Anvil Bar & Refuge

Over a decade back, cocktail kingpin Bobby Heugel put Houston’s cocktail scene on the map with his first bar, Anvil, thanks to a hyper focus on form and a robust collection of housemade bitters, sodas, and infusions. Today, it remains an honored mainstay in the city (and nation), from which alums have left to open some of the most exciting bars of their own. Cocktail purists can and should journey through the 100-strong lineup spanning iconic classics and twists. There’s also a cool-as-hell bottle program that makes luxurious sips more affordable. And in the revamped space next door (which used to house Tongue-Cut Sparrow), sibling establishment Refuge Bar offers a hyper intimate, hyper fancy cocktail experience that should no doubt be a part of your Houston bucket list.