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    Kanpai Club

    4.0 (13 reviews)
    Closed 4:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)

    Kanpai Club Photos

    KANPAI CLUB ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Hipster
    Casual

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    Menu of Memories & Regrets
    Keandra P.

    Came here with Yelp friends. While I have visited Hando in the past, had not visited their secret teeny bar. We came in the afternoon, a little before the end of happy hour on a Saturday. There were a few other folks seated at some small tables, but the bar seating was open. Service - the one bartender slangin drinks was kind enough to honor happy hour prices even as time moved just after happy hour. Drinks - I was only able to order one drink at a time per bartender, fair. So I ordered the Sweet Gin Music as my only drink. Enjoyed it. A ton of ice, so would be nice on a hot day. And fun spicy. I think my friends thought their drinks were fine. Food -I tried the Takoyaki. Which is the octopus balls. They came hot, which I appreciated. Wasn't bad. I owe this place more time spent to get a better feel. I saw a karoke sign, another hidden room?

    Jacquelyn C.

    I did not realize this place was associated with Hando and decided to stop in with some friends. The drinks were very pretty but they tasted alright. The Thai Tea Gin Fizz only had a hint of the thai tea taste. Welcome to Yam Rock yummy but a little too sour for my taste. The Japanese Swizzle was pretty good and the pistachio was super subtle. Service was quick and the bartenders were very friendly. There's limited seating, but you can stand! There's also a back entrance and you don't need to go through the front entrance.

    Cocktail and small plates menu
    Devon P.

    This is a great speakeasy! The happy hour is a great deal! The "Liquid Swords" drinks on the menu are unique to Kanpai Club and not in Hando. The bartender is nice and knowledgeable. The beef skewers were tender. The music was a bit loud for me. To get there, walk past the front desk through a swinging door and then there'll be a sign for the restrooms. There's a red door on the left that is the entrance to the speakeasy! I would definitely come again!

    Interior
    Allison K.

    Wow, I am surprised that this place doesn't have more reviews and/or isn't filled with people. Kanpai club is a family run business that mainly serves Japanese/Japanese-inspired drinks and small bites. They also have other Asian-inspired drinks which was super exciting to see (i.e. 'Welcome to Yam Rocks' which is Aged rum, ube, lime, guava, spices). I came in at 4 pm sharp on a Wednesday for Happy Hour (HH is daily from 3-6 PM). Since Kanpai club is a bar extension of Hando, you have to walk inside Hando and take a right- the red doors that lead to this bar are next to the bathrooms. The seating is quite limited (7 bar stools and a L shaped couch that maybe sits 10) and I'm not sure if you can make reservations so I'd double check but I can see this place getting busy at night/weekends. The inside is dimly lit and I love the interior (especially the Japanese snacks that are laid out underneath the counter as part of the decoration). Just a heads up, the music is a little loud so that's a deal breaker for you, this place might not be it. For drinks I ordered the 'Everything is Lychee Keen' and 'Shibuya Roll Call'. Since it was HH, they were both $7 each which is such a good deal. These were recommendations from the bartender after I told her that I enjoy sweet drinks. Both drinks were refreshing and spectacular- I genuinely can't choose over the other because they were both great choices. I will say though that the Shibuya Roll Call has a little bit of a spicy kick to it because it's made of ginger beer but personally, I loved that! As for food, I ordered the Geso Karaage, Curry Croquette, and Wasabu Shumai for $5 each. They were all delicious but if I had to pick one, the Geso Karaage would be the must get since I love squid and the yuzu kosho aoilo sauce was delicious! However, the croquettes were fried perfectly and I loved how the sweetness from the potato balanced out the savoriness from the onion curry (they were filling too!). As for the wasabi shumai, these are made in the house. Be careful though because you can actually taste the wasabi and they definitely got a kick to it so they're not playing! Aside from the delicious drinks and food, the service was great! I appreciate the bartender giving me great recommendations on these delicious cocktails and I enjoyed talking to one of other staff member (shoutout Mandy!!) telling me about this restaurant's story and how she got into the service industry. If you want to have a good time with your date, friends, or even just to treat yourself with a lowkey/hidden gem, Kanpai club is the spot! This place has intimate vibes, delicious food, and even better drinks! I cannot wait to come back and try more items!

