The drinks were incredible and the service was great. Went for a little date night to celebrate our…read moreengagement and will definitely go back!

beautiful !!!!! this place is amazing…read more check em out food and drinks are gr8 customer service 5 stars The Best Amazing love it Insanely beautiful thanks

Now THIS is a speakeasy. I had no idea that I was going to get this experience when coming to…read moreHouston, but I couldn't be happier. The origami ceiling, lively bar, friendly staff, unique cocktails, fun bathroom, and photo booth in the corner made for an unforgettable experience. My friend said it was the busiest he had ever seen the place, and it was loud. But we got some awesome drinks that I swore I could've taken pics of -- the lighting was a little crazy, so I think I ultimately changed my mind with that. One was the periscope which was a refreshing and summery gin drink... And I think I tried the naked and famous too because I like mezcal. I had already eaten so I skipped the restaurant the speakeasy's connected to, but I cannot wait to return to Houston outside of a Con so I can really go all out on exploring. It was an amazing way to end my first night!

Super cute speakeasy hidden inside a sushi restaurant. We went on a weekday evening and had no…read moretrouble getting a table. I ordered the Side to the Sun Rises (gin, yuzu, mint, cucumber) which was light, refreshing, and well balanced. I would recommend it if you enjoy gin-based cocktails with a slightly fruity flavor. My friends really enjoyed their drinks as well. They have all day happy hour on Sundays/Mondays. We did not get a chance to try the food, but the menu looked great. Overall, a fun spot with great vibes and definitely worth checking out!

Refuge is a really nice bar located right next to Anvil. The interior is very nice, clean, fancy…read moreclassy and calm vibe. The service is good and drinks are well made. Presentation of drinks is lovely. Everything is very clean and very nice. Several seating available, good music, you can talk and hear yourself. Light during the day is great and vibe at night is more dim and relaxed. There is a hidden speakeasy on the other side of the building upstairs. The wait is usually very long as the inside is very small and sea are limited.

If you're looking for a unique cocktail experience in Houston, Refuge is definitely worth a visit…read more The seasonal cocktail menu is creative, and every drink feels thoughtfully crafted with flavors you won't find just anywhere. The funky décor gives the space a cool, intimate speakeasy vibe that makes the experience even more memorable. The staff was welcoming, knowledgeable, and genuinely friendly, making the evening even better. If you're planning to go with someone, I'd highly recommend making a reservation for two or more, as seating is limited. Overall, Refuge delivers great drinks, an awesome atmosphere, and top-notch hospitality. I'll definitely be back!

Dark, moody, took a minute to adjust from the bright sunshine into this little haven. But the…read moreMexican wine and tequila selection? Absolutely worth staying for.

Bar Buena was a surprise find after we participated in a cooking class at Sur La Table across the…read morestreet. After the byob cooking experience, we figured "why not!?" So we walked on over to this little speakeasy and were immediately greeted by the bouncer. On a Thursday night, it was quite crowded, but were able to find the last remaining seats at the bar. We were seated at the left end of the bar, which was nice because we had our own little "nook" away from the rest of the bar. Adjacent to us was the server station - the one server tending to the tables, Marilyn, frequently came by and we immediately befriended her. She gave us excellent recommendations and provided her opinion on several drinks. Robin was the bartender who took care of us throughout the night. She was super friendly from the moment we sat down and gave us stellar recommendations on food and drinks. She was happy to tweak a couple of their seasonal drinks to our liking, and even offered to mix other drinks that weren't on the menu. Fantastic service from Robin throughout the night. I started out with Tommy's Margarita - this was just their take on a classic margarita, nothing super special. I then ordered the Oaxacan Old Fashioned - think of an old fashioned made with tequila and mezcal in lieu of bourbon. I was a bit cautious about this one since I am not a fan of mezcal, however the smoky flavor was not very apparent in this one, which was a huge plus! I also got the Ardilla - very unique drink made with mexican corn whiskey, cocoa nibs, sherry, and a milk punch. I award this drink for most unique I've had in a while, definitely give it a try if you're up for something new. To finish, I had the Cariña - their take on an espresso martini made with reposado tequila. I really liked this espresso martini - it was a great way to finish out the night and I left feeling inspired to make my espresso martinis at home using tequila now! With the little room we had left in our stomachs, we tried the Pato Tinga Memela, which was duck leg (no bone) with beans and onions and cilantro atop a memela. I haven't had memela specifically per se, but consider me a fan. It is basically a mini "cake" of masa that is pan fried to a slight crispiness. An Oaxacan speciality, where else can I find these in Houston!? We also tried the Guacamole y Tostadas. The guacamole was unique in the sense that it was Oaxacan style, so contains pepitas, pickled onions, and queso fresco. The tostadas were super crispy and reminded me of how they serve guacamole in Mexico (rather than with chips/totopos). Fun fact is that this bar is owned by Goode Company. Next door to this is Goode Co. Cantina, so it's nice that they created an adjoining restaurant + speakeasy concept within the same strip. At one point in our visit, Levi Goode was standing next to us. We didn't know until after he left and Marilyn informed us, that that was THE man. Just doing a casual check-in of his bar. We really had a good experience at Bar Buena and look forward to returning. The food menu has quite a few offerings I wanted to try had I not come from a cooking class. We were also told that the seasonal drink menu was set to change shortly after our visit, so I look forward to trying these drinks!

