Houston’s only bar to win a national James Beard Award is once again basking in the international spotlight. Julep has been ranked No. 84 on the extended list of North America’s 50 Best Bars 2026.
The ranking marks Julep’s first appearance on the list since 2022, when it ranked No. 46. Last year, Bandista, the speakeasy-style cocktail bar at the Four Seasons Hotel Houston, ranked No. 59. The only other Texas bar on the list is Austin’s Nickel City, which ranked No. 96.
“Julep takes its Southern heritage seriously,” its entry on the 50 Best website reads. “American whiskey and warm hospitality form the backbone of the bar's operation and identity, together with house cocktails that lean into herbal flavours. Make sure to venture beyond its trio of namesake concoctions into the selection of house creations, such as its guava-infused vesper.”
Founded by bartender Alba Huerta in 2014, Julep pays homage to Southern cocktail traditions. In addition to its spot on the best bars list, it earned a James Beard Award in 2022 for Outstanding Bar Program.
“This recognition reflects years of focused work, strong leadership, and a team committed to doing things with intention every single day,” Huerta said in a statement. “Launching our spring menus in both the Main Bar and The Parlor is especially exciting. The creativity in house is at an all-time high, and the drinks are not only technically strong, they are incredibly delicious. It feels like a moment where everything is coming together, and that energy is something we’re excited to share with our community through experiences like Chef’s Cut.”
As Huerta noted in her statement, Julep isn’t resting on its laurels. In November, Huerta transformed an event space/storage area into The Parlor, a separate bar within Julep that serves drinks made with advanced techniques such as clarification, carbonation, and other culinary-driven processes. For spring, The Parlor has introduced new cocktails such as La Fresa, a carbonated cocktail made with tequila, house made strawberry soda, and a chile de árbol tincture, and the Silk & Oak, made with butter fat-washed rum and bourbon, activated yeast, shiitake mushroom, maple, and Angostura bitters.
On Wednesdays, Julep hosts its Chef’s Cut pop-up, where local chefs create special dishes to pair with the bar’s cocktails. A portion of proceeds from the night’s featured food items benefit the Southern Smoke Foundation, the Houston-based nonprofit that provides emergency assistance and access to mental health services to hospitality workers.
Future participants include Top Chef contestant and pitmaster Michelle Wallace on April 8, CultureMap Tastemaker Awards Rising Star Chef of the Year winner Lucas McKinney of Josephine’s on April 15, Anthony Anderson of Sophie on April 22, and Anitra Broussard, formerly of Riel, on April 29. Blood Bros. BBQ co-owner Robin Wong serves as resident DJ for the Chef’s Cut series.
“Chef’s Cut is about creating a space where culinary talent and cocktail innovation come together in a way that feels both intentional and approachable,” said Huerta. “It’s an opportunity to celebrate our peers, support one another, and work with a great cause — Southern Smoke.”
