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    THE PODIUM ATMOSPHERE

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    Justin N.

    As a car centric coffee shop I wish they had a bigger parking lot. That's my only negative and not something I would hold against the coffee shop but I feel I should be noted that parking is tight. The staff here is very friendly and personable. I have been trying to try new coffee drink and their German Chocolate was excellent. The shop is super cute and spacious. When I first arrived there was a Pilates class in session and they have different events and happy hours though out the week. Very cute and fun coffee shop.

    Jose L.

    Cars have fuel, humans have caffeine & cocktails. This place is really a hidden gem that I had seen but never stopped in until friend and I made last minute decision to check it out. And glad we did but also upset at myself that I had not visited sooner. Ambiance: Parking is a mix of valet and self park along the side of the Porsche dealership. Dress code for the evening was dressy business casual. There was an event going on along with the DJ spinning some great tunes. It's almost like a mini lounge/club, but scaled back to be a cocktail and coffee shop. The Porsche's parked in front were a good addition to enjoy while drinking cocktails. Service: Bartenders were friendly and quick. So much so that we ended up with an extra drink that we didn't let go to waste. Food (drinks): They do have some food and coffee that is offered, but we came for the hard stuff. Podium Espresso Martini: 5/5 Wouldn't expect less than a 5 from a place that regularly serves fresh espresso, now make it boozy and it's even better. We visited on a Tuesday and they had an handful of drinks that were $9 all day. They had a smoked old fashioned and carajillo espresso listed. Not sure if it was a limited time for the holidays, but I plan on finding out and either way trying them. Overall, highly enjoyable and fun experience to have some well crafted drinks by some attentive and friendly mixologists that care what they serve. Looking forward to my next visit.

    Bubbly with strawberry puree
    Heather M.

    I drove by this place so many times on my way home from Trader Joe's and could never stop with frozen groceries in tow. It intrigued me so much! Finally we thought ahead and went before grocery shopping and I'm so glad we did. It's so relaxing and nice inside. Very quiet and clean - the perfect spot to unwind, read or get work done in peace. We got cocktails this time but I'm looking forward to trying the coffee menu next as those sounded just as delicious. Our bartender was delightful and easygoing; completely matched the whole vibe. I highly recommend them if you enjoy a low-key bar over the bustling, loud ones.

    Victoria N.

    Absolutely love the concept and ambiance of The Podium. It's perfect for working from home or studying during the daytime and a nice place to hangout with a chill ambiance in the evening. I went during the day time and ordered an iced chai latte. The chai was fragrant and good, not too sweet.

    Inside bar
    Peter P.

    Although it's a cafe there is a section for the bar for alcoholic drinks. Unfortunately I just came for the matcha latte and the tiramisu latte which both were amazing. The matcha latte is refreshing and paired with oat milk is a must. The place was surprisingly crowded since we came here in an event. We waited about 30 mins for our drinks and the highlight would be the tiramisu latte since I am a sweet drinker.

    Albana O.

    Great location for some laid back, car-centric vibes. The coffee (one cappuccino and one flat white) and pastries (sausage kolache) were surprisingly delightful, with the price being about average. I highly encourage a visit, especially if you're into cars. The missing star is for the lack of enough outlets, as others mentioned. Other than that, there's ample seating and great customer service. I'll definitely come back!

    Christy L.

    I actually really like the Podium for studying and doing work. The interior is eclectic and well decorated, in true Porsche spirit. The tables and chairs were classy and comfortable. The main downside is that there are not enough outlets in the coffee shop. I try to cop the big table if I go study with friends, which has some outlets, but otherwise finding one would be tough. For drinks I tried the matcha with mango puree and it was delicious! The cashier let me put extra scoops of matcha, so that was a bonus. I also tried a latte; the coffee flavor itself could have been better. I am giving this place a five stars for the vibes over the coffee taste (I am also just really particular about the espresso taste so take me with a grain of salt.) I want to come back for their cocktails and happy hour. I can't wait to return!

    Caramel macchiato
    Katherine D.

    Came during the day to try the coffee and do some studying. It is very open and spacious and the tables are pretty spaced out. They have some plugs along the wall. I like how bright it is bc of all the windows and overall has a really cool atmosphere. The only thing was the music playing was really interesting I guess. Like I wouldn't say there was a specific genre, it jumped around lol. So maybe keep in mind if you wanna come to study! The drinks were really good. They have a variety of syrups and milk alternatives. Also the people working were so nice and fun to talk to. They were really helpful while ordering and they bring the drinks to the table too. Parking is a little crowded and there's a small street in the back that more ppl parked at but still there's not like a ton of parking. Overall I really like this place and would love to come try the cocktails.

    Shatoyia N.

    I stopped here to do some work and this place did not disappoint. Love the ambiance and vibe of the coffee/bar. The staff is really sweet and recommended different drinks to try. I tried the petal power, cheese danish and a rum cocktail. The cheese danish is really yummy but very sweet. I love that it's not too crowded so I was able to get a table next to the plug outlet. I also love the open garage concept. My only complaints are this place is right off the freeway so it gets loud at times due to the cars passing. Secondly, they don't have many plug outlets incase your laptop or phone dies. Thirdly, maybe add a few more food items. Especially to offset the cocktails since I think of danishes and croissant with coffee. Definitely will be back next time I'm in the area.