    Drink menu
    Mark G.

    Behind Hando - Spring Branch, this small, well-designed bar is a great addition to the East Spring Branch neighborhood. Located in the same restaurant zone as Feges BBQ, Blind Goat, Cosmic Ice Cream, Slowpokes, Stuffed Belly, Barnaby's and Jinya Ramen, is a bar that is high design with a Karaoke room coming soon. Visit soon for the late night, reverse happy hour or a cocktail before dinner at the restaurant. Tell JJ hello.

    "Sweet Gin Music"
    Iris L.

    What a vibe!! Came here on a date night this past weekend and had a great time. Kanpai club is located inside of the restaurant called Hando...when you walk inside, walk right past the host stand and past the first door like you're going towards the restrooms. There is a red unmarked door to your left and that's the door you need to enter. It's a small speakeasy bar, but definitely worth checking it out. They have a lot of specialty cocktail drinks that were fun to try. One of the first drinks that I tried was a Thai tea sort of cocktail. I can't remember the name of the drink and unfortunately when trying to look up the menu I didn't see that drink listed. But it has a fizz on top that kind of makes your mouth tingly at first. So it was meant to be sipped without a straw. That drink had an interesting taste, but not my type of drink. I can't really taste the Thai tea flavor as much. But I went on to try the Sweet Gin Music because I am a sucker for the specialty mugs they put the drinks in and also it was noted it was a spicy drink with Soshito peppers and jalapeños. It had a nice kick to it and that was more of my type of drink. My hubby tried the smoked green tea old fashion because he loves himself an old fashion. He wasn't sure on the green tea, but he tried it anyways. You can definitely taste the green tea, it wasn't overpowering, but if you're not a green tea drinker then you might be able to taste that more more than others and it can come off a bit of a bitter taste. I wish I took pics of our appetizers, but they had a few to order from. We tried the Brussels sprouts, Gyoza and beef skewers...all of them were my favorite! The brussel sprouts came with bonito flakes on top and if you haven't tried them before, they do have a fishy element to them, but I've had it before so I quite enjoyed it. The beef skewers are so delicious, a must try! It was nicely grilled with mushrooms and a nice sweet glaze on top. It came in an order of 2 beef skewers..most of the apps were $7 each. They're more of like small bites in between drinks. Overall, a really fun and cool experience. The bartenders were attentive and explained what each drinks were and offered excellent recommendations. Definitely will be back with some friends next time. And if you've read this far, don't forget to try their frozen sakeritas - it's like a frozen margarita mixed with sake. Perfect drink to cool down with on a hot summer day!

    ribeye & katsu skewers

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    Behind Closed Doors

    Behind Closed Doors

    4.5
    (67 reviews)
    8.3 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.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Entrance
    Entrance
    Scrolling bar menu

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    Scrolling bar menu
    Marfreless

    Marfreless

    3.9
    (180 reviews)
    6.1 mi
    $$

    Drinks are always strong and consistent. Love that it's tucked away. Ample parking. First floor is…read morequiet and allows for free flowing conversations. Upstairs lets you enjoy the show. Been here several times and will go back again!

    I was there for 8 minutes, here's what I learned: this is a swingers bar. Whether you're a couple…read moreor not, they do stuff upstairs separate from the stuff downstairs. When people in reviews say this place is dark, I mean "the lights are almost out" dark. The bouncer told me he's seen it all upstairs...orgies, girl-on-girl, gangbangs, swingers, you name it....it's not exactly a casual speakeasy. You need to plan a night here if it's your prerogative. The upstairs is couples only, but the bouncer told me that if you'd slip him $20 then you can go upstairs and try your luck. The pictures they show you are brightened. This place is nearly pitch black. And I'm not saying this to blow up anyone's spot, it probably is a great spot for couples but it just wasn't my scene, especially when I vouched that it was a good place for me and my guy friend to chill. Also, the bartender wouldn't give me and my friend the time of day. I was really excited to see how this place made drinks and they wouldn't even service me and my friend...she just was checking her social media. I might come back here one day with a girlfriend I know VERY well, but as for now I'll keep my change and go somewhere else

    Photos
    Marfreless
    Bar area
    Bar area
    Replace these chairs or at least buy some chairs covers. It looks gross. I can't imagine the material can be properly sanitized.

