests?

    There are no TV’s or wi-fi here! We are a conversation bar.

    View All 3 Questions

    Review Highlights - La Carafe

    The jukebox is fantastic and listening to some Frank Sinatra that was playing really added to the ambiance.

    Mentioned in 40 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    4.1(115 reviews)
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    My friend and I had the opportunity to dine at Mutiny in the Heights on their final night. We were…read moreable to snag a last minute reservation on the patio. When my friend made the reservation, she received an email encouraging customers to visit the tasting room before or after dinner. We showed up an hour early to visit the tasting room, however the host had no idea what we were talking about. Turns out they weren't doing tastings. Luckily, we didn't have to wait to be seated. We initially had a table that was not near a heat lamp, however an employee came over and let us know that we could switch to a table near the heat lamp which was appreciated because it was chilly. Our server was Laura. She was nice and funny. They had $25 flight specials. I went with the Sayanara Flight which had white wines. I really enjoyed them and they weren't too sweet. My friend had an NA wine which she enjoyed. We ordered the Truffle Fries and Meatballs. Both dishes were tasty. I enjoyed the aioli that came with the fries. They had discounted wines for purchase. Not all bottles were 50% off, however the gentleman that we spoke to went ahead and gave me a 50% discount on both the rosé and pinot grigio that I purchased which was so appreciated! It seems like there are quite a few businesses around town that are closing. I'm sad to see Mutiny go, but I'm glad my friend and I got to dine in on their final night.

    "Closing time, you don't have to go home But you can't stay…read morehere." - Semisonic I have lived in the loop for 5 years now, and I'm sad to say that I finally tried Mutiny on their last day. I often pass by it going through a shortcut to I-45 and sometimes going home around the area. It's literally a 5-minute drive. I booked reservations Friday since I saw they opened up the 31st on Resy. It wasn't earlier in the week, but I knew it was the last day, and my friend and I really wanted to try. I'm glad we made reservations because they were at capacity (150 person capacity) and weren't taking any walk ins. We got there early cause Resy suggested checking out the Tasting Room before or after the reservation time. We got there about an hour earlier, and the host said he didn't know anything about that except that the Tasting Room area was used for events. Interesting. We were seated earlier on the patio on this freezing evening. At first, we were at a table that didn't have a heat lamp, but when one freed up, they were so nice to suggest that we move closer to the heat lamp since they saw us shivering. Lol. We were thankful for that. I wore fleece lined jeans and brought gloves and a beanie anyway having been in the below freezing winter in London. Laura was our server and was kind and funny. So was this other guy who checked in every now and then. He made light of their last day situation. The dining area is so beautiful inside. I love the limestone-looking interior and chandeliers. Reminds me of Fredericksburg or something. They had many large groups and a few small groups of friends or couples dining on this last day. Way to go out with a bang. A lot of the wines were selling out or already sold out around 7-8 pm. We tried the truffle fries and Sicilian meatballs with focaccia bread. I like the thick cut of the fries and the black garlic aioli. It reminded me of yuca fries. The Sicilian meatballs were a bit small, peppery and salty. I wish the marinara was a little more tart. The focaccia helped cut through the saltiness. I had 2 glasses of the NA Sauvignon blanc which was light and a little tart. They ran out of the NA red blend. My friend ordered Sayonara, one of their farewell flights which were aptly named for "goodbye". It was a great night on the patio but chilly. My friend purchased a rosé and a Pinot Grigio as part of their Last Sail wines. Actually, the Pinot Grigio wasn't part of the sale, and he was going to take off 20%, but he also made it 50% off. So nice!! I'm glad we got to try them on their last day. Bon voyage, Mutiny.

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    Mutiny in the Heights  - Wide selection of boutique fine wines

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    Crab rolls

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    Popcorn and ice cream with caviar

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    13 Celsius - It's a vibe for sure

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    I am SO glad we finally had the chance to check this spot out! We were in the room for some wine on…read morea Friday night and after reading great reviews about 13 Celsius, knew we had to try it. We were able to snag some free street parking and wandered our way into a cute setup with mood lighting and plenty of seating. There's a central bar and plenty of outdoor patio space. We were immediately helped as soon as we found a table which I really appreciated. The menu is HUGE and has anything you could possibly want. We're big red wine fans so we settled on that page. J opted for a cab while I decided on a couple to sample before ultimately choosing a red blend. I appreciate that they're more than happy to give you a taste before committing to a glass. You can choose between 3 or 6oz pours, or a bottle. We also decided to share a cheese board with the Willoughby cheese which was soft and delicious! I appreciated how kind and accommodating the servers were as they frequently checked on us. This is a great spot to enjoy some wine with friends, on date night, or anything really! It has a relaxed atmosphere and is a pleasure to visit. Till next time!

