There’s something special about speakeasies in Houston. The secretive, vicarious forbidden feel of transporting back to the prohibition make imbibing cocktails all the more tantalizing. When it comes to paying one of these places a visit, locating the clandestine watering holes and going through the motions to get in is half the fun.
From knocking the door to ringing the bell, the secretive nature of these speakeasies in Houston is exciting in itself, and it makes sipping on a craft cocktail or gulping down a beer or wine even more exhilarating.
1. The Sugar Room
The Sugar Room on Washington Avenue is unassuming enough. A quaint little bakery one might think. Sure, they’re located on Washington Avenue surrounded by some of the most action-packed weekend bars in the city is a little suspect, but otherwise the colorful selection of macaroons, cupcakes and cookies would convince you that this bake shop has got nothing to hide.
📍5120 Washington Ave, Houston, TX 77007
2. Mijo’s Mezcal Bar
Stationed at 3701 N Main St. in the Greater Heights is Cantina Barba, a bustling taqueria and patio that serves an smoky array of delicious Tex-Mex dishes with authentic no-nonsense flavor. Tucked away in the corner of their back patio is a scanty, nondescript, somewhat rusty container. The door on which advertises “Mijo’s Mezcal Bar” – which, to our knowledge, lays the smallest bar in Houston.
📍3701 N Main St, Houston, TX 77009
3. Bandista
Located in a secret passageway tucked inside Four Seasons, Bandista is a reservation-only cocktail lounge reminiscent of the 1920s. With a maximum capacity of 18, Bandista puts a creative spin on classic and contemporary cocktails with artistic flair. Their Sazerac Flight cocktail featuring a cognac base and agave is one of our favorites here.
📍1300 Lamar St, Houston, TX 77010
4. FAO HTX
FAO HTX is now open on the top floor of the same building that houses Pub Fiction at 2303 Smith St. The newly minted speakeasy features over 6,500 square feat of neon-lit entertainment and lounge space. Arcade-wise, guests can hit the joysticks of their Pacman Battle Royal station, Terminator Salvation rig, Game of Thrones-themed pinball, and other games.
📍 2303 Smith St #300, Houston, TX 77006
5. Captain Foxheart’s Bad News Bar & Spirit Lounge
The Main Street speakeasy is the definition of a hidden gem. Unmarked and deviously tucked away behind a deceptive, nondescript “Attorney at Law” door, a dark and mysterious stairwell leads visitors up to a dim-lit cocktail haven known as Captain Foxheart’s Bad News Bar & Spirit Lounge. Here, the bartenders know what they’re doing and will set you up right with your drink of choice. As for their second story patio, you could definitely do worse.
📍308 Main St, Houston, TX 77002
6. SOHO Garden
All year long, SOHO Garden patio is vibrant with floral splendor. Planted on the 2,000-foot patio of Bravery Chef Hall, SOHO Garden offers an enchanting Downtown escape. Its precious greenhouse is adorned with a multiplicity of striking floral arrangements fit for a wedding. At nightfall, neon lights compliment its charming fairy tale ambiance in dreamlike hues.
📍408 Main St, Houston, TX 77002
7. Lei Low
The best Tiki bars are those that over-the-top. Tucked inside a strip center lies a hidden oasis that offers a tropical respite from city life. At Lei Low, Hawaiian shirts are encouraged, and rewarded come happy hour, with a menu that covers all rum-based surfside favorites.
This place is one of favorite themed bars in Houston. Be sure to swim over to Lei Low on Wednesdays for a steel guitar performance.
📍6412 N Main St C, Houston, TX 77009,
8. Last Concert Cafe
Don’t let the locked doors turn you away. Just knock twice to get in to Last Concert Cafe – a vibrant Mexican restaurant and oldest live music venue in Houston.
Nowadays, the venue stages live music seven days a week with sessions that go deep into the night. The open-air venue offers a large sanded dancing floor to get you into the groove and vibe out to their local psychedelic jams and drum circles.
📍1403 Nance St, Houston, TX 77002
9. notsuoH
notsuoH is part bar, part performance art venue, part vintage art gallery. The DIY watering hole if oft visited by artists, poets, and performers who are free to express themselves without the pretense of impressing, or even entertaining, anyone. This place is one of our favorite dive bars and speakeasies in Houston. 10/10 would go again.
📍314 Main St, Houston, TX 77002
10. Off The Record
Drop the needle at Off The Record. Tucked away behind a curtail suspiciously labeled “Employees Only” in the back of a record store on Main Street, the speakeasy in Houston features a jazzy cocktail lounge complete with crushed velvet couches, resident DJs, and music-themed cocktails for audiophiles to enjoy!
📍416 Main Street
11. Pineapple Parlor
Pineapple Parlor is a brand new Tiki bar and speakeasy in Galveston. You can find this tropical new cocktail and tapas-style bar through a hidden entrance in the back of DTO Galveston. But simply knowing the location is not enough to get into this tropical little haunt. Visitors also need a code, which you can get from signing up to their mailing list, which changes every six weeks.
📍2701 Galveston St.
12. Kanpai Club
Hit sushi bar Hando now has two locations in Houston. Their new Spring Branch location packs a Tokyo subway-themed speakeasy – Kanpai Club – that features a range of intoxicating handspun cocktails. Happy Hour here runs from 4 pm – 6 pm. Plus, the bar also has plans to feature private karaoke!
📍518 W 11th St Suite 500
13. CASE Chocolates
CASE Chocolates is an enticing speakeasy fronting as a chocolate shop. Here, visitors can enjoy a blend of handcrafted, liquor-infused chocolates with premium spirits such as bourbon, rum, gin, and carajillo.
The venue’s hidden speakeasy provides a three-course tasting menu of gourmet chocolates paired with craft cocktails. The chocolates and cocktails testing is by reservation only.
📍3401 Harrisburg blvd Ste e houston TX
14. Behind Closed Doors
Behind Closed Doors is an elevated new cocktail and club concept that houses multiple bars, secret rooms, two DJs, one up front, and the other in the Red Room upstairs. As far as how to access these secret rooms, play around the jukebox for clues. The venue serves a variety of cocktails and mocktails.
📍310 Main St.
15. Juliet
Juliet is a cinema-themed speakeasy in Houston’s Galleria area. Here, patrons can revel in the glitz and glamor of Old Hollywood over movie-themed cocktails and gold-wrapped Tomahawk ribeye steak.
📍3401 Harrisburg blvd Ste e houston TX