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- Hours:
Mon-Sun 4 pm - 2 am
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
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$$$
- Music:
- Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Classy, Trendy
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
318 reviews for Anvil Bar & Refuge
Review Highlights
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"I had a Pimm's Cup and a couple Aviations." In 17 reviews -
"The cocktails are some of the most fantastic of life." In 95 reviews -
"Strong Excellent drinks and awesome bartenders." In 113 reviews
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318 reviews in English
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Review from Katherine W.
It took me way too long to finally get around to going to Anvil. We went on Cinco de Mayo/Derby day this year, and it was fabulous. They were open early for the alcoholiday, but there weren't too many people there (the only reason we were there when we were is that we didn't bother checking their hours; I had no idea that they weren't usually open for liquid lunch). This ended up being perfect for us. We sat at the bar and the very friendly bartender made us delicious margaritas, bourbon juleps, and whatever else we drank. Everything was delicious: none of the cocktails were the type that try to mask the alcohol. It was nice to be at a bar that was very serious about their alcohol and drinks but didn't feel the need to be pretentious about it; in fact, there's a little blurb on the menu that says that they're not mixologists because that kind of hoity-toity alcoholic supremacy is not their style (I'm paraphrasing).
I don't know if this is somewhere that I would enjoy on a normal day, as the crowd is apparently more of a 30ish professionals meat market whereas I'm a 20ish perpetual student who considers "dressing up" wearing something that I can't hike in, but if you're going for the booze, it is worth going.
On another note, this is another of the places in Houston where people order and eat takeout food at the bar. Apparently there's somewhere with great Chinese food nearby because that's what everyone (including the bartenders) were eating. Bourbon + lo mein seems a little horrifying to me, but to each their own. -
Review from Ben R.
5/18/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Your options for good mixology bars in Houston are somewhat limited. Anvil will make you a very fine cocktail, but there are downsides which you need to be aware of before showing up.
The drinks are complex and pallet delighting, but this means they take a while to craft, and when they place is busy you will have to wait a while. The bar itself has a certain level of elitism about drinks, so if that bothers you then just move along.
If cocktails aren't your drink of choice, don't worry, they have a good selection of draft beers which are changed regularly. Just don't ask for a bud light. -
Review from Cornelius V.
5/6/2012
Oh your god. The best cocktail bar in America is located in Houston. You have to be a Houstonite and a fool to never visit this place.
The parking situation is a non issue. Valet or park a few blocks away and walk over. Like how people in other big cities do it.
Proving this place's awesomeness, the drinks here change monthly. I remember getting a proper Margarita one month, then a proper Boxcar another, and an acceptably made Paloma recently.
I dunno how to describe this place because beverages are not my specialty. But the drinks at this place...serially...I never knew a Boxcar could have flavor... -
Review from Jillian W.
Houston, TX
4/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
The drinks are something to brag about, for sure. I'm an 'on the rocks' kind of girl, can't stand fruity, frozen crap. If you truly enjoy a good cocktail that you can savor and drink slowly, come here. The only downside -- not a whole lot of seating, you might end up standing awkwardly in the middle of the room until some seating or bar space clears up. Arrive early - I came at 6pm and it was packed.
Next time I come, I'm dressing up like Betty Draper, a la Mad Men, with my sultry red lips and pin curls. I'm going to post myself up at the bar and order a gimlet, then find an attractive young man to bang in the bathroom. LOL kidddiiiinnnngggg.... -
Review from Larae M.
4/9/2012
Every time I've tried to go to Anvil, the parking situation always turned me off. Back in the days when I would venture out into Etro, I would just park in the neighborhood. Then they started towing, requiring special stickers, etc & I just wasn't patient enough to wait for valet or walk blocks just to have a specialized cocktail. I'd rather go to Prohibition & not have to start my night worrying about the parking situation.