    Raven T.

    The ambiance was so chill and had a good little study session. The woman behind the bar was super nice and welcoming. The latte she made was probably one of the best I've ever had! Can't wait to come back for a casual outing and a drink.

    Arya N.

    This spot is at the Porsche dealership in River Oaks. It serves as both a cafe and bar. The Podium was easy to find and had plenty of parking. I was immediately greeted when I walked in. After reviewing the menu, I ordered the German Chocolate Latte (coconut milk, cream of coconut, caramel syrup, espresso, bittersweet chocolate drizzle). The drink: I don't drink much coffee, but I thought it was tasty! It wasn't too sweet, which I appreciated. However I wasn't a fan of the flakes on the cup (see image). Initially I thought the cup had overflowed when they made the drink, but I realized it was a purposeful choice for the presentation. Vibes: I liked the tall ceilings, large windows, and the garage doors, which allowed for plenty of light. The decor was obviously Porsche themed. There was plenty of open space inside, and I agree with another reviewer who suggested putting a car on display. The table was sturdy and the chair felt comfortable and high quality. I approved of both the music selection and volume, which wasn't too loud and allowed me to focus on my work. One shortcoming was the shortage of outlets. I also don't think the television screens fit the aesthetic of the cafe/bar. In addition, the restroom had a strange odor. The filter for their water fountain also needs to be replaced. Overall: Consider stopping by if you're a Porsche fan. I recommend adding more non-alcoholic drinks and food items to the menu. The addition of more outlets would make it easier to use this space for studying or work.

    Tiffany M.

    This place has great potential once they work on marketing a bit more. I've passed by a few times and was always curious if it was open to the public or part of the dealership next door. The Podium serves as an event venue but also is open to the public serving coffee and cocktails. I went by for the first time yesterday and it was quiet with a handful of people. I love the concept of the space and love how simple yet chic it is. They do have roll up garage doors and no a/c when I went thankfully it was 8:30pm so it wasn't crazy hot but I was a bit sweaty. To clarify it seems like they have HVAC but if the roll up gates are up you either can't feel it or it's not on, so dress accordingly. The barista/bartender was super nice and extremely attentive. They have a large menu offering cocktails, mocktails, wine, and coffee. I had the margarita and expresso martini, both were great! Flavor was on point and the presentation was great. I'm hoping when it gets a bit more busy they extend the hours. Highly recommend swinging by to get some work done, pregame with friends, or a casual date night!

    Iced mocha latte
    Cathy S.

    I've driven by this place many times and saw when it was being built. I had no idea what it was until I was looking for coffee shops on Yelp and saw this place pop up and decided to give it a try. This is a cool place right next to the Porsche dealership, so everything is themed towards that. The vibe is very chill and the space is large and open with plenty of seating area. The other cool thing about this place is that it's a coffee shop, cocktail bar, and an event space! You could literally stay here all day, work, and grab a drink for the occasion as well! I only had time to try their coffee, and I got their Iced Mocha Latte which was pretty good. Light on the espresso side, but still delicious. Their coffee comes from boomtown and I did get to try a few sips of their brewed coffee and it was great as well. The baristas are very personable and friendly. I enjoyed their service and how welcoming they are. Overall, a great coffee shop with free wifi where you can work and a great list of drinks and some pastry items to choose from! My one word of warning was that Google was trying to get us to go through the back way to get to it, but their parking lot is in the front of the building, so it might be easier to access it from the feeder road.

    My son and I at their networking event to get a late night coffee.

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    Great service! A lot of beautiful cars to look at I had a coffee and then an hour later I got myself a cocktail 10 out of 10

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - The Podium

    Review Highlights - The Podium

    Trenton, the barista/bartender, provided excellent service and made us wonderful drinks.

    Mentioned in 3 reviews

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    Hidden Bar - More mini cranes!

    Hidden Bar

    4.6(63 reviews)
    0.7 miWest University

    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!

    Photos
    Hidden Bar - Love the decor!

    Love the decor!

    Hidden Bar - Ceiling

    Ceiling

    Hidden Bar

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    Bar Buena - Ardilla

    Bar Buena

    4.6(16 reviews)
    1.6 miRiver Oaks, Montrose

    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!

    Photos
    Bar Buena - Bar is bueno

    Bar is bueno

    Bar Buena - Bar Buena

    Bar Buena

    Bar Buena - Interior

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    Interior

    Five Central - View of Jaxton's Dining Room Area.

    Five Central

    4.1(164 reviews)
    0.9 miUpper Kirby
    $$

    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.

    Photos
    Five Central - Downing Street the Private Cigar Lounge.

    Downing Street the Private Cigar Lounge.

    Five Central - Comfortable Seating Featuring Premium Scotch and Whiskey Selections.

    Comfortable Seating Featuring Premium Scotch and Whiskey Selections.

    Five Central - Check out our private cigar lounge too, guests welcome!

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    Check out our private cigar lounge too, guests welcome!

    93' Til - Tator Tots

    93' Til

    4.4(273 reviews)
    0.8 miMontrose
    $$

    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.

    Photos
    93' Til - Inside

    Inside

    93' Til - Amazing grilled cucumbers...who knew??

    Amazing grilled cucumbers...who knew??

    93' Til - Inside

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    Inside

    The Podium - venues - Updated August 2026

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