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a gin and tonic with a spiraled lemon peel, a star anise, and garnished with dill in a goblet glass
Coltivare’s gin and tonics are garnished with herbs from the restaurant’s garden.
Coltivare/Facebook

10 Supremely Refreshing Gin and Tonics to Drink Right Now in Houston

Find well-balanced, picture-perfect G&Ts at these restaurants and bars

by Megha McSwain
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Coltivare’s gin and tonics are garnished with herbs from the restaurant’s garden.
| Coltivare/Facebook
by Megha McSwain

Like its rum and Coke or vodka-soda counterparts, the gin and tonic may seem like a simple, uncomplicated choice at the bar. But in a city like Houston, where cocktail lists are dutifully presented with intriguing concoctions, the gin and tonic can be complex, interesting and worthy of a visit on its own. Gin — which to begin with offers a wonderfully bright and floral foundation — is joined in perfect harmony with flavored tonic waters and aromatics, revealing a fantastically spirited moment.

With so many robust flavors and choices, the time-honored classic serves as a dynamic pairing for hearty meats and exotic dishes, but can easily stand on its own.

Looking for a quality G&T built with fresh, fragrant ingredients? Whether you want to sip on something classic and boozy or like your drink frozen and fruity, refer to our map of the best restaurants and cocktail bars serving up top-notch gin and tonics.

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1751 Sea and Bar

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Named after the Gin Act of 1751 — which historically changed the licensing laws and business of selling gin in London — this prime seafood destination in the Heights boasts a substantial gin list of more than 100 different varieties, and features several riffs on the classic gin and tonic. Along with fresh raw oysters or steamed mussels, try the ocean-colored blue light special, made with Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish gin and lemon tonic.

191 Heights Blvd, Houston, TX 77007
(832) 831-9820
(832) 831-9820

Also featured in:

BCN Taste & Tradition

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Sample true Spanish gin and tonics at BCN, where long-stemmed goblets serve as the palette for boozy, artsy cocktails. The lavender gin and tonic is aromatic, mixed with elderflower tonic and fresh lavender, while the classic BCN gin and tonic is built with Hendrick’s gin and Fever Tree tonic over a single cube of ice, then sprinkled with juniper berries.

4210 Roseland St, Houston, TX 77006
(832) 834-3411
(832) 834-3411

Also featured in:

Musaafer

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As a nod to the cocktail’s 19th century Indian origins, Musaafer gives guests the opportunity to sample a slew of gin and tonic options crafted with house-made teas and tinctures which change from season to season. The Bombay Sapphire is a sight to see, splashed with edible blue paint and enhanced with lemongrass and grapefruit bitters, while the Botanist is smooth and refreshing with fresh sliced green apple, mint, and cinnamon.

5115 Westheimer Rd Suite C-3500, Houston, TX 77056
(713) 242-8087
(713) 242-8087

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Doris Metropolitan Houston

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Doris Metropolitan offers a perfectly citrusy spin on the traditional gin and tonic with the Doris G&T. Crafted with Zephyr Black gin and 1724 tonic, the cocktail is fragrant with rosemary, lemon, orange and olive, offering a refreshing partner to one of the restaurant’s premium dry aged steaks.

2815 S Shepherd Dr, Houston, TX 77098
(713) 485-0466
(713) 485-0466

Also featured in:

Eight Row Flint

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Perfect for the summer heat, the frozen gin and tonic at Eight Row Flint will definitely chill you out. Made with Citadelle gin, the icy beverage combines grapefruit and lime sherbet with mint cordial and Fever Tree tonic for a boozy and refreshing summer treat. For twice the fun, add a Campari floater for a couple of bucks more.

1039 Yale St, Houston, TX 77008
(832) 767-4002
(832) 767-4002

Also featured in:

Coltivare

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At Coltivare, gin and tonics are kept straightforward and uncomplicated, as in the Coltivare classic, made with gin, mint, and Indian tonic. Coltivare also offers seasonal G&Ts, garnished with leafy herbs and aromatics from the restaurant’s on-site garden.

3320 White Oak Dr, Houston, TX 77007
(832) 203-7890
(832) 203-7890

Also featured in:

Le Jardinier

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As a nod to its new home in the Kinder Building at the Museum of Fine Arts, the various plates at Le Jardinier are visually striking and whimsical, and that includes the restaurant’s artistic take on the gin and tonic. The cromosat and tonic is made with gin, tonic, lemongrass, and butterfly pea flower, resulting in a vibrant purple hue and fresh floral flavor.

5500 Main St Suite 122, Houston, TX 77004

Also featured in:

Kiran's

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Chef Kiran Verma is known to bring the spice to dishes and desserts at her namesake restaurant, so it’s no surprise that the gin and tonic at Kiran’s is crafted with a similar thought in mind. Beginning with Ford’s gin, the cocktail is spiced with cardamom, offering a distinct, earthy flavor, then finished off with basil, lime, and Indian tonic.

2925 Richmond Ave Suite 160, Houston, TX 77098
(713) 960-8472
(713) 960-8472

Also featured in:

MAD

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Coined MAD as a nod to Madrid’s international airport code, guests at this restaurant are taken on a journey to Spain by way of artistic tapas and oversized Spanish cocktails. Here, the Fresa gin and tonic is a colorful mess of basil, mint, strawberry, and lemon with Zephyr gin, green tea, and elderflower tonic. Insider tip: As the sister restaurant to BCN in Montrose, the cocktail menu also features the famed BCN gin and tonic.

