Anvil

"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

"Anvil functions as the reigning elder Montrose craft cocktail bar. Aged, wizened, and still pretty damn good. Bartenders here are lightning fast, know just about every classic cocktail recipe that exists, and are somehow both abrasive yet accommodating. The small-ish bar is ridiculously dark, apart from a massive vintage Campari sign beckoning like a wannabe liquor snob bat signal and headlights whizzing around Westheimer. Open every day, the bar is packed open to close with just about every Houstonian you can think of: awkward date folks, self-conscious co-workers doing Happy Hour, oil and gas bros one-upping bourbon calls, stray lawyers comparing billables, service industry louts, and a handful of people who just look overwhelmed and confused by the 100-deep classics menu. While you can order just about anything (you can’t stump the staff), you should check out the staff-created seasonal menu first. Then sidle up to a drink rail, wait for someone to vacate one of the few coveted booths or tables, and sip on the fancy cocktail you ordered. photo credit: Julie Soefer" - Chelsea Thomas

"Known for fast service, friendly bartenders, and delicious cocktails, Bobby Heugel’s Anvil Bar & Refuge in Montrose cocktail bar is one of the best in the city, with an extensive drink list and a wide selection of spirits." - Brittany Britto Garley