Dropped in here at Ivy for a quick catch up lunch with a friend. The vibe of the restaurant is very…read morecutesy and quaint. The inside seating is nice and cozy with good music and the patio/rooftop is very nice. The cocktail menu has some variation for most palettes and are all reasonably priced. I ordered the Roma which was very good. The bubbles from the kombucha give it a nice subtle effervescence. The spiced rum and blood orange mesh very well together making for a great drink. My friend ordered the Lavender Cucumber Collin's. This drink didn't really put the lavender on the forefront which lead to it getting lost by the cucumber, same for the crème de violets, absent. The drink was overall refreshing and tasty to her standards. She let me know it was quite strong also, which she prefers. She also ordered the kale Caesar and really enjoyed it. It was perfectly sauced to her liking. Service was okay. Looks like there was only 2 people working for a midday shift around 2 o clock. But no complaints. Salad and drinks came out pretty quickly. The place was pretty empty, definitely looks like I could hold a nice little crowd. Overall a solid 4 stars and warrants a repeat visit so I can try out the food and appetizers.

Ivy Bar and Bistro has an attractive setting for a lounge which located upstairs. The actual bar is…read moresmall with maybe four stools and very limited seating inside. The uncovered patio has considerable more space but be prepared to stand. My visits have been early evenings and haven't witnessed what a crowd would look like. They have excellent drinks and the bartenders are very skilled. Creative cocktails are always a plus for me and you will find something tasty to enjoy.

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

Tucked next to the Becks and out of sight off of Westheimer, it's a small classy dive bar with a…read morecool owner in Louie and some nice bartenders. As you walk in, you'll be greeted by the 70's/80's/90's bar music of rock/disco and chessboard floor pattern. Then you get your drink order from one of the many pleasant bartenders (or Louie) and sit either inside or outside and think to yourself you're the luckiest person in the world. So they specialize in three things: cocktails/liquors, cigars, and patio seating. When you combine all three of those, it's the perfect bar. Cocktails such as ol fashions and cape cods are plentiful here. I also appreciate they do a new york sour here which is an underrated cocktail. Cigars are sold here too and they have cutters and plenty of torch lighters to spark them up. Outside on their patio deck has plenty of seating with some of those heaters in case you houstonians can't handle the cold. Only gripe is I wish they had a larger wine selection as they only have bordeuax or a red blend. Not sure if they serve white wines either. But there's wine bars for that. You're here for the hard stuff or a quick beer, maybe a cigar, and definitely a peace of mind. That's what keeps me coming back!

The food was FIRE. Seriously, everything we had was amazing! The Caesar salad, lamb pappardelle,…read moremussel toast!!!, pork chop... every single dish was sooo good. Easily some of the best bites we've had in a while. Super knowledgeable and friendly staff. The wine selection is great too, and the space is super cute, intimate, and cozy with such a nice neighborhood feel. We absolutely loved it and will definitely be back. Such a little gem!

The Library is truly a gem in my neighborhood. I'm always excited to bring friends who are visiting…read moreHouston or don't live nearby. The décor, wine list, menu, comfortable seating, and cozy atmosphere make it such a special spot. They offer wines for every taste and budget, and the staff is knowledgeable when asked for recommendations. That's why this is difficult for me to write. Despite visiting frequently, I've consistently found the customer service to be unwelcoming. The service has a strange tone, and it isn't limited to one employee they all seem to share the same indifferent, slightly annoyed demeanor. The experience feels less like genuine hospitality and more like, "You're here what can I get you?" On my most recent visit, others in my group noticed and commented on the same thing without any prompting from me. Since they had never been before, it confirmed that it wasn't just my perception. One small interaction captured the overall tone. We asked whether they happened to have a birthday candle, and an employee responded in an annoyed tone by pointing to the candle on our table which, realistically, no one would put on a birthday dessert. We completely understood that they might not have one; it wasn't an unreasonable expectation or request. A simple, friendly response like, "Unfortunately, we don't, but we do have some delicious desserts," would have been perfectly fine. It wasn't the answer that bothered us. it was the way we were made to feel for asking. It may seem like a small interaction, but great hospitality is built on small moments. The atmosphere is warm, cozy, and inviting, but unfortunately, the service doesn't reflect that same feeling. People return to places where they feel welcomed and appreciated, especially in a city like Houston with so many wonderful food and wine options. I genuinely want The Library to thrive because it has everything else it needs to remain a true neighborhood favorite.

I was so excited to visit based on the photos I had seen from previous guests and online - it looks…read moreso aesthetic! I will say that it's not as impressive as it looks online when you get there but it's easy to get good photos based on all the colors and lighting. We went during happy hour and decided to try an appetizer and a few cocktails. The prices are reasonable during HH and the service was good although the drinks weren't anything overly special taste wise (looks wise they're beautiful). The food was also OK but not to write home about. All in all, this was a fun place to visit and I'd go again but isn't somewhere I'll be adding to my normal rotation.

