Anvil Bar & Refuge

Walking into this bar, the ambience is ok. It’s got a dive-​like feel if you like that kind of setting. You can sit at the long bar, or in the booths or tables for bigger groups. But, it’s quite dark in here. So, even the menu was hard to peruse through. The bartenders are cute and nice here. They did try their best to help us choose a drink we might enjoy. The cocktail prices can run anywhere between $ 9-​$ 12, which was quite expensive. So, I’d had hoped for extremely good quality cocktails. But, sadly, I was disappointed. The drinks were initially good, and well mixed. However, they put so much ice in the cocktail that it quickly became watered down before we got halfway through the drinks. So, I’m not sure if I’d come back, unless my friends dragged me here. If that happens, I would probably request for less ice and more drink.

Do you ever look back at your old MySpace or Xanga posts and think «God, what the hell was I saying?» I totally got that from my old review here. An update was definitely needed.
A funny thing is, a lot of the clientele here (myself included) fall exactly under the age range that used to use Myspace and Xanga about 10 years ago, and are now 20-​somethings that are going to look back on these nights in their 30s and think «God, what the hell was I doing?» Hindsight is ²⁰⁄₂₀.
But I should move on to the actual review. Long story short, Anvil is a high-​end cocktail bar in the trendy Montrose area. They have 100+ cocktails (separated into categories) on their menu, and each one will take a longer-​than-​average time to make, because the bartenders here put a lot of attention to detail into the process to make sure they come out nice and tasty.
Sounds good, right? Well, much like the angle that you used to take that Myspace mirror selfie, it’s not all that it’s cracked up to be. The space itself is pretty small, probably smaller than a McDonald’s. And since it’s so trendy, the place is always packed on nights & weekends to the point where you usually won’t have a place to sit. It doesn’t help that the drinks take a while to make on top of all this demand.
Oh, and this place is loud. Really loud. Almost nightclub-​loud, where you have to yell into someone’s ear to make yourself heard.
The drinks are good, and the bartenders are cool, but after coming here many times, I’d rather just get a drink that’s cheaper, faster, and quieter at a few other places in Houston.

It’s not easy to earn 5 stars from me, but I adore this place. Hands-​down favourite place in Montrose. We were back here last week and I got my favourite drink their Nitro Cuba Libre that really taught me how to Rum and Coke. My go-​to bar when I need somewhere to start. Only downside is it’s a little small, so it’s always a gamble whether you’ll find a place to sit or stand on busy nights. But three– and four-​person groups should fit comfortably.
Great vibe. Dress is smart casual, mellow but polished. Male bartenders are nice and, dare I say, a batch of good-​lookers.

The drinks were amazing here. It’s my first time in Houston (I’m from NY) and I had some of the best cocktails here. They make everything from scratch: the bartenders have to learn a menu of 100 drinks in order to work there. Needless to say, I will be back.

One of the coolest bars I’ve ever been to. Recommended by our waitress, seems to be a very local spot. The atmosphere is so relaxed but classy at the same time. Being from metropolitan NJ and even though I love the area that I live in, I really wished we had a place like this.
The drink menu is a little book, literally. So be prepared. But they categorize everything so if you’re feeling fruity, they have a whole page for that.
Our first round was a Southside (almost tasted like a mojito and margarita mixed together) and a Grasshopper. I’ve never heard of this cocktail before and maybe I’ve been living under a rock, but this is literally the best drink I’ve ever had. Tasted exactly like a Thin mint in a glass.
Second round was the chocolate soldier, which was tasty, but I was still getting over my love for the grasshopper.
9 – 12 average price for the drinks which I think is fair given the quality of the drinks. Valet is available, but it’s pretty easy to find parking within a block or two. Just be sure to read street signs because some side streets are permit only.

I’ve been missing this place all my life and didn’t know it.
I cannot believe I’ve been living in Houston for a year and hadn’t come here.
Selection. That’s the best way to describe this place. They have the 100 list for cocktails that people enjoy and can choose from, but what makes this place is the wide variety of spirits that you can choose from.
There is literally a leather bound book from which you can choose an aged liquor to fit your taste and mood.
The bartenders know what’s up. Your inner connoisseur knows what’s up. And this place makes it happen.

