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A cocktail sits in a martini glass, with a hibiscus petal garnish, atop a glossy bar at Off the Record speakeasy.
Music and drinks go hand in hand at Off the Record.
Michael Ma

Houston’s 14 Hottest Cocktail Bars, November 2023

Celebrate with vinyl and music-themed cocktails, Ranch Waters, and so much more

by Brittany Britto Garley Updated
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Music and drinks go hand in hand at Off the Record.
| Michael Ma
by Brittany Britto Garley Updated

As a cosmopolitan city in a Southern state, Houstonians know how to imbibe. While established drinking institutions like Anvil Bar & Refuge and Lei Low are considered essential for their top-notch cocktails, newer bars, restaurants with great drinks, and watering holes with exciting, boozy, and buzzy offerings are popping up all over.

So, here’s Eater Houston’s newly revamped cocktail heatmap — a place where curious drinkers will find cheeky espresso martinis, late-night bites, and masterfully made cocktails.

This list has been updated to remove The Heights Social, Heights & Co., and Diversion, as well as Bandista, Julep, and EZ’s Liquor Lounge, both which are on the Essentials Bar list. The newest rendition includes newer additions like Norigami, Off the Record, I Know the Owner, and Lightnin’s Good Times.

Cheers.

Is your favorite new cocktail bar missing from this map? Shout it out in the comments.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process.

Pacha Nikkei

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Though certainly not a bar, this restaurant, which specializes in Peru’s Nikkei cuisine, serves up cocktails too good not to include. Pacha is pouring up specials on sakes on Thursdays through September, and features a whole menu pisco, with variations like La Diablada, made with bell pepper-infused pisco, with lime, Combier, aji amarillo tincture, and aji amarillo salt, or the Maracuya pisco sour, made with passion fruit liquor, lime, egg white, and simple syrup.

10001 Westheimer Rd Suite 5, Houston, TX 77042
(832) 834-5697
(832) 834-5697
A glass of pisco with a leaf and a lime at Pacha Nikkei.
Pacha Nikkei offers more than Nikkei cuisine. The cocktail and sake menu is also something to enjoy.
Marco Torres

Also featured in:

Norigami

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Sister to fellow food-focused speakeasies Sushi by Hidden and Hidden Omakase, Norigami similarly serves sushi creations, including hand rolls at its 24-seat, neon-lit bar that feels like a night out on the town in one space. But that’s not all. The origami-lined Hidden bar, concealed behind a door that blends in with the restaurant, offers a list of creative cocktails, including a Thai Ginger margarita; the colorful East Side made with Butterfly Pea Tea Gin, cucumber, and lime; and the Paper Crane, which is decorated with miniature origami cranes.

2715 Bissonnet St Ste 160, Houston, TX 77005
(832) 649-2966
(832) 649-2966
Norigami’s cocktail with a special straw attached and topped with two minaiture paper cranes.
Norigami does much more than hand rolls.
Jenn Duncan

Also featured in:

IKTO - I Know The Owner

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The cocktails here at this cutesy bar are just as cheeky as the bar’s name. Proving this point is the debut of IKTO’s “Army of Skanks” cocktails, inspired by the iconic cult classic movie Mean Girls. Channel your inner math-lete with the mezcal-based Limit Does Not Exist, made with peach liqueur, Lillet Blanc, peach shrub, and lemon juice; a That’s So Fetch frozen pumpkin-spiced espresso martini, just in time for fall, and a Regina George made with orange Cointreau, lychee, guava and lemon that is too good to hate. Wear pink on Wednesdays and enjoy $10 pink cocktails and half-off bottles of rosé.

1221 W 11th St, Houston, TX 77008
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Best Regards

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Work hard, and then play hard at this new Heights cocktail lounge, which offers the option to imbibe indoors or al fresco on its whimsical outdoor patio. Find coffee cocktails like espresso martinis made with Tenfold Coffee and creative mixed drinks, like the tequila-based Wolf of 11th Street — a combination of cantaloupe melon, honey cilantro syrup, ancho verde, and black salt. If all that imbibing works up an appetite, the burrata board, which is filled with creamy cheese, fruits, and cured meats, is great to share.

222 W 11th St, Houston, TX 77008
A variety of cocktails sit on a table along with a pickle board and a bruschetta board.
Coffee cocktails, mocktails, wines, and more await at Best Regards.
Becca Wright

Also featured in:

Bayou Heights Bier Garten

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As a follow up from the team who operate Wooster’s and Heights Bier Garten in Houston, it’s no surprise Bayou Heights Bier Garten has quickly become one of the hottest drinking destinations, day and night. Anchored by a central courtyard, the bar boasts dedicated areas for guests to explore its various beverage programs, which include coffee, beer and wine, and cocktails, and its menu of hearty bar snacks and barbecue curated by chef Teddy Lopez.

