Bar Buena

My wife and I had a great time at Bar Buena after dinner. Right from the start, the experience was welcoming, the gentleman who opened the door was very cordial and courteous. From that moment, you could already sense the great evening ahead. The atmosphere was fantastic, with pleasant music at just the right volume, perfect for enjoying both the place and the company. The service was top-notch which made the night even better. When we first arrived, the bar was completely full, so we grabbed drinks and waited by a small spot. Soon after, a couple left, and their friend tried to take the seats, but the waitress politely pointed out that we had been waiting first. Even though the friend still sat down, I appreciated the effort from the staff. Later, something similar happened: two guys walked in just as another couple was leaving, and they went straight for the seats. To my surprise, another waitress immediately stepped in and reserved them for us. That level of attentiveness was impressive and definitely a big plus for this cozy, charming bar. The drinks were delicious, reasonably priced, and consistent, each one cost the same, and none felt overpriced. Overall, Bar Buena delivered a wonderful experience, thanks to its inviting vibe, great service, and tasty drinks. It’s the kind of spot we’d happily return to.

We had a wonderful experience at this bar. The cocktails were exceptional and perfectly complemented the high-quality food. The service was attentive and genuinely warm throughout the evening. The tacos were outstanding, especially when paired with the frozen margarita, the Enamorada, and the Una Amargo cocktails. Everything was crafted with remarkable care. I highly recommend this place.

Great place for drinks and small bites. They have 2 dollar oysters on Wednesday. The only reason I gave them a 4 instead of 5 stars is because of how loud it gets inside. I was basically yelling at my wife and she still could barely hear me.

Bar Buena is an absolute gem in River Oaks! This new spot has an intimate, speakeasy vibe that makes you feel like you're in on a well-kept secret. From the moment you walk in, the staff is warm, welcoming, and genuinely fun to chat with. Aurora, the bartender, is a standout, she’s incredibly knowledgeable and clearly passionate about her craft. Her recommendations were spot-on, and every drink was thoughtfully made and perfectly balanced. The food was pretty impressive, the ribeye tacos were delish! Highly recommend checking it out!

Love the atmosphere of this place. Great spot for a date night out. I came out on a Thursday around 9:30 and it was pretty packed. Didn’t have to wait too long to find 3 seats at the bar though. Great old fashion mezcal and palomas! I forgot the lady’s name that was helping us, Regina? I know it started with an R though - stellar service!! Super cozy, autumn , somewhat Hogwarts vibes lol!

Really enjoyed this new neighborhood bar in River Oaks Shopping Center. We stopped by for a drink with friends on Friday around 6pm. Upon arrival there was not a table available but we were able to order drinks at the bar until a table for 4 opened up. The bar itself is very moody and dark and cool. Vibes are great and the service was exceptional as well, but as some other reviews have mentioned, it is LOUD. Like really really loud. Hard to hear your friends, hard to hear your server, hard to hear the voices in your own head. Despite how loud it was, I would still recommend. My husband tried the Enamorada because he saw the bartender making one for someone else and it wasn't his favorite because he said it was quite "smoky", but I really enjoyed my tequila flight and they make a solid negroni.

We stumbled upon this bar when we were out and what a find. The vibe is all tequila all the time. Even if you don’t like tequila the staff will make you something you’ve never had before. It’s dark inside but it adds to the experience. The food is amazing, it’s lite bites so I don’t recommend this place for dinner.

Love the atmosphere here. I’m no photographer so it wasn’t easy for me to take good photos because of how dark it is inside. Very good cocktails.

The cool, dark ambiance welcomes you like a warm, safe womb. The intimate space, acoustics, lighting, smoky smell minus the smoke, and plush seating are embracing. The inventive tequila and mezcal cocktails are perfect. The bebida menu is succinct with creativity. We were also impressed with the personalized yet unobtrusive service.

Stopped by on a Sunday afternoon, and had a great time. The servers were very friendly and quick. The bar is pretty dark, but I love that kind of ambiance. It's small. A nice long bar and a couple little seating nooks on the opposite side of the bar. Food: They do have a few appetizers as well. We had the Aguachile, and it was good. We did not order anything from the cocktail menu, but they have a good amount of varied flavors on their cocktail menu. The cocktails we ordered were good. A cute place to try if you are around that West Gray area.

Really enjoyed this new neighborhood bar in River Oaks Shopping Center. We stopped by for a drink with friends on Friday around 6pm. Upon arrival there was not a table available but we were able to order drinks at the bar until a table for 4 opened up. The bar itself is very moody and dark and cool. Vibes are great and the service was exceptional as well, but as some other reviews have mentioned, it is LOUD. Like really really loud. Hard to hear your friends, hard to hear your server, hard to hear the voices in your own head. Despite how loud it was, I would still recommend. My husband tried the Enamorada because he saw the bartender making one for someone else and it wasn't his favorite because he said it was quite "smoky", but I really enjoyed my tequila flight and they make a solid negroni.

Quick stop in before catching a movie at the River Oaks Theatre that's across the street. Somewhat easy to miss, it is located on the side corner of Goode Co. They specialize in tequila and mezcals, but offer other spirits. Ambiance: 4/5 Parking is available at the River Oaks Shopping Center Garage making it convenient to walk over. Walking up, there was a door man monitoring the entry. Once inside you are met with mood lighting and lively music. Loved the smell of leather throughout it as their menu and coasters were made of leather. For a small space it was pretty loud, I could barely hear the bartender explain some of the items. It's like a speakeasy, but loud. Service: 5/5 From the doorman to the bartender everyone was friendly and attentive. While I couldn't hear the bartender, he made recommendation based on what I enjoy and suggested the "Bee's Knees" Food/Drink: 5/5 They do offer a selection of food, but I didn't try any. Bee's Knees: 5/5 - the gin drink was made just right. Majority of the drinks are on the pricier side here so be prepared and they also do offer beers and wine.

Bar Buena is brand new and already bustling! We stopped by right after 5:00 and were greeted right away by the bartender. We did hang out in their standing room area for a little bit but were able to order drinks and snag a table pretty quickly. When I tell you this is the friendliest service I've ever had at a bar or restaurant, I mean it! All different members of the staff were checking in with us to make sure we were having a good time and enjoying everything. We tried out three of their drinks: enamorada, uno amargo, and their classic frozen mezcal margarita. I say this as someone who is stupid about cocktails, but I think if you're a fan of old fashioneds you'll be a fan of the uno amargo - it'll put some hair on your chest! I loved the frothiness that the egg white brings to the enamorada but I think the frozen margarita was our winner. Imagine your favorite frozen marg but better - the mezcal brings an earthier flavor to a cocktail that us Texans all know and love. Finally for food we had the pato tinga memela, gulf crab tostadas, and carnitas flautas. I genuinely loved them all so much, every protein was so juicy bursting with flavor, which makes sense considering everything is made to order. If I had to pick a favorite I would struggle (I'm not kidding, it was all that good), but I think the crab tostadas won us over with their freshness. We had such a great first visit to bar buena and I can see this quickly becoming a cozy date or after dinner drink spot!

BRILLIANT!!! When I moved to Houston in the early 80's (yes...I'm am old f***er) I moved within stumbling distance from Goode Company Barbecue; and to this day their joint on Kirby has been my moniker for BBQ. And while there have been other BBQ joints with more notoriety, GCB is where I take visiting friends from around the country and around the world. But I digress. I cannot be more proud of the Goode family and Mama Nifa for joints like this. Both should be rolling in their graves with excitement for what their families have continued. With respect to this bar, I am so fired up Houston has a place with a heritage like this.So come...sit at the bar...chat up your neighbors...and thank your lucky stars you live in Houston, Texas... And not in Dallas!!!

Amazing cocktails and food! Mixologists know their type of tequila and mocktails are spot on.

Dark, vibey, lovely, intimate speakeasy vibes. Friendly service, delicious bites (holy heck those crab tostadas are going on my last-meal list!!). Righteous cocktails. BUT. BUUUT. IT'S SO STUPIDLY LOUD!! All you and your group and the staff can do is smile and nod cluelessly at each other and have a nonsensical back and forth, ie: Me: "What kind of mezcal is this?" Server responds: "We opened two weeks ago" Friend chimes in: "I'm all set" Server responds: "Yeah, I was in real estate before" I say: "Oooh I've never had this. Can I see the bottle?" Server points: "Bathrooms are through that door" Me: "Absolutely delicious, thanks for asking" Like...... huh????? Maybe come here AFTER you've got a solid buzz AND your noise meter is already cranked up and busted. OR with people you don't want to talk to under any circumstance but feel obligated to hang out with. OR if you love the sound of cackling ricocheting off tin ceiling tiles and metal tabletop. THEN THIS IS YOUR PLACE!