2024 has been a good year to Houston’s culinary scene. In addition to a range of accolades including Michelin Stars, the city has seen the opening of incredible restaurants, bars, and one soda fountain. Coming in just before New Year is Bar Doko – a Japanese cocktail bar concept from Uchi alum, Chef Dani Lee and Chef Patrick Pham.
The Uchi duo is the team behind Duckstache Hospitality, the group behind some of Houston’s hottest sushi restaurants including Aiko, Kokoro, Handies Douzo, and Himari. Other key personnel overseeing Bar Doko include Jason Seewald, Natalie Lopez, Sébastien Laval and Souvik Dasgupta.
Tucked away in a quiet alley in Autry Park between Montrose and Rice Military, is the team’s latest concept: Bar Doko, an intimate, 16-seat cocktail bar that celebrates the Japanese hospitality concept of omotenashi. The bar highlights elevated cocktails crafted with exceptional ingredients and innovative techniques and Texas’s largest collection of rare Japanese whiskies.
“Bar Doko is a bold statement of our commitment to pushing boundaries and reimagining hospitality,” said Chef Daniel Lee in a press release. “Every detail of this concept has been carefully crafted to bring tradition and innovation to Houston.”
As for its cocktail menu, Bar Doko celebrates “the six seasons of Japan and the circle of life”. Its menu will feature six signature cocktails as well as four signature martinis and six signature highballs. Featured cocktails include the “El” Eternity crafted with caramelized mushrooms and A5 Wagyu as well as the Maven Cold Brew/vanilla miso foam-made “Sora” Sky.
The group reportedly has plans to open a sister sushi restaurant, Doko.
Bar Doko is now open in Autry Park at 3737 Cogdell St, Suite 135. The bar is open from 4 pm to 2 am Sundays through Saturdays. Visitors can make reservations through OpenTable.