3905 Washington Ave, Houston, TX 77007
(346) 519-0199
(346) 519-0199
A nighttime shot of a crowded patio with fire pits.
The crowds pack into the open-air courtyard at Bayou Heights Bier Garten.
Dustyn Zenner

Also featured in:

Refuge

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Located just upstairs from the lauded cocktail bar Anvil & Refuge, Bobby Heugel has created a delightfully moody “cocktail apartment,” boasting more than 200 spirits, including lesser-known liqueurs, gins, European brandies, and a variety of Japanese distilled spirits. Go for an “originals” cocktail like the Pacific Rim, made with shochu, kiwi, and lime, or opt for a cocktail from the “classics and riffs” section, which features a rendition of an Old Fashioned, a sazerac, and Yeugel’s signature martini — made with two gins, vermouth, and accouterments.

1424 Westheimer Rd Suite A, Houston, TX 77006
(281) 888-6121
(281) 888-6121
An illuminated back bar with bar stools.
The dark and moody setting at Refuge.
Jenn Duncan

Also featured in:

Roswell’s Saloon

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One of Space City’s newest watering holes is certainly on brand. Shawn Bermudez, co-owner of the Burger Joint and the Taco Stand, finally opened Roswell’s in May, offering a black-lit, spacey setting to enjoy cosmic drinks like the Pale Blue Dot, and the Crop Circles cocktail, which features elote syrup and a extraterrestrial marking on top. The cocktail lounge also trades in typical happy hours for “sunset hours,” inviting guests in from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. to enjoy $6 cocktails and watch as the celestial-themed bar comes alive.

1417 Westheimer Rd Suite A, Houston, TX 77006
The Pale Blue Dot cocktail, served in a sphere glass with a straw.
Roswell’s Saloon
Becca Wright

Also featured in:

Verde Garden

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In addition to its tantalizing ceviches, addicting salsa flights, and enchiladas, this Tex-Mex beer garden is a surefire drinking destination. Verde Garden features two rooms — one in which guests can order a beer from its bar with numerous taps, and another where margaritas and cocktails are made fresh on the spot. Try the signature Verde margarita, a herbaceous frozen made with mint and parsley. Channel a Mexican beach with Tulum Vibes — a frozen drink made with vodka, white cacao, lemon, and passionfruit with a kick of habanero — or go for the El Toxico, a smooth mix of sotol, dry vermouth, cassis, Aperol, and decanter bitters that makes for an easy sip. Then, enjoy outside on its charming patio.

1011 La Rue St, Houston, TX 77019
(281) 974-5181
(281) 974-5181

Also featured in:

Betelgeuse Betelgeuse

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The recently opened second outpost of Betelgeuse Betelgeuse in Montrose promises a new, intergalactic atmosphere for its expertly made ironclad pizza and cocktails. Venture out of the ordinary with a parmesan espresso martini or the Mommy, What’s a Funkadelic?, a combination of tepache, Ilegal Mezcal, lime, pineapple, and vanilla. Or opt for An Appletini to End All Appletinis, a vodka martini made with pear vodka, Calvados, Granny Smith puree, and lemon.

4500 Montrose Blvd Suite D, Houston, TX 77006
(713) 640-5220
(713) 640-5220
A dark blue drink in a margarita glass, lined with black salt and topped with a dried fruit garnish.
Betelgeuse Betelgeuse serves ethereal cocktails and ironclad pizza.
Becca Wright

Also featured in:

James

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Located next to its sister bar Permission, this super-secretive, membership-only speakeasy offers a private space for its clientele to convene, plus personalized menus, customized cocktails, and rare whiskeys for a one-of-a-kind experience. The catch? With no social media, website, or phone number, bargoers must visit Permission to inquire about this hideaway’s whereabouts and how to get in.

2920 White Oak Dr, Houston, TX 77007
(713) 696-9883
(713) 696-9883
An illuminated bar, outfitted with sleek shelves and surrounded by bar seats,
James is the newest speakeasy in town.
John Huang

Also featured in:

Rhapsody Bar

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Located inside the recently opened Lyric Market food hall at Lyric Center, Rhapsody Bar has become a welcomed escape for Downtown’s corporate crowd. Guests looking to wait out rush hour traffic can take advantage of themed nights, like Trivia Thursdays and Friday’s live jazz happy hour; then, peruse the various food stalls for a bite.

