Lee's
Cocktail bar · Pemberton
5117 Kelvin Dr, Houston, TX 77005
Highlights
Speakeasy wine bar with creative seasonal eats & rotating wines
Speakeasy wine bar with creative seasonal eats & rotating wines
"Formerly Lees Den, Lee’s in Rice Village has transformed into a cocktail bar with expertly balanced drinks and small plates. You can see every table in the space’s dining room from the host stand, but it never feels cramped. It’s a speakeasy-type spot you’d keep in your back pocket to impress someone on a third date. Each table is full of gin and tarragon cocktails with glittering daisies in the center. And folks are taking down buttered crab rolls packed with shredded crab and briny trout roe. The mini hamachi tacos have a burst of umami flavor that inspires you to order a second plate. If it's a multiple-drink night, order one of their “small sips” cocktails like the Appleteeny. And after 10pm, you’ll gain access to the late-night menu, which can only be read with their 3D decoder. Get access to exclusive reservations at this spot with Chase Sapphire Reserve. New cardmembers get $300 in annual dining statement credits." - brooke viggiano, mai pham, nicolai mccrary, andrew ryce, gianni greene, chelsea thomas
"Lee’s—previously known as Lees Den (no apostrophe)—closed for a brief renovation last year. The once wine-focused bar next to its sibling restaurant Milton’s in Rice Village now shifts its focus to cocktails. Expect blue masa-infused old-fashioned, electric-green appletinis, and snacks like miniature hamachi tacos and stuffed tetelas. Get access to exclusive reservations at this spot with Chase Sapphire Reserve. New cardmembers get $300 in annual dining statement credits." - brooke viggiano, gianni greene, chelsea thomas
"A place that experiments boldly with color and flavor, reimagining classics in surprising ways: an old-fashioned takes an electric-blue turn in the Pale Blue Eyes via clarified blue corn syrup and blue corn whiskey, while the Goddess Green layers basil, tarragon, and chervil with citrus and gin for a vibrant herbaceous sip. With a menu that nods to cultural touchstones and complex mixology overseen by a seasoned beverage director, the bar offers playful, high-impact drinks on the second floor of a longstanding local building." - ByJoseph Hernandez
"Formerly Lees Den, Lee’s in Rice Village has transformed into a cocktail bar with expertly balanced drinks and small plates. You can see every table in the space’s dining room from the host stand, but it never feels cramped. It’s a speakeasy-type spot you’d keep in your back pocket to impress someone on a third date. Each table is full of gin and tarragon cocktails with glittering daisies in the center. And folks are taking down buttered crab rolls packed with shredded crab and briny trout roe. The mini hamachi tacos have a burst of umami flavor that inspires you to order a second plate. If it's a multiple-drink night, order one of their “small sips” cocktails like the Appleteeny. And after 10pm, you’ll gain access to the late-night menu, which can only be read with their 3D decoder. Food Rundown photo credit: Gianni Greene Appleteeny Start your evening with this drink. It tastes like a liquified granny smith rather than a syrupy apple imitation. There are about four sips worth of cocktail in this chilled glass, but that’s really all you need. photo credit: Gianni Greene Crab Roll These two rolls are filled with shredded crabmeat lathered in a rich aioli. The little bursts of trout roe balance out the crab and keep the dish from becoming too heavy. photo credit: Julie Soefer Hamachi Tacos We love the miniature crunchy corn tortillas surrounding the soy-coated bits of hamachi. And while the decorative bed of kernels is more decorative than functional, we’ll take on the social faux pas of picking through them to make sure no fish is left behind. photo credit: Gianni Greene Sweet Potato Dumplings The crispy skin is 90% of what makes these dumplings exciting. But the filling is a little skimpy, so feel free to skip this one." - Gianni Greene
"A rebranded cocktail bar in Rice Village with a focus on affordable drinks and colorful cocktails, including half-sized sips." - Brittany Britto Garley
