The Sam Bar

The Sam Bar, inside the historic Sam Houston Hotel, is delivering old-school-inspired cocktails in a relaxing setting.

Inside, the 75-person lounge is adorned in comfy sofas, low-slung tables and chocolate leather chairs. Behind the granite-topped bar, 60-inch flat screens provide a welcome distraction to the post-work clientele. Outside, a patio tempts passer-byers for drinks on nice Houston nights.

Sam Bar delivers on its menu, too. Dig into well-seasoned calamari, paired with pickled Serrano chilies and cucumber raita or pork-belly sliders with onion vinaigrette and red oak lettuce.

The kitchen is open from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m., daily and the bar stays open until midnight on weeknights and 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday.