Can't decide where to grab a drink? Let us help you decide.
From a neighborhood joint to a wine haunt, here are some new Houston hotspots to check out right now, plus a must-try drink at each that's sure to hit the spot.
Beckrew Wine House
Located at the address formerly occupied by The Tasting Room River Oaks, this Upper Kirby gem serves up Italian and Spanish eats (including a spinach, apple and gorgonzola pizza and a grilled cheese panini with Gruyere), a small roster of coffees and beers, and more than 100 global wines.
Take advantage of select bottles of vino that are marked down to reflect the current price of a barrel of crude.
The Commoner and The Boulevardier
This downtown two-for-one bar concept features The Commoner on the first floor and The Boulevardier on the second. Hit up The Commoner, cozy with seating for 100, for a game of darts, an eclectic mix of dance tunes (from hip hop to punk), a high-energy vibe and must-try cocktail, the Honey Dew Sour (made with your choice of rum or vodka, honey dew melon juice, lemon juice, muskmelon-flavored liqueur and pink peppercorn).
Kick back upstairs at The Boulevardier. The posh lounge boasts a sleek decor complete with mirrored wall accents and 1970s-esque low-slung sofas, bottle service, a heavy selection of high-end spirits and creative cocktails (try the Komodo, a mix of dragon fruit gin, Italian aperitif, lime, bitters, lemon juice and mineral water).
The only drawback? With seating for a maximum of 60 people only, it fills up fast. But we’ve got the scoop on how to get a seat: Leave your cell number with the host and he’ll ping you when a space opens up.
Johnny's Gold Brick
The welcoming Heights neighborhood bar comes to us from the folks behind Down House, D &T Drive Inn and The Kipper Club, and award-winning bartender Leslie Ross. Choose from the likes of 10 classic cocktails, Texas beers, a featured glass of red, white or rose wine (there's one of each) and a killer frozen margarita.
The El Machete — made with tequila, fresh-squeezed lime juice, orange Curacao and a Big Red (soda) floater — is sure to be your go-to drink for summer. Bonus: A dollar from every cocktail goes to an alternating Heights-area charity.
Henke & Pillot
This chic downtown place presents stellar cocktails, as well as tasty treats from chef David Grossman (Branch Water Tavern, Fusion Taco) including steak tartare (with truffle and a quail egg) and fried oysters. Wash it all down with the vodka and pear brandy-based H&P Refresh (with muddled cucumber, lemon juice, simple syrup, club soda and a lemon twist).
Love and Squalor
Love and Squalor lounge at Midtown’s Weights + Measures (also a restaurant and a bakery) offers a bar bites menu with focaccia bread pizza, sandwiches, more than 100 bottled craft beers, a small producer-focused wine list and both classic cocktails and new riffs on old favorites.
Don’t skip the Rusty Nail (a mix of blended Scotch whisky, sweet Scotch whisky liqueur and lemon).
Local Pour – The Woodlands
The tavern and eatery takes on The Woodlands with this second locale at Hughes Landing. There's palate-pleasing fare from consulting chef Randy Evans (Haven) and corporate chef Pablo Gomez (expect items such as almond salmon and walnut pesto pasta primavera). And drink up thanks to 48 draft beers, 30 bottled beers, a large selection of wines (two on tap) and cocktails like the can’t-miss Lone Star Sour (vodka, lemon juice and jalapeno).
The El Machete frozen margarita at Johnny's Gold Brick
The Rice Box Space Center is expected to open later this summer.Courtesy of The Rice Box