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    Replace these chairs or at least buy some chairs covers. It looks gross. I can't imagine the material can be properly sanitized.
    Hidden Bar

    Hidden Bar

    4.5
    (60 reviews)
    6.8 mi

    If going twice in two nights when visiting from L.A. isn't a testament to a great bar, I don't know…read morewhat is. I ate at Norigami Tuesday night and it was great as were the cocktails served up at the nextdoor bar called Hidden Bar. On Tuesday, I tried the Thai Chili Ginger Margarita ($13) and it was great, complete with a hunk of candied ginger which I "gingerly" consumed throughout my drink experience...see what I did there? Next, I had the Three Dots and a Daiquiri ($13) with Rum, Lime, Velvet Falernum, All Spice and Pineapple and it was very similar to one of my favorite tiki drinks, the Three Dots and a Dash, complete with 3 luxardo cherries. To finish, I had the absolutely incredible Golden Laurel ($16) with Gin, Italicus Bergamot, House Greek Botanical Bitters and Sea Salt. It is equally beautiful served with a clear bay leaf and delicious. Last night, I was guided by the friendly bartender to try the Et Tu Banana" ($15) with Banana Bourbon, Spiced Pear, Creme de Banane, Campari and Citric Acid. I was a little worried about the cocktail being overly banana-y but it wasn't at all. It was a fantastic drink. For my last call, he recommended the Left Hand ($13) with Bourbon, Campari, Sweet Vermouth and Chocolate Bitters. Again, fantastic. Both nights, the bartenders and drinks were fantastic. Ambiance is nice with moody lighting. They even have a bidet toilet seat in the bathroom! Hidden Bar is a "hidden" gem, for sure. HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

    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!
    Hidden Bar
    Hidden Bar

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    Bandista

    Bandista

    4.3
    (80 reviews)
    8.5 mi
    $$$$

    First of all: Make a reservation for the exact group size you have. This place is very popular and…read moreusually booked up. It's inside the Four Seasons hotel. I did their main valet for about $8 on a Thursday. Easily your best bet! It's fun to ask the front staff and make the "journey" to find the place so I won't spoil any of that here. You will eventually have a host who will take you through the experience to get inside. They have a bar experience where you're face to face with the bartenders and a couch seating style. Hanging with the bartenders is more fun as they're fun with a lot of personality. Make sure to let them know if you're celebrating something. High chance you'll get bonus shots/drinks! Every drinks has a cool presentation and is very instagramable.i can't remember the name of mine but it had a mango taste with a dip n dots inspired topping. It's in one of my photos. It was on an other level. I'm not much for sweet drinks but dip n dots are my weakness. It went so hard. Highly recommen

    Extremely overrated…read more Had friends in from out of town and thought this would be a great place to take them. High reviews from ppl I trust and a great concept. Booked a reservation and had to rush from another event to make it in time. We get there on time and we still wait 20 minutes in the lobby to be taken up. Love the concept and the door behind the bookshelf. However, just tell us what to do and step out the way. They stand right on top of you and it ruins the pictures/videos. We get inside and the vibe is great. Low lit and nice ambiance and decor. We go to the back and get seated. It was kind of awkward seating for four but it got the job done. Cool view out of the single window to the city below. Let's get to the drinks and service. Apparently, it was a newer menu and many of the drinks we were told about were no longer listed. The server was very strange and off-putting. She didn't do the best job describing the drinks at all and kept calling us "my babies". Four full grown adults being referred to as "babies" by a woman our age or younger was just weird and she did it a lot too. No one liked it. The drink I got was extremely overpriced and came in a tea cup- not my cup of tea. My friend asked for something creative using tequila and pineapple- she said "sure, we can make that. Do you prefer 1942 or clase azul?" I stepped in. I know you have more tequilas than your two most expensive options. Of course they did and she gave him more realistic options to mix with. Had I not stepped in, she would have taken advantage of him. None of us were impressed by the drinks, the prices or the service. None of the fun and fancy drinks were shown to us nor seen throughout the bar or other tables. No smoke, no big bubbles being popped, no treasure chest with a drink in lol This was an expensive let down. We do a ton of high end and expensive dinners and bars. This did not live up to the hype or price point. Extremely overrated and the strange service left a bad impression on all of us.