    A friend brought me here to join in her favorite charcuterie board & wine. This place is very…read moreromantic with its dim lights and intimate ambiance. We sat at the bar and the server took our order. I got a sweet wine and we split a small board. I got the brie with prosciutto and she got cheddar with salami. They do charge extra for the prosciutto cut. The jam that comes on the board is her favorite and it's delicious. We chatted with each other and with some gentleman that said they were regulars there. It was a lovely evening. I will definitely return so that I can try their s'mores board.

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    Sonoma Wine Bar at Garden Oaks - Grazing table for a baby shower.

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    4.7(32 reviews)
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    What a great experience! I'm so glad I found this spot. A large wine selection- Reds and Whites…read morefrom multiple vineyards across the world. The food was incredible, I had the cheese board which was loaded with super fresh additions. We also had the flatbread, very crispy and delicious crust with amazing flavor. I also noticed the servers are professional sommelier's and they know what they are talking about. We had Seth as our server, he was very knowledgeable and recommended me a wine based off what I usually like and it was a beautiful French Red. The service and environment is great and would definitely be going back for more visits!

    Cozy wine spot with a great selections. They even offer wine flights and happy hours! There's a…read moreback patio that's great for large party, we had a decent group turnout and it still felt spacious. They even had TVs out showing sports. Inside's a bit small with a few tables and a bar, but the outdoor seating is the real charm when the weather's nice. The service was excellent, the wait staff came out to our big group outside multiple times and even brought out samples for us to try. There are small bites for order and the menu is simple yet descriptive, we got to sample some of the charcuterie as well, and it did pair well with some of the reds I've tried. Overall, friendly atmosphere, relaxing vibes, attentive wait staff, not much more you can wish for from a neighborhood wine bar.

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    Barcelona Wine Bar - Empanadas

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    4.4(286 reviews)
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    Bayla is one of the best servers I've ever had. That's coming from someone who only cooks twice a…read moremonth, and thus frequently eats out. I spend ample time at high ends / Michelin star restaurants, and so I am familiar with all star service. Bayla really made our time special by going out of her way to make us feel comfortable and valued. She made it all seem effortless and at no point did she ever make us feel like a burden. Thank you for everything! The food and ambiance were also amazing! Truly a top notch restaurant experience.

    Barcelona is a cute wine bar (also serves sangria and cocktails, btw) serving Spanish and…read moreMediterranean tapas dishes. I joined friends for Sunday brunch, which was highly recommended. Our friend booked a reservation and was able to add a fourth person without any issues. It's on Westheimer where all the restaurants and shops are, so it's pretty busy. You can either park on the street or in the neighborhood behind. There's bar, small table and booth seating available. One of our friends who arrived early got to switch us to a booth since we'd have a few plates to share for the four of us. My friend and I shared the NA red sangria. I liked that there was a NA option for that, and you can choose either red or white. We ordered a pitcher since we were sharing. It was delicious and refreshing. I think I had about 3 wine glasses of it. Our group shared the red fish à la plancha, patatas bravas, spinach frittata, olive oil pancakes and bacon-wrapped dates. Some of the dishes were bigger than others. Tapas is meant to be small plates, and they were, but it's a little overpriced. For example, the red fish was $15.50 for maybe 2 oz of fish. The stack of olive oil pancakes were small and thin for $8.50. If you're sharing, it's not that much food. I was going to order another personal stack of olive oil pancakes because that cinnamon butter was so good! I decided not to after I let all of what we ordered and drank settle for a bit after. The valdeon whipped blue cheese under the bacon-wrapped dates didn't taste very good and seemed grainy to me. It was my least favorite. The standouts for me were the olive oil pancakes, spinach frittata that was actually loaded with more veggies and bell peppers and the patatas bravas which was piled with potatoes topped with mayo that melted down and looked almost like melted cheese on top. It's a fun place for friends to gather or a cute date spot. You may or may not be hungry after depending what you order. There are larger plates/entrees like paella and branzino to share.

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    La Carafe - wine_bars - Updated May 2026

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