On this particular Saturday night, however, our group having just feasted at...err...Feast (har har) trekked over to Anvil since it was still fairly early in the evening. We figured we'd get lucky with less crowd & actual parking space. For the first time in Anvil's existence, I actually found lot parking. Hallelujah! If that wasn't a miracle enough, we also found seats!
Since I'm a gin girl, my first drink was the Dutch Courage (described on their menu as Genever, London Dry Gin, Lemon, Vanilla, Maraschino, Angostura & Orange Bitters, India Pale Ale ). Pretty tasty & a definite departure from any gin drinks I've had. I should've ordered a second one except I wanted to try Imma Hogg: London Dry Gin, Blanc Vermouth, Creme de Yvette & Pear Brandy. It was pretty potent (almost too potent) that I called it quits after finishing the last drop. Definitely not one for taste.
Overall, our group's tab came out to about $130 which was not a surprise. Although for the ambiance (which seemed a bit lacking to me) I would rather pay that price & head over to Prohibition.Listed in: Houston Nightlife
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Review from Jason S.
Houston, TX
4/20/2012 1 Check-in Here
The bartenders are expert craftsmen of cocktails so do yourself a favor and order a nice drink instead of a plain old bourbon and cola. When I go to places like this I like to test out their Pimm's Cup as a barometer. They make a solid Pimm's Cup I must say.
Everything is carefully poured and mixed so you should not be getting a drink that is overwhelming with some flavor that is out of balance. Though the Salted Caiparinha is VERY SALTY. So much so that it basically tasted like a gym sock. Blech! The draught beer selection is limited to about 10 different beer but the selections are great. Do not expect to see Bud/Miller/Coors on tap.
Parking is a bit dicey due to the really small private lot so you may need to park on the street nearby. -
Review from Trey r.
Lewisville, TX
Updated - 4/9/2012 2 Check-ins Here
The drinks are as bad ass as a bad ass drink can be. I visit this place a couple times per month and the drinks are exactly the same, every time. Pliney's Tonic may contain an addictive chemical and I'm fine with that. I find myself awaking throughout the week thinking, "I need s spicy, crisp drink."
Since I don't like big crowds and valet parking, I go at times when it's not super-busy, so I then won't complain about it on Yelp like a child.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/25/2011
This bar is awesome. The drinks are put together with skill and its clear the bartender cares about… Read more »
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Review from Rachel M.
Updated - 4/1/2012
**This review is for the monthly liquor class offered at Anvil.**
If you didn't know, Anvil has liquor classes on the last Saturday of every month from 1-3. For $60 you get 8 tastings and three cocktails featuring the chosen liquor for that particular class. Since their drinks are already around $10 a pop, it's really a good deal.
You have to sign up and pay in advance at Anvil, since you have to sign a waiver. We went in about a week in advance and signed up, but there was no real confirmation given. Which would have been fine if it wasn't for the fact that -when we showed up- our names were not on the list. We were let in once they found our waivers, but that was a bit off-putting.
I went in expecting more of a cocktail class, but got a history lesson on the different types of Rum served in the class. While somewhat interesting, it was pretty hard to hear the woman teaching. Also it was a pretty dry, boring class considering after a few samples people were feeling kind of drunk and getting a little loud. It just wasn't as fun of an atmosphere as I was hoping. I had a good time because of the company I was with, and it was fun to get my drink on in midday on a Saturday. But, in general, I had higher expectations and they weren't really met as far as content and environment went.
I hope to go back for the scotch class, because it piques my interest far more than rum, but I wish the class itself were as lively as some of the patrons involved.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/10/2011
My favorite times to go to Anvil are on rainy nights when I want a nice nightcap after a long day.… Read more »
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Review from Stephanie I.
Sugar Land, TX
5/3/2012
We came here on a Thursday night after a meal at Underbelly (and subsequent snack at Uchi). The crowd was lively, but not too packed like the weekend reviews stated below. We snagged 3 seats at the bar, which is the spot to be! Watching them make the drinks really is like a show. Here was our lineup: Pimm's Cup (YUM), Waxing Poetic (Good), Dodge & Burn (Not for me), Paper Airplane (Good), Pliny's Tonic (SPICY). The drinks are so unique and yes, a bit on the pricey side, but it's worth it. Go go go!