Drinks were overpriced but I see why! They obviously take their time and do not replicate any other drink.
The service was great our bartender took care of us right away. They definitely were staffed the right amount for the big crowd they had.
The bathrooms were neat! Haha I had to go and check them out.
Of course if there place is super crowded you know it must be good!
Even the valet was super quick!
(:

Great bar. I came here with some buddies for my birthday and had a great time. The drink selection is lengthy, so expect to have a hard time choosing if you’re indecisive and new to the cocktail scene. It’s a bit dark, but the atmosphere is great, lively yet unpretentious and chill, despite being pretty crowded. We took an Über here, which seemed like the best thing to do since parking is pretty limited. Would highly recommend
DRINKS: ⁵⁄₅
SERVICE: ⁵⁄₅

Our Monday night hang out for $ 2 house frozen margaritas 4 – 8 and $ 5 apps. The nacho’s are great as well as the Elote and stuffed jalepenos Seriously two of us can chill in the patio and feel super after 2 hours and $ 25 bucks. Love it.

Solid.
What makes a great cocktail bar in my book?
(BTW, my book is called «101 Ways That Your Cocktail Bar Could Be Great»)
Enthusiastic staff.
Friendly.
Not super pretentious.
Knowledgeable.
Kudos to Anvil. We stopped by late and had a few night caps and were thoroughly impressed with every aspect. They do a great job on their more modern cocktails — creative, clever, and actually taste wonderful. Then they do an equally wonderful job on the straightforward classic cocktails.
Will make this a regular stop on my travels to Houston.

I love a deliciously crafted mixed drink, but I’m an impatient person. I can usually stifle my impatience with the thought that my drink is being handcrafted for my own delight. If you can’t stomach the idea of waiting 10+ minutes for a cocktail on a busy night, I wouldn’t suggest Anvil.
Their menu is creative and their method of preparing a drink can only be likened to dinner & a show. You’re getting a tasty beverage while watching some ingredients be set on fire, or a bartender shake a drink for 5 minutes and counting. All of this produces a truly unique and signature experience. The interior is very intimate with large leather booths with an industrial-​meets-​lounge style bar. It’s not a huge building, so sometimes you can feel like a sardine. I always suggest scoping out the high tables towards the back near the restrooms, they’re surprisingly empty most of the time.
Overall, I stop by Anvil regularly. If you need a hand-​crafted cocktail in your life and are willing to pay for the price (and the wait), Anvil is your place to be.

Speakeasy feel. Very crowded. Very nice place!
Mixologist do mix up some crazy good drinks. All the cocktails are special and has a very cool vibe about it.
There is nothing plain about this place. Great drinks and cool people. Gets very crowded so come early on weekends.

Food: ⁵⁄₅
Service: ⁵⁄₅
Cleanliness: ⁵⁄₅
Décor & Style: ⁵⁄₅
Another great bar in Houston! Great selection of drinks & craft beer. The bartender was very friendly and the Old Fashioned is made to perfection!
Brick/​dark ambience and very good looking.

Real, hand-​crafted, well made cocktails. Good atmosphere and a great place to hang out with friends.
Experienced bar tenders that can listen to what you like and make something you will love.
I had to try the Nitro Cuba Libre which is on tap.
Plantation Original Dark Rum, Cruzan Black Strap Rum, Mexican Coca-​Cola, Lactose Sugar, Angostura Bitters. One of the best Cuba Libres I have ever had.
Check out these links for menus.
List of Spirits:
Cocktail Menu:

Now this is what you call a TRUE cocktail bar! We came on a Saturday night and despite the busyness of the place, the bartenders were very attentive. We walked right in, headed to the bar area and the bartender, Sarah, immediately acknowledged us and handed us menus. Outstanding!
This is not the place to come for a Blue Hawaiian or a margarita so leave those requests at home or your neighborhood dive bar. Again, this is a TRUE cocktail bar. The menu is super extensive and is like a mini booklet. I’m talking about over 100 different handcrafted cocktails. The menu is in sections of the type of drinks, sweet, sour, boozy, herbal and aromatic. Definitely something for everyone. Since I was driving and didn’t want to get too «lit», I stuck with a champagne cocktail. I’m a lover of bubbly so I enjoyed my drink.
Going back to our bartender, Sarah, we sat at the bar and we watched while she crafted up various cocktails, engaged in conversation with us, and never missed a beat. A women of her craft. Go see her!
I can’t wait for the next time to visit Anvil and Sarah!

My friends and I came here on a Saturday night a bit after 10:00 pm. I was not about to start looking for parking so just drove by the side of the building where they have $ 5 valet parking. We walked up to the entrance and the security/​bouncers we’re cool they asked for ID and how our night has been going. There was a good crowd of people and some were standing outside with drinks chillin on the black iron gate. We walked in and started looking for a spot to sit but all the booths And bistros were taken so we walked up towards the bar.
The Bartender was amazing. We just looked in the direction of the bar and she called out to us and handed us menus. Sarah! (Sara) She was super helpful with describing drinks and what the ingredients were. Even while she made drinks for others and noticed it caught our eye she would start describing what she was fixing up. She was very attentive, fast, and pretty cool! She actually had a smile while she spoke to us. I would be back just to get a drink from her. Great impression. She had great convo but never stopped moving and working ! She even gave us water and we didn’t have to ask. Awesome! No wait, no hassle and the place was packed.
The drink I had was the queens park swizzle, a lil sweet, bitter and sour –perfect!!! And it was cool cause it has three layers with muddled mint. My girls had champagne cocktails they were ok but nothing exciting like mines. Will return and recommend for refreshing and not so typical cocktails.

My ideal cocktail bar serves perfect drinks, is quiet, doesn’t allow standing, and has reservations (or at least some reliable way to assure yourself a table). Anvil does only the first of those. And that’s why I don’t come here very often, and can’t give it a fifth star. It is crowded, and doesn’t have enough seats, and is super loud. Alas.
Otherwise, all the plaudits Anvil gets are, IMO, deserved. Every time I’ve ordered a favorite of mine here, it has been executed correctly. For example, on our last visit my Last Word (deceptively simple) and Zombie were very good indeed. New and different drinks have been delicious as well.
Let’s clone Anvil, but make it small and dark and harder to get into but easier to spend an evening at. Then it would be perfect.

I love the drinks at Anvil. My favorite is their Pimm’s Cup which is light and refreshing. I always get this drink to start off with whenever I go. The bartenders are all very knowledgeable about the different alcohols and can help recommend a drink for your taste if you can’t decide when looking through the very extensive menu.
I’ve been both on weekday and weekend nights. On weekday nights it’s a lot less crowded and you can actually find somewhere to sit and don’t have to yell to talk with your friends. On the weekends it gets pretty packed, but people are coming and going so if you’re lucky you’ll be able to find a spot.
This is a great cocktail bar to go to if you’re in the area and want a high quality drink. It is pricier than other bars in Houston, but you definitely get what you pay for because the quality of their drinks is much better than other places I’ve been to.

Anvil is the place you go when you want to experience your drinks. This establishment may as well be known for «gourmet» concoctions, because the amount of effort it takes to create and execute these drinks is a lot. They experiment with flavors and keep seasonal drinks on the menu as well. If you follow them on social media, you’ll hear about some of their great specials. (i.e. selling expensive whiskey at cost per shot).
There are two small lots used for parking, but they fill up quickly. One is a dirt lot, and the other becomes valet at night. If those are full, you may have to find parking in the adjacent neighborhood.

Went to this bar with a group from work after our dinner. They had some pretty neat drinks. I loved the décor of the the bar. It had a good feel.
As I am pretty much a vodka and grapefruit type person they did have some pretty neat drinks. Our group ordered and shared the taste. If I was more adventurous it would have been the place to try drinks. My old stand by the grapefruit juice and vodka was really good.
So try this place. It is probably on my return next time I am in Houston. Really liked it.