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    Houston Watch Co

    4.5 (98 reviews)
    ModerateCocktail Bars
    Closed Closed

    Houston Watch Co Photos

    Business Info

    HOUSTON WATCH CO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Intimate
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Houston Watch Co

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    Wide liquor selection
    Melissa R.

    If you are looking for crowded dance floors, uber-trendy of-the-moment sugar filled drinks or buzzy social media backdrops, this is NOT your spot. However, if you crave carefully crafted cocktails, quiet dark corners for discussion and one of the widest spirit arrays in all of DT HTX, this is 100% your next stop. Houston Watch Co. is solidly my go-to grab a cocktail and settle in for a long chat spot. This place is a little quirky and just far enough off the loud party-fueled echoes from the Main Street hot spots to be comfortable and familiar in the best ways. Yes it's an old bank, and YES there is a giant safe in the bathroom, but that's not why we come. The bartenders are always friendly and will happily help you select your next beverage based on your preferences (that you didn't even know you needed). You'll see regulars, date nights, even people working business projects on laptops deep into the evening on the right days - all of which makes for fabulous people watching. Go upstairs and grab table or settle in at the bar - either way, you'll end your night satisfied.

    Old fashioned
    Matthew P.

    Houston Watch keeps moving along with proper cocktails in a fun and historic (and deeply haunted) space. They sling as good an old fashioned as you can get in Houston. I'm delighted they survived 2020. I miss so many places in the old pre-pandemic "cocktail block": farewell The Honeymoon and Moving Sidewalk and Tongue-Cut Sparrow and The Pastry War, but Houston Watch, Captain Foxheart's, and the Charity Bar happily live on!

    Negronis'
    Noah P.

    "A Cocktail Bar That Educates as Much as It Impresses" Houston Watch Co. is everything a great cocktail bar should be. Intimate, thoughtfully designed, and centered around true craftsmanship, it delivers an experience that feels both elevated and welcoming. We started the night with Negronis, which were beautifully balanced and spirit forward. For our next round, my girlfriend ordered an espresso martini that was smooth, rich, and perfectly dialed in. I had the Pray That You Catch Me, made with gin, ginger liqueur, honey, and lemon. Bright, refreshing, and layered, it was the kind of drink that feels simple on the surface but reveals real complexity with every sip. What truly set this place apart was the bartenders. They were incredibly knowledgeable and genuinely enthusiastic about what they do. They took time to explain ingredients, techniques, and flavor profiles, and were more than happy to teach us a few things without ever sounding condescending. That level of passion and approachability elevates the entire experience. The back bar is stunning and sets the tone the moment you walk in. Rows of well curated spirits paired with warm lighting create a space that feels refined but comfortable. It is easy to settle in and enjoy the moment here. Service was attentive, polished, and never rushed. Every drink arrived with care, and every interaction felt intentional.

    Pray you catch me
    Robert Z.

    So a new friend introduced us to this bar that was within walking distance from the Houston symphony. It is VERY easy to miss but its right next to the El Calle so be on the lookout. Anyways, this is a pretty laid back, chill, whiskey-esque bar. They're known for their old fashioned and the house one is only $9. I didn't end up getting it as it was a hot November noght (only in Houston..?) and I was hoping to get something more refreshing. I ended up trying the Pray You Catch Me and it was SOO good. It was sweet, tart, and gingery and so smooth. It hit exactly the notes I was hoping for and I'm looking to come back/recreate the drink myself. Vibe wise, it was definitely a place you can sit and chat and actually hear each other. Aka a perfect place for those 30+ who don't want to shout all night. I'm excited to come back here and will def add it to my rotation of Houston bars!

    the inside of a restaurant
    Megan K.

    Perfect atmosphere with a great owner. He said he owned the bar about 9 years! This used to be an actual watch company in I believe he said the early 1900's. There are old pictures on display and even original safes. The upstairs is so cozy and it was the perfect place for us girls to catch up. The drinks were absolutely fabulous. We had a few rounds and snuck tastes from each other. Great place with awesome history.

    Manhattan with 10 yr old WhistlePig!
    Craig W.

    Nice little bar cozy spot for a well made cocktail! We love these little intimate places to relax with a drink.

