Best Cocktail Bar: Julep

In nearly 10 years it’s been around, lots of words have been used to describe Julep, the James Beard Award-winning cocktail bar on Washington Avenue. Most of them have been superlatives like “delicious” and “amazing” (the drinks), “lovely” and “romantic” (the space) and “delightful” and “knowledgeable” (the staff). One word that doesn’t get mentioned enough when discussing Julep isn’t an adjective at all. It’s “possibility,” a noun, and one that fans of the craft cocktail bar and Houstonians in general might understand.

For one, Julep wouldn’t exist but for its owner Alba Huerta believing her take on upscale whiskey, gin and rum drinks would bring something different and lasting to the city. As she noted when accepting Julep’s Beard Award, she emigrated to Houston from Mexico as a child and relished in the possibilities afforded to her. Julep is Latin-owned and female-owned and a beacon for others wanting to make their dreams possible. That’s about as Houston as you can get.

On a nightly level, the possibilities are set by a variety of tasty and gorgeous concoctions, served by staff who will tell you who at your table ordered the prettiest or strongest drink. A food menu matches the elegance of the cocktails and the space, which includes a parlor as refined and alluring as the bar proper. A night at Julep isn’t a night in a bar, it’s a chance to make the best of all possibilities a reality.

1919 Washington
832-371-7715
julephouston.com