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 common in New York Metropolis, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles. These institutions might not appear to be 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 at bay 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 superstar chef Richard Sandoval. However it 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 progressive cocktail program, together with drinks poured over dry ice and offered in classic glassware. There are uncommon spirits, with pours priced as excessive as $8,000, and cocktails massive sufficient for {couples} to share. A seat on the bar permits friends to witness the entire considerate prep that goes into crafting Instagram-worthy drinks, however the adjoining lounge space has nighttime views of town. Bandista is reservation-only, with friends receiving a affirmation by textual content and directions on learn how to be escorted up.
Galleria
What seems to be a comedian e book 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, friends 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 appear to be this cinema performs the entire outdated 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, Predominant Occasion, and Co-Stars; and as a substitute of bread service, friends are given bowls of popcorn when they’re seated. Juliet additionally affords a uncooked bar with oysters, Alaskan king crab, and three shrimp cocktails. The beverage program options Insta-worthy drinks. Simply ensure to stick to the restaurant’s gown code.
Kanpai Membership
Heights
With solely 10 seats inside a slender, 400-square-foot area, Kanpai Membership is likely one of the coziest consuming spots in H-City. These within the know can entry the bar via a shared door situated 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, friends can order a lot of Hando’s small plates, together with brussels sprouts, edamame, and shrimp lollipops. Guests on the lookout for a nightcap may rating heartier bites like poke tacos and yuzu kosho fries from the late-night menu, served from 10pm to midnight Sunday via Thursday and 11pm to 2am Friday and Saturday.
Heights
Whereas there are various novel entrances to Houston speakeasies, that is the one one you enter via a cat door—nicely, 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 if you happen to’ve been miraculously transported to a dockside bar in Vietnam. The speakeasy, situated inside Texas-Asian fusion restaurant Wokker within the Heights, has a menu that honors Vietnam via and thru. Mèo’s cocktail menu consists of must-tries just like the Upside Down, made with a pineapple, shishito, Thai crimson 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 road corn.
Heights
Though the transport container craze has gotten a little 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, situated 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 encompasses a delightfully macabre vibe: Your entire again wall of the pipsqueak bar is crammed with row after row of black skulls, which glisten menacingly beneath the bar’s moody LED mild present. When you sit again and benefit from the atmosphere, order your self a mezcal flight; it’s among the best on the town.
Washington Ave
Nestled amid the vigorous bars alongside Washington Avenue, a pastry store options glass circumstances stocked with macarons, truffles, 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 had been extra necessity than luxurious. Head-turning cocktails are purpose sufficient to linger round, however if you happen to’re not a drinker, there may be additionally hookah on the patio.