After a Sunday fun day, we were looking for a dinner spot in the area. My friend had been to Five…read moreCentral prior and sang its praises, so the group decided to check it out. We Ubered over, so I didn't pay attention to the parking situation. Ambiance (3.5/5): Five Central is big! There's a big restaurant, a cigar lounge, a huge patio, and more. While we dined at the restaurant, it seems like there's a ton to check out here. They often will host live music too as I saw some ads about it while I was in the restroom. Service (4.5/5): Our waitress was great. She was friendly, attentive, and she went above and beyond. They brought me the wrong side, and I told her it was okay, but she ended up bringing me the right side a few minutes later. Which meant my meal had three sides instead of the two it came with. I really appreciated that! Drinks (4/5): Five Central has a good list of cocktails and more, but I wasn't in the mood for alcohol, so I went with a Shirley Temple lol. That brought me back. One of my favorite beverages as a kid. They were out of maraschino cherries, but we made it work. Food (4/5): We started off by splitting the coconut curry wings and the parmesan chicken bites. Out of the two appetizers, the chicken bites were my favorite. They were fried just right, crispy, while still tender inside. The sauce smothered on top made the dish. The wings, on the other hand, while flavorful, were a bit small. Still good though. With that being said, the star of the evening was my entree: the fried chicken. Fried chicken is either going to be a hit or a miss... here, it's definitely a hit. Crispy and well-seasoned on the outside, juicy and tender inside. Served with a sweet hot sauce, Texas toast, and your choice of two sides. I went with fries and mashed potatoes. The sides were just as good. The mashed potatoes were a buttery heaven and the fries were crisp and you could tell they weren't frozen. It's a generous portion size, too! I ate half and took the rest to-go. If you're looking for some Southern cooking, with love, Five Central is an awesome spot.

stopped into Five Central with high expectations the kind you get when a place looks like it has a…read morestory to tell. The space is visually striking, layered, and honestly just a cool place to sit, soak it in, and be part of the scene. It feels like something Anthony Bourdain would've paused to appreciate that raw, curated vibe that promises more than just a meal. We ordered a spread: chicken wraps, fried chicken, a couple of Ketel One drinks, and finished things off with red velvet cake and bread pudding. On paper, it reads like a lineup that should hit. In reality, it landed somewhere in the middle. Nothing was bad but nothing really sang either. The fried chicken had the right idea but didn't quite deliver that crave-worthy punch. The wraps were fine, the desserts decent, and the drinks did their job. It all felt... acceptable. Like the kitchen understood the assignment but didn't fully commit to it. What stood out most was the contrast the menu is ambitious, the atmosphere pulls you in, but the food doesn't quite translate that same energy to the plate. It's the kind of place you want to love more than you actually do. That said, it's still a solid spot to check out, especially for the vibe and the experience. Just don't walk in expecting fireworks think more along the lines of a slow burn. Overall, I'd call it a decent restaurant that leans more on its aesthetic than its execution.

