AS with a sport of hide-and-seek, half the enjoyable of eating at among the metropolis’s trending sizzling spots is discovering them. A wave of new eating places and cocktail bars have opened in Houston that mimic the speakeasy-style ideas which have lengthy been fashionable in New York Metropolis, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles. These institutions might not seem like a lot at first, however a deeper dive reveals a ritzy eating room or a glamorous cocktail bar.
In a metropolis filled with retail strips, it may be refreshing to discover a distinctive vacation spot tucked away from the chaos of the skin world. Try our picks of among the metropolis’s best-kept secret eating places and bars.
The Ritual at Bandista comes with palo santo to keep off dangerous vitality.
Downtown
Downtown’s posh 4 Seasons Lodge homes two food-and-drink locations: the foyer bar, Bayou & Bottle, and Toro Toro, helmed by movie star chef Richard Sandoval. But it surely additionally boasts an ultra-exclusive cocktail bar hidden behind a mock bookcase. Bandista, the resort’s 20-seat bar, is an upscale speakeasy—one which requires a secret numerical code to enter. As soon as inside, patrons can expertise the bar’s revolutionary cocktail program, together with drinks poured over dry ice and introduced in classic glassware. There are uncommon spirits, with pours priced as excessive as $8,000, and cocktails giant sufficient for {couples} to share. A seat on the bar permits visitors to witness all the considerate prep that goes into crafting Instagram-worthy drinks, however the adjoining lounge space has nighttime views of town. Bandista is reservation-only, with visitors receiving a affirmation by textual content and directions on learn how to be escorted up.
Galleria
What seems to be a comedian guide retailer on the skin is an omakase-only eating expertise in Uptown, appropriately named Hidden Omakase. The multicourse, Michelin-recommended restaurant expertise is exactly that: an expertise from begin to end, and with solely two seatings per evening, it is likely one of the hottest chef-led dinners on the town. Upon getting into the entrance door, visitors discover themselves in a eating room anchored by a big, wraparound sushi bar with solely 18 seats. Within the middle of the room, chef Marcos Juarez and his staff of expert sushi cooks put together course after course, hand-delivering items of sashimi, uni, nigiri, and extra to every diner.
Galleria
Whereas it might seem like this cinema performs all the previous classics, there is just one function presentation right here: Juliet. Past its retro movie-theater facade, full with a lit-up marquee, a ticket window, and a concession stand, Juliet is an upscale, trendy American fine-dining restaurant and steakhouse boasting old-Hollywood glam. Movie stills adorn the partitions; the movie-inspired menu sections off into Preview, Essential Occasion, and Co-Stars; and as an alternative of bread service, visitors are given bowls of popcorn when they’re seated. Juliet additionally provides a uncooked bar with oysters, Alaskan king crab, and three shrimp cocktails. The beverage program options Insta-worthy drinks. Simply ensure that to stick to the restaurant’s costume code.
Kanpai Membership
Heights
With solely 10 seats inside a slender, 400-square-foot area, Kanpai Membership is likely one of the coziest ingesting spots in H-City. These within the know can entry the bar by a shared door positioned inside Hando, its sister hand-roll restaurant, and partake of craft cocktails, martinis, sake, beer, and wine. As a perk of being proper subsequent door, visitors can order lots of Hando’s small plates, together with brussels sprouts, edamame, and shrimp lollipops. Guests on the lookout for a nightcap may also rating heartier bites like poke tacos and yuzu kosho fries from the late-night menu, served from 10pm to midnight Sunday by Thursday and 11pm to 2am Friday and Saturday.
Heights
Whereas there are numerous novel entrances to Houston speakeasies, that is the one one you enter by a cat door—effectively, not a typical cat door, per se, however a door hidden behind a mural of a cat. When you make it inside Mèo, Vietnamese for “cat,” you’re feeling as for those who’ve been miraculously transported to a dockside bar in Vietnam. The speakeasy, positioned inside Texas-Asian fusion restaurant Wokker within the Heights, has a menu that honors Vietnam by and thru. Mèo’s cocktail menu consists of must-tries just like the Upside Down, made with a pineapple, shishito, Thai purple chile, and jalapeño cordial, plus coconut, tequila, and soda. You’ll wish to throw again a few these as you feast on the bar’s meals menu, which options pork egg rolls, crispy pork stomach, and avenue corn.
Heights
Though the transport container craze has gotten a bit out of hand of late, we are able to’t consider a extra environment friendly approach to create a speakeasy than simply plopping one down on the again patio of a bar. Mijo Mezcal Bar, positioned in a dimly lit transport container behind Cantina Barba within the Heights, is a enjoyable aspect quest to overcome after consuming your fill of tacos inside its mum or dad bar. This cozy spot contains a delightfully macabre vibe: The whole again wall of the pipsqueak bar is crammed with row after row of black skulls, which glisten menacingly below the bar’s moody LED gentle present. Whilst you sit again and benefit from the atmosphere, order your self a mezcal flight; it’s top-of-the-line on the town.
Washington Ave
Nestled amid the vigorous bars alongside Washington Avenue, a pastry store options glass instances stocked with macarons, muffins, and sugary concoctions. However examine additional and discover what lies past the harmless storefront’s pantry door: Sugar Room, a big, dimly lit, speakeasy-style cocktail bar. The swanky, Twenties-inspired decor transports you to the Prohibition period, when hidden bars have been extra necessity than luxurious. Head-turning cocktails are motive sufficient to linger round, however for those who’re not a drinker, there’s additionally hookah on the patio.