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Review from A A.
Chicago, IL
3/26/2012
I recently visited Houston for a conference, and Anvil was recommended to me by some local friends.
After checking out Anvil, I only have the best things to say. The drinks were delicious and everyone working there was that unattainable combination of friendly and super efficient. I asked the bartender to make a drink for me that would remind me of Houston - she gave me one called a Suffering Bastard (gin and bourbon together, oh my) - delicious!
The icing on the cake came when I emailed the bar after my trip - they sent me back the recipe for the drink I'd had. Thanks again, Anvil. You might make a Texas girl out of me if you're not careful ;) -
Review from Bryce K.
Updated - 3/8/2012
I came here on a Friday night around midnight. The place was not as packed, and yet I felt I was being ignored by the bartenders despite standing at the bar patiently for minutes and minutes.
I'm totally okay with bartenders hitting on the cute girls and making sure the regulars are happy. But it'd be helpful to at least acknowledge my presence and tell me you'll be with me shortly. I got tired of being ignored, and my friend ordered by yelling our orders at the bartender. Sigh.
Nonetheless, the drinks were fantastic - I had a great rum drink that doesn't seem to be on their menu anymore. I will be back, but warily.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/9/2011
I stopped by here on a busy Friday night and left a fan.
The bar was busy, but the bartenders are… Read more »
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Review from Eunice T.
2/23/2012 5 Check-ins Here
I'm giving this place 4 stars even though I don't remember much of it or my drink. What I do remember left a pretty good impression. The drinks are old school & the service is fantastic. Yay for mixology!
Ended up here after two sake bottles & a glass of wine @ Uchi with two new friends. Needless to say, I wasn't seeing straight and probably shouldn't've had another drink. But I did. & it was delicious!
I see how some lamented that they are really not a "fancy bar" person. Well I AM a fancy drinks person. Don't get me wrong, a beer is great, but why go out & pay twice for a bottle when you can just buy a case @ home? I can open my own beer, but I definitely can't make my own old fashioned.
I asked for something smoky scotch & received something in a pretty glass with a cherry. It probably was a manhattan twist, I don't remember much about it since the sake was quickly overcoming my liver by this point. I do remember the cherry being good & the drink being sweet & smoky, just how I like it.
I can't wait to come back here & experience it sober instead of showing up already tipsy.Listed in: Refreshments
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Review from Andre R.
Richmond, TX
3/19/2012
Anvil Bar and Refuge is one of my favorite bars in Houston in overall ratings. Great atmosphere, good food, superb cocktail recipes, and a highly competent staff. It certainly holds up to its name and rep as a refuge- I always expect to feel restored and at home every time I visit.
The wonderful thing about this place is their seasonal menu changes. Even if you are a regular, you'll never get bored as you're sure to enjoy an eclectic variety of different drinks. One of Alex's choices, McAlpin's Treason, has become a favorite of mine as of recently. Which brings me to my last point- unlike other places in Houston, the bartenders actually have a say in the cocktail choices. It's always fascinating to learn more and more about each bartenders partiality to mixing.
Again, Anvil has really good food (Blue Ghost). I'm looking forward to visiting Underbelly! -
Review from Scott M.
Houston, TX
2/26/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Hand crafted cocktails done by bartenders who know their booze and recipes.
The chalk board and the menu is loaded with cocktails that not only have I not heard of, nor could I pronounce. My mind was spinning from this decision so I said to the man, give me something dry and smooth. He slid over a delightful lemon kissed sipper that I enjoyed. To my amazement my refreshing cocktail had been made with Gin and I am not a fan of Gin. Guess I've never had a well made Gin drink before. Well done.
