This is a really unique and intimate experience. With it being reservation only, the control on how many people are inside allows for everyone to enjoy it with the same access (you do not have to worry about being bunched up or in an overwhelming crowd at all). It's great for a date night or special occasion when you're comfortable with spending a little more on cocktails. The cocktails are very memorable, well presented, and have depth and layers to their flavor. The bartenders are personable and make the experience even more enjoyable. This was an awesome experience and well worth it.
Yesenia Saavedra
Reservation is definitely the way to ensure you have a spot saved. It's a cute little room for great drinks. The bartenders are awesome and very kind. The drinks are definitely one of a kind.Parking: Valet available, once ticket is stamped, it's only $6.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
B357M67
Amazing drinks, and excellent service. Everyone from the hostess, to the bartender, and bar back was very friendly and entertaining. The drinks were unique, delicious, and worth every penny
MarcS
Excellent space for an intimate evening and discussion. The bartender, Shawn, was very professional and engaged. He knew the drinks and he handled the crowd very well. Justin was very polite and friendly. And the young lady who escorted us to the bar was quite pleasant. Lots of good drinks were served.
It's a nice place. The servers were friendly. My complaint is the prices. Absolutely ridiculous. They charge a $25 deposit per person just to make a reservation. Fine. I get it. However, everything is so secretive so you don't know the prices of anything beforehand but you've made the reservation, paid a deposit so now, of course, you're going to order a drink or two. My husband usually drinks Woodford which is about $60 a bottle. The price for a glass here? $275!!! What?! My cocktail was $27. It was really good. I'll say that. I got two because well, we were there for the speakeasy experience. The service was ok but nothing I'd expect for the prices. We didn't eat there so I can't speak on the food. The atmosphere was very quiet, dark and intimate but nothing very special. I won't be back. I'd say this speakeasy experience was overrated.
ReddWasThere
What was there to not love about this hidden speakeasy inside of Four Seasons Hotel? Bandista is hidden behind a bookshelf that opens up after you input a code. You get a code when you check in for your reservation. Make your reservation on open table.The bartenders are very knowledgeable, attentive, and provide above superior service. The drinks are distinctively unique and some of the most creative hand crafted cocktails I’ve ever had at any bar in Houston.I started off with a drink called Ritual. It came inside of a skull head and had enough for three glasses. The entire presentation of the drink matched the name. It came with a burning holy wood called Palo Santos and the bartender told me it was to rid negative energy from 2023. Then he said now we perform our ritual, Lol which was pouring it the cup and drinking. It even came with a performance. I was very impressed.I had the following drinks as well: Writers Block, Sparkling Courage, Call Me Sambaldy, and Menage A Trois. All of them were exceptional. They hire real mixologist and it’s very obvious. I didn’t try the food. I just wanted to check out their cocktails.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amanda Seidel
Hubby surprised me with a trip to this hidden location. Loved the setup. The staff was great & tried to address you by name. Drinks were interesting. Really, we liked everything about it except the price. 4 drinks & a tip was right at $200, so it is not the place to go if you're being budget conscious.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
P Mizell
This is a great place to bring someone for drinks when you want to do something fun and completely different. It is a speakeasy in the bowels of the Houston Four Seasons. They make a big deal out of escorting you back through secret corridors or the kitchen, and typing the code into the book case is fun.The lighting in the bar is very cool, the bartenders are super fun and knowledgeable and the cocktails are very good.Note: you really need a reservation, even if you just call ahead.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
wander
Amazing cocktails, fantastic team. Really knowledgeable bartenders so don’t be shy to order the classics. I can’t recommend them enough. Probably best to have a reservation on the weekend.
Amazing cocktails and service from beginning to end. Alice who picked us up at reception was so nice. Our bartender/mixologist was Sean whose recommendations and cocktails were perfect. Such a fun experience!
Patrick
Ive been to Bandista numerous times and each time feels like the first time. Hotel and restaurant staff are extremely friendly. Drinks are one of a kind and amazing. Sean is one of the bartenders and makes great drinks
Briana Rodriguez
Sean and Lexi are amazing and so accommodating! Can’t wait to be
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Anton S.
Having been to almost all cocktail bars in Houston, I would confidently say this is the best upscale cocktail bar / speakeasy in HoustonAtmosphere 8.5/10Entrance is through a bookshelf-door with a code. Very special and speakeasy-ish vibe inside. Curated menu with signature cocktails - many cocktails have very unique presentation, e.g. The Dead Man WalkingDrinks 9.5/10Drinks were creative and delicious! The vesper comes with a spoon of black caviar and truffle crème to unleash an extra flavor. Dead Man Walking is served in a glass barrel installation containing 2 glasses. Super coolService 10/10Everyone is personally picked up from Four Seasons lobby and shown the entrance. We got a complimentary welcome cocktail and the bartenders were very nice, chatty and knowledgeable!Price 7/10The prices only seem to be “very high”. If you see the drink you get and ingredients they use, the prices are fair. For example: the signature vesper is $32. With the actual vesper you will get a spoon of black caviar and truffle crème which by itself adds $10-12. So technically the vesper is $20, which is a very fair price for an upscale speakeasy. Same goes for all other drinks on their menuI would totally put this bar on the radar of World’s 50 Best Bars Ranking!
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
RoniD
Here you are paying for the show of the drinks not the drink itself. The crime of passion that I ordered taste like juice a $43 juice. But the staff and the performance you get while making the drinks is awesome.
