Cancel

Open app

Search

Anvil Bar and Refuge

4.2 (1.2k reviews)
Closed 2:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)

Anvil Bar and Refuge Photos

Business Info

ANVIL BAR AND REFUGE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Loud
Trendy
Classy
Outdoor seating

You might also consider

More like Anvil Bar and Refuge

Recommended Reviews - Anvil Bar and Refuge

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

Homebound- I believe  I cannot fully remember the name but it started with an H
Harley M.

I seem to only end up at Anvil pretty late into the evening for "one last drink". They have amazing cocktails and great service. Our bartenders last night were very fast and friendly, and our drinks were AMAZING. My drink was a watermelon rum cocktail that I will probably be thinking about for a long time. I do have to say my one quip with smaller bars does always end up being the noise level, but even with it full and music playing it didn't take away from the experience the way it has in other places.

Lizz M.

The bar is so cute! I've never seen so many booths, well like 5 or so but still it's nice to have spacious seating area. Plenty of standing area. It was busy for a Friday night. The bartenders were so attentive and noticed when I walked up and immediately got me a menu. When I was ready to order she came back. It was so quick and the drinks were delicious. I loved the variety on the menu. It got even busier so we headed out but definitely added to the list of places to stop by.

Jamie G.

I think I've officially found my little hideaway in Montrose. Anvil is so sexy at night! The vibe gives cool NYC bar but the servers give very neighborhood bar. I literally had to pull myself away from the bar because I had to go home. This is definitely on my list as a regular spot.

Charlie Chaplin cocktail
Hannah W.

Always a great time :) We come here when we need a solid place for a date night or after a long day.

Mezcal drink (on menu)
Carmen S.

I like to pop in here on "off nights" like M-W when it's fairly low key. On the weekends it gets very very crowded & can be a challenge to get a table or bar seating. The mixologists do a great job of making whatever drink you like or recommending a drink based on your description of your preferred drink profile. Its a pretty dark atmosphere. Gotta use your phone to see the menu but they do craft cocktails well. Parking can be a challenge with some spots across the street. They also have valet parking for $10 (at least that's the weekday price) Anvil is a go to bar for me when I want a well balanced craft cocktail. I also really enjoy their sister bar, Refuge, in the back, upstairs when I want a more intimate, upscale vibe. Drinks & talented mixologists are equally wonderful there.

Yasmin S.

Loved this bar! It's pretty jammed inside, with limited seating besides the bar. However, I do love the music that they played and the ambiance was nice. I tried the blended margarita, and it had lime sherbet in it. That was a first for me. I will definitely be back!

Menu
Christine D.

Love this neighborhood bar in Houston! Their happy hour is excellent, and they're incredibly knowledgeable about their drinks. The menu can be overwhelming, but you really won't be disappointed with whatever you get. Highly recommend the kettle chips and cream cheese dip as a snack! Crunchy and salty in all the best ways. Also super impressed with all their on-tap choices, including on-tap rum!

Ilana Z.

Solid bar in Houston that we went to while visiting for the weekend. It was pretty busy but we managed to snag seats at the bar. My espresso martini was solid, but I've had better. Good music and friendly bartenders!

Paper cut and old fashioned
Brandi J.

Excellent drinks! I visited on my birthday and I'm so glad I did. It wasn't very busy, which nice. We were greeted as soon as we entered and handed a menu and told to order at the bar. After deciding, it didn't take long to prepare our drinks. They were both delicious! It will definitely be a place of return to, I look forward to trying many more drinks.

Annie D.

It was very busy as expected for Saturday night. There were a lot of people coming in and out so we were able to snag 2 seats at the bar fairly quickly. The bartenders are fast and very attentive. As for the drinks, the cocktails are craft with very unique flavors. One of the best bars we've been to.

Outside area
Rachelle Rare P.

I was told this is the best cocktail place in the city. I came here on a weekday night and it was pretty busy. We were able to find seats quickly at the bar. Our bartender was very accommodating the music at this place wasn't the best but definitely not the worst. I would come here again for a drink. The espresso martini was perfect.

Holley Janae P.

I finally visited Anvil after receiving many rave recommendations from my husband and his friends. I stopped in on a Friday night around 9pm, and the bar was pleasantly full without being crowded. The backdrop of the bar is its extensive liquor shelf which is bright and colorful. There's plenty of room to stand, but if you want to sit I'd recommend arriving earlier to snag a booth. Our server provided us with great drink recommendations before Our drinks were refreshing and festive - perfect for the end of summer.

Elizabeth S.