The wall behind the bar is loaded with bottles from everywhere. I was particularly impressed that they had almost every Mescal Del Maguey makes in Oaxaca. The only one missing was the wild mountain agave Tobala which is not easy to find.
These guys are also making cocktails with Absinthe. I'm not brave enough yet to tame the worm wood monster.
Anyways, if you looking from something to slam and set you up on a run I'd hit another place. If you are looking to relax and appreciate a well made cocktail pull up a seat at Anvil. Watch a craftsman make you a lovely. -
Review from Jessica D.
Dallas, TX
4/8/2012
Had a delicious Julep here, and love the ambiance. Definitely a must-visit spot next time I'm in Houston!
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Review from Reena M.
2/13/2012 8 Check-ins Here
I have been coming here for quite some time now and have made it a regular spot. The first time i came here we had Alex as out bartender. He really is great. We have tried the french 75 which is my favorite drink here. I love the fact that you are able to get a drink made from champagne. Yum!! To rate everything I have had here:
Drinks:
French 75: 5/5
Grackle: 4/5
Pimms cup: 4/5
Waltzing matilda: 5/5
Food:
curve flat bread: 5/5
Spiced hazelnuts: 3/5 (its good but a little greasy)
I don't like crowds too much but this place always seems to work. I love the creative minds of all the workers. Come here if you are looking for something different. -
Review from Alice J.
Houston, TX
1/30/2012
I went in on a Thursday afternoon with a girlfriend around the time when most places are serving their Happy Hour menu. We sat at the bar and watched one of the bartenders making what looked like a really delicious drink.
There were maybe five or six other patrons. And sure, sometimes two bartenders doesn't seem like a lot, with seven customers in the entire establishment, it's pretty unreasonable that nobody helped us in the 15 minutes we sat there.
We decided to leave after we both agreed it was uncomfortable. But the kicker (and why the bar gets one star from me) is that when we got up to leave the place, we found out that the manager (or perhaps he was the owner) was sitting a few seats down the bar by the front door. He did not greet us as we came in to make us feel welcomed, nor did he make sure that we were taken care of. I know most people try to take every bad review with a grain of salt, but there is no excuse for going 15 minutes without so much as an "Someone will be with you in a moment." if you're sitting next to the person who is supposed to make sure their employees are taking care of every customer.
It's very unfortunate, because I was really excited about finally getting over to Anvil, but now I'm glad that I didn't spend $12 on a cocktail just to get some basic customer service. -
Review from Anthony N.
The Heights, Houston, TX
4/4/2012
No other place gives cocktails justice, its a perfecting science and Anvil does it right. Get the Philly Fish House punch; its no longer on the menu but by far the best in Houston and available on request. They also have a very good tap selection for the beer drinkers and frequently change it out. If you want a larger beer selection be sure to check out their other establishment; Hay Merchant, which is conveniently located down the street. Drinks here are on the pricier side but its delicious, hell...just watching them make the drinks is worth the price of admission.
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Review from Ann H.
Houston, TX
4/9/2012
Talk about some unique cocktails! this place has it!! I love their Brandy concoction with the raw whole egg!! Yes, I said it and it is soooo goooooouuuuuddd!!
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Review from Adrianne H.
Houston, TX
1/9/2012
I love this place minus the confinement and high prices.
Pimm's Cup is my favorite drink. I could sit all night and simply watch the bartenders make the drinks. It's entertaining for me. I could make a funny crack at the way they shake them but.... I will be nice and respectful. 0:-)
If you want a delicious refreshing drink: GO HERE -
Review from Jennifer M.
Houston, TX
1/25/2012
So once you actually squeeze and shove your way through the influx of human bodies to get to the bar, this place is great. I heard of it cause of their unique drinks, and that's exactly the best part about here that I like. Decor is nice - very hipster, with a hipster crowd. If it overflows, there's a sliver of "porch" space outside of the main entrance. if that's full or if it's raining, good luck sitting on someone else or having your left butt cheek continually grazed by other butt cheeks (or knees if you're short).