Nice space, but terrible service.
Atmosphere: 3
Service: 1
This is a really unique and intimate experience. With it being reservation only, the control on how many people are inside allows for everyone to enjoy it with the same access (you do not have to worry about being bunched up or in an overwhelming crowd at all). It's great for a date night or special occasion when you're comfortable with spending a little more on cocktails. The cocktails are very memorable, well presented, and have depth and layers to their flavor. The bartenders are personable and make the experience even more enjoyable. This was an awesome experience and well worth it.
Reservation is definitely the way to ensure you have a spot saved. It's a cute little room for great drinks. The bartenders are awesome and very kind. The drinks are definitely one of a kind.Parking: Valet available, once ticket is stamped, it's only $6.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Amazing drinks, and excellent service. Everyone from the hostess, to the bartender, and bar back was very friendly and entertaining. The drinks were unique, delicious, and worth every penny
Excellent space for an intimate evening and discussion. The bartender, Shawn, was very professional and engaged. He knew the drinks and he handled the crowd very well. Justin was very polite and friendly. And the young lady who escorted us to the bar was quite pleasant. Lots of good drinks were served.
It's a nice place. The servers were friendly. My complaint is the prices. Absolutely ridiculous. They charge a $25 deposit per person just to make a reservation. Fine. I get it. However, everything is so secretive so you don't know the prices of anything beforehand but you've made the reservation, paid a deposit so now, of course, you're going to order a drink or two. My husband usually drinks Woodford which is about $60 a bottle. The price for a glass here? $275!!! What?! My cocktail was $27. It was really good. I'll say that. I got two because well, we were there for the speakeasy experience. The service was ok but nothing I'd expect for the prices. We didn't eat there so I can't speak on the food. The atmosphere was very quiet, dark and intimate but nothing very special. I won't be back. I'd say this speakeasy experience was overrated.
What was there to not love about this hidden speakeasy inside of Four Seasons Hotel? Bandista is hidden behind a bookshelf that opens up after you input a code. You get a code when you check in for your reservation. Make your reservation on open table.The bartenders are very knowledgeable, attentive, and provide above superior service. The drinks are distinctively unique and some of the most creative hand crafted cocktails I’ve ever had at any bar in Houston.I started off with a drink called Ritual. It came inside of a skull head and had enough for three glasses. The entire presentation of the drink matched the name. It came with a burning holy wood called Palo Santos and the bartender told me it was to rid negative energy from 2023. Then he said now we perform our ritual, Lol which was pouring it the cup and drinking. It even came with a performance. I was very impressed.I had the following drinks as well: Writers Block, Sparkling Courage, Call Me Sambaldy, and Menage A Trois. All of them were exceptional. They hire real mixologist and it’s very obvious. I didn’t try the food. I just wanted to check out their cocktails.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Hubby surprised me with a trip to this hidden location. Loved the setup. The staff was great & tried to address you by name. Drinks were interesting. Really, we liked everything about it except the price. 4 drinks & a tip was right at $200, so it is not the place to go if you're being budget conscious.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
This is a great place to bring someone for drinks when you want to do something fun and completely different. It is a speakeasy in the bowels of the Houston Four Seasons. They make a big deal out of escorting you back through secret corridors or the kitchen, and typing the code into the book case is fun.The lighting in the bar is very cool, the bartenders are super fun and knowledgeable and the cocktails are very good.Note: you really need a reservation, even if you just call ahead.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amazing cocktails, fantastic team. Really knowledgeable bartenders so don’t be shy to order the classics. I can’t recommend them enough. Probably best to have a reservation on the weekend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Amazing cocktails and service from beginning to end. Alice who picked us up at reception was so nice. Our bartender/mixologist was Sean whose recommendations and cocktails were perfect. Such a fun experience!
Ive been to Bandista numerous times and each time feels like the first time. Hotel and restaurant staff are extremely friendly. Drinks are one of a kind and amazing. Sean is one of the bartenders and makes great drinks
Sean and Lexi are amazing and so accommodating! Can’t wait to be
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Having been to almost all cocktail bars in Houston, I would confidently say this is the best upscale cocktail bar / speakeasy in HoustonAtmosphere 8.5/10Entrance is through a bookshelf-door with a code. Very special and speakeasy-ish vibe inside. Curated menu with signature cocktails - many cocktails have very unique presentation, e.g. The Dead Man WalkingDrinks 9.5/10Drinks were creative and delicious! The vesper comes with a spoon of black caviar and truffle crème to unleash an extra flavor. Dead Man Walking is served in a glass barrel installation containing 2 glasses. Super coolService 10/10Everyone is personally picked up from Four Seasons lobby and shown the entrance. We got a complimentary welcome cocktail and the bartenders were very nice, chatty and knowledgeable!Price 7/10The prices only seem to be “very high”. If you see the drink you get and ingredients they use, the prices are fair. For example: the signature vesper is $32. With the actual vesper you will get a spoon of black caviar and truffle crème which by itself adds $10-12. So technically the vesper is $20, which is a very fair price for an upscale speakeasy. Same goes for all other drinks on their menuI would totally put this bar on the radar of World’s 50 Best Bars Ranking!
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Here you are paying for the show of the drinks not the drink itself. The crime of passion that I ordered taste like juice a $43 juice. But the staff and the performance you get while making the drinks is awesome.