411 Smith St, Houston, TX 77002
(713) 405-1392
(713) 405-1392
A row of martinis on the bar.
Rhapsody Bar inside Lyric Market is open at 11 a.m. daily.
Brandon Holmes

Off The Record

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Spot the record shop, and know you’re in the right place — and there’s much more in store than vinyl. Music heads will delight in this new speakeasy, which celebrates music history and a mogul with Houston roots, while also serving up unique tunes and themed cocktails, like the puckerworthy Smooth Criminal — a combination of Thai chili-infused gin, pickled okra, and dry vermouth. and the Rolling Stone, made with Grey Goose strawberry and lemongrass vodka, elderflower liqueur, lemon, and mint.

416 Main St, Houston, TX 77002
A display of records sits over a green couch ahead of a wall of speakers at the Downtown speakeasy, Off the Record.
Off the Record mixes vinyl and cocktails.
Michael Ma

Also featured in:

Lightnin's Good Times

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Brighten up your night with this new neon-lit EaDo bar. The successor to Agricole Hospitality’s Miss Carousel, Lightnin’s offers a bevy of entertainment — with vintage neon lights that illuminate the space, plus pool tables, darts, pinballs, multiple TVs perfect for watching the game, patio, and live music on certain nights of the week. The “Damn Fine Cocktails” are bound to improve the night, with Ranch Waters, a refreshing cucumber-infused G&T, and a Henny-Things Possible, made with Hennessy Cognac, Apricot, Lemon Juice, & champagne.

1201 St Emanuel St, Houston, TX 77003
(832) 582-7330
(832) 582-7330
The red-lit bar area at Lightnin’s Good Time, which features a neon man in a headdress and stage for live music.
Lightnin’s Good Time is a spunky place to grab a cocktail.
Mikah Danae

Eight Row Flint - East

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Regardless of how many visits you’ve paid to Eight Row Flint in the Heights, you’ll want to check out the bar’s second outpost in Second Ward, which is conveniently located along the METRORail’s Green Line. Expect familiar favorites like the bar’s beloved Ranch Waters and Old Fashioned, along with some new, and interesting cocktails created exclusively for this location. The tapas-styled menu is also a welcomed addition, with pork belly and octopus tacos, Oaxaca cheese quesadilla with tortillas made with fresh masa, elote ribs, and a mean cheeseburger.

3501 Harrisburg Blvd Suite A, Houston, TX 77003
(832) 409-1850
(832) 409-1850
Two shrimp tacos on a black plate.
Baja popcorn shrimp tacos at Eight Row Flint.
Mikah Danae

Also featured in:

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Pacha Nikkei

10001 Westheimer Rd Suite 5, Houston, TX 77042

Though certainly not a bar, this restaurant, which specializes in Peru’s Nikkei cuisine, serves up cocktails too good not to include. Pacha is pouring up specials on sakes on Thursdays through September, and features a whole menu pisco, with variations like La Diablada, made with bell pepper-infused pisco, with lime, Combier, aji amarillo tincture, and aji amarillo salt, or the Maracuya pisco sour, made with passion fruit liquor, lime, egg white, and simple syrup.

10001 Westheimer Rd Suite 5, Houston, TX 77042
(832) 834-5697
(832) 834-5697
A glass of pisco with a leaf and a lime at Pacha Nikkei.
Pacha Nikkei offers more than Nikkei cuisine. The cocktail and sake menu is also something to enjoy.
Marco Torres

Norigami

2715 Bissonnet St Ste 160, Houston, TX 77005

Sister to fellow food-focused speakeasies Sushi by Hidden and Hidden Omakase, Norigami similarly serves sushi creations, including hand rolls at its 24-seat, neon-lit bar that feels like a night out on the town in one space. But that’s not all. The origami-lined Hidden bar, concealed behind a door that blends in with the restaurant, offers a list of creative cocktails, including a Thai Ginger margarita; the colorful East Side made with Butterfly Pea Tea Gin, cucumber, and lime; and the Paper Crane, which is decorated with miniature origami cranes.