Anvil is a staple in Montrose. While some of the trendy bars come and go in popularity, Anvil remains busy- and for good reason! On a weekend night, it's usually packed. My boyfriend and I recently went on a Thursday early evening and it was still pretty full, but a nice slower pace, where we could hear each other talk. The service is still good on a weekend but even better when they weren't as busy. Our bartender was sweet and funny. We've definitely been there while honoring Dry January and the mocktails are awesome. The cocktails are also always unique and good quality. It is fun to try new ones whenever we are there!

See all

18 days ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

20 days ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 days ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 days ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

17 days ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 months ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 2
Love this 1
Oh no 0

10 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

11 months ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 1
Love this 3
Oh no 0

5 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

19 days ago

Great place, great atmosphere, great drinks, awesome bartenders. Would definitely go again

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

9 months ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

9 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

9 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Anthony S.
48
214
161

4 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

10 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

18 days ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 4
Oh no 0

2 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 4
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 1
Love this 2
Oh no 0
Photo of Sam W.
0
108
5

26 days ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Morlene C.
2282
1355
9875

2 years ago

Helpful 10
Thanks 2
Love this 12
Oh no 1

3 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Lisa A.
17
99
3

1 month ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 1

1 year ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 0

11 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

9 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 3
Love this 2
Oh no 1

7 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

Page 1 of 30

Anvil Bar and Refuge Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Anvil Bar and Refuge

Any bar food available there or just drinks?

They actually have sandwiches, olives, chips with dip, cheese board.

Does this place have a chill vibe where I can still talk to my friend or it's does it get loud? Looking to visit on a Saturday night. TIA!

It gets pretty loud on a Saturday night.

Is this bar only open until 5:00 p.m. now? New hours on yelp say 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., but website says 4:00 p.m.-2:00 a.m.

No, we are open daily from 4pm-2am. Not sure why Yelp did that.

Do you have valet parking?

No just limited parking

Do you have a mechanical bull?

no they don't! It's just a bar

Did they close?

No we are definitely not closed even though Yelp has marked us as closed for some reason. We've asked them to change this and are waiting.

Is there wifi?

Yes. You just have to get the password from one of the bartenders.

Is there hookahs?

No, but across the street there is a hookah bar.

Is there a dress code?

Definitely not

View All 14 Questions

Review Highlights - Anvil Bar and Refuge

I've had other variants of this drink like Pliny's Tonic, which is good but a little too spicy for me.

Mentioned in 25 reviews

Read more highlights

You might also consider

Verify this business for free

People searched for Coffee & Tea 7,557 times last month within 5 miles of this business.

Verify this business

Barcelona Wine Bar

Barcelona Wine Bar

4.4
(290 reviews)
0.4 mi
$$$

We had such a wonderful Mother's Day experience at this wine bar! The atmosphere was beautiful, the…read morefood and wine were excellent, and the service truly stood out. Our server Bayla was awesome. She was so attentive, friendly, and welcoming throughout our visit. She really went above and beyond to make our celebration feel special and memorable. I got the charcuterie board and asked if they had any fruit. They normally don't include that in the board but Bayla went and asked the bar to slice up some apples for me. Talk about great service!!!

Came here for my birthday dinner and everything was amazing. We had a reservation for 7:15 pm on a…read moreFriday and the place filled up after that. Our server was checking in on us very frequently and she explained the menu to us when we told her we hadn't been before. The manager on duty also had stopped by and introduced herself. They told us up front that tapas would be able to be out quickly with only up to a 10 minute wait but that larger plates could be up to a 45 minute wait. We ordered several tapas and one large plate half order. I don't know much about wine, personally, but the drinks we did get were amazing. The restaurant itself was very pretty as well, lots of natural lighting and then low lighting as the sun went down. The music was low and we were able to hear each other well, apart from one group across the room that would get rowdy but I can't blame them for having a good time. Our food was all delicious and I forgot to take pics of some of them because we devoured them so quickly. Not pictured, we ordered the grilled asparagus and focaccia. I highly recommend all of what we ordered.

Photos
Main dining room
Main dining room
Octopus
Octopus
NA red sangria. Cheers!