    Bar area
    V R.

    I tried this place after passing it between La Calle and Thai Cafe. The place is like an old school NY vibe bar and I enjoyed it. It's quiet and not loud that plays oldies. The bartender was friendly and attentive. This is definitely a place I'd return to because of how chill it was.

    Megan M.

    I love this spot. It's classy without being uppity. Nice classic cocktail/mixology bar with a great whisk(e)y list. I love the Pray You Catch Me. Not a lot beats a refreshing gin cocktail. They've got an adequate list of wines, as well. The girls restroom has a vault in it. Perfect for selfies. Lol. Bartenders are friendly but not hovering.

    inside
    Jennifer Y.

    An adorable little bar in Downtown. 2 stories and pleasantly well lit so that you can enjoy your company and the surroundings. I think this actually used to be a watch shop and they kept a lot of the original layout as well as the name (obviously). This is downtown so parking is street parking - free after 6 on weekdays and all day on weekends. The real jewel is the menu. A lovely selection of whiskeys that are incredibly reasonably priced - I'm talking starting at $4 a glass. The only issue is the menu seems to be somewhat outdated, so don't get your hopes up if you find the perfect dram until it's sitting in a glass in front of you. Bramble - gin and sugar all mixed up nice. The perfect 'girly' drink. Excuse my chauvinism. Sazerac - Sweet. Too sweet.

    Drew K.

    Houston Watch Co had been on my list of places to check out for too long! Finally, we were in the neighborhood just as they were opening and I was able to pop in for a few cocktails. Interior is intimate, low lit and full of authentic character. The establishment gets their names from a jewelry store that used to occupy the space and much of that early 20th century charm is still very present throughout. Most notably, the bar has a couple antique safes that weren't moved out after the jewelry store closed which make for great industrial age decor for the bar. The bar is two stories and has various seating spread throughout. It's important to note that everything is fairly tight and quiet. This isn't the bring your bros for a dozen jagerbombs kind of scene but more of a close conversations with friends underneath edison bulbs and over stiff drinks. Bar service was top notch. I'm terrible with names and forgot the name of the bartender I spoke with for half an hour, unfortunately, but he was extremely knowledgeable and friendly. I ordered two different standby cocktails, a sazerac, and then a boulevardier, and both came out perfect. I took a pic of their menus, which I'll post along with the review, and you'll see drinks are well priced and the bottle collection is fairly extensive for those looking for something on the rocks. Also, for the spirit enthusiast on a budget, they offer 3/4 ounce pours where you can have a discounted taste of this or that. Houston Watch Co is a great addition to the burgeoning Market Square scene and offers a slight change of pace from the bumping bigger bars down the block. If you're looking for perhaps a great start to the night or a quiet break from the bar hopping, this place well set you up with a well made cocktail and some peace.

    Bar
    Belly G.

    Despite the name, this place doesn't sell any kind of Rolex, Breitling, Patek Phillipe nor do they fix watches or have anything to do with automatic or manual winding watches. They do, however, offer a cool little bar where you can start the night. Awesome drink selections, including a $70 glass of Macallan rare cask, if you 're a big balling, scotch drinking, kind of guy; or you can have your pick of classic cocktails or your typical bar drinks or beer. The drinks are strong. In fact, the bartender warned me when I ordered a Manhattan since I had mentioned that I didn't like drinking old-fashioned (FYI, I don't like the taste, not because it's too strong.) The drink was strong, but it wasn't anything I couldn't handle. I came here on a Sunday night so the place wasn't too packed at all. Our bartender was super sweet and nice. The manager (owner?) also seemed like a pretty chill guy. I can't say what this place would be like on a Friday or Saturday night, but I'd imagine it would get a bit crowded since the place is kind of tiny. But fret not, there's plenty of seating upstairs. You can try to sit at the lounge area with your friends, or you can grab a table for two if you're coming with your date and you both can enjoy watching the people downstairs. If you happen to go into the ladies room, you'll find a huge safe that they use to store paper towels, extra toilet paper and stuff. Pretty cool. They also have two more safes upstairs. All these safes are from the old days when this location was an actual office for the Pacific Railroad office. And just in case you're wondering, YES. I DID go into the ladies room. Don't hate now. I think I'm going to start coming here instead of Okra to get my drinks on to start the night. The drink prices are better here anyway.