Wide selection of really cool drinks, made of unique ingredients and married together for unique and very original concoctions. Pimm's Cup is a best seller, or Eve's Downfall if you like rum. But honestly, I'm pretty sure every drink on their menu is very well-crafted.
Not much dancing, kinda loud, and a tad pricey, but you gotta try their drinks at least once. -
Review from Penny D.
Houston, TX
2/6/2012
I was there on a Saturday night. I have been looking for a good cocktail bar for a while. I somehow found this place and decided to give it a chance......
It is the best cocktail bar I have ever been. The atmosphere is very casual. The place is tiny and you can only stand. The night i went was crowded. it takes about 2-3 mins for the bartender to make a drink.
Despite everything else, the drinks here are amazing!!!. My bf and I ordered 4 different drinks at one time (we were quite greedy and wanted to try different things). These drinks are crazily good. I love the one with the egg in it (I was scared at first). It was so smooth and delicious. But be careful, these delicious drinks do get you tipsy!!
I am definitely going back there again!! -
Review from Patrick G.
Chicago, IL
3/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
Good bar with pretty good drinks but there are a few flaws keeping it from 4 star territory. On a busy night they let way too many people in thus making it difficult to navigate and really really difficult to get to the bar and actually obtain a beverage. And thus really souring the experience. The other item that was an issue was the patrons, they were pretty push and rude overall. And the second thing was that they came to a craft cocktail , beer and wine bar and were ordering your typical terrible "mixed drink" you can get at any bar. Houston you need to step your game up and realize you don't order a McDonald's drinks at a relatively nice establishment. If Anvil can sort out these issues it would definitely be a more pleasant experience. But their on menu beverages were pretty good, would definitely be better on a less busy night. Hire more bartenders.
Listed in: Cocktails
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Review from Nupur L.
3/24/2012
Observations on Anvil:
1) Come on a Sunday night or a weeknight. Nobody is around, you're not fighting crowds of yuppies and you can sit at the bar and watch the bartenders perform what looks like alchemy. Dehydrated Campari? Brandy-soaked, spice-marinated cherries? This is the kind of stuff you'd imagine Willy Wonka would add to his nightcaps.
2) I tried one cocktail with egg white and another that was this gorgeous shade of green. I think it could be described as "chartreuse." Perhaps that's what was mixed in the drink as well. I don't remember because two drinks here left me drunk. I'd call that a success.
3) The cocktails here are made by people who really know their stuff. This is one of the few bars I've been to where I didn't recognize about 90% of what was on the wall-and it was an extensive wall. We sampled 8 or 9 different cocktails between our group. All of them were complex and delicious. Two were challenging, even. The ingredients were varied and many of them were made in-house. You can tell that these cocktails were developed by people who love what they do and have guts enough to develop a menu for those like themselves-and not just to please a crowd. I love people who make art just to satisfy themselves, audiences be damned, and I think the folks at Anvil function that way when making cocktails.
4) We got the cheese plate. It's great that the majority of cheeses offered on the menu are from Texas. I thought that was a really nice touch. The bar menu was very appropriate, ceding the full spotlight to the cocktails. It was lots of light nibbles so I wouldn't plan on having a meal here.
I'd have given the experience five stars except that when I asked the bartender (the bartenders didn't like the word 'mixologist,' which is awesome) to make me a drink off-menu, she balked a bit. I know bars like Drink at Boston, which was in competition with Anvil for this year's James Beard Awards, readily allow you to and are prepared for your asking for cocktails that taste like your first kiss or dentist appointment or Samuel L. Jackson. I wish I could ask for a cocktail that tastes like there are motherf---ing snakes on this motherf---ing plane. Otherwise, this place is top-notch. -
Review from Rebecca v.
Houston, TX
12/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
This Bar does not have Bartenders, they proudly have MIxologists... lol
I guess that is why the drinks are all around 12-14 dollars!
