Four Houston cocktail bars are among the top 10 honorees (11 if there was a tie) in regional categories for the 2026 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards. Tales of the Cocktail is a foundation that organizes a multi-day conference in New Orleans annually for the bar industry. This year, it runs from July 18 through 24.

Johnny’s Gold Brick at 2518 Yale in the Heights, owned by longtime Houston proprietor Benjy Mason, is among the contenders for Best U.S. Bar Team — U.S. Central. The decidedly non-fancy, unpretentious bar is known for well-made cocktails and a comfortable environment at friendly prices — refreshing at a time when $18-and-up libations are a common sight. Johnny’s maintains a list of 10 classics for only $9.99, including the Old Fashioned, Sidecar and Tom Collins. The competition includes notable bars such as Three Dots and a Dash in Chicago and Nickel City’s original Austin location.

Up for Best U.S. Cocktail Bar — U.S. Central is Reserve 101. Located in downtown Houston at 1201 Caroline and owned by Sean Fitzmaurice, the bar is known for its extensive whiskey collection, which includes exceptionally old and rare selections such as a Glenlivet from 1936. Currently, the cocktail list has a big focus on the perhaps under-appreciated Irish whiskeys, such as Moonlit Wings with Teeling Irish Whiskey, St. Germain, sage and rosé verjus and San Patricio with Dunville Peated Irish Whiskey, Divino Mezcal, fig, chai and molé. Of course, guests will always find “one hell of an Old Fashioned”, too, currently made with a blend of Beam family bourbons. Half of Reserve 101’s competitors for the award are in Chicago, including Best Intentions and Lemon.

Another downtown bar is up for Best U.S. Hotel Bar — U.S. Central. Nestled in Four Seasons Houston at 1300 Lamar, speakeasy Bandista has offered an immersive experience for guests since 2022. Current features include a deconstructed brandy Alexander experience called Ménage À Trois. It comes with “a fog of Krigler’s Established Cognac 66 perfume”, housemade brandy Alexander ice cream and, of course, cognac. Two of the hotel bars that Bandista is up against for the award are also in Four Seasons hotels: Bar Mara in Minneapolis and Chandelier Bar in New Orleans.

In the running for Best New U.S. Cocktail Bar — U.S. Central is a recent debut from longtime Houston bar owner Bobby Heugel and veteran bartender Jacki Schromm. Located in the former Ready Room space, Donna’s at 2626 White Oak is dark, comfortable and outfitted with a high-end reel-to-reel system. Schromm’s cocktail list leans toward the unexpected, such as Rye-Ami Vice with rye whiskey, strawberry, toasted coconut and pineapple and Good Will with bourbon, miso, banana and chocolate bitters. For the Best New U.S. Cocktail Bar title, it will need to beat others such as Bar Fino in Austin, Charis Listening Bar in Chicago and Junebug in New Orleans.

You can view all of the contenders at the Tales of the Cocktail website. Winners will be announced on July 23 at the annual Tales of the Cocktail conference in New Orleans.

Phaedra Cook

Phaedra Cook has written about Houston’s restaurant and bar scene since 2010. She was a regular contributor to My Table magazine (now closed) and was the lead restaurant critic for the Houston Press for two years, eventually being promoted to food editor. Cook founded Houston Food Finder in November 2016 and has been its editor and publisher ever since.