Typically amazing time at Melrose with exceptional drinks from Kaleb and Evan. Highly recommend the…read morevesper followed by carajillo shot. Thank me later

Drinks are always 10/10 but the food is soo good! Service with Marissa was amazing at happy hour!read more

Bartender: Richo…read more Strawberry Lemon Drop (Tito's): 10/10 Espresso Martini with Tequila: 8/10 Yoo-hoo: 9/10

Stopped by The Cellar Bar where the ambiance is pretty straightforward, nothing overly flashy about…read morethe space, but it works well for a casual bar atmosphere. Drinks were fairly priced, especially if you make it before happy hour ends at 7. The crowd was chill and the music was great. One thing that stood out is that they allow you to bring food in from next door since the bar doesn't serve food. It's a nice option if you plan to stay for a while and want something to snack on. Overall, it's a solid, laid-back spot!

This place is amazing !! Amazing vibes !!…read moreGood selection on the menu!! The staff is so kind and attentive Facility is clean and spacious Check em out

Y'all - this tiny little bar has a delicious secret. If you visit before 7pm, they offer $7 single…read morepatty burgers with fries, or a $10 double patty burger with fries. We have zero photos because my brain was misfiring at how INCREDIBLE the food looked - PIPING HOT - melty, greasy (but not off-putting), cheesy, fries were crispy. Do not sleep on this place. I can't comment on the drinks - I don't really enjoy alcoholic beverages and they didn't have iced tea. The service was top notch - friendly and attentive but not overbearing. Ambiance is fun, colorful bar scene.

I felt like I was dropped off in the middle of Brooklyn or perhaps even Tokyo at this very trendy…read morevinyl listening bar with great cocktails. It also felt like a third space of sorts, because I was hanging out with a well connected friend, and everyone who came in was a who's who of the Houston restaurant/nightlife scene, and gathered for what turned out to be an unplanned hang out. They were hosting a vinyl swap night, so folks were coming in to peruse the many boxes of vinyls, and a DJ spun classic r&b tunes. I hear that on some nights they make space for a dance floor so people can show off their best two step in the space. The drinks were great and well priced but the wine selection is what got me. I was told they were inspired by Japan's many vinyl listening bars-- having been to many across Japan as well as many NYC imitators, this place actually impressively comes close. A true gem in Montrose.

Service was solid and Kevin was an excellent waiter who took great care of us. Music choice put on…read morethe patio was questionable but otherwise nothing wrong with ambiance. Regarding the food, the Frisée Salad was pretty good, well dressed and flavorful. The chicken sandwich was okay. The batter was crispy and flaky but it had no flavor. What made it a lot better was the coleslaw that brought a great deal of tang and moisture. The steak was not quite for me. It came on a bed of sauce that was flavorful with fresh veggies but it did not go well with the steak. Perhaps chicken would've suited better. The steak itself was dry and quite chewy. For dessert we had the carrot cake tres leches which was decent. The carrot cake flavor was there but the moisture from the cake was not fully spread in the cake. Overall nothing here was bad but with the plethora of restaurants in the Houston area I can't justify recommending or returning.

I stopped by for happy hour and was pleasantly surprised by how many options they had. The prices…read morewere pretty reasonable, especially for the portion sizes. The service stood out right away, very welcoming and friendly, and the food came out extremely fast, which was a plus. As for the food, it was decent overall. The wings had good flavor, but the ranch was a bit watery and could definitely use more seasoning. The onion rings were also good, just needed a little extra seasoning to really bring them up a notch. Overall, it's a solid spot for happy hour with good prices, generous portions, and great service.

Came here for some drinks on date night and they didn't disappoint. The service and the drinks were…read moregreat. Their happy hour drinks are 6-10 dollars. We didn't get food since we already ate but we will be back. The food looked good and it had a nice quite rooftopish vibe.