Having said that, they make pretty amazing drinks! The crowd is always mixed, on the negative side- it is almost always packed!
Also, be sure to valet park, if you try to park behind the building in the residential streets you will get a $100 parking ticket! Beware! and the Valet is free! -
Review from Vanessa B.
Chicago, IL
3/15/2012
If you are in the mood for some good cocktails in a relaxed environment definitely hit up Anvil. They walk the perfect line between creativity and simplicity. Okay, well maybe their drinks aren't simple, but often in the world of "artisan" cocktails the drinks just get so crazy that you have no idea what the hell to order and just kind of give up. They do use some unique liquors here, but for the most part you can get a good idea what the drink is without peppering the bartenders with questions.
I love the relaxed environment here too. Granted, I went on a Wed. night so it was probably quieter than the weekend, but my friend and I just went here in our workout clothes and while we were obviously a little under dressed it wasn't so much that we were uncomfortable at all. I also love, going with the relaxed theme, that the bartenders don't get all huffy and puffy if you don't call them mixologists instead of bartenders.
They squeeze all of their juices fresh (the only way to do it!), and do a really nice job balancing all the flavors in the drinks. We tried the pisco punch, turtle blues, havana cocktail, and pimm's cup - and we liked all of them. I think balanced is the word to describe every single one of these. Pisco can be a sour taste to those unfamiliar with it (my friend had never had it before) but blended in this cocktail with the lemon and pineapple it was just plain refreshing. The turtle blues was fantastic and my recent obsession with honey was really satisfied in this drink as they mix fresh honey with rum. Yum! The havana cocktail was nice, but perhaps the least memorable of them all. The pimm's cup is a really beautiful way to make a drink with gin. They use Citadelle gin in this, which is nice because it doesn't have that potpourri nose some gins can have. The lemon and cucumber addition is shockingly good and leaves you wondering what that unusual and delicious taste in your drink is. Is their some kind of fruit in their you've never had? No, it is just a perfect combination of flavors like you've never tasted before. Even though I personally enjoyed the turtle blues more, I think the pimm's was the most impressive and creative drink and could really turn those "I hate gin" people into gin lovers! -
Review from Dea A.
10/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
I was looking for a place like the Violet Hour in Chicago. I wanted a cozy bar where the bartenders took pride in each and every drink. I wanted a fancy drink place without the poshness or attitude you usually find.
I tried oh so many of their fancy drinks. They even do fancy drinks with eggs and egg whites. They have a lot of house made bitters.
You will leave this place happy, your taste buds tingling from anything with ginger in it, but probably not drunk. These are drinks you take your time drinking.
The bartenders are amazingly knowledgeable and friendly. They even gave me a free taste of their cask on tap and explained how it was unique. They have quite the extensive regional microbrew tap list. Unfortunately, I know absolutely nothing about the regional microbrews, however, with the guidance of their amazing bartenders I'm sure they could help me through it. -
Review from Todd S.
10/16/2011 9 Check-ins Here
This is Houston's original cocktail bar. Well, after a few bartenders from Beaver's stopped making their drinks at Beavers and opened this place.
They have educated me (and likely others). Drinks can be feats of gustatory "prowess." I use that word because, well, some of their drinks are pretty "inventive." Others have been resurrected from the Prohibition era. They are generally complex and take quite a while to make. Please re-read the previous sentence.
It's not inexpensive. It is [IMHO] worth it. Noting the success of Anvil, other bars are trying to also "raise their game." I applaud the effort. It's a good thing. However, I've yet to find a bar that does it as consistently and as well as Anvil. To top-it-off, the bartenders are friendly (and very, very busy -- n.b.).
I love that it's generally packed and that they have valet parking on most nights... for both deter me from visiting too often (as I did before it became overly popular). This place will hurt your liver AND your wallet.Listed in: You can take this job.. & use…
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Review from Cee B.
9/10/2011 9 Check-ins Here
YOU GUUUUYS...Pimm's Cup is a freaking apéritif!!!1! It's a before dinner lower alcohol drink before dinner. Not your big night out drink.
