I've wanted to check this place out for a while so I was so excited to stop by! Speakeasies always have 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. read more

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Refuge is such a high quality bar. You can tell that they put immense care into the quality of their 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. read more

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I was looking for Refuge coffee shop few weeks ago as I was a block away. But I couldn't find it. Last week, after my doctor's appointment, I decided to walk over here. But I took my car instead. Because I found parking before I found the coffee shop. There was only one employee when I was there on a Thursday morning. I ordered a cup of drip coffee and an almond croissant. The cashier offered to heated it up for me. I said yeah. When I took a sip of the coffee right after I sat down... Umm... it's not hot. I didn't know if drip coffee supposed to be room temperature. Maybe I should have asked her to heat up my coffee too. I was taking a webinar course, actually. I couldn't pay much attention to what I was drinking. But I remember that croissant took well over 20 minutes. Okay. She put it in the toaster oven. It tasted crispy and delicious. The music was blasting on the speaker near my ears. I had my headset listening as much as I can. I saw a young man sat across from my table and started to pull up his MacBook... ok someone can study in this loud environment, not me. So, I left. There is an outdoor seating area in front of the entrance. But there was a couple with their dogs. Ugh. Maybe next time. I don't know. read more

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Great location for craft cocktails created and served by a very friendly staff. There is little to no signage identifying the location of this Speakeasy style bar, so ask the Valet for the correct door to enter. The bar is small located upstairs with cozy booths available if lucky enough to find a slower night to visit. The drinks are great but small which encourages you to sample more. The bartenders are highly skilled and can proved the classics or design something personal per your criteria. read more

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I've been here several times. I love the small intimate, chill vibe. Background music is upbeat yet mellow at a decent volume. This place is behind the Anvil bar past the parking lot where the door leads to upstairs. We received a friendly greeting upon arriving at the top of the stairs. The server asked our names. They start you with warm towels to wipe your hands. I can't say the drinks are overly alcohol forward. They are tasty & well balanced. I'd say this a place where you can't get caught up about the size of the drink or the booze content, it's meant to be an enjoyable craft cocktail. Mixologists are very skilled. Come for the vibe & creative well balanced drinks & make it a pre-dinner, after-dinner, or a bar-hopping stop. The atmosphere is totally different than its sister bar Anvil which shares the same building. Anvil is a much larger, darker & louder vibe with a more extensive drink menu (via the bar code on menu). Again the mixologists are very skilled if you tell them what taste profile you are looking for. Decide on your preferred vibe or do what I do sometimes which is have a drink at both spots. I've always found Refuge to be way less crowded than Anvil. Btw. Valet parking was $10, otherwise there's a few spots in a parking lot across the street or side street parking. read more

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One of my favorite bars in Houston. The drinks are always fantastic and well worth the price of them. The service is always wonderful and accommodating. The ambiance of the place during Christmas time is super cute as well! read more

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I lament the loss of a calm cool and collected cocktail experience. It's now loud music and people yelling across the bar. Definitely turned into an anvil extension rather than what it started as. Still good cocktails and friendly attentive bartenders. read more

My friends and I came here for drinks. My favorite was the Orange Julius and the gummy bear. But everything else was great! The place is dimmed and it wasn't busy when we went so it wasn't loud either. They do have snacks but you want to come here for the drinks. It is pricy but it's for the quality, worth it, not quantity. The service was great. Overall, we had a wonderful time and would come here as a small group again. Also, this would be a good place for an after dinner date night! Parking is paid valet. Refugee is upstairs. read more

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Refuge is Anvil's speakeasy, and we visited on a Saturday night without a reservation. Fortunately, we were able to put our names on the list and only waited about 45 minutes. The space was packed, and while seating was a bit tight in our booth of six, we made it work. Our waiter was quirky and attentive, adding to the lively atmosphere. I ordered the grilled cheese, which was supposed to include smoked gouda, pear, preserved lemon, and berbere spice. While the sandwich itself was good, it was essentially just bread and cheese--I was really looking forward to the pear but it didn't make an appearance on my sandwich. Despite that small letdown, we had a great time overall and enjoyed the experience. read more

Refuge - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

Been to Anvil plenty of times but tonight was the first time at Refuge (upstairs). Definitely a more elegant yet comfortable setting. Service was phenomenal and cocktails fairly well priced. I got a lychee martini and it was delicious. Recommend for anyone looking for a quieter cocktail bar with great ambience in Montrose! read more

Refuge - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Splendid, quaint, and luxurious bar slightly hidden within the streets of Montrose. Walking up the stairs, I was met with the hostess and the warm lighting that illuminated the bar. I was sat at a booth with a small lamp that was bright enough to light up the table and my friend. I was pleasantly surprised that they gave us warm, wet hand towels to cleanse ourselves, adding to the luxury experience. My friend and I asked for a surprise shot with Tequila, leaving the creation up to the bartender. It was one of the most smooth shots, going down easy and not leaving a burning sensation with it. I like my drinks on the sweeter side so I ordered the Ocean Water; a fantastic blend of Rum, Citrus, and Coconut. With R&B playing in the back, this is a wonderful spot to converse and just be. At the end, we were given candy's that left a sweet ending to our journey at Refuge. Overall, 10/10. read more

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This place has an intimate atmosphere that is good for conversation. The staff was kind and the owner, Alexander Nguyen, was there which was really personable. They serve interesting drinks as well as classics. I thought it was cute that they gave us candy with the bill. I would make a reservation if you'd like to check it out otherwise you'll have to wait. read more

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Really cute small bar located in the heart of Houston. Right across the street from Rosewell, this hidden little gem seems to have been created for a very intimate night out. Would be great for date night. The drinks are expensive but the vibe is super tranquil and service was very friendly. This bar is great for a date but be prepared to spend $35 on 2 drinks. read more

Cute little bar above anvil. They have a cool menu with specialty drinks. Its usually a good idea to make a res because the space is small and tends to get packed All the beverages we ordered were really good and had a super cute presentation as you can see from the pics. All and all I highly reccomend! read more

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Classy, intimate vibes at this cocktail lounge! Upon entering, we were seated with a glass of water and warm towel to clean your hands. I inquired about the happy hour, which they no longer have, but my server was kind enough to still honor the deal since they silently discontinued the deal without announcing it on social media. We got the Rolls-Royce martini and best seller classic cocktail evergreen (original price $16 each, but we got them for $8 each)! Both tasted clean and strong. Definitely recommend this place for a date night or girls night! read more

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Refuge always dropping the mic with their mixology creations. This summer they brought the tiki vibes and every drink was . My personal fav was the Macadamian rhapsody. So well balanced with a perfectly nutty finish. My husband loved the buttery old fashioned. We also tried the mango lassi and the rum & coke float - all fun and delicious! For all you durian lovers out there, they do have a creamy durian creation, nice blend of citrus amaretto rum goodness with that characteristic meat kick from the durian. If you hate durian.... You probably won't love this drink but it is a nice intro to the durian flavors!! Grilled cheese sammy always slaps. Love the crew here and drinks came out quickly. Valet parking available for $10 if you don't wanna search for neighborhood street parking. I'll definitely be back for more summer tiki vibes before they move on to their fall menu! read more

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Went for the first time recently. You walk up a stairway to get up to this bar. It is dark and has a very fancy feel. It feels cozy and the outside world Is shut off. After being seated, they bring you a warm towel to freshen up with which was classy. The drink I had (margarita) was probably the absolute best drink I've ever had. Incredible. Can't wait to go back! read more

This spot seemed really promising and was worth the 45 minute wait to get in. I had a friend who recently became of age to drink, so I wanted their first cocktail experience to be one that was remembered. While the drinks themselves weren't the best I've had (watered down, not very balanced), they were still good. I tried 3 different ones while there - Spciy Marg, Old Fashioned and a Paper Plane. While warm inside, the ambiance was very intimate and service was attentive. I did like that this bar has valet parking downstairs for $10 for the night. Definitely take advantage of that if you can't find parking elsewhere. read more

Refuge - Specialty Vodka Drink - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Intro: I have been to Refuge twice. Both on weekdays. Once for happy hour and once in the evening. This speakeasy-style bar is located in Montrose. It's right next to Anvil in the space that used to be Etro many years ago. They have a small parking lot. If that's full, street parking is your best bet. Be careful though and read the signs. Some side streets only allow parking at certain times of the day. Ambiance (5/5): Speakeasy-style (but not a true speakeasy) is your clue. Dimly lit. Elegant. With seating at the bar and also at tables. It makes for a great date spot. Service (5/5): The bartenders are attentive and friendly. The cocktails will likely contain ingredients that you've never heard of and they're always happy to answer any questions you might have. Drinks (4.5/5): They have a creative cocktail list. Similar to Anvil, the focus is on sophisticated cocktails so it will take a little while to make your drink for you. But it's well worth it. Overall: The drinks aren't cheap but the quality is there. And if you're looking for a good deal, stop by during happy hour. Cocktails are 50% off! read more

Located in Montrose, this place is a coffee shop during the day and bar at night. Ngl, never heard of this place before my friend recommended we try it out and omg so glad I got a chance to try it out! They sell LOVE crossiants, which are top tier crossiants baked locally in Houston. I got the mini almond crossiant and it was one of the best I have ever had. I also got a honey vanilla latte and it was delish!! A little pricey, considering the crossiants are $8-9 dollars each unless you get the mini ones, but they're such a treat. Also, not as crowded as other coffee shops in the area, and would be perfect for studying/wfh! read more

Refuge - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

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We were in search of a cocktail bar and came across Refuge (thank you, Yelp). I wasn't familiar with this coffee shop and bar, but apparently it's been open for over a year. When we arrived, we went to the coffee shop entrance not realizing that the bar is located on the opposite side of the building. We followed the signage and eventually spotted the door. The entrance to the cocktail bar is nondescript and is towards the back of the building in the valet parking lot. They accept a limited number of reservations through Resy, but mostly accommodate walk ins. When we arrived, they didn't have any seats available, but they were able to accommodate us at this little area near the bar. Once seats became available, we were able to sit down. We probably had to wait about 15-20 minutes for seats at the bar. They have a few seats at the bar, a few tables and some larger booths. Refuge reminds me of how Anvil used to be when they first opened. It's more chill and laid back with an intimate feel. The menu is completely different from Anvil, but the quality of the cocktails is on par. Our bartender Ruby was so sweet and personable. It was Halloween weekend so the bartenders were dressed as characters from Scooby Doo which was cute. My friend and I ordered different variations of the same drink called the Janus effect. Mine had fassionola which gave it a blue color while my friend's had citrus galanagal which gave it a red color. We tried each other's drinks and liked them both. My friend wasn't sure which one she wanted so Ruby gave her a sample of both so she could try it before making a decision. Refuge has a speakeasy feel which I personally love. It really does feel like a refuge from the loud and boisterous bars that are nearby. read more

Refuge - Entrance - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Really enjoyed getting to try this spot out. I've heard it can get super packed in the later part of the evening, but swung by here with a couple others post-dinner for some drinks. Got in maybe around 7-7:30 and was seated immediately. The bar was maybe 80% full at that point? Definitely packed closer to the time we left around 9pm. At any rate, we ordered the Huckleberry Hound, Bobby's Martini, and Janus Effect w/ fassionola. My wife is a big martini fan so the bobby's martini hit right at home. I'm not the biggest martini fan, but thought it was well done. The other friend got the huckleberry hound. I am not crazy about tequila, but she really enjoyed the fruity components to it. As for me, I got the Janus Effect and really enjoyed it. I am a pina colada fan and although this wasn't exactly that, it had good tropical notes to it while being creamy and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The vibe is pretty dark and can get loud, but never had to scream over anyone. Overall, would definitely come by here again! I've heard they make amazing espresso martinis. Also obligatory callout that this place is located on the side of Anvil and you'll need to go upstairs. Not really a speakeasy vibe, but definitely pretty intimate. read more

Refuge - Huckleberry Hound (top), Janus Effect w/ fassionola (bottom left), Bobby's Martini (bottom right) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

Visited Refuge for the first time on a Saturday night for a party of 2. We made reservations a couple weeks before on Resy. Refuge has a "sister-bar" called Anvil that is right next door but it's worth noting they're not connected. When we arrived, we were notified that our table had been given to someone else (honest mistake, no problem). We waited around 5 minutes and were seated at the bar (bar is walk-in). The cocktails were pretty good, we ended up getting the Lady Luck, Pimm's Royale, and Bangerang. All three were well made and had unique flavors. read more

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Refuge might be my new favorite coffee shop in Houston! Quaint and almost hidden, this coffee shop by day, cocktail bar by night is the perfect balance between work and fun. I came here on a Thurs around 1pm, and it wasn't too busy. There's a good amount of tables and outlets to get some work done. The ambiance of this place is so cozy, lots of plant greenery, and big windows for natural lighting. There's free wifi that was actually decently fast so it's the ideal spot to be productive. As far as drinks go, I tried their mocha latte w/ almond milk. It had a smooth espresso flavor, rich dark chocolate notes, and creamy milk foam from the froth. No complaints here, other than their drinks are a little on the expensive side. You can expect that though being that Refuge is really nice, connected to Anvil, and on the nice part of Westheimer. This is definitely the ideal coffee shop for a casual date, small meet up with a friend or 2, or simply to get some work done. They offer coffee, wine, beer, and cocktails for your enjoyment, cheers! read more

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Cute little hidden gem - been around for awhile, but my first time there. Staff was super friendly and helpful making suggestions based on your taste or preference of alcohol or liqueurs. Has limited bar seating, small open lounge area and a handful of booths. Music is just loud enough to allow for conversation. Definitely recommend for a unique out of the way place. read more

Refuge - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Finally got to try this place last week and I have already returned a second time! Super cute and intimate craft cocktail place located right behind Anvil. The place is really small so I would definitely make a reservation before coming to make sure you get a table. The dim lighting, coziness, and great drinks make it an awesome date spot. I have tried a couple of drinks here but the rosetta is my favorite! Perfect combination of sweet and boozy. The staff here is awesome! They are so friendly and make sure to address you by your name. This is such a small but meaningful gesture. This place has quickly become my favorite in town! read more

Refuge - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

I'm not saying I'm an expert by no means, but this has to be my favorite cocktail bar.... ever. The ambience is intimate, hip music plays in the background. There are small groups of friends and couples either at the bar or at a small table. It's a small place for sure. The drinks are perfection. Whenever I am in Houston I make it a point to visit. I first visited Refuge in the summer and tried their summer menu. Everything we tried was delicious and original. My favorites were the White Lotus and the Vietnamese coffee. This time around they changed the menu to the fall menu. The Lady Luck was delicious. I can't wait to visit again. Also, the service is 5 stars. read more

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Love, love, love this place! Stopped in for a girls day and never wanted to leave. The green drink - don't know what it was called but it was like drinking mint chocolate chip ice cream. read more

Refuge - Espresso martini, Alexander, and his amazing drinks! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

Day time, coffee shop review! Location is new ! This is mixed with their night cocktail bar. From what I understand is that the bottom floor is their coffee shop, opened until 5pm. Afterwards, it closes and opens the upstairs bar, which I haven't gotten to try yet. Parking is sweet, not limited to the couple spots right in front but also their own right across, shared with the barber shop. Street parking otherwise, as usual in the Montrose area. I believe the catch eye decor is that large window to the ceiling. It brings so much light and brightens the inside. Inside feels like great living room, felt very cozy. Menu includes coffee and pastries. But also, different wines selections too! Unfortunately, pastries ran out at the time I arrived but they are still adjusting to the demand. I really enjoyed the ambiance where you can sit at the bar, on a high table seating, on a sofa or simple chair and booths. Nice music background to stay within the chill vibes. Service was kind and attentive. Again, still situating the new business. I see many plugs set around the wall, looks pretty convenient to bring your laptop to work ! Definitely planning on going back to try it. 100% recommend ! read more

Refuge - Those windows. That decor. That vibe. Check, check, check! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

Went here for drinks before dinner to celebrate my husband's birthday. Ambiance was nice, loved that they were playing early 2000s r&b and hip-hop. Music was loud but not enough to deter conversation. Our server, April, was sweet and made sure we felt well taken care of. The drinks were so delicious! My husband got the mace runner and commodore's Cadillac which were more spirit forward but well-balanced. I got the quarter note and ruby cobbler which were refreshing and sweet without being cloying. The cocktail menu is seasonal which I love as well. Will definitely come back again. read more

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On the strength of the playlist alone this place gets 5+ stars!!! Old school hip hop and rap!!! Then the stellar greeting and service sends it over the top!!! Eric was the server and bartender that made our drinks and they were great!!! I'm so glad I stopped by and will be back!! read more

Refuge - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

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I love everything about this bar. Except when it's too busy and there's a wait but even then they make that experience so lovely - Baby lamp with ambient light, hot towel, little nook to stand it and drinks! The team here is stellar. We stood for about 30 min before 2 seats opened at the bar. I love a bar seating. It's the best spot in the house IMO. great for people watching, it's intimate when you're with 1 other person, you can watch the bartenders make drinks and also the dynamic of the crew. I've had the martini which is wowow so good and the peach cobbler drink which I think are way opposite of the spectrum but they were both amazing. Love. read more