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    10 months ago

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    1 year ago

    Service and drinks were horrendous. Drink was absolutely not what I ordered. Go elsewhere.

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    2 years ago

    Hands down, this is my favorite bar. I will forever come here whenever I'm in town. The drinks are chefs kiss

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    8 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Great place for cocktails. Love the old fashions here. Great place to start your night. Parking is limited to street parking.

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    5 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    2 years ago

    A very intimate vibe! A smaller cocktail bar, but don't let that fool you. The drinks and staff are still top notch.

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    3 years ago

    Super cool bar!!! Interesting interior and Juan mixes a great drink!!! We will definitely be back!

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    4 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Good drinks. Decent prices. Just a place to chill for a bit but nothing overly special

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    11 years ago

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    Hidden Bar

    Hidden Bar

    4.5
    (62 reviews)
    4.5 mi

    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
    Love the decor!
    Love the decor!
    Ceiling
    Ceiling
    Hidden Bar

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    Kanpai Club

    Kanpai Club

    4.5
    (72 reviews)
    3.1 mi

    Great drinks, friendly service, and delicious HH appetizers! We enjoyed our first time here and…read morehope to come back again!

    After enjoying a late night snack at Handos, we decided to mosey on over to Kampai Club. I had…read moreheard good things for years, and I remember driving past it a couple times and not seeing it or any signage. Even this time the GPS took us to an entrance that had us going the wrong way down a one-way, but we eventually figured it out I will say that the parking isn't all that great, but we were able to find a spot. If the parking lot is full you should be able to find street parking nearby Kanpai Club is a sister location to Handos. They share a kitchen and you can walk through an inside door access either. You can find the same cocktails and bites from Handos on the Kanpai menu, but there's also additional drinks and bites The bar feels like a Japanese Izakaya. It's a narrow space resembling a Japanese outdoor bar. It's intimately lit and well decorated. We did have to wait for two spots to open up, but that didn't take too long The bartenders were friendly, professional, and efficient. We went on a Friday night (fairly late), and they had two dedicated bartenders The cocktails were fun and were beautifully crafted. Most were served in novelty glassware. You can order classic cocktails, but both Kanpai and Hando offer a variety of signature cocktails. Most having some sort of Japanese or Asian fusion. They have beer, wine, and extensive sake list, as well as green tea and other nonalcoholic options The cocktails were tasty. The only one I was iffy on was their Espresso martini. It was poured from a machine and I guess there were having issues with it. The presentation was phenomenal. There was a roasted marshmallow garnish. The drink itself was far too Smokey in flavor than I like, or at least in terms of my espresso martinis The Yuzu Kosho fries were incredible. The flavors really hit the spot. The Okinawa Potato salad was both questionable to looks and and to eat lol. This purple mound of potato's had an interesting taste, look, and consistency. It wasn't bad, just... interesting and new Some tips: If you can't find this spot from the street, look for Handos. It's part of this restaurant Ask the bartender about the happy hour menu. And most nights they're open until 12am, but on Fridays and Saturdays they are open until 2am If you order food online (technically from Hando's) you can get 10% off using code: HANDO10. This is part of their "Hando and Chill" special Cheers!!

    Photos
    Welcome to yam rock
    Welcome to yam rock
    Kanpai Club
    Kanpai Club

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    Behind Closed Doors

    Behind Closed Doors

    4.5
    (67 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    On my recent trip to Houston!…read more When I was searching for dowtown bars and dancing, Behind Closed Doors popped up. It looked dark, clubbish, and fun (exactly what I was looking for) and I couldn't wait to come here. After a 25 minute Uber ride we were downtown and walking to our destination. At first we could not find it but thankfully a nice gentlemen showed us where it was. Upon walking in, darkness with these bright lights paved our way. We sat down at the bar, but realized dancing did not start until 10pm. The bartender came over and said to us "we have a speakasy behind door #3" we were like WHAT! Let's go. So, we walked down the dark hallway and pushed open door #3 (hence the name) to find this super cool speakeasy bar. Dim lights, really modern decor, comfy suede chairs and best of all, some really great cocktails. If you are ever in Downtown Houston, I highly recommend you coming here. I promise you will have the best time. We did not stay for dancing.