$9 for a Pimm's Cup? Really, Yelpers? This is the drink of choice? No. I'm not faulting Anvil for capitalizing on this, but the entire bottle of Pimm's #1 itself is like $17 at Spec's. Why? Because it's a light, refreshing, drinking-during-the-day cocktail. Historically, a popular polo and cricket drink in England. Basically, we just think it's worth $9 because it's English when it's an everyday, nothing special drink in England.
I hate waiting in line behind a bunch of grasping, thirty thousand dollar millionaires and listening to their deafeningly inane conversations to access my prized Zydeco Fiddle, micro brews, and that drink I lovingly call "ummmm, uhhh, liiiiiiiike, the one with the egg whites?" It's like a wall of sound of unending deluge of late twenties to early thirties people desperately trying to sound accomplished, smart, or wealthy. It gets grating when you just want a drink and have been waiting like 5-10 minutes behind a crowd of people with no discernible line formation.
Oh yeah, I don't like parking behind a cavalcade of leased BMWs to even enter this place either. The parking is like a postage stamp. *Waves cane angrily at whipper-snappers on porch.* Makes me just want to walk over to Poison Girl...which is one of my favorite bars.
Other than that, this place is absolutely amazing. Great drinks selection. I like the whole mixology concept. It's like, hey, there's something more than alcohol content going on here.
At the same time, I really like it myself so maybe I'm unconsciously one of these people. I wish it were bigger. You end up awkwardly sharing a couch with three strangers to talk upwards to your friends who are sitting three to a tiny two-person table in a deafening, cramped bar. It takes forever to get a drink and pay your tab, which, seemingly, you would think might make me drink slower. Nay, nay. So other than the fact that it's inconvenient in all aspects, it's awesome. They take mixology vurry surriously hurr.Listed in: Competent (or at least…, Belgian Beers
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Review from Jonathan M.
Houston, TX
4/25/2012
a little noisy and a little crowded with parking issues - just like any other place in this section of westheimer/montrose - like the hay merchant - but hey, quality is quality, and the cocktails here are pretty awesome. the bartenders are pretty skilled, and the ingredients they use are pretty fresh - i dont think i can even pronounce or spell the two drinks i had (one was based in gin, the other tequila) but i was more than satisfied with both. atmosphere and quality beverages put this on my highly recommended list...
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Review from Jason C.
Houston, TX
10/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
Nice little bar that gets packed on a Friday night! I was a bit skeptical about the drinks at first, but after ordering and watching the bartender mix the drinks I was like pretty impressed at the attention to detail of each cocktail. The only part of the experience that's not so great is the wait ...but hey...I realize that it's because they aren't going to half ass the drink you order.
I had the Pliny's Tonic which was excellent :) -- also tried the Tin Pan Alley which was pretty good!
I think next time I visit it'll be on a slower night where I can actually sit down and enjoy everything. -
Review from Christine L.
Houston, TX
11/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
Came for a catch up happy hour with college friends.
Seriously, I was early enough to snag the table booth in the corner. I had the Grackle which was a nice sweet tart spicy concoction. I can appreciate it.
Also ordered a 3-piece cheese plate that was eh. It had maybe 5 small crumbled pieces of gouda like someone had hacked a solid piece to death. It was very sad looking. Also the bread it came with was plain white bread sliced into 2" x 1" slabs. I was at least expected some type of baguette. That was disappointing.
I guess it really is all about the drinks here though so I'll just stick to them. -
Review from Michael W.
Pasadena, TX
2/19/2012 1 Check-in Here
Awesome drinks. Really friendly staff. Just a really comfortable atmosphere. I can"t imagine any better!
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Review from Brian L.
Santa Monica, CA
3/3/2012
Best craft bar in Houston - try The Brave!
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Review from leslie a.
