For a limited time, Emilia’s Havana, the Cuban speakeasy-themed lounge from Berg Hospitality Group at 1800 Post Oak, is featuring The Rum Diaries, a tropical cocktail menu running through the end of the month. Tickets are available through OpenTable for $40 per person and includes admission, one signature cocktail and live entertainment, with food and additional drinks available for purchase. Tropical florals, resort wear and animal prints are encouraged, adding another playful layer to the experience.

Part of the fun begins before you even arrive. After checking in at the host stand inside The Annie Café & Bar, guests are led across its kitchen, then through a hidden door and down a speakeasy-inspired hallway before emerging inside Emilia’s Havana. Once inside, you’ll be presented with the special drink menu which features four flashy cocktails along with Vera Wang Party Prosecco by the glass. The drinks are all at a streamlined price of $20 each.

The cocktails are delivered with a bit of flare, such as the Havana Smoked Old Fashioned, which is built with Bacardi 8 Year Rum, Bacan Guaro 29 Aguardiente, cherries and Aztec chocolate bitters, and then spends some time smoking inside a cloche before being unveiled at the table behind a plume of smoke. I’m not usually a fan of smoked cocktails, but this one works. The smoke stays relatively restrained, mostly lingering on the surface rather than overwhelming the drink. My favorite is the Island Sunset Mai Tai, made with Santa Teresa 1796 Rum, Mexxo Reposado Tequila, Cointreau, coconut and honey. It arrives with a flaming garnish and tastes uncannily like a pineapple hard candy rod. The Bird of Paradise Mojito, with Bacardi 8 Year Rum, dragon fruit, papaya, mint and prosecco, is lighter and more refreshing. Finally, the Midnight Escape Martini with Santa Teresa 1796 rum, Bacan Guaro 29 aguardiente, Black Irish cream liqueur and espresso provides something for the espresso martini fans.

Chef Brian Sutton oversees the Cuban-inspired small plates and added several specials to complement The Rum Diaries’ drinks. The chilled seafood platter is served on a stand with five jumbo shrimp, six East Coast oysters, crab and lobster meat, mignonette, cocktail sauce and two cream sauces. The shellfish is enjoyable, though the chopped crab and lobster are a tad difficult to manage without crackers or another vehicle, particularly for a shared platter. Rotating soups, including lobster bisque, are also available.

The sea scallops special features four pan-seared scallops with deeply golden, caramelized crusts and tender, juicy centers topped with lobster meat and beurre blanc. The Island Sunset Mai Tai makes an unexpectedly good pairing, with alternating bites and sips creating a pleasing sweet-and-salty contrast. Still, the dish could use more cohesion. I wanted the beurre blanc spooned over the lobster and something substantial underneath, such as whipped cauliflower or potato purée, to bring everything together. For those looking to really splurge, a $300 off-menu butcher’s board combines sliced A5 Wagyu and American Wagyu steaks with crab Oscar sauce. The full regular menu is also available, though the bar bites are limited to second seating reservations.

The service and entertainment help make the evening feel like an occasion. The server assistants were the stars of the evening, constantly moving through the room, clearing and replenishing without calling attention to themselves. The live band was excellent, with a singer from Cuba adding an especially fitting dimension to the Havana theme. The crowd also seems to shift with the seating. The earlier reservation has the “girl dinner” energy of a particularly well-dressed ladies’ night out, while the later seating brings in more couples seeking date-night experiences. Emilia’s is particularly well-suited to both groups, as the surroundings are as much a part of the evening as what’s in the glass.

The experience comes with a considerable price tag, particularly once additional cocktails and food enter the equation. The $40 for admission and one cocktail will only be the beginning of the bill for most people, who will add food and additional drinks. That makes The Rum Diaries better suited to a celebratory night out than as a stop for a casual drink. That said, the drinks are fun, the food is appealing, and the combination of live music, theatrical presentation and tropical surroundings creates an evening that feels distinctly different from the usual Uptown night out. 

Emilia’s Havana is open Thursday from 6:30 p.m. to midnight and Friday and Saturday from 6:30 p.m. until 2 a.m.

Mario-Sebastian Berry

Mario-Sebastian Berry is a wine and spirits vendor who has been in the hospitality industry since 2002. Currently, he represents Blanco, Texas-based Andalusia Whiskey Co. He holds numerous wine, beer and spirits certifications including Certified Sommelier. Somehow, he also finds time to be Houston Food Finder’s associate editor and social media manager.