4444 Westheimer Rd Suite C180, Houston, TX 77027
(281) 888-2770
(281) 888-2770

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Etoile Cuisine Et Bar

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The classic gin and tonic is given a fancy French treatment at Etoile in Uptown Park. The Pomme et Poire G&T offers an elevated take on the cocktail, with Citadelle Reserve aged gin and Dolin’s blanc vermouth, and is finished off with sweet apple and pear-infused tonic and fresh herbs.

1101-11 Uptown Park Blvd, Houston, TX 77056
(832) 668-5808
(832) 668-5808

Also featured in:

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1751 Sea and Bar

191 Heights Blvd, Houston, TX 77007

Named after the Gin Act of 1751 — which historically changed the licensing laws and business of selling gin in London — this prime seafood destination in the Heights boasts a substantial gin list of more than 100 different varieties, and features several riffs on the classic gin and tonic. Along with fresh raw oysters or steamed mussels, try the ocean-colored blue light special, made with Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish gin and lemon tonic.

191 Heights Blvd, Houston, TX 77007
(832) 831-9820
(832) 831-9820

BCN Taste & Tradition

4210 Roseland St, Houston, TX 77006

Sample true Spanish gin and tonics at BCN, where long-stemmed goblets serve as the palette for boozy, artsy cocktails. The lavender gin and tonic is aromatic, mixed with elderflower tonic and fresh lavender, while the classic BCN gin and tonic is built with Hendrick’s gin and Fever Tree tonic over a single cube of ice, then sprinkled with juniper berries.

4210 Roseland St, Houston, TX 77006
(832) 834-3411
(832) 834-3411

Musaafer

5115 Westheimer Rd Suite C-3500, Houston, TX 77056

As a nod to the cocktail’s 19th century Indian origins, Musaafer gives guests the opportunity to sample a slew of gin and tonic options crafted with house-made teas and tinctures which change from season to season. The Bombay Sapphire is a sight to see, splashed with edible blue paint and enhanced with lemongrass and grapefruit bitters, while the Botanist is smooth and refreshing with fresh sliced green apple, mint, and cinnamon.

5115 Westheimer Rd Suite C-3500, Houston, TX 77056
(713) 242-8087
(713) 242-8087

Doris Metropolitan Houston

2815 S Shepherd Dr, Houston, TX 77098

Doris Metropolitan offers a perfectly citrusy spin on the traditional gin and tonic with the Doris G&T. Crafted with Zephyr Black gin and 1724 tonic, the cocktail is fragrant with rosemary, lemon, orange and olive, offering a refreshing partner to one of the restaurant’s premium dry aged steaks.

2815 S Shepherd Dr, Houston, TX 77098
(713) 485-0466
(713) 485-0466

Eight Row Flint

1039 Yale St, Houston, TX 77008

Perfect for the summer heat, the frozen gin and tonic at Eight Row Flint will definitely chill you out. Made with Citadelle gin, the icy beverage combines grapefruit and lime sherbet with mint cordial and Fever Tree tonic for a boozy and refreshing summer treat. For twice the fun, add a Campari floater for a couple of bucks more.

1039 Yale St, Houston, TX 77008
(832) 767-4002
(832) 767-4002

Coltivare

3320 White Oak Dr, Houston, TX 77007

At Coltivare, gin and tonics are kept straightforward and uncomplicated, as in the Coltivare classic, made with gin, mint, and Indian tonic. Coltivare also offers seasonal G&Ts, garnished with leafy herbs and aromatics from the restaurant’s on-site garden.

3320 White Oak Dr, Houston, TX 77007
(832) 203-7890
(832) 203-7890

Le Jardinier

5500 Main St Suite 122, Houston, TX 77004

As a nod to its new home in the Kinder Building at the Museum of Fine Arts, the various plates at Le Jardinier are visually striking and whimsical, and that includes the restaurant’s artistic take on the gin and tonic. The cromosat and tonic is made with gin, tonic, lemongrass, and butterfly pea flower, resulting in a vibrant purple hue and fresh floral flavor.

5500 Main St Suite 122, Houston, TX 77004

Kiran's

2925 Richmond Ave Suite 160, Houston, TX 77098

Chef Kiran Verma is known to bring the spice to dishes and desserts at her namesake restaurant, so it’s no surprise that the gin and tonic at Kiran’s is crafted with a similar thought in mind. Beginning with Ford’s gin, the cocktail is spiced with cardamom, offering a distinct, earthy flavor, then finished off with basil, lime, and Indian tonic.

2925 Richmond Ave Suite 160, Houston, TX 77098
(713) 960-8472
(713) 960-8472

MAD

4444 Westheimer Rd Suite C180, Houston, TX 77027

Coined MAD as a nod to Madrid’s international airport code, guests at this restaurant are taken on a journey to Spain by way of artistic tapas and oversized Spanish cocktails. Here, the Fresa gin and tonic is a colorful mess of basil, mint, strawberry, and lemon with Zephyr gin, green tea, and elderflower tonic. Insider tip: As the sister restaurant to BCN in Montrose, the cocktail menu also features the famed BCN gin and tonic.

4444 Westheimer Rd Suite C180, Houston, TX 77027
(281) 888-2770
(281) 888-2770

Etoile Cuisine Et Bar

1101-11 Uptown Park Blvd, Houston, TX 77056

The classic gin and tonic is given a fancy French treatment at Etoile in Uptown Park. The Pomme et Poire G&T offers an elevated take on the cocktail, with Citadelle Reserve aged gin and Dolin’s blanc vermouth, and is finished off with sweet apple and pear-infused tonic and fresh herbs.

1101-11 Uptown Park Blvd, Houston, TX 77056
(832) 668-5808
(832) 668-5808

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