"As the apex of Houston’s cocktail culture, the bartenders at Anvil in Montrose fire off classic cocktails in their sleep. When you need a perfect martini, there’s nothing quite like their gin and vermouth classic. Plus, Anvil offers no shortage of entertainment. There’s everyone from awkward first dates, self-conscious co-workers enduring Happy Hour, oil and gas bros one-upping bourbon calls, stray lawyers comparing billables, service industry louts, and a handful of folks who just look overwhelmed by the depth of the menu. It’s a people-watching paradise." - chelsea thomas