    Behind Closed Doors is a cool downtown "speakeasy" experience. Each room has its own vibe and…read moremusic, which makes it feel like you're discovering something new as you move around. The drinks were solid, and the overall atmosphere was definitely a vibe. We went on a Saturday evening, so it was pretty crowded, but once we found our spot in the Gold Room, we stayed there most of the night. Great music, great energy, and a unique concept. Definitely worth checking out if you're looking for something different for a night out. Not sure how it took me this long to stumble in here. Parking is what it is downtown so, there's that.

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    Inside
    Inside
    Entrance
    Entrance
    Scrolling bar menu

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    Scrolling bar menu
    Credence

    Credence

    4.4
    (264 reviews)
    10.4 mi
    Family-owned & operated
    Locally owned & operated

    5//5 on food. Highlight of the night was definitely the dry aged duck. They say it's for 2 but…read morehonestly I think it's more for 3! There was still a ton left over. Loved the creme brulee for dessert! Had the Dead Flower to drink and that was probably my favorite mocktail! 5/5 on service as well. Our server had great recommendations for drinks and food. He was also super attentive. 5/5 on ambiance. Was definitely giving an upscale vibe.

    If you enjoy decadent food, Credence is the spot! The interior is refined but still welcoming and…read morelively with Southern charm. Service was amazing-- we loved our waiter who was a combination of polite, funny, and knowledgeable, and everyone gave us a smile. All the dishes were beautifully presented and flavorful but definitely on the heavier side. - Beet salad (5/5)-- wow, never had a beet salad like this one before! So much flavor with a tanginess from vinegar sweetened by the blueberries and beets. The beets didn't taste very earthy (aka like dirt) compared to most beet salad. This was really well executed :) - Caesar salad (3.5/5)-- Credence's spin on Caesar, which according to my Caesar salad pro diner, didn't really taste like Caesar salad. Also very tangy and tart but the pro still enjoyed it as a salad dish. - Roasted cabbage (4/5)-- big fan of the way they roasted this, perfect tenderness without being cabbage mush! Definitely a heavy dish, especially for a vegetable option, as it was swimming in a butter cream sauce that started to congeal as it cooled off. Would choose this more as an indulgent appetizer rather than a healthy veggie option. I wonder if one could ask for the sauce on the side... - Tuna tostada (3.5/5)-- if you like strong flavors, this one packs a punch. The gochujang aioli beneath the tuna is really concentrated, making it difficult to taste the actual tuna. There's a bit of heat but thankfully I wouldn't say it was spicy. Fun to try. The tostada itself was very dense and almost a bit bread-y versus a crispy chip texture. - Crab fried rice (4/5)-- comes with lobster foam that is mixed table side and a generous amount of crabmeat lumps. The rice actually had a nice texture without being too... grainy / individualized, but it was too salty for me. - Akaushi Wagyu beef (4.5/5)-- loved the texture which was tender but with some chew (was expecting more of a melt-in-the-mouth texture though) and the veggies that it came with. It was heavily salted, too much so for me. Would've been perfect with less salt since there's already a chimichurri sauce with it. - Peanut butter tart (4.5/5)-- peanut butter lovers rejoice! The chocolate filling was rich, thick, and sweet which was complemented nicely with the whipped cream (not sweet at all). The peanut flavor really shined. The crust didn't have much of a taste by itself and was sandy in texture, not sure if on purpose or over-baked and dried out. Either way, the tart looked impressive when it arrived and was delectable-- my favorite bite of the night! Overall a nice experience! Although there was a mess up and the rest of our two salads and crab rice wasn't packed with our other food to take home; I was pretty sad about that since it was quite a bit of food (and $$). I might return for that peanut butter tart, but everything else was too heavy and too salty for me. I'm personally not a huge butter fan, but if you are, definitely make a reservation for a special occasion or date!

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    Credence
    Credence
    Credence

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    Houston Watch Co - cocktailbars - Updated August 2026

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