See all

NA red sangria. Cheers!
Sixty Vines

Sixty Vines

4.4
(1.5k reviews)
2.3 mi
$$

Cannot say enough good things about this place. Have had lunch here and now dinner. We first…read morevisited in The Woodlands. Such a good experience that we went last night for date night. First, we got there pretty early for our reservation. We sat almost immediately upon check in. Our waiter was in training but did a really good job. Ordered a whiskey sour. Was seated at the bar so I got to watch it be made. The bartender- man that guy never stopped. He was organized and just did his thing. So many pretty drinks were made while I was there watching. The pink one, whatever it was, was really pretty! On to the food. We got two apps, two meals, and two desserts. Husband ordered the Brussels, Steak Frites, and the Devil's Affogato. I got the Bacon covered Dates, the Pizza, and the Sticky Toffee Cake. The Brussels were good - husband liked them more than me. They were good. Had cashews in them. Little spicy. The bacon covered dates. Think this was my favorite bite. Sweet, salty, creamy. Came we three & I had two. The pizza was sweet and salty as well. The crust was so good and fresh. The arugula set it off so well. Def a buy again! The Steak Frites was so good. The chimichurri sauce was perfect. Just the right mount of citrus. Steak was tender and the fries seasoned well. The desserts - don't skip them! The Devils Affogato we had the first time we ate at Sixty Vines. Had to have it again. If you like coffee, chocolate and vanilla ice cream just get it. Restaurant vibe is relaxed and clean. There were several large parties and what looked like a lot of date night guests. Just try it. No regrets!!

This was my second time dining here, and given the overwhelmingly positive reviews, my expectations…read morewere higher than usual. Unfortunately, just like my first visit, they were not fully met. We had reservations for brunch, and our party of six was seated immediately on the beautiful second floor. Service was efficient throughout the meal, with our waiter taking our orders promptly and the food arriving quickly. To start, we ordered the Brussels and the hummus. The Brussels were cooked very well and had an excellent crispy texture, but I felt the kung pao vinaigrette lacked the bold flavor I was expecting. A little more sweetness and acidity would have helped brighten the dish and make it more memorable. The hummus, on the other hand, pleasantly surprised me. Both the red beet hummus and edamame hummus were flavorful and enjoyable. They paired well with the crisp flatbread and even served as a nice accompaniment to some of our less exciting entrées. For my meal, I ordered the marinated artichoke pizza, which unfortunately did not stand out. I had the same issue that I experienced during my previous visit: the crust was simply too thick and chewy. After a few slices, my jaw was genuinely getting tired from all the chewing. The pizza also could have benefited from more bacon and a more generous amount of sauce, as it came across a bit dry overall. The campanelle suffered from a similar problem. While I understand that simplicity was likely the goal, the dish was so understated that it ended up feeling bland. It tasted like a slightly elevated version of buttered pasta with just a hint of white wine. There was nothing particularly wrong with it, but it lacked the depth of flavor needed to make it memorable. On a much more positive note, the carrot cake pancakes were easily the star of the meal. I tend to gravitate toward savory breakfasts, but my sister was eager to try them, and I am so glad she did. These were not your typical pancakes. They were thick, fluffy, and incredibly soft in the center. With toppings like maple butter, maple cream, mascarpone whip, candied walnuts, and cardamom sugar, I expected the dish to be overwhelmingly sweet. Surprisingly, everything was balanced quite well. While I cannot imagine finishing an entire plate by myself, anyone with a sweet tooth would absolutely love them. Overall, this restaurant continues to impress me with its atmosphere, service, and a few standout dishes, but the entrées I have tried have not lived up to the hype. If I were to return, I would happily order the hummus and carrot cake pancakes again, but I would probably skip the pizza and pasta in favor of trying something new.

Photos
Sixty Vines
Sixty Vines
Vegan Mushroom Pizza

See all

Vegan Mushroom Pizza
13 Celsius

13 Celsius

4.5
(549 reviews)
1.4 mi
$$

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.

Photos
Wine at the bar
Wine at the bar
13 Celsius
Goat cheese crostini

See all

Goat cheese crostini
Vinology

Vinology

4.8
(53 reviews)
1.6 mi
$$

In my opinion, one of the important reasons Vinology is still here and also successful has to do…read morewith the fact that thinking outside the box and literally going the extra mile for a customer is valued. I experienced this side of the business during the early phase of the Covid pandemic back in 2020. At the time, during lockdown, going to a wine bar or wine shop just wasn't top of mind. However, I had researched a Cabernet Franc (red wine) called Nicolas Reau Enlèvement Demandé Anjou [Vintage year: 2017]. Reau is kind of a rebel working in the Loire Valley of France who is interested in producing organic, biodynamic wines that are essentially closer to nature and processed differently--more artisanal, so to speak. I read about this wine and wanted to find a bottle locally, which wasn't an easy task as I recall. This is where Vinology comes in. I'm not much of a wine drinker, but had to have a bottle of this excellent wine. Like many people, I preferred to stay indoors during the early part of the pandemic and was kind of nervous about going out. When I called Vinology, I expressed my dilemma, and the guy on the other end of the phone came up with a great solution. He offered to deliver the bottle of wine I purchased to my address. I actually met him at the edge of the garage entrance to where I live. This was great, exceptional above and beyond service. I will always treasure and remember Vinology and plan to support the business more in the future. Hats off to the folks who own and run this wine establishment.

The service is super nice and chill, the ambiance is really cool, intimate and welcoming. There's…read moreno food, however they have different flavored chips that taste homemade and fresh.

