Anvil
Cocktail bar · Montrose
1424 Westheimer Rd Ste B, Houston, TX 77006
Highlights
Craft cocktails, extensive menu, knowledgeable bartenders, unique vibe
Craft cocktails, extensive menu, knowledgeable bartenders, unique vibe
"It might be old enough to drive this year, but Bobby Heugel’s bar Anvil remains a Houston hotspot renowned for its dedication to cocktail craftsmanship. The venue’s signature 100 List — a collection of classic cocktails every mixologist should master — is a testament to their commitment. Here, the traditional martini features a timeless blend of dry gin, dry vermouth, and a dash of orange bitters, with no vodka in sight. Many Anvil fans rejoiced when it was recently announced that the bar’s happy hour had returned, with half-off the 100 classic cocktails list from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on weekdays. Wander upstairs to Refuge, Anvil’s sister bar, for a quieter scene and the same attention to detail." - Brianna Griff
"Anvil functions as the reigning elder Montrose cocktail bar. Aged, wizened, and still pretty damn good. Bartenders take and make drink orders lightning fast and are somehow both abrasive and accommodating. They know every classic cocktail in existence, as well as original drinks containing anything from saffron tequila to osmanthus tea. Open every day, Anvil stays packed with just about every Houstonian you can think of. Awkward date folks, oil and gas bros one-upping bourbon calls, stray lawyers comparing billables, service industry louts, and a handful of people who just look overwhelmed by the 100-deep classics menu." - gianni greene, chelsea thomas, julie takahashi
"The patron saint of Houston’s cocktail bar scene, Bobby Heugel’s Anvil delivers expertly crafted cocktails in one of Houston’s hippest neighborhoods. The Montrose stalwart has some of the city’s most talented mixologists manning the bar and is perfect for a first date or a friendly hang earlier in the night. Try something from the ever-changing list of eight originals, or stick with a classic, like the French 75. If you’ve been there and drank that, try Heugel’s slightly more upscale and quieter sister concept, Refuge, located right upstairs." - Brittany Britto Garley
"Well into its second decade, Anvil functions as the reigning elder Montrose cocktail bar. Sort of like the Big Bang, they opened and Houston’s craft bar renaissance began. Bartenders here make drink orders lightning fast and are somehow both abrasive and accommodating. They know every classic cocktail in existence, as well as original Anvil drinks containing anything from saffron tequila to osmanthus tea. This bar is packed with just about every Houstonian that exists: oil and gas bros one-upping bourbon calls, stray lawyers comparing billables, hospitality industry louts, at least one dude in a Cowboy hat, and a handful of people who just look overwhelmed by the 100-deep classics menu." - chelsea thomas, gianni greene
"When in search of an espresso martini, or almost any classic cocktail, for that matter, Anvil is a solid choice. The espresso martini is no frills and straightforward, but it’s served ice cold, and sometimes, that’s all you need." - Brittany Britto Garley
