Houston loves a good shindig. The city’s swells and social animals look for any excuse to break out the bubbles and don their shiny threads (and best party faces) for all manner of celebrations. And they do it in places that offer indulgent bottle service, flashy dinner bites and banks of see-and-be-seen excitement.
Se7en, a new upscale Asian/Mediterranean venue with live entertainment, artists, DJs and bottle service, will boost the party scene even more when it opens at 3300 Kirby. Until then, check out this fresh list of restaurants and bars with decadent menus and atmospheres.
Ciel
The new River Oaks/Uptown restaurant and lounge — from businessmen and entrepreneurs Ryan Henry, Adel Sadek and Fasl Ty — is lavishly designed for partygoers who enjoy both fine dining and a Vegas-style floor show that includes dancers, singers, performances and a relentless DJ bounce. Chef Joseph Geiskopf has created a menu that includes caviar, oysters, seafood platters, large steaks, poached lobster and sushi indulgences meant to be enjoyed with cocktails and a parade of bottle service options to blow the night into a million golden pieces. 4411 San Felipe; cielhtx.com
Emilia’s Havana
Restaurateur Benjamin Berg’s new 50-seat, speakeasy-style bar is tucked away in a hidden corner of Annie Café & Bar. Emilia’s is inspired by 1950s Cuba, with a Latin vibe and decor fueled by rum-infused cocktails created by bartender Alba Huerta of the James Beard Award-winning bar Julep. Guests can enjoy live bossa nova music and DJ beats as they dine on caviar, truffled beef tartare, duck confit Cuban sandwich, chips and caviar, scallop ceviche, king crab croquettes and lobster empanadas from Executive Chef Brian Sutton. Reservations are a must for two seatings per night Wednesday through Saturday. 1800 Postal Oak; emiliashavana.com
Bungalow
This new downtown concept, from ALife Hospitality Group’s Mojeed Martins and Jonathan Reitzell, is an elegant restaurant and lounge with a variety of attractive spaces, including a rooftop terrace, a private dining room that can accommodate parties of up to 50 people and a secret enclave that seats 20. The Menu with high-end steaks (which can be topped with truffle butter or seared foie gras) and seafood with a list of fine wines and craft cocktails. Note: A dress code encourages exclusive duds. 407 Main; bungalowdining.com
Zanti Cucina Italiana
The River Oaks crowd may be jaded when it comes to chi-chi fast, but the neighborhood went giddy for the sleek Italian newcomer, a sister restaurant to The Woodlands’ original. The expansive bar and dining room, tricked out with chandeliers and glittering light fixtures, has been mobbed since it opened. On the menu: black truffle beef tartare, charcuterie board, lobster pizza, lamb osso buco, rib-eyes, cioppino and homemade pasta dishes. Located close to the always hopping Brasserie 19, Zanti adds party power to the already formidable eatery. 1958 W. Gray; zanticucina.com/river-oaks
Bayou Heights Biergarten
A beer garden is by its very nature a random proposition. But this huge new patio bar on the Washington corridor has been going full tilt. The latest project from the Kirby Group (Wooster’s, Holman Draft Hall, Degust) is styled after the Heights Bier Garten, and it evokes the same playful energy and freewheeling vibe. All the hip young things want to be in this bursting collection of four separate buildings with a 36-foot long bar. Maybe it’s the coffee/tea drinks, beer, cocktails and food (pretzels, sandwiches, tacos and smoked meats), or maybe it’s just that Houston likes to flex its drinking arms with indoor/outdoor options. 3905 Washington; thekirbygrouphtx.com