2715 Bissonnet St Ste 160, Houston, TX 77005
(832) 649-2966
(832) 649-2966
Norigami’s cocktail with a special straw attached and topped with two minaiture paper cranes.
Norigami does much more than hand rolls.
Jenn Duncan

IKTO - I Know The Owner

1221 W 11th St, Houston, TX 77008

The cocktails here at this cutesy bar are just as cheeky as the bar’s name. Proving this point is the debut of IKTO’s “Army of Skanks” cocktails, inspired by the iconic cult classic movie Mean Girls. Channel your inner math-lete with the mezcal-based Limit Does Not Exist, made with peach liqueur, Lillet Blanc, peach shrub, and lemon juice; a That’s So Fetch frozen pumpkin-spiced espresso martini, just in time for fall, and a Regina George made with orange Cointreau, lychee, guava and lemon that is too good to hate. Wear pink on Wednesdays and enjoy $10 pink cocktails and half-off bottles of rosé.

1221 W 11th St, Houston, TX 77008
0000000
0000000

Best Regards

222 W 11th St, Houston, TX 77008

Work hard, and then play hard at this new Heights cocktail lounge, which offers the option to imbibe indoors or al fresco on its whimsical outdoor patio. Find coffee cocktails like espresso martinis made with Tenfold Coffee and creative mixed drinks, like the tequila-based Wolf of 11th Street — a combination of cantaloupe melon, honey cilantro syrup, ancho verde, and black salt. If all that imbibing works up an appetite, the burrata board, which is filled with creamy cheese, fruits, and cured meats, is great to share.

222 W 11th St, Houston, TX 77008
A variety of cocktails sit on a table along with a pickle board and a bruschetta board.
Coffee cocktails, mocktails, wines, and more await at Best Regards.
Becca Wright

Bayou Heights Bier Garten

3905 Washington Ave, Houston, TX 77007

As a follow up from the team who operate Wooster’s and Heights Bier Garten in Houston, it’s no surprise Bayou Heights Bier Garten has quickly become one of the hottest drinking destinations, day and night. Anchored by a central courtyard, the bar boasts dedicated areas for guests to explore its various beverage programs, which include coffee, beer and wine, and cocktails, and its menu of hearty bar snacks and barbecue curated by chef Teddy Lopez.

3905 Washington Ave, Houston, TX 77007
(346) 519-0199
(346) 519-0199
A nighttime shot of a crowded patio with fire pits.
The crowds pack into the open-air courtyard at Bayou Heights Bier Garten.
Dustyn Zenner

Refuge

1424 Westheimer Rd Suite A, Houston, TX 77006

Located just upstairs from the lauded cocktail bar Anvil & Refuge, Bobby Heugel has created a delightfully moody “cocktail apartment,” boasting more than 200 spirits, including lesser-known liqueurs, gins, European brandies, and a variety of Japanese distilled spirits. Go for an “originals” cocktail like the Pacific Rim, made with shochu, kiwi, and lime, or opt for a cocktail from the “classics and riffs” section, which features a rendition of an Old Fashioned, a sazerac, and Yeugel’s signature martini — made with two gins, vermouth, and accouterments.

1424 Westheimer Rd Suite A, Houston, TX 77006
(281) 888-6121
(281) 888-6121
An illuminated back bar with bar stools.
The dark and moody setting at Refuge.
Jenn Duncan

Roswell’s Saloon

1417 Westheimer Rd Suite A, Houston, TX 77006

One of Space City’s newest watering holes is certainly on brand. Shawn Bermudez, co-owner of the Burger Joint and the Taco Stand, finally opened Roswell’s in May, offering a black-lit, spacey setting to enjoy cosmic drinks like the Pale Blue Dot, and the Crop Circles cocktail, which features elote syrup and a extraterrestrial marking on top. The cocktail lounge also trades in typical happy hours for “sunset hours,” inviting guests in from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. to enjoy $6 cocktails and watch as the celestial-themed bar comes alive.

1417 Westheimer Rd Suite A, Houston, TX 77006
The Pale Blue Dot cocktail, served in a sphere glass with a straw.
Roswell’s Saloon
Becca Wright

Verde Garden

1011 La Rue St, Houston, TX 77019

In addition to its tantalizing ceviches, addicting salsa flights, and enchiladas, this Tex-Mex beer garden is a surefire drinking destination. Verde Garden features two rooms — one in which guests can order a beer from its bar with numerous taps, and another where margaritas and cocktails are made fresh on the spot. Try the signature Verde margarita, a herbaceous frozen made with mint and parsley. Channel a Mexican beach with Tulum Vibes — a frozen drink made with vodka, white cacao, lemon, and passionfruit with a kick of habanero — or go for the El Toxico, a smooth mix of sotol, dry vermouth, cassis, Aperol, and decanter bitters that makes for an easy sip. Then, enjoy outside on its charming patio.

