Anvil Bar & Refuge

Anvil Bar & Refuge opened on Westheimer Road in 2009 and immediately changed Houston's cocktail culture. Bobby Heugel's 100 Cocktails list — a rotating selection of 100 classic and contemporary cocktails — is a masterclass in cocktail history. The staff know their product and wear that knowledge lightly. The Negroni is one of the best in America.

THE 100 COCKTAILS LIST

Anvil's 100 Cocktails list is the bar's defining feature: a rotating selection of 100 classic and contemporary cocktails, each with a brief history and tasting notes. It's one of the most educational bar menus in America — and one of the most enjoyable. Start with the Corpse Reviver No. 2 if you've never had one.

THE NEGRONI

The Negroni at Anvil is one of the best in America. Equal parts gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth, stirred until perfectly cold, served over a single large ice cube with an orange peel. It sounds simple. It isn't. The balance is extraordinary.

THE SPACE

Anvil is a long, narrow room on Westheimer Road — exposed brick, a long bar, and a back room with booths. It's not trying to be anything other than a serious cocktail bar. The music is good. The service is excellent. The cocktails are the point.