    Photos
    Behind here is the speakeasy
    Behind here is the speakeasy
    Pimm's Cup
    Pimm's Cup
    As American As...

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    As American As...
    CASE Chocolates

    CASE Chocolates

    4.6
    (51 reviews)
    9.8 mi

    Soft life, sweet treats, and a little mystery is exactly how a girls' night should feel. The…read moreultimate girls night out in Houston is a Case Chocolates. Every Wednesday, they host a midweek indulgence for the ladies: complimentary champagne, signature chocolate, and curated sounds inside this one-of-a-kind chocolate speakeasy. Come for the immersive chocolate experience. Stay for the seductive, late-night vibes. If you're in Houston and looking for a cute girls night out, unique date night, or a speakeasy experience, add this to your bucket list immediately. It's intimate, indulgent, and just different enough to make your night feel special. Now there are levels to this elevated experience. Here's the simplest breakdown according to their mixologist Tim: 1. Opening Hour: 2 infused chocolates, 1 chocolate medallion, a mixed drink, and a welcome spritz 2. Guided Tasting: 3 courses of drinks and chocolates 3. The Journey: 5 courses of drinks, chocolates, and other bites. Come hungry! You're encouraged to book a reservation through their website. But since we went on Wednesday for the ladies night, we were able to just go right in. I'm doing chemo so I can't drink or have the alcohol infused chocolate but I still had a great time. Sober folks can also enjoy this place. I got a cherry mocktail and it was the best mocktail I ever drank. They had two chocolate bon bons that weren't infused with alcohol and then all of the flat medallions are also not infused. They were sweet enough to send me home with some alcohol infused chocolates to have once I finish my chemo. We got there around 7 and didn't leave until the place was closing down. The DJ was amazing and she made the atmosphere feel more like a Saturday night.

    To start, when you arrive, you will ring the doorbell for them to come let you in, which I guess…read moreconsidering the space makes sense. The store front is very tiny, it could fit maybe 6 people fairly comfortably. They do have a speak easy space for their tastings, which is an interesting concept, which I'll touch on later. Effectively, they have different unique shapes of chocolate that are liquid filled with alcoholic and non-alcoholic liqueurs. Think licor 43, gin, bourbon, whiskey, tequila, etc. The chocolates themselves are good, there wasn't any that I disliked and I'd say the carajillo was one of my favorites. All that said, I think this can be hit or miss with some folks. I like them, whereas I can see how it has a bit of a flash in the pan type taste. It hits fast and then, that's it.Personally, I can get past that probably and could easily eat 10 in rapid fashion. Where this place loses my attention and where I struggle is the pricing. Value is always subjective and I'm sure some will find these to be well worth their price. For reference, I think it's 4 for $22, 8 for $34, when I recently visited. I just didn't find them to be worth that pricing model, particularly when there are other brands that you can get at a lower price and similar fillings. At the end of the day, I think this is worth it for an experience or date, particularly if you're going to go in for the tasting. Think, wine and cheese, in this case, cocktails and chocolates. It's $65 a person for the experience. Overall, I'm glad to see a boutique shop like this that's locally owned by a young, ambitious entrepreneur. My two cents, price lower and there is likely a higher amount of return customers for the chocolates, but I'll save you, the reader, the take on an entire business model diatribe here.

    Photos
    Final chocolates
    Final chocolates
    Welcome Cocktail and Chocoaltes
    Welcome Cocktail and Chocoaltes
    Third course

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    Third course
    Segreto Lounge

    Segreto Lounge

    4.4
    (36 reviews)
    3.8 mi

    Segreto is one sexy, fun place. The drinks are on the pricier side of life but the entertainment…read moreand atmosphere make up for it. Come put together, bring your fun attitude and dance shoes or sit at the table and head bounce, but either way you'll love the live music and the DJ afterwards. Pro tip....Get there early if you don't have a reservation so that you can snag a bar seat or possibly be seated at a table. If at a table with no rezy be prepared to have to get up when the reserved party gets there though.

    Located next to Lombardi's, Segreto Lounge is one of Houston's best secrets in the Galleria…read more Delicious cocktails mixed with either live music or ambient upbeat house tunes help make this a premier hang out spot after dinner or if you want to have a relaxing moment with your crew. As for drinks, they are pricy due to the atmosphere/setting but they are quite tasty. Bartenders put a lot of love and detail into concocting them and it shows. Once you pick up your drink, you can either sit at the bar or one of the tables and lounge around; or (if you're adventurous) come up to the front and get your dance on. One thing I enjoyed about this spot was how my girlfriend and I could have a conversation with one another and not have to shout due to the volume. They serve food here too if you're hungry but I'm mainly here for the adult beverages, music, and vibes!

    Photos
    Entrance to Segreto Lounge with signage and roped entry.
    Entrance to Segreto Lounge with signage and roped entry.
    Segreto Lounge
    Guests toasting signature cocktails, "Little Segretos" at Segreto Lounge.

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    Guests toasting signature cocktails, "Little Segretos" at Segreto Lounge.
    Off The Record

    Off The Record

    4.0
    (52 reviews)
    8.3 mi

    My daughter and I went to Off The Record on a Thursday night to have a drink, and it happened to be…read moreR&B night. The female DJ was amazing and kept the energy going all night. We loved the decor, especially the area leading to the bathroom which is beautifully designed, although we were not allowed to take pictures. It was really fun seeing which records made the wall and reminiscing about the songs I grew up with. The venue has a lot of open dance floor space but limited seating. We were not able to see the upstairs area since it was closed that night. It can get a little loud, but we still enjoyed the vibes, the crowd, and of course the music. Just a heads up, they do add a service charge to your bill. Overall, Off The Record is a stylish spot with great music, a lively atmosphere, and a cool R&B night experience.

    We had such an amazing night out in the city at Off The Record. My friends and I arrived around…read more10:30pm after walking through downtown Houston. The vibes were perfect right away, white a giant poster wall at the front entrance, but it gets even better after walking into the main area. There was various vinyl decor on the walls, which was beautifully curated to compliment each other. The dj was playing a mix of R&B and Hiphop, both current and a 2000s throwback vibe. I ordered a Cosmopolitan at the bar while my friend ordered a Lemon Drop Martini, and we both thoroughly enjoyed our drinks. I also ordered a couple green tea shots since my friend never had one before. The only thing that was a bummer is the automatic 20% gratuity added, but that didn't dampen our night. We stayed until a little after 12am just dancing, enjoying the music, and appreciating this gem in downtown Houston.

    Photos
    Upstairs lounge
    Upstairs lounge
    Bar & projector
    Bar & projector
    Records

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    Records
    Refuge

    Refuge

    4.4
    (97 reviews)
    7.0 mi
    $$

    I've wanted to check this place out for a while so I was so excited to stop by! Speakeasies always…read morehave the best, most creative drinks. We went to the upstairs area which was dimly lit and played 80s/90s hip hop. We tried few drinks. Lion's mane tail, brown butter washed whisky, mushroom (which I found so unique). It was quite strong and was nice to switch up from the usual old fashions we try. Second drink was sharp turn. It was super fresh and crisp. Clear as water but I definitely felt it. Service was really good here too. I like that the bartenders all create their signature seasonal drinks so they genuinely are so well versed when describing the drink menu.

    Refuge is such a high quality bar. You can tell that they put immense care into the quality of…read moretheir drinks and service. I ordered 2 mocktails and my husband ordered two drinks. I thought that the catch 22 ( mocktail) would be too sweet or vinegar forward but it was tangy and light. My husband actually said he liked my mocktail more than he liked his cocktail which was good but a bit sweeter than he likes. The second mocktail I ordered was off the menu. I asked for something tropical and not too sweet. It was pretty good but not as complex as the catch 22. My husband liked the jaded merchant better than the dew drop. He also was sipping far too much of my mocktail which speaks volumes about how good it was. Love the moody vibes, drinks, and service. I've only visited three times but should make it one of the places we come to more often.

    Photos
    December 26
    December 26
    Small seating area
    Small seating area
    Espresso martini

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    Espresso martini

    Kanpai Club - tapasmallplates - Updated July 2026

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