Nashville, TN
11/27/2011
I was in town for business and had dinner planned with a friend who wanted to show me her favorite places in the neighborhood, so we started at Anvil. It was early on a Thursday evening, 5:30 maybe, and so not crowded, and we sat at a table so we could talk.
The handcrafted cocktail movement is a good thing to me, and they do it very well here. I had the Boulevardier, because I like bourbon and bitters, and it was fantastic. My friend had some slightly frothy lemony drink, also good but too sweet for my tastes. We had a flatbread with figs and bleu cheese that was interesting, and a cheese plate. Not bad.
I really like that it's dark and simple inside, making a great atmosphere for a bar. However, that evening, there was apparently a business mixer, and as we talked, the place filled up with a surge of people in suits with nametags. Fortunately, it was time for our dinner reservation, so we hightailed it out of there.
Nice place, I'd go back, but hopefully on a slow night with no "hello my name is" chatter going on. -
Review from Zoe H.
Houston, TX
3/5/2012
The food and cocktails here are excellent, its quite small though and the word 'refuge' conjurers up a slightly less upscale, wooden-booth with leather seats environment that the Anvil presents, but it is relaxed and nice despite the lack of the comfy sofas I was hoping for....
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Review from AA G.
Houston, TX
Updated - 9/9/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Layout has changed to accommodate huge tables that steal away the lounge-effect this place used to have.. Now it's all about bad drinks and big conference tables..
And on a side note: just naming yourself 'mixologist' doesn't make you a good bartender esp. when your drinks are bad.. Also.. being a good bartender has a lot to do with your personality in dealing with customers, no matter how busy you are.. and this is one another area where Anvil fails miserably to the ground..1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/24/2010
There is a difference between lemonade and mojito.. need I say more?
Good ambiance, decent… Read more »
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Review from Ariza S.
1/4/2012
I absolutely love this bar, I love it so much I would consider moving to Houston so that I would be able to frequently pay homage to this place. The bartenders are all characters even the bouncer had me cracking up at the end of the night. Watching your drinks get made is like watching a little show and you learn random tidbits every time. I randomly picked a few drinks to try out from Anvil and they were all strong as hell which is definitely ok for me. I tried the Crackle, Jake Leg (super strong), Saratoga Brace Up (for the absinthe fans), Mexican Firing Squad (surprisingly not spicy) and the waltzing Matilda (which was surprisingly spicy). Specialty cocktails range from $10-$13 but their all made with fresh ingredients and taste amazing.
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Review from Nimisha J.
Chicago, IL
2/18/2012
What can I say about Anvil that hasn't already been said in the 299 reviews posted here. Hmmm. Here's what I would say -- Go to Anvil on an off day or early, not just so you can beat the crowd, but because the bartenders at Anvil are awesome. They are very knowledgeable and watching them meticulously mix a drink is an experience in itself. I love elderflower liqueur, but I couldnt find anything on the menu that caught my eye, so I asked them to make me something. Our bartender made us a ' First Growth' which wasn't on the menu. It is a beautiful cocktail with sage and gin, and really showcases the elderflower. So good!
We are new to Houston, and started chatting with the bartenders asking them for restaurant recommendations. Half hour later our bartenders came back with two napkins that had at least a couple of dozen restaurant names. We were blown away, they were so thoughtful and nice. I'm a HUGE fan. -
Review from Apokealypse N.
Houston, TX
9/29/2011
From a drink standpoint, this place is awesome. This isn't your typical bar. The bartenders are true cocktail artists - mixologists. Everything's made from scratch, and many of the cocktails are novel. The drinks are understandably pricey - this isn't the kind of place you go to get trashed with large volumes of alcohol. It's not very big inside, and it gets loud and packed, so go early if you go on a weekend, or go on a weekday. It does tend to attract the pretentious yuppie crowd, but so what.
Update: if you like whiskey, ask CARLOS to make you an old fashioned (I get mine with extra turbinado). When I get rich, I'm gonna hire him as my personal full time drink mixer.