Incanto is a quaint cocktail bar in The Heights. It's literally in a neighborhood and looks like it…read morecould be any other house on the block. They have valet parking behind the bar but I've done street parking both times that I have visited. My friend and I were in the area and browsed Yelp for nearby bars which is how we discovered Incanto. When we walked in, we were surprised to see that we were the only patrons in the bar (it was a weeknight). The two bartenders working were very nice. One of them was new to the bar and was training. It took a bit longer to get our drinks since she was still learning the menu, but it wasn't a big deal. I had a White Negroni and it was really good! I enjoyed the lighter citrus profile of the drink. It was a different take on the classic cocktail. My friend had the Tazzi Tonico. The presentation of the drink was nice but he found the flavor to be a bit bitter. I came back a few months later with another friend. We made a reservation, but it wasn't needed. It wasn't super busy, but there were other patrons in the bar. Even though it wasn't busy and they had more employees, service was slow at times. At one point, we weren't sure if we were supposed to order drinks at the bar, but eventually one of the employees came over to our table to take our order. My friend ordered a Mocktail version of a Pimm's Cup while I started with the Rosalina. The Rosalina was a bit sweet, but I really enjoyed the froth from the egg white. I also had Thyme After Thyme. The thyme and grapefruit combo was refreshing. I've never ordered food, but the menu has options like burrata, pizza, oysters, and desserts. Additionally, they have coffee and espresso beverages. If you enjoy a sophisticated cocktail but prefer a laid back vibe, look no further.

We came here for after dinner drinks on a Friday night. We had reservations and when we arrived we…read morewere taken to the back through a door where there was a small intimate bar area. There was a different menu in the front vs. the back. I ordered the Guapo which is a mezcal based drink and it was good. My husband ordered the smoked old fashioned and he thought it was ok. The service was ok and the drinks were kinda pricey. But it was a cute place to get drinks and I'd go back to try another drink.

I had dinner nearby with friends and while walking back to their house, we slipped into Permission…read morefor a sip or two. Somehow I've never been here before, which is crazy, since like all middle aged white guys, I went deep down a Bourbon hoarding rabbit hole for a time. If you're a bourbon guy, they have some excellent bottles! Like I said, it was a brief visit so I'm not going to write y'all a novel, but the interior was dark lit, velvet soaked, and relaxed. The service was tip top, and spent a good amount of time chatting us up on new bottles they just got in, and what has been popular. We settled on a couple pours and had a great visit. I'll certainly be back.

Hidden gem inside the hotel. If it weren't for hotel prices on drinks, it would be a 5 star!…read more The bartender, Efrain he's great! He knows his patrons (as did the other bartenders) and is open and friendly to new faces! Makes one of the best dirty martinis! If nothing else, visit for Efrain, he also had great suggestions of things/places to check out in the area.

Out in Houston for business. Hungry and the bar downstair have food. I went in and ordered the…read morespicy Korean wings and truffle fries. It was a Sunday night and I was too tired for a drink. Ambiance was nice and food was good. I would recommend if you're staying here at the hotel.

Great atmosphere. Amazing happy hour prices. Right downtown the scenery outside is pretty cool…read more Perfect place for relaxing on a Friday afternoon. Once again it's a great vibe

This place is an awesome place to end the night!! No TVs, the old jukebox and the low lit ambience…read moremake it the perfect, intimate place to have a drink and feel cozy. The bartender is super cool and shared a ton of info with us about the building, even discrediting a few things I read online prior to going. Apparently it is NOT haunted, and they also are NOT a cash only spot. So bring your credit cards and don't be nervous to enter, La Carafe is a must stop spot in Houston!

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!

I can't believe it has taken me this long to finally discover 13 Celsius! Where has this been all…read moremy life!? Am I just experiencing retroactive FOMO??? We came in as an impromptu visit after an earlier event and figured we'd just stop in for a glass of wine or so. Upon walking in, the place is super cute with dim lighting and was quite crowded on a Thursday night. We didn't immediately find available seating, but after a couple minutes, a table opened up and we sat there. Our primary server was Grayson, who was super knowledgeable about the wine list. Other servers tended to us throughout the night, and all were equally as knowledgeable about the menu offerings. At the time we went, they were featuring various wines from Beaujolais. We ended up trying one of these, the Alexandre Burgaud Brouilly Rouge, which was a full-bodied red. This was a great recommendation, and I will say that we didn't conclude the visit on only one of these bottles... Based on Grayson's food recommendations, we ended up ordering the Mortadella panini and a combination charcuterie board. The Mortadella panini was unique but good - tomato, mortadella, provolone, and mustard all served on a pretzel bun. Probably not my dish of choice alongside wine, however I did really like the charcuterie board. We asked them to surprise us on the cheese and meat, and they really came through. The prosciutto was tasty and the cheese (can't remember which one) had a peppery flavor to it, which paired well with our red wine. The overall clientele vibe seemed like a range of date nights, girls nights, first dates, and solo drinkers. I love the diversity! We ended up making friends with the table next to us and eventually merged tables to make this a fun group date night. Definitely a highlight of the visit. We will definitely be back sooner than later. This is a cute neighborhood bar that I look forward to returning myself and brining out-of-town guests to come experience. They also have a dog-friendly patio - something to keep in mind whenever the day calls for drinking some wine in nice outdoor weather!