1011 La Rue St, Houston, TX 77019
(281) 974-5181
(281) 974-5181

Betelgeuse Betelgeuse

4500 Montrose Blvd Suite D, Houston, TX 77006

The recently opened second outpost of Betelgeuse Betelgeuse in Montrose promises a new, intergalactic atmosphere for its expertly made ironclad pizza and cocktails. Venture out of the ordinary with a parmesan espresso martini or the Mommy, What’s a Funkadelic?, a combination of tepache, Ilegal Mezcal, lime, pineapple, and vanilla. Or opt for An Appletini to End All Appletinis, a vodka martini made with pear vodka, Calvados, Granny Smith puree, and lemon.

4500 Montrose Blvd Suite D, Houston, TX 77006
(713) 640-5220
(713) 640-5220
A dark blue drink in a margarita glass, lined with black salt and topped with a dried fruit garnish.
Betelgeuse Betelgeuse serves ethereal cocktails and ironclad pizza.
Becca Wright

James

2920 White Oak Dr, Houston, TX 77007

Located next to its sister bar Permission, this super-secretive, membership-only speakeasy offers a private space for its clientele to convene, plus personalized menus, customized cocktails, and rare whiskeys for a one-of-a-kind experience. The catch? With no social media, website, or phone number, bargoers must visit Permission to inquire about this hideaway’s whereabouts and how to get in.

2920 White Oak Dr, Houston, TX 77007
(713) 696-9883
(713) 696-9883
An illuminated bar, outfitted with sleek shelves and surrounded by bar seats,
James is the newest speakeasy in town.
John Huang

Rhapsody Bar

411 Smith St, Houston, TX 77002

Located inside the recently opened Lyric Market food hall at Lyric Center, Rhapsody Bar has become a welcomed escape for Downtown’s corporate crowd. Guests looking to wait out rush hour traffic can take advantage of themed nights, like Trivia Thursdays and Friday’s live jazz happy hour; then, peruse the various food stalls for a bite.

411 Smith St, Houston, TX 77002
(713) 405-1392
(713) 405-1392
A row of martinis on the bar.
Rhapsody Bar inside Lyric Market is open at 11 a.m. daily.
Brandon Holmes

Off The Record

416 Main St, Houston, TX 77002

Spot the record shop, and know you’re in the right place — and there’s much more in store than vinyl. Music heads will delight in this new speakeasy, which celebrates music history and a mogul with Houston roots, while also serving up unique tunes and themed cocktails, like the puckerworthy Smooth Criminal — a combination of Thai chili-infused gin, pickled okra, and dry vermouth. and the Rolling Stone, made with Grey Goose strawberry and lemongrass vodka, elderflower liqueur, lemon, and mint.

416 Main St, Houston, TX 77002
A display of records sits over a green couch ahead of a wall of speakers at the Downtown speakeasy, Off the Record.
Off the Record mixes vinyl and cocktails.
Michael Ma

Lightnin's Good Times

1201 St Emanuel St, Houston, TX 77003

Brighten up your night with this new neon-lit EaDo bar. The successor to Agricole Hospitality’s Miss Carousel, Lightnin’s offers a bevy of entertainment — with vintage neon lights that illuminate the space, plus pool tables, darts, pinballs, multiple TVs perfect for watching the game, patio, and live music on certain nights of the week. The “Damn Fine Cocktails” are bound to improve the night, with Ranch Waters, a refreshing cucumber-infused G&T, and a Henny-Things Possible, made with Hennessy Cognac, Apricot, Lemon Juice, & champagne.

1201 St Emanuel St, Houston, TX 77003
(832) 582-7330
(832) 582-7330
The red-lit bar area at Lightnin’s Good Time, which features a neon man in a headdress and stage for live music.
Lightnin’s Good Time is a spunky place to grab a cocktail.
Mikah Danae

Eight Row Flint - East

3501 Harrisburg Blvd Suite A, Houston, TX 77003

Regardless of how many visits you’ve paid to Eight Row Flint in the Heights, you’ll want to check out the bar’s second outpost in Second Ward, which is conveniently located along the METRORail’s Green Line. Expect familiar favorites like the bar’s beloved Ranch Waters and Old Fashioned, along with some new, and interesting cocktails created exclusively for this location. The tapas-styled menu is also a welcomed addition, with pork belly and octopus tacos, Oaxaca cheese quesadilla with tortillas made with fresh masa, elote ribs, and a mean cheeseburger.

3501 Harrisburg Blvd Suite A, Houston, TX 77003
(832) 409-1850
(832) 409-1850
Two shrimp tacos on a black plate.
Baja popcorn shrimp tacos at Eight Row Flint.
Mikah Danae

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