Anvil Bar & Refuge

This eclectic drink stop is a throwback to very old times, from the antique furniture and delicate drinking vessels to the meticulous mixing of their old-fashioned spirits. This intimate bar is always crowded at night. Standing bar-side is best to view the true mix masters in motion. For those not keen on bitters, vermouth, gin and the possible egg white, Anvil offers a dizzying assortment of...

There's a tiny parking lot across the street but most of the roads nearby are resident-only parking. A valet is usually available on weekends.

Try stopping in earlier in the evening to avoid waiting in line and to find some scarce seating.

What I love about this bar is that they are dedicated to making the best drinks. The modern industrial theme is perfect for the city. since they don't hold any reservation, the bar get a little crowded sometimes.

Last month the James Beard Foundation announced this year's semifinalists, and the names of the finalists were broadcast via a livestream earlier today. Houston scored big with a relatively lengthy list of names. In the Best Chef Southwest (AZ, CO, NM, OK, TX, UT) category are Hugo Ortega (Hugo's), Chris Shepherd (Underbelly) and Justin Yu (Oxheart). This is Yu's first nomination, and both...

Sake guru Steven Salazar is leaving his position of beverage director and assistant general manager at Kata Robata to join the team at Anvil. He told the Houston Press' Kaitlin Steinberg that it was simply time to move on:

The James Beard Foundation announced the 2014 Restaurant and Chef Awards semifinalists. By Tuesday, March 18, 2014 this long list will be narrowed down to a list of finalists, and on Monday, May 5, 2014 the winners will be announced at the James Beard Foundation Awards in New York City. Houston contenders include some familiar names: Anvil Bar & Refuge was nominated for Outstanding Bar Program,...

You won't have to drive too far for lessons on cocktail mixing and spirits from the best in the country starting January 25. Downtown's The Pastry War will be the site of Anvil's cocktail class series relaunch, hosted by Bobby Heugel and Alba Huerta, the country's Bartenders of the Year, according to spirits magazine Imbibe. The newest issue on stands now features "The Imbibe 75," in which...