Photos
Vinology
Free classes!
Free classes!
Outside

See all

Outside
Postino Montrose

Postino Montrose

4.6
(607 reviews)
0.5 mi
$$
Happy hour specials
Catering service

Postino's is amazing all-around, from service to vibes to food. The lighting and ambiance is really…read morenice, especially to chat and catch up with someone! The service is very warm and friendly, and the servers are incredibly attentive and happy to recommend different menu items. I went with some friends on a Friday afternoon and there was ample parking, quick seating and service. We got a bruschetta board, and I loved having the option to choose 4 from a wide assortment, from sweet to savory. The smoked salmon and bacon, tomato, burrata bruschetta were great, and the prosciutto ricotta fig was my favorite by far. All of them were on a delicious piece of toasted bread, and I thought it was a great deal. They are great to share as they are cut into 4 pieces. The interior was dimly lit, but warm, and the bathroom was clean and well-kept. The seating was comfortable and there was a variety of options from bar to booth. Overall, I would highly recommend coming!

Service was helpful and friendly and answered all our questions and made some great suggestions…read more Our server did come back to check on us and gave us refills. Start with the Crispy Cauliflower, it was cooked just right the was very tasty. The romeseco sauce was tangy and the raisins were sweet added a nice complement of texture. For the entree. I choose "Select Two" with a Half Panini and salad; the Italian Beef dip Panini (no cheese on focaccia bread), the Green Garden Chicken Chop (no cheese). The Italian Beef Dip Panini was tasty... the dip was a bit too salty. You get a choice of bread, I selected the focaccia based on recommendation... such a good choice. The Green Garden Chicken Chop is a hardy salad and definitely a garden party, each bite gave a different texture and taste, I really like this one. This can be a place for family, friends or a date.

Photos
Postino Montrose
Postino Montrose
Postino Montrose

See all

Camerata at Paulie's

Camerata at Paulie's

4.4
(163 reviews)
0.5 mi
$$

We recently came here with friends wanting to check it out for the first time (even though they are…read moresadly closing in just a couple of weeks). I've had my fair share of Paulie's but never had the chance to come to Camerata...until now. I had been missing out for so long! We journeyed from white to red wines throughout the night. We started out with the Babylonstoren, a chenin blanc from South Africa. We then moved into pink (rose) with the Ana Beirut - a blend of cab sauv, syrah, and tempranillo grapes with a bit of skin contact to give the wine the pink color. Lastly we ordered the Guelbenzu - a red blend of tempranillo, cab sauv, syrah, and graciano. This full-bodied red was the absolute fan favorite of the table. Food options are on the light side: meat & cheese boards, bread, and small bites. We started out with the warm bread - while it's normally served with butter, there's an option to switch that out with olive oil & herbs which is what we did. We then went for the meat & cheese platter. We couldn't decide on which meats or cheeses, so we did the option of ordering all 8! This came with 4 delicious meats and 4 tasty cheeses (from Houston Dairymaids), also with crispy fava beans, olives, pickles, and bread. This was a good amount for our group of 4 to share. Elena was our server and she was absolutely OUTSTANDING. She vibed with us throughout the night and made sure that we were well-taken care of. I loved her energy along with her vast knowledge of wines. We got plenty of good recommendations from her during our time there. I'm super sad that Houston will be losing this gem permanently at the end of the year (and even more sad that I only discovered it in the last month of its existence). While I know that owner Paulie won't be moving this venture to a new spot, I do hope a descendant of Camerata manifests itself somewhere in Houston in the coming years.

This is a nice little neighborhood wine bar located right off Westheimer, just down the road from…read moreShepherd. It's part of the Paulie's Restaurant brands, but completely separate from the restaurant from what I could tell. Parking is a bit difficult, but after a bit of circling we were able to find a spot and make our way in what looked like the back entrance. It was very low key, and despite the sign, the door seemed almost hidden in that back little corner. The staff seemed to have a bit of a hipster vibe-- not unexpected given the Montrose area-- but were very friendly. They offered suggestions, but let us go with what we wanted to try. There's a food menu along with the drinks, but we were heading to the restaurant next door, so we passed on grabbing food. We ended up going with a couple of glasses of red and a couple of the specialty chocolates. My wife loved her salted caramel chocolate. I enjoyed my peppermint chocolate. For the glasses of wine, I've got better at home for bottles the same price as those glasses. My wife really enjoyed the vibe, but even if this place wasn't about to close down, I'm not sure I'd be coming back here often. It's just too hard to park.

Photos
Camerata at Paulie's
Camerata at Paulie's
Interior

See all

Interior

Anvil Bar and Refuge - coffee - Updated July 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...