Houston’s Sophie Cocktail & Terrace Bar Opens in Montrose | Eater Houston

"Tucked in Montrose next to Uchi, I found Sophie Cocktail & Terrace Bar—launched by entrepreneur Ashley Muncie and officially opening on Friday, July 19—channels the French Riviera with a dash of vaudeville-like decor. Downstairs, a floral wall and a whiff of sweet perfume lead behind a curtain to a hidden 20-seat cocktail bar designed by EAMStudio’s Emilia Menocal, where dark red lacquered walls, floral and animal prints, mirrored ceilings, oversized glass chandeliers, velvet club chairs, and paintings by Philippine de Richemont create dramatic intimacy; upstairs is a whimsical 2,000-square-foot terrace and outdoor patio for up to 80 guests with live music and rooftop DJ sets that aim to transport guests to the South of France. Chef de cuisine Anthony Anderson (formerly of Uchi, Uchiko, and Nobie’s) crafted a French-forward menu featuring caviar in dishes like Thon Cru (marinated yellowfin tuna with saffron potato) and a lemon-butter fettuccine, charcuterie boards loaded with cheese and wild game, a decadent Sophie Burger layered with gruyere and caramelized onions, and the Swan pistachio cake with pistachio sable and raspberry confit. Drinks lean French-forward with spritzes and an emphasis on French wines, but cocktails steal the show—the King’s Lover (roasted barley brioche Ketel One vodka, Licor 43, Maven cold brew) and the floral Scent of a Rose (rose and grapefruit vodka, rose syrup, lemon, elderflower, sparkling rosé) stand out, and the downstairs-only “experiential” cocktails include My Friend Picasso, a crafty gin-and-tonic-style drink of French gin infused with lemon and thyme, topped with elderflower tonic and funneled through a quirky glass for two. Sophie is open daily 4 p.m.–2 a.m., with weekday happy hour 4–7 p.m. and weekend brunch noon–4 p.m. featuring menu specials, live music, and rooftop DJ sets." - Brittany Britto Garley