Bar Doko

The bartender, Adam, is fantastic. He’s attentive & makes custom cocktails. The cocktails on the menu and presentation are inventive. I haven’t come across a good tomato cocktail since Jigger & Pony (World’s #5 Best Bar). Definitely not the usual boring cocktail list you see at every other Houston bar. The space is intimate, good date night atmosphere. Make a reservation in advance. I’ve now been a couple times; service & cocktails were consistently great.

Highly innovative drinks and very different from the norm Location: 5/5 near multiple high end steak and sushi places and autry park Ambience: 5/5 low lighting interior with modern decor and pops of color with the centerpieces. It is a more intimate setting and only accommodates a few tables Service: 5/5 very attentive and good service, they start with warm towels to clean your hands and give you a small plum soda as a palate cleanser Drinks: 4/5. The drinks are very original and are Japanese focused and include things like highballs and Japanese whiskeys. Something to know is that the drinks are largely umami flavored. If you like sweeter drinks they don’t have many, although there are dessert drinks. My significant other really enjoyed the fury winter highball which he said was fresh and crisp. The kakitori was like eating shaved ice with chocolate biscuits. The matcha drink was smooth and lightly sweet Definitely worth it!

We popped in for a drink (with no reservation) before our 7pm dinner next door at Doko. When we arrived around 6:15 we were the only patrons in the small bar but I gather that because of it’s size they function mostly by reservation. We let them know about our dinner reservation next door and that we would be out by 7 so they were able to accommodate us for a cocktail. My husband enjoyed the Sora Sky cocktail and our friend really liked the Matcha IPA. The atmosphere was very cool and cozy and reminiscent of bars in the Golden Gai district of Tokyo. I would happily come back here but probably only if I was having dinner in the Autry park development because, and I could be wrong, but the garage parking is valet only.

This is a very intimate and unique spot in Houston. A hidden gem! It specializes in Japanese craft cocktails and masters the concept of omentashi. The bartender, Adam, guarantees and tailors your exceptional experience every time you visit. They also provide complimentary bar finger bites to complement your drinks. I recommend visiting with a close group of friends or romantic date. They carry the LARGEST selection of Japanese whiskeys in the entire state of Texas. If you enjoy an elevated experience I would check this spot out. They also offer discounted parking validation which is a plus. No other establishment in Houston touches the level of service and tailored experience. If you want to impress, come here.

"Atmosphere: 8/10 Relatively small bar - only 14-16 people fit inside. No special theme - just upscale interior design. Intimate setting - pleasant music volume. Good for a date. Nice backbar Drinks: 8/10 Recommendation: Sky, Summer Nice Japanese themed menu - good variety. Drinks were well balanced. One of few cocktail bars in Houston with truly excellent cocktails. The glassware is good quality. Nice coasters. I will give a minus point for creativity, because at least one drink from the menu is clearly copied from Handshake Speakeasy Cocktail bar ("Eternity"). Even the presentation and garnish are 1:1 copied from Handshake's "Butter Mushroom Old Fashioned". And even after I asked the head bartender, he started stuttering, explaining how it is supposedly different. I would have much more appreciated admitting to copying a world class bar's menu - which is not a crime. Service: 9/10 Friendly and professional team. Water was served only on request. But otherwise, full-service program - warm towels, welcome drink & complimentary snacks. Prices are certainly above average for Houston, but worth the experience. Reservations highly recommended

Awesome speakeasy with just a handful of seats. Reservations imperative … the place is small and intimate and there isn’t any extra space for standing around if all seats are full. Beautifully crafted cocktails Great selection of spirits especially whiskeys. Service is top quality. Great touches like hot hand towels on arrival, wasabi nibbles during service, and some tasty Japanese sweet snacks at the end of your experience.

Bar Doko has the complete speakeasy experience. If you’re a connoisseur of Japanese whiskey, this is a must checkout spot. In fact I would even say it’s a great Date spot for people that just want to have incredible cocktails, and a very intimate evening. The GM Natalie was very courteous and made our experience that much more enjoyable. Their bar Consultant Savik also came by and asked how the cocktails were. I loved this hospitality. It's a lost art these days, and paired with the tier 1 quality of cocktails- I recommend make a reservation and check it out!

The drinks were good and a step above the average cocktail you find in Houston but I don’t think they were worth $18-20. Service was blah and impersonal. Honestly if the bar’s goal is to be a speakeasy then it’s missing the mark. And if they don’t improve their service and lower the prices, this place will be gone soon.

This bar is located in Autry Park, an up and coming devlopment that reminds me of River Oaks District. The owners also own Doko, the sushi restaurant directly across from it. My friends and I came here for drinks on a Friday night. The bar is small but has bar and hightop seating. I highly recommend making reservations online. Bar Doko is known for having the most extensive whiskey selection in Texas and it's clear when you look at their collection on the shelves. They also have a great selection of highballs and cocktails. Once you're seated, you're greeted with a warm towel infused with lemongrass to clean your hands and a sample of their plum wine. You're also given a small serving of rice crackers and wasabi peas to munch on while you're drinking. These details really made the experience personal and thoughtful. Their highballs and cocktails are a bit pricey but they're also more unique flavors that you won't find at other cocktail bars. I ordered the Affection which had vodka, matcha, yuzu, calpis, and egg white. I was definitely in the mood for a sweeter drink and this hit the spot. You also get the earthy and slightly bitter taste from a matcha. It was very refreshing and overall easy to drink. My friend ordered the Sky which is their take on an espresso martini. It's served in a tea cup with a stem attached underneath! I'd say the best part of the drink was the vanilla miso cold foam. Lastly, my other friend ordered Peace. The liquor base was reposado to give it a smoky flavor but the tomato water made it taste like a broth. It also comes with a piece of nori on the top. Overall, we loved the vibe of this place and the uniqueness of their drinks.

I was excited to try this place but I didn't realize how small the space is. When I walked in I realized there was no space to move or sit or to wait. I could only wait where I stood, by the door. Be aware it is a lot smaller and intimate space than expected. I asked a staff member if there is a wait list or if we can stand and she said there is no space currently it would be best to wait outside. It was cold outside so I decided to leave. The service wasn't great and I don't think I'll be back to try this place out.

Very intimate bar with only 17 seats and not really any standing space. The ambiance is lovely and classy. The drinks are well-made although definitely on the boozy side. We came on a Monday night in freezing weather and although the bar was empty during dinner time (7-8pm) it quickly picked up after that. By the time we left around 10, it was pretty much full. I would definitely recommend a reservation if you don't go early. The drinks we had were all very well made. My favorite was the Sora Sky, which is served in a modified teacup and reminded me of an espresso martini. I also got the Kakigori, which I thought was a drink but turned out to be boozy shaved ice - not what I expected but tasted pretty good. We will definitely be back to try more drinks.

Newly opened Bar Doko from the owners of Handies Duozo, is a hideaway in the river oaks area serving up a diverse selection of Asian inspired cocktails. WA Peace (5/5) savory drink served up that is a wonderfully salty and tomato-y (?) IMO Negroni (4/5) take on a Negroni with one of my favorite flavors- ube! The only problem with this drink is the vessel it's served in is difficult to drink out of. This is a small bar (~16 seats ) and it can get LOUD. This is river oaks crowd so if you're coming from a quieter neighborhood, adjust your expectations accordingly! There is parking available in the garage or a few street spots- plenty of parking in the garage on a Friday night!

But mom! It's a school night! Bar Doko serendipitously appeard on my social feed and I knew we had to check it out NOW, even on a school night. It was a Tuesday (open daily at 4pm) and after the year we've had (it's Jan 36th, 2025) we deserved this treat. And an AMAZING treat it was. First, make reservations whether you think you need it or not. They only seat 17 (no standing room, and I'm ok with that) so once the word gets out... you'll thank me! We walk in and I'm in love already. It's dark, moody, it's relatively quiet, and in Japanese style, it's simple but stunning. High tops, windows seating available, we opt for front row seats at the bar. It's always great to see craftsmen/craftswomen work. We are greeted and given oshibori (おしぼり or お絞り)/a hot towel (if you're not familiar, look up oshibori etiquette) and the staff gave us a minute to take it all in. Bar Doko has one of the LARGEST collection of Japanese whisky in Houston. The list ranges from a good daily pour, to exclusive high-end bottles for those looking for an exceptional experience. What we ordered: 'Ai': affection, Imo Negroni, 'Wa': peace, and the 'Hi': fire. All different and very unique flavors. While waiting, we were given some savory Japanese Kasugai to snack on (by the time this posts, Doko Sushi will be open right across the way, otherwise there is no food menu here). You can never go wrong with matcha. 'Ai' is very refreshing, slight earthy flavor with a refreshing, lightly sweetened and citrus flavor. The Imo Negroni offers something a bit more spirit forward- a great take on the classic negroni. We finished with a bang with the 'Hi'. One could say that this was their take on the classic Old Fashioned. Another spirit forward cocktail highlighted with smoky flavors from a McAllan stave. And finally the 'Wa'. This one... do not sleep on this one. Don't let the description fool you. This one is probably my favorite of the night! I love the smoke of the mezcal combined the refreshing tomato water. Umami. It was amazing! Definitely going back for this one. Overall Bar Doko lives up to omotenashi. It was a wonderful experience all around.

Beautiful and really well done drinks. Cozy spot and very classy. The service was impeccable and very friendly.

Great drinks. Cool vibe and atmosphere. Definitely will be back! Very unique cocktails. Have to try it!

Wasn't a fan of the slow service or the pacing of the food. There was an authoritarian energy with the service that wasn't in alignment with what we actually wanted. Missed the mark compley The food was mediocre ... ordered at least 8 different menu items and our group only collectively liked one or two. The main reason for my visit was the wagyu toast. Their sister restaurant has the best wagyu toast with a quail egg served on top. On the first page of the website for Doko it shows the toast with a quail egg... no quail egg added at Doko. Not the same and nothing remarkable... why advertise what you aren't serving. Odd . The chill hole in the wall vibes of Korako seem the vibe for this food and not the upscale idea they are trying to project. I don't need 5 different dinner plates. I just want good the food and decent service. Too much extra for no big pay off. It's a wanna be copycat of Katami that doesn't even come close. Nice atmosphere ... I like the location. Might give the bar a shot sometime.

Might as well skip on this place, drinks are very average and the service is inpersonable. This place won't last very long but if you all want to check out these clowns before they close then be my guest and let me know how waste of a time it is! Wish something was better than this place since I live close to here.