Anvil Bar & Refuge

Anvil Bar & Refuge Houston cocktail bar
Image: Anvil Bar & Refuge
EVERY DAY: 4 P.M. - 2 A.M.
713.523.1622 | WEBSITE

This is, more or less, where it all started in Houston. Opened in 2009 by a young Bobby Heugel who, by his own account, didn’t really know what he was doing. Its opening menu included a now storied “100 List” of classic cocktails, and Anvil’s first customers keep their pocket versions like achievement awards, the proverbial t-shirt that proves they were there. Anvil has a new 100 list these days, along with the quiet assurance of a program that has earned its reputation as one of the country’s best.

 

Known For
  • craft cocktails
  • bar food
  • lots of tequila / mezcal
What to drink
You simply can’t visit Anvil without trying The Brave, Bobby Heugel’s stirred and stoic mix of mezcal, tequila, Amaro, orange liqueur and bitters. Served un-chilled and undiluted, it’s not for the faint of heart.
Neighborhood
Montrose
ProTip
The trim space, a one-time tire store, fills up quickly on weekends, but the staff keeps pace like a squad of commandos. For a quieter time and a piece of the bartender’s brain, show up on a weekday and don’t be shy about asking questions. An intensive training regimen means these are some of the most knowledgeable barmen and women in the business.