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We were able to make reservations to Refuge (located behind Anvil) for Friday at 7pm. The reservation was only for 90 minutes which was disappointing because the drinks and vibe were SO fun we wish we could have stayed longer. It's definitely speakeasy feels, staircase leading up to the place, dark, super chill and WONDERFUL drinks. My husband tired 5 different drinks and loved them all. They have little snacks (pretzels, dried peas) and it was a good time with friends. Our waiter was awesome and I'm sad we didn't get his name because he was super helpful and kind. Definitely have to come back! read more

Refuge - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

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I came here on a Friday night for drinks. It was a bit hard to find for me. I Ubered and went into a different bar on the bottom floor. One I went around the back of the building and up the stairs I knew I was in the right place. There have two different sections. One is a smaller bar area and the other a larger lounge area. It all seems to be seated room early and we had a reservation. We sat at a higher top on the bar side. Service was attentive. I wasn't in love with the options on their menu so I asked a lot of questions. I ordered Pimm's royale. It was good but a bit sweet/heavy to order a second. They accidently brought my friend a Nuevo León instead of the corn n oil he ordered but it was a blessing because the corn n oil was terrible once it came lol. But the Nuevo León was so good I ordered it for my second drink. Each drink was $16. Music was a bit loud if your goal is to talk and seeing as no one was up or dancing I feel like that's why most people go. They have a small parking lot and side street parking. Not a bad place to check out and lots of bars nearby to hop. read more

Came here for a coworking session with a friend on Wednesday. It's a small space but it's very nice with natural lighting and ambient music. I got a green tea and it came quickly and our server was super nice. There are plenty of outlets to work from and the wifi is good!! Would love to try the bar portion out sometime soon read more

Refuge - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

Some friends and I were visiting Houston and reserved a table at Refuge. It was a little hard to find the place, but we're glad we did. The vibe inside once you walk up the stairs is really cool. The staff is incredibly friendly and knowledgeable, and they made some really helpful drink suggestions. Between the four of us in our group, we got to try everything on the cocktail menu (don't worry, we got an Uber home!). The drinks are definitely on the pricier side, but there's value to a well-made drink. Everything I tried was terrific and beautifully served, with my personal favorites being the Greenhorn and the Sazerac. My only issues with the bar is that it took a while to get our first round of drinks (about 15 minutes), but our next two rounds were fine. Also, it's really dark in there, which I understand is the vibe they're going for. Still, I had a hard time reading the menu even with the lamp they gave us, and after 3 drinks, I was very worried about tripping over something on my way out. read more

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This bar and coffee shop is a very cool concept, but I mostly visit the bar. The bar and the coffee shop are on opposite side of the building so it could be a little hard to find. When you walk in, it is only barely lit and you walk upstairs where there is bar seating and then a lounge-like area. It is a small area, but we went on a Friday night and we did not have to wait for a table. The drinks and service here are fantastic. Our server was incredibly attentive and continued to check on us. They were friendly and personable which made the experience even better. We ordered a couple of drinks off the menu, but we also ordered a couple classic cocktails which were made very well. I would definitely come back here after a dinner or before going out for the night. read more

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Came here for pre-dinner drinks on a Friday night. We had a 6:30 reservation and after checking in with the very friendly hostess we were taken straight to our booth. The bar is up a flight of stairs on the back side of Anvil. The vibes are very moody/sexy with low lighting and table lamps. Service was great and I loved the presentation of our cocktails. I had a tequila neat and my husband went with Bobby's martini which was served with a side dish of olives. Great spot for before or after dinner cocktails! read more

Refuge - Tequila neat - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Great drinks but the noise level is a bit too loud. We had a hard time trying to hear each other. Drinks took a lot longer so be patient if you come here. We did like how at least everyone got a seat so we didn't have to stand at all. Drinks we liked was hall pass, old fashioned and eastern sour. read more

A cool, speakeasy-ish cocktail bar (I guess it's also a coffee bar - some pics showed a different interior) located on the corner of Anvil Bar's building. Signs aren't really displayed, so you'd have to know what you're looking for. Inside is dark and intimate; low ceiling, big neon sign in the back and little table lamps on each table that you dim up/down. Cocktail menu consists of classic and signature cocktails and also all spirits that they keep in stock. A small snack menu - cheeses, nuts - are at the last page. Waiters/waitresses come up to get your drink orders and take off in a snap. Overall, a pretty unique and fun experience. It does get a little loud, and it's a place that's going to fill up fast. Our first round of drinks took about 10-15 minutes to come out, but the quality of the cocktails did not disappoint. Definitely give this place a try! read more

Refuge - Janis Effect, Left Ear Lullaby and dirty vodka martini - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas