An upstairs and downstairs bar, what's not to love? Blue is the Brenner bar…read more The outside downstairs bar is a covered patio space with fans and scenic views of the bayou. The only thing missing is a water mister on the fans. Great place to hang with friends and enjoy on a nice day. Lots of space to spread out, bar seats, tables, fire pits, loungers etc. And even a private duck off space to relax, that's seperate from the bar. I trust they get alot of business for people wanting to enjoy drinks before dinner. The upstairs bar, is a more intimate space, with mostly bar seating, to those wanting air conditioner with their cocktails, lol. Drinks - I started with the Daiq-quila, and it was a good start, wonderful on a summer day. Next I had the the Brenners Signature Marg which was fine. My friend really enjoyed her $$ martini. Service - was fine. Had a slight mishap with the bill, but our young strapping server got it straightened out. Worth it, if coming for happy hour, otherwise it's a pretty penny for simple drinks you could really have anywhere for cheaper.

Blue At Brenner's is Brenner's on the Bayou's little cocktail lounge. It's a great place to…read morecongregate while waiting for your table or party inside. They also have a very spacious second space outside on the large, beautiful patio overlooking the well manicured landscape of the surrounding bayou. Myself and a few people from my group arrived a little early for dinner at Brenner's and decided to have a cocktail while waiting. The inside bar is small, but intimate. There is some seating around the neon lit bar and some high top tables around. We didn't have a whole lot of interaction with the bartender, but he was pleasant and made a solid drink. My drink of choice was a Brenner's Old Fashioned. It was happy hour and there were drink and light bite specials. My drink was properly made and dressed and was a tad bit on the strong side. For the happy hour price, not a bad drink. As expected at a fine dining place like Brenner's, regular price drinks can be spendy. Overall, it was a nice option to have a place to sit and enjoy a drink before or after dinner. I think I would even come back to enjoy the outdoor space which seemed like a little oasis in the middle of the city.

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

Parking is a pain...and it doesn't get much better. There is a pricey valet lot, or you are at the…read moremercy of street parking or walking. The ambiance is chill, but dead. I went on a Saturday night for a friend's birthday, and it was nearly empty. We were given the impression there is a dress code when the venue was picked about a month ago, but they took that page off their site two weeks later. In fact, the who site looks different. We can only assume ownership changed, because it seems like they are trying to be a business casual sports lounge now. The drink I ordered is listed as a virgin drink, so I asked the bartender to add either vodka or gin. It wasn't bad, but the prices make it not worth it.

Mr. Nice is a great intimate cocktail bar. I love the atmosphere with the dim lighting and upscale…read morecosmopolitan vibe. Since it is a smaller space, seating can be limited, but I visited on a weeknight, and was able to get a couch right away even with it being fairly busy. The service is great. It was quick to get a drink and everyone working was friendly and attentive, checking up on us. The espresso martini was wonderful - and I'm pretty picky about those. They had a DJ that kept the energy going! They have a valet parking lot and some street parking available (though hard to find).

went back again and absolutely loved it! Recommendation:…read moreReserve a table online Try the English rose if you like it sweet!

this is a very chic and intimate cocktail bar. it's located right next to mexican sugar…read more there is street parking or garage (paid) parking. the service is ok. when i showed up the place was actually empty. i was the only person there, and the bar tender was extremely dry. she was nice... but very dry. the ambiance was very beautiful and plush, definitely a great place to grab a pre or post dinner cocktail or have a girls night. there wasn't a dj while i was there, but there was definitely a dj station. i would love to see this place host vip parties. in comparison to most bars in houston, this one is very tiny, but its just enough room to create a vibe with taste makers. 3 stars because i'm indifferent. its gorgeous, but beauty is fading and the vibes were mediocre. bonné santé c.

This spot is such a vibe. Great cigar collection and great drinks! The service was impeccable! The…read morefood was also good.

We had a great time here!! Service was excellent and drinks were perfect and a great selection of…read morecigars!! My favorite was the music they played good music, classic 90s!! I highly recommend this place for a chill night out!!

Okay...so I think I may have fallen in love with Clarkwood's espresso martinis. I've been on the…read morehunt for my favorite espresso martini in Houston, and while surprisingly, my favorite so far was at Postino's, but man. Clarkwood really does know what they're doing with these espresso martinis! I loved the added touch of the burnt marshmallow on mine, and the coffee seemed pretty good quality too. The second time I visited I also enjoyed their spicy watermelon margarita. Also amazing. It tasted a little bit like a spicy jolly rancher? SO good! They also let us know that if we posted and tagged them on our instagram, that we could receive a free round of shots. So, of course, me and my two friends posted to get some shots too. We were able to try the Mexican candy shot, the raspberry lemon drop shot, and the mini matcha martini shot. Honestly all were really good, but my favorite in order were the 1) raspberry lemon drop shot, 2) Mexican candy shot, then 3) the matcha martini shot. The matcha martini was good but as it's creamier, I think having it as an actual martini than a shot is more appropriate. Still, it's a great way to try a new drink and just sip on it rather than taking it as a shot. Also - the venue is so elegant and charming and such a cute spot for a date night. The music was a littleeee loud for me considering it's such a small space, but that's okay. Either way, I loved Clarkwood and will be coming back again :)

$200 to Get Cancelled On: A Masterclass in Hospitality…read more We had reservations for the 6:00 p.m. cocktail tasting in the Arc Room and were required to pre-pay $200--because nothing says "relaxing evening" like a firm financial commitment. Naturally, if we hadn't shown, we would have been charged in full. However, when we arrived right on time, we were informed the event had been canceled. Apparently, a text was sent. Equally apparently, none of us received it--nor did at least three other couples standing there having the exact same delightful surprise. The double standard was...impressive. The hostess was apologetic but clearly overwhelmed and not exactly presentation-ready (stained shirt, visibly frazzled), which didn't inspire much confidence that this was an isolated hiccup. The proposed solution was to seat us in the bar--with the added charm of a strict "out by 8:00" timeline. A bold recovery strategy for canceling a prepaid experience at the last minute. We ordered the Clarkwood gin and tonic and a lychee martini--both recommended--along with a charcuterie board. Neither drink made it to the finish line. The martini leaned aggressively sweet, and the gin and tonic featured fruit-infused ice that sounded creative but tasted...confused. It also arrived in a shade of neon blue that felt less "craft cocktail" and more "science experiment." The charcuterie board was, somehow, the standout disappointment. The almonds were oily, the meat had those telltale dried edges of something that's been sitting out too long, and the accompaniments included what appeared to be Wheat Thins and plain animal crackers. It was an unexpectedly nostalgic trip to a child's snack drawer--just not one anyone asked for. Overall, this might pass as a novelty stop for a 21 run looking for something flashy, but between canceling prepaid reservations, questionable communication, and execution that missed the mark at every turn, it's difficult to find a compelling reason to return.

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!

Great drinks & great space, love the music & the interior decor is so classy and intimate yet very…read morespacious. Whether crowded or not this spot is a vibe. I ordered their tart cherry old fashioned & it was a solid choice, I'd recommend! Been here twice & I'd be back again, great spot for a good night out.

Giving this a 4 just to be fair. This is a speakeasy. When you walk in it appears to be a bakery…read moreand they sell some tubed drinks. When we entered no one said hi or anything so we just kept it moving past that part. When you go to the back its cute and the have a huge outside patio where all the tables were reserved. We sat for a while and the crowd kept getting younger and younger so we left